At the beginning of 2020, my husband and I embarked on a 7-day road trip through Central Europe. After spending 2 days in Prague, we hit the road and travelled 5 hours through the beautiful Czechoslovakian countryside to Budapest. We had only 2 days in Budapest but we hit all the high notes! Here are the 11 best things to do in Budapest.

First of all, let’s talk about the drive there:

Prague to Budapest Road Trip Tips:

Stops along the way:

• Bratislava Castle (entrance is free, just pay $3 for parking in the deck) – gorgeous views of the Danube River and the castle
• Brno, Czech Republic
• Any of the dozens of castles you will pass!

To cross the border:

• You will need to stop after crossing the border of both Slovakia and Hungary to buy a Vignette in each country. The vignette is a sticker that drivers must fix to their windshield signifying that they have paid the appropriate taxes and fees necessary to drive on the highways in that country. It’s essentially a toll. The process is easy. A 10 day vignette is good for travel through the country for 10 days and is only about 10 EUR in Slovakia and about 2,975 HUF (about 9,96 EUR) in Hungary.

Where to Stay in Budapest

Airbnb:

This AirBnb suited our needs well. It was affordable and within walking distance to the parliament building, the Danube river, and many restaurants. Plus, the host helped us to park in a free parking deck then walked us to the place.

I highly recommend this spot. The building itself was old and dark but is in a perfect location. Airbnb Link

Hotels On the River:

• Intercontinental, IHG
• Budapest Marriott Hotel

These hotels are wonderfully located right next to the Danube River and within walking distance to the Chain Bridge, Fisherman’s Bastion, the Parliament Building, and Buda Castle.

11 Best Things to Do in Budapest:

There are so many amazing things to do in Budapest. If you choose to stay in a hotel by the River or in the AirBnb listed above, you can start with activities 1-6 as they will all be within walking distance from the hotel.

1. Shoes on the Danube

A must see in Budapest are the Shoes on the Danube Bank. This is a chilling and profound experience. Along the river are 60 pairs of bronze shoes anchored to the ground in memory of the 20,000 Jews who between December 1944 and January 1945 were forced to take off their shoes and line up on the bank of the river to be shot and killed by the Arrow Cross Militiamen, subsequently falling into the Danube which carried their bodies away.

The shoes are a chilling reminder of the horrors of the Nazi regime.

2. The Parliament Building

The Hungarian Parliament Building in Budapest has to be my favorite building of all time. You will want to view it up close, from across the river, and from all sides. You can also go inside for a tour. I could not get enough of this building.

3. Fisherman’s Bastion

Also known as, Halászbástya, this beautiful monument rises up adjacent to the Danube river and provides a spectacular panoramic view of the Pest side of Budapest (the part of Budapest on the East side of the river). The Fisherman’s Bastion is right next to Matthias Church and a short walk to the Buda Castle. I recommend, if you’re visiting while it’s cold outside, grab a mulled wine to sip while touring the area. Try to visit at sunset for the most incredible views.

4. Buda Castle

Within walking distance from the Fisherman’s Bastion is the Buda Castle. We toured the castle at night (after sunset at the bastion) and had a great experience. We didn’t pay to go inside but walked through and courtyards and around the periphery.

From the castle, I recommend you pay the 6 euros to ride the Buda Hill Funicular down to the chain bride. The funicular car will give you great views of Budapest as you climb down the hill. The ride is smooth and short.

5. Szechenyi Chain Bridge

At the bottom of the funicular, walk across the beautiful chain bridge and find yourself back on the Pest side of Budapest. Make sure to take photos underneath the bridge.

6. St. Stephen’s Basilica

Walk about 10 minutes East from the Chain Bridge and view or tour the St. Stephen’s Basilica

7. Heroes’ Square

Heroes’ Square is about 2 miles from the river and not within walking distance of your hotel if you choose to stay in a hotel by the river or the Airbnb listed above.

I recommend taking a taxi to Andrassy Avenue and grabbing coffee/breakfast at Ecocafe.

Then, walk about 15 minutes down Andrassy and take in the stunning architecture and shops that line this famous street. Many say that Andrassy Avenue reminds them of the Champs Elysees in Paris.

At the end of the street, you will find the larger than life Heroes Square. After enjoying the monument, walk through Varosliget Park to Vajdahunyad Castle and onto the Szechenyi Thermal Baths (make sure you have packed a swim suit).

8. Szechenyi Thermal Baths

Although visiting the thermal bath is kind of pricey- about 30 EUR per person got us the lockers, flip flops, and towels we needed- this experience is not to be missed! This the largest medicinal bath in Europe and it is fed by two thermal springs. The water is hot and healing. Beverages may be purchased and enjoyed outside the water but cannot be brought into the bath. The architecture is lovely, and this is the perfect way to relax after walking up Andrassy.

9. Eat Hungarian Food

On our first night, we walked to Borze for dinner. We chose this restaurant because we wanted to have true Hungarian food for dinner. The restaurant was elegant, and the wait staff was helpful. The wine and the dessert were divine.

10. Gozsdu Courtyard

For dinner on night two, we took a taxi to the Gozsdu Udvar which is an open-air courtyard with a central walkway that is lined with restaurants, pubs, and bars. We didn’t make plans or reservations beforehand – no need! There are so many good spots to choose from.

We followed the sounds of live music and made our way into a charming pub called Vicky Barcelona where we sat in front of a musical duo that was covering everything from Enrique Iglesias to 4 Non Blondes and enjoyed pre-dinner cocktails.

After this, we walked down to Klikk Bistro Bar and got pizza and beers. We were shocked when at 11pm, girls in bikinis and high heels came out onto the bar and started dancing. The food was average but this was a very memorable night!

11. Visit the Ruin Bars

Budapest is known for its Ruin Bars. We decided to check out the oldest and most famous of the ruin bars: Szimpla Kert. We spent the night wandering through the many rooms of the historic bar, marveling at the kitschy decorations, and listening to live music. It was a very memorable evening.

For those who want the fun to continue all night long, there are plenty of dance clubs in Budapest. One of which is called Instant. We wandered into the club for a little bit before heading home, exhausted from the long day.

A few more things..

Make sure to try Unicum, Hungary’s popular herbal liqueur. Enjoy a glass as a digestif after dinner.

Hungarians love paprika. Not only is chicken paprikash (paprika chicken) available at almost any restaurant, but you can grab paprika souvenirs of almost any kind.

Lastly, make sure to thank those serving you and helping you in Budapest. “Koszonom” is Hungarian (Magyar) for thank you.

Koszonom!

-Alanna

Check out the rest of our Central European Road Trip: Prague, Hallstatt, and Cesky Krumlov