Budapest Travel Information - Your Ultimate Travel Guide

Explore Budapest: Hidden Gems and Iconic Landmarks

Everything you should know about your visit to Budapest

Hello everyone! Are you planning to explore the beautiful city of Budapest. For many, the Hungarian capital is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and the world. That is why we decided to visit it and experience exploring this impressive city for ourselves. Here we will offer a basic but complete guide to Budapest, including historical facts, tourist destinations and some practical tips to make your visit more comfortable and safe.

HOW TO GET THERE AND HOW IT WILL BE THE ARRIVAL?

The international airport is very well connected with the big cities of all Europe, there is a low-cost airline called Wizz airline that its hub is precisely the Budapest airport, so you can search for flight options directly from its website. Another way to arrive is by train, or using the buses of the Flixbus company that also has very good prices and connections.
The arrival is very simple, very easy, immediately upon leaving the airport you identify the buses that take you to the city, you will have two options, line 100 and line 200, one of these takes you to the first train station on the outskirts of the city, the regional station, and the most practical bus route For tourists, this is the one that will take you directly to the center of Budapest, to the three main stations in the city center. The price is around 6 euros and the trip will take you around 35 minutes. You can buy the ticket directly on the bus with a credit card.

Once you are inside the city, it has an efficient public transportation system. Use the metro, tram and buses to move around any area. The M1 metro line, the oldest in continental Europe, is an attraction in itself,
It is advisable if you use public transport to buy the train ticket that lasts 24 or 72 hours. Getting around by train within the city is extremely convenient, as the tourist spots are easily accessible by the most popular train lines..

General information about Budapest:.

Budapest is the city of hot springs because it is located in the middle of a large number of mineral water deposits. It is the capital of Hungary. It was founded in 1873 with the union of Buda, Pest and Óbuda, which were divided by the Danube River. In its first settlements it was a region conquered by the Romans, until the founding of both cities, which during different periods were conquered by the Mongols and then by the Austrians, forming part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. To then live its unification and become the capital city of present-day Hungary. After the Second World War, after having supported the forces of the German National Socialist side, it was dominated by Russia until the fall of the Soviet Union. Currently, with a population of almost 2 million, this city is famous for its hot springs and its impressive architecture. For many, it is one of the most beautiful cities in all of Europe. You can expect a very elegant place, very clean, tidy and safe, with very striking architecture with designs in its classical, Renaissance buildings. and a lot of art nouveau, visited by many tourists from all over the world, with a very particular gastronomy that mixes a bit of characteristics of Eastern Europe with gastronomy from Central Europe, Austria and Germany, a lot of sausages and beer, many desserts and pastries, and we cannot fail to mention that it offers a very attractive nightlife.
You can easily visit the city in three days, but there are destinations where you can extend it even up to a whole week or, on the contrary, also cover the basics in a shorter weekend trip. It is very common to include a visit to Budapest in the route or tour visiting Prague and Vienna since they are just a few hours away from each other.
Several years ago it had the reputation of being a relatively affordable city in terms of prices, but it must be taken into account that currently it can no longer be considered an economical destination to visit, the prices are very standardized to the average of any European tourist city.

In short, the city has a lot to offer, one of the most beautiful and photogenic cities in all of Europe, very popular and touristic, so it is quite practical to visit it, even though the local language is one of the most difficult in Europe, the country has widely adopted the English language, so you can get by without any problem with basic English everywhere you visit, it is also relatively common to find people speaking different languages such as Spanish, French and German. Also, even though it does not use the Euro as legal currency, you will not have any problem just using international credit card payments, and in many places they accept the Euro without any problem, only that the currency exchange will not play in your favor, the most advisable thing is always to use a card to make your payments.
The city bids farewell to the day in a majestic way, the lighting is impressive, a city that inspires anyone.

Hungary Parlament at night

Top Attractions in Budapest

we begin our tour, arriving from the airport to the station in the city center Deak Ferenc ter, this station is one of the main ones in the city center since it is where it makes connections with all the lines of the metro, tram or buses. Here we took the oldest route in the city and Europe, the Yellow Line M1 in the direction of the Mexico station. The trip is quite an experience. The old stations are very well preserved, the old train cars, small and simple but in very good condition, make you travel back in time. It is certainly an experience that you must live if you visit this city.

1. SZECHENYI THERMAL BATH

Finally, our first destination was to visit one of the most famous thermal baths in the city and in the world: the Szechenyi Baths. These are 5 kilometers from the center, and it is practically the area furthest from the center that you are invited to visit as a tourist. That is why we decided to visit them at the beginning, so that we could then focus and stay touring the attractions that are concentrated in the center and around the Danube River. These thermal baths are located in the middle of an impressive park that we will visit next.
The Széchenyi Baths, opened in 1913, are one of the largest thermal bath complexes in Europe. Relax in its thermal pools and saunas, it has three large and very elegant outdoor pools, one specifically for swimming and the others with warmer temperatures for relaxation. They have more than 15 indoor pools, in which the temperatures range between 27 and 36 degrees Celsius and the amount of minerals can be perceived immediately upon entering. The place is incredible, its extremely elegant design, with Roman pillars, sculptures, very well decorated rooms, with their lamps and frames on the walls, a trip to the past. It is a unique experience! Currently the price for entry is around 30 euros, you must take into account that you must bring your own sandals or you will have to buy some very low quality ones for 15 euros. Also, if you want to swim in the pool specifically for swimming, you must also have your own elastic swimming cap. The entrance includes a key to a locker where you can store your belongings, but especially in winter, it is recommended to bring a robe to protect yourself from the cold when leaving the water. Outside there is a cafeteria where you can buy hot and cold drinks, as well as simple snacks such as chips or desserts. There are many thermal baths in Budapest, but if you are only visiting this city, visiting these is definitely one of the main recommendations.

Szechenyi Baths

2. THE CITY PARK - VAJDAHUNDYARD CASTLE - HEROES SQUARE

When you leave the thermal baths you can enjoy the impressive city park, a very large area of green areas with paths, huge trees, small monuments, and the city zoo is also located there. But one of the most striking infrastructures within this park is the Vajdahunyad castle, which despite appearing to be a medieval castle, was built in 1896, with an architectural design that mixes Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements, it was built to celebrate Hungary's millennium, inside the castle you can visit the agricultural museum and its church.
Next to the castle there is also an area that in winter becomes the largest ice skating rink in Europe, between bridges and waterfalls, with the imposing castle in the background, you can imagine a unique setting every winter and especially at Christmas time, very romantic and extremely elegant.
Also just a few steps away you will find one of the most popular squares in the city, the Heroes' Square, where next to it is the Hungarian Museum of Fine Arts. A fairly large place, and the monument consists of a set of several pillars with bronze sculptures around them commemorating the heroes of Hungary, plus a pillar in the middle. And that is where you can take the metro, always the M1 line to finally reach the city centre.
At night, the city takes on a very different vibe, the elegance increases with its emblematic illuminated buildings, the photography is simply impressive. The city of Budapest is well known for its very active nightlife, with a lot of variety, for all types of visitors, the variety of bars and restaurants is countless, of all styles, it is very easy to find restaurants and cafes inside old architectural buildings, extremely genuine, elegant and old, but also very youthful places, other simple places and others more contemporary. In the center of the city you can visit the Jewish quarter, which is one of the most popular for its variety of places to enjoy a night of partying, and without a doubt the most popular pedestrian street in the entire city, Vaci Ucta is perhaps the starting point, that is where we find the greatest movement along with the streets around it, you will undoubtedly be surprised to find passages and streets with a lot of life and a very youthful atmosphere.

the Vajdahunyad castle,

3. FISHERMAN BASTION AND ST.. MARTIN CHURCH

The next day, very early in the morning we took the opportunity to start our tour to get to know the emblematic places of the city. We start on the Buda side, and our first destination is the Fisherman's Bastion and St. Martin's Church.
The Fisherman's Bastion, in Hungarian: Halászbástya, is a neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque terrace located on the Royal Castle Hill in Budapest. It was designed and built between 1895 and 1902. Here are some interesting details, It offers some of the best views of Budapest, including the Danube, the Chain Bridge, Margaret Island and the Budapest Parliament. It is made up of seven towers, Each of the towers of the bastion represents one of the Magyar tribes that founded Hungary in 895.
In the southern courtyard of the bastion there is an equestrian statue of Stephen I, the first Christian king of Hungary wearing his crown, one of the most important relics you will find in the city.
The name Fisherman's Bastion comes from the old fishermen's guild that defended this part of the city walls during the Middle Ages.
It is a perfect place to enjoy the architectural beauty and the impressive views of the city. Currently, access to the top is paid, but you also have beautiful windows and terraces with public access where you can take your photos. The church of San Martin, which is located in the middle of the place, adorns it in an unmatched way. Its Gothic style with its colored roofs makes it, for many, one of the most beautiful churches in Europe. The entrance also has an approximate cost of 6 euros.

4. BUDA CASTLE

A few blocks from this place you will find the Buda Palace or Castle, an architectural jewel and undoubtedly another of the main attractions of the city.
The castle was originally built in the 13th century by King Béla IV after the Mongol invasion. It was rebuilt in Baroque style between 1749 and 1769 and then again after World War II. The castle features a mix of architectural styles, including Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque.
Today, the castle houses the Hungarian National Museum, the Budapest History Museum and the Széchenyi National Library.
Being also located on Castle Hill, it offers stunning panoramic views of the Danube and the city from another angle.
One of the curiosities of this place is also the funicular train, one of the oldest in Europe that was inaugurated in 1870, which still retains its original appearance, this takes you from the bottom right in front of the emblematic Chain Bridge, directly to the top of the castle, the journey is relatively short, around 200 meters that ends between 5 to 10 minutes, the price is around 20 Euros for adults and there are discounted rates for minors, seniors or family groups.

5. CHAIN BRIDGE

Following the tour, we go down just to cross the Danube River on the impressive Chain Bridge. It is one of the most iconic bridges in Budapest and a symbol of the city.
It was opened in 1849 and is the oldest bridge across the Danube River. Its construction was promoted by Count István Széchenyi, one of the most influential Hungarian leaders of the time.
The bridge is an engineering marvel of its time and is notable for its neoclassical architecture. At each end of the bridge are statues of lions that were added in 1852.
The bridge was damaged during World War II and was rebuilt and reopened in 1949, exactly 100 years after its original opening.
At night, the Chain Bridge is spectacularly illuminated, becoming a highlight for tourists and photographers.

Fisherman Bastion

St. Martin Church

Buda Palace

6. ST. STHEPHAN CATHEDRAL

Crossing the bridge from the Buda side to the Pest side of the city takes you directly to St. Stephen's Cathedral, the most important church in the entire city, and certainly a must-see stop on your visit, as it is also one of the most popular tourist attractions as it is considered to be one of the most beautiful Catholic churches in the world.
Construction began in 1851 and was completed in 1866. It was named after St. Stephen I, the first Christian king of Hungary. The cathedral features a neoclassical style and is known for its impressive 55-meter-wide façade and two 79-meter-high towers. It is the largest church in Budapest and one of the largest in Hungary, with a capacity for over 8,500 people. Inside the cathedral is the relic of the right arm of St. Stephen I, which is one of the most important attractions for visitors. The cathedral is famous for its excellent acoustics, making it an ideal venue for organ concerts and other musical events. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the historic centre of Budapest and its beauty is evidently impressive.
Inside the cathedral you will find, in addition to the right arm of the first Christian king of Hungary, a great variety of marbles, paintings, reliefs and sculptures of great artistic value.
Entrance to the church is 6 euros per person, but one of the main attractions is to climb up to its dome, access to the dome is around 10 euros additional, which you can access by climbing stairs or by elevator. The panoramic views of the city from the dome are impressive, a highly recommended activity, where you can capture one of the best images of the Danube River. Keep in mind that it is a very popular activity so you will have to be patient since the space is relatively small for the number of people who visit it. In addition, the entrance to the dome terrace includes a visit to the church treasure, where you can find ancient relics of St. Stephen, a replica of his crown, clothing and ancient items used in religious celebrations.

7. BUDAPEST CENTRAL MARKET

This is the largest and oldest covered market in the city. It was inaugurated on February 15, 1897 and was one of the largest investments of the first mayor of Budapest, Károly Kamermayer.
The market has a neo-Gothic style on its façade and a colorful roof with Zsolnay tiles. Inside, the market has three floors. On the ground floor, you will find stalls selling fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and seafood. The place is extremely spacious, with a high ceiling that covers both floors in a very elegant way. On the upper floor, there are wine, leather and souvenir shops, extensive bazaars that you can walk through one by one finding every kind of item you can imagine, especially many crafts and tourist souvenirs, but in general you will find a bit of everything, ceramics, jewelry, clothing, toys, ornaments, household items among many other things.
Another of the main attractions of the market is that you can enjoy authentic Hungarian cuisine at the food stalls and restaurants. Some of the most popular dishes include goulash and stuffed potatoes, but you have a wide variety on display. The dishes are plentiful and very delicious, but you should keep in mind that they are not cheap at all. You have to be aware that when you check the prices on the menu at the time of paying, additional charges are included, so you should budget that for a full plate you will pay around 20 to 25 euros, but the quantities are extremely large. While it is true that the prices are very similar or even higher than those of the most elegant restaurants outside the market, the experience and the taste make it an unforgettable experience.
It is a vibrant and colorful place, ideal for walking, shopping and enjoying the daily life of the city.
We continue our tour, immediately after leaving the Budapest Central Market there is the longest and most popular pedestrian street in the city, the same one we visited during the night, Vaci Ucta, walking the entire 3 kilometers of the street, finally we arrive at one of the most important squares in the city center, Liberty Square.
In this you will find several important monuments, the main one being the Liberty Monument, but also for example the controversial monuments of the Nazi occupation of the Second World War, and a few steps away the monument to the Russian occupation, both highly criticized by the population.
But our destination is probably an infrastructure that characterizes the entire city, for many the most grandiose of the buildings, this is the Hungarian Parliament.

St. Stephen Cathedral

Great Market Hall Budapest

8. HUNGARIAN PARLIAMENT

The construction of the Parliament began in 1885 and it was inaugurated in 1904. It was designed by the architect Imre Steindl in neo-Gothic style, although it also incorporates Renaissance and Baroque elements. It is one of the largest parliamentary buildings in the world.
The building is 268 meters long and 123 meters wide, with a height of 96 meters at its central dome. It has 691 rooms and 19 kilometers of stairs.
The dome's height of 96 meters symbolizes the year 896, which is the date of Hungary's founding by the Magyar tribes.
The façade of the Parliament is adorned with 88 statues of Hungarian rulers, military leaders, and other important historical figures. The interior is equally impressive, with lavish decorations, frescoes, statues, and stained glass windows. In the dome room, the Holy Crown of Hungary, also known as the Crown of St. Stephen, is housed along with other symbols of the Hungarian monarchy.
Guided tours are available in several languages, including English, to explore the interior of the building and learn more about its history and architecture.
The Parliament of Hungary is not only a symbol of the nation, but also an architectural masterpiece worth visiting.

9. HUNGARIAN OPERA HOUSE

Other important buildings or destinations worth mentioning on your visit to Budapest include the Hungarian Opera House, one of the most important cultural institutions and an architectural and cultural gem in Budapest. It is located on Andrássy Avenue, one of the most elegant streets in Budapest.
It was opened in 1884 and was originally called the Royal Hungarian Opera House. The building is in the neo-Renaissance style and has a luxurious interior and exceptional acoustics.
The opera house presents a wide variety of operas and ballets, both classical and contemporary. The programme includes high-quality productions that attract both locals and tourists.
You can take guided tours of its interior, which are well worth taking.

10. SYNAGOGUE
Another emblematic building is the Synagogue and also the ancient citadel, which is an archaeological site dating back to Roman times and where you will be able to have panoramic views of the city from another angle.