Budapest consists of two parts, that are divided by the Danube river – Buda and Pest. Together they form the capital city of Hungary and also the tenth largest city in the European Union. It is a city full of trendy cafes, amazing nightlife and many things to see. You could easily spend a week here and you would still not see everything. Here is our list of top 8 things to do in Budapest!
1. Experience the best view from the top of Stephan’s Basilica
Stephan’s basilica is the largest church in Hungary and it is a MUST when in Budapest. What not that many people know is that you can climb up to the top for just 1000 HUF. Not only the 360 ° view is incredible, but on the way up you see the structure of the dome.
2. Wonder around Fisherman Bastion and Mathias church
The Fisherman Bastion and Mathias church are overlooking the whole of Budapest with beautiful views of the Parliament building and are probably the most visited spots in Budapest. Who wouldn’t want to appear in a fairytale even for a while right? White picturesque towers and colourful roofs are what attract many tourists to come here, so make sure you come here before 9 AM to experience it without the crowds.
3. Have fun at the Flipper Museum
One of our favourite things to do in Budapest is to visit the Flipper Museum. You can spend an afternoon playing pinball on all kinds of pinball machines you could ever imagine. Isn’t that so cool? And there are so many more games you can play if you get bored with pinball.
Price: 4200/3000 HUF (students under 26)
4. Try local food at For Sale Pub
Budapest is full of trendy pubs, but For Sale Pub is one of the coolest we had a chance to eat. The interior is very rustic with straw covering the floor and notes hanging from the ceiling. On each table, there are complimentary peanuts. The best thing is that you can just throw the shelves on the floor.
5. Admire the interior of Ervin Szabó Library
The Szabo Library is located in Palace Quarter inside a modern library. The visitors are allowed to go inside. Apparently, on some days you need to register at the front desk for 1000 HUF, but during our visit, they let us in for free. We are so jealous of every student that has the chance to study in this beautiful library.
6. Have a beer at one of the ruin bars
Ruin bars are nowadays very typical for Budapest and you can’t leave before you have a drink in one of them. What is a ruin bar? Ruin bars are located in District VII where during World War II was the Jewish Getto. After the Jews were deported their buildings were left abandoned. In the early 2000s, these buildings were turned into bars. Originally with affordable drinks for young creative people to hang out there. Now the prices are not that affordable anymore but it is still a cool environment to have a drink.
7. Liberty bridge (walk from Buda to Pest)
As mentioned Budapest consists of two parts, that are connected by many bridges. One of them is Liberty bridge. During summertime in July, on weekends it closes for traffic and becomes an amazing place to watch the sunset.
8. Visit the House of Terror
Probably not for everyone is visit to The House of Teror, but in our opinion is very important to learn something about the place you travel to and not just to have fun.
Price: 4000/2000 HUF
Extra tip
If you want to experience a boat trip around Budapest and you are on a strict budget, there is also boat public transport that can take you to Margaret Island (or elsewhere) for only 170 HUF!
Currency and prices
Budapest is not the cheapest country in Europe but compared to the United Kingdom, it can be considered a budget-friendly destination.
Accommodation
There are so many amazing options on Airbnb, that are super affordable.
One bedroom flat – 55 EUR per night
Food and drinks
Small water: 150 HUF
Beer at a bar: 650 HUF
Local food: 2000-3000 HUF
Beer: 600 HUF
Coffee: 450 HUF
Public transport
Budapest is not that big so if you have the time, there is no need to even use public transport. On the other hand, Budapest’s subway is the third oldest subway in the world and the oldest one in continental Europe so it is quite a good experience itself. Especially because they still use some of those old school vehicles.
Single ticket: 350 HUF
24-hours ticket: 1650 HUF
3-days ticket : 4150 HUF
All tickets are valid for all types of public transport in Budapest – trams, buses and subway.
More tickets options HERE
Author: Onthewaytoo
Published: 21/08/2020