Things to do in Budapest

Budapest is a decadent wonderland of imperial beauty, street scars and nighttime swagger. The capital of Hungary has lots of things to discover and everyone will find something to their liking. Let’s dive in.

Monuments

Head across the river to the Buda side, where the vistas bite back. Take the derelict funicular and you are soon at the top of the hill. Walk along the fairytale turrets of Fisherman’s Bastion. While you are up there, don’t miss to visit the beautiful Matthias Church and check out its impressive stained glass windows, shimmering like a forgotten dream.

Fisherman’s Bastion.

If you want your legs to pay the rent for a view, hike up to the top of Gellért Hill. There you will find the Citadella, an old fortress from 1854. It’s easy to find with the imposing Liberty Statue looming over the horizon, looking like a bottle opener.

The lesser-known Gerard of Csanád Monument offers quiet reward away from the hoards.

Thermal baths

For centuries, hot mineral-rich water bubbling beneath the surface has been part of this city’s story. Go soak like a local at the thermal baths.

The Gellért baths sits in a swoon-worthy 1918 Art Nouveau building at the foot of the Gellért hill where the mineral hot springs originate from. Mosaics and steam converge in a misty alliance. When you are about to faint from heatstroke in the tiny scorching indoor pools, head to the outdoor pool where a wave machine tumbles tourists like a giant Slush machine.

Széchenyi baths are almost as popular, easy to recognize by the yellow facade. In comparison to the venerable Gellért, Széchenyi feels more like an amusement park. Serious poolside chess players share space with sunbathers holding cold beer.

Széchenyi bath.

For something quieter, try the Rudas baths where the dim Ottoman chambers provide a relaxed atmosphere.

Ruin bars

Ah yes, here we go. Derelict buildings in the 7th District (once the Jewish ghetto) transformed into bars that look like someone threw a wild art party, then decided to never clean up. These are spaces rebuilt from history and sabotage and creativity all at once.

Strange evening at Szimpla Kert.

If you’re in Budapest after dark, let the ruin bars be your playground. Drink, dance and soak up the vibe. The original Szimpla Kert (est 2002) is a proper starting point.

Food

Let’s eat until our forks beg for mercy. Budapest is neither Paris nor Bangkok, but it plays at its own table with elegance and honesty.

For grandeur without pretension, visit the New York Palace Café (Erzsébet krt 9). At the turn of the century it was arguably the most beloved coffee house in Budapest. High ceilings, ornate interiors and cakes to die for, but you don’t need royalty’s wallet. You may have seen the place in shows such as Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown or season seven of Homeland.

New York Palace Café.

Craving something old-school and sweet? The Café Gerbeaud (Vörösmarty tér 7) has been serving delights since 1858. Order the beautiful “cherry bomb” and a glass of sweet Tokaji wine. Life is short, so make it flamboyant.

The cherry bomb at Café Gerbeaud.

Stroll around

Here’s the easiest tip: take off the agenda for a bit. Enjoy the cheap but lovely pleasure of just walking around in a large city and soak it up.

Walk across the Széchenyi Chain Bridge and stop mid-span to take in the view. Climb to the Buda Castle for the wind, the history and the way the city stretches beneath you. Visit the Shoes monument on the Danube Bank, simple but powerful. Buy an ice cream at Gelarto Rosa (try the iconic flower-shaped cone). Get lost in Városliget park.

An der schönen braunen Donau.

The best travel isn’t always feature complete or itinerary heavy. A perfect moment can be the silence between the sights or the smell of a bakery in a side street. Don’t chase perfection, look for experience. Discover things. You’ve got this.