Budapest travel guide

This article, Budapest travel guide, will reveal to you the city’s most appealing attractions, advice, and other helpful information about traveling here. So, if you are interested, proceed with reading.

Why Go To Budapest

Budapest has something for everyone – from dramatic history and striking architecture to healing thermal waters and an unrivaled nightlife in Eastern and Central Europe.

Budapest is more than just the political capital of Hungary. It’s also the commercial and cultural epicenter. Split by the Danube River and composed of three central regions – Pest, Buda, and Óbuda – Budapest links modern conveniences with ancient architecture and alluring parks. From its multifaceted restaurant scene to its rich Jewish heritage, culture extends from nearly every inch of the Pearl of Danube. Whether you’re searching for cuisine, shopping, or museums, a multitude of all await you in Budapest. And prices are fair enough that you won’t have to choose – you can indulge in them all.

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Budapest’s top attractions

The city is full of cultural sights. So, no wonder it is regarded as one of the most beautiful capitals in Europe.

Note: If you like to find out more, check out our related article about Budapest’s must-see monuments and attractions.

Parliament building

Buda Castle

Szechenyi Bath

Great Synagogue

Chain bridge

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St. Stephen’s Basilica

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Best time to visit Budapest

The best times to visit Budapest are from March to May and September through November. Tourists flood the city in summer, despite being the hottest and wettest of the year. However, the climate is always relatively mild, with temperatures rarely exceeding bearable levels. These shoulder seasons are when the weather is idyllic, and the city isn’t overcrowded with tourists.

How to get to the city

The most common ways to get to Budapest are by plane, train, or road by either car or bus – although you can even get a boat from Viena and Bratislava.

By plane

There are various direct flights from all over Europe to Budapest airport. Therefore it is easily reached with a plane. However, there aren’t many direct connections with Budapest from the U.S. or other parts of the world. But there are several indirect flights with stopovers in Frankfurt, London, Paris, Vienna, or Madrid. If you want to get a good flight, click here and check out the best deals.

Getting to the city center from Budapest Airport

There are several ways to get from the Airport to the city center: Airport transfer service, bus 200E, trains, taxis, or rental car. Click here or ask for more information directly at the Airport for further information.

Traveling by train

Budapest has three international railway stations and is well connected with nearby European capital cities like Vienna and Bratislava. Every 3 hours, trains depart from Budapest to these two destinations.

Try the Trainline when booking a train or a bus.

Getting to Budapest by river cruise

From April until late October, visitors can take a Danube river cruise from Bratislava (Slovakia) to Budapest or from Vienna (Austria) to Budapest. It is likely the most romantic and memorable way to travel to Hungary’s capital. Boats from Bratislava take 3 hours and 4 hours and a half from Vienna. The tickets cost approximately € 90 per journey or € 120 for a return ticket.

By car

Hungary has five motorways and four main roads, eight starting from Budapest. In addition, you have to buy a motorway sticker for using the following motorways: M1, M3, M5, M6, and M7 (available at border crossing points and petrol stations).

Public transport in Budapest

Budapest can claim to have a relatively efficient system of public transport, buses, trolleybuses, trams, and metros all more than do the job regarding punctuality and frequency. Although it is a city you can visit on foot, you can also explore it with the two tram lines and four metro lines you can quickly get to the main points of interest.

Travel cards

Unless you want to explore Budapest on foot, we recommend purchasing a 24h-travel card, 72-h pass, or a 7-day travel card, depending on how long you are in Budapest.

3-day travel card or the Budapest Card?

If you want to visit several of Budapest’s museums and landmarks or if you’re traveling with children less than 14 years old, we recommend you check out the Budapest Card. It includes free public transport and discounts for most museums, spas, and monuments.

Where to buy the transport tickets?

Tickets are available either at the Airport, the various metro stations, tobacconists, newsstands, or transport inspectors.

How to Save Money in Budapest

Get acquainted with public transport. Budapest has several cheap, easy mass transit options, including its excellent metro service.
Buy a Budapest Card; Click here to find out more; this card will save you a bundle on public transportation and top attractions around the city.
Rent an apartment. For more extended holidays, consider renting an apartment. It’s a more cost-effective option, especially for those traveling in groups.

Where to stay in Budapest

The answer: The options are almost unlimited.

But that’s not all; there’s more promising news. First of all, the city offers plenty of excellent accommodation, from budget deals to costly ones. Here, the price is usually lower than most central and western Europe’s capitals.

BUDAPEST DOWNTOWN Residences

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Kozmo Hotel Suites & Spa

What and where to eat

When people consider traveling to Budapest, the food doesn’t seem to come up on the list often as a reason to visit. But forgetting about the delights of Hungarian cuisine is a pity because there is so much tasty food in Budapest.

Sure, the names can get long and difficult to pronounce for English speakers (kürtőskalács, anyone?), but Hungarian food itself is varied, often wealthy, and consistently delicious.

Ultimately, if you don’t know what to eat, you can always check our related article about the best food in Budapest.

Pálinka

Chicken Paprikash

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Famous Hungarian goulash

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Tasty tours in Budapest

We wanted to make things easy for you, that’s why we selected some of the most popular food tours in the city. If you’d like to skip the lines, click on the widget below and choose your favorite one.

Best one-day trips from Budapest

Firstly we have to stress that these are a few fascinating destinations, which should make a holiday destination in their own right. However, if you flew to the city from a faraway country, these are our top picks.

Stay safe in Budapest

The safety index of 64.77 makes Budapest a safe city, especially for tourists. Minor crime acts are present, but minimal standard precautions can make your stay safe. Travelers need to avoid risky areas for walking alone at night. Budapest’s secure areas are districts 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7. However, neighborhoods outside the ring road (Nagyrorut) can be dangerous, particularly in districts 8 and 9.

Locals recommend to:

Stay aware of your surroundings: Watch out for pickpockets—especially in crowded places like train stations or top tourist attractions, like the Colosseum.
Keep an eye on your belongings: Don’t leave your phone or wallet in your back pocket. That’s why it is good to think about investing in a crossbody purse.

Budapest travel guide – final thoughts

We have to admit that Budapest overwhelmed us. It was more beautiful than we expected.

And finally, we let the word to you. What’s your impression of this city? And if you have any further recommendations, tips, advice, feel free to share them with us in the comments below.