I’ve been to Budapest, Hungary four times now and I have not blogged about it yet. Shame on me, because it’s such a lovely city to spend a long weekend in. From its gorgeous architecture, rich history, and decadent food, here are a few of my favorite things to see and do while in Budapest.
Buda Side
Fisherman’s Bastion
With its fairytale pointed towers and scenic vistas overlooking Budapest, Fisherman’s Bastion is a must-see on the Buda side. Fisherman’s Bastion is actually considered to be the Buda side castle wall and its namesake comes from the fisherman’s guild, who used to protect this area. There are seven towers in total to represent the number of Magyar tribes that settled in the Carpathian Basin in 896. We had the amazing fortune to stay at the adjacent Hilton Budapest and opened up the curtains to our room one morning to the most epic sunrise (see image on the left below).
Buda Castle
A trip to Budapest is not complete without visiting Buda Castle. The castle sits atop Castle Hill and was completed in 1265. The castle was once considered to be the center of high society in Budapest. However, the castle has a complex and turbulent history, having been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times. During World War II, the palace was also occupied by the Nazis.
In 1987, the castle was designated a World Heritage site. In 2015, the Hungarian government granted another 1.3 billion forint for final renovations of the castle. Which, is wonderful for us travelers, as the Buda Castle that you get to visit and experience today is quite beautiful (although I’m sure it was equally beautiful back then too!).
To visit Buda Castle, you have a number of options. The courts and courtyards are open 24/7, which is a rare treat. We stayed at the Hilton Budapest just outside of Fisherman’s Bastion and the early morning sunrise was absolutely stunning – and there was nobody around!
Find opening hours for the National Gallery, Budapest History Museum, and other attractions at Buda Castle here.
Matthias Church
Matthias Church is hard to miss in the Buda Castle district. A beautiful 11th century Roman Catholic church, the original building was constructed in 1015 and then later re-built in the 13th century. Interestingly, during the Turkish occupation, the church was converted into a mosque. The church was again re-constructed between 1873-1896 and again between 1950-1970 after suffering much damage during World War II to look like how we see it today.
You can go inside Matthias Church for HUF 1,800 (adult tickets). There are two options, one just to see the ground floor interior of the church and another to go to the top. I only went into the ground floor interior of the church. I would say that compared to some of the other churches that I have been to in Europe, that you could probably skip this one. However, if you have the time, I do bet going to the top of the church would be nice for the views!
For visiting hours and ticket prices, visit here.
Ruszwurm Cake Shop
If you need a break from sightseeing, head to Ruszwurm for coffee and cake. Ruszwurm has been a family-run café for 200-years and we thoroughly enjoyed our decadent visit there. For more information, click here.
Pest-Buda Bistro
When I stayed at the Hilton Budapest, we ventured to the adjacent Pest-Buda Bistro for dinner one night. Recommended by our hotel for authentic Hungarian food, we ordered a goat cheese salad with berries, chicken paprikash and cherry chocolate cake for dessert.
The Surrounding Streets
It’s very easy to only wander around Buda Castle. Don’t forget to stroll through the side streets to take in the charming buildings. The old, oversized doors were a personal favorite of mine.
Citadella on Gellert Hill
Gellert Hill is another great spot to travel to for sweeping views of Budapest and the Danube River. Atop Gellert Hill you will find the Citadella, an old military fortress, which has a number of scenic vistas that are perfect for capturing photos of the city.
Bonus: The sculptures are also wonderful – and quite powerful.
Gellert Spa and Hotel
Budapest is famous for its spas and baths. One of the more famous ones is Gellert Spa and Hotel. Fun fact: You can actually go into the entry area of the spa for free (and there are free bathrooms too!). The facility has interior and exterior baths, making it a good option for an authentic Budapest bath experience. While I did not get to experience the baths on my trip, I certainly would be up for it on a future visit.
Pest Side
Opera
Offically opened to the public in 1884, the Opera is the third-largest building in Budapest today. While I didn’t get to go inside, I can recommend popping into their gift shop, as they have some very charming music and ballet-themed items that make for nice souvenirs. I had forgotten a canvas bag on the trip and picked up an adorable black and white one with music notes on it that will accompany me on many trips and outings around London.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral
St. Stephen’s Cathedral is one of Budapest’s most iconic landmarks and it is easy to see why. Completed in 1905, the architectural style is neoclassical and the interior is beautiful.
I also had the pleasure of going inside St. Stephen’s Cathedral. There is an entry fee (or donation?) that you need to make, but it is well worth it. The interior is beautiful, with stained glass and a large organ. Visitors also have the option of going to the top of the cathedral for a fee – more details here.
Ronald Regan statue
This one is for my fellow Americans. En route to Parliament, make sure to check out the Ronald Regan statue. The statue was created for a very nice reason, actually. Apparently the Hungarian people wanted to show their appreciation for the former U.S. president’s efforts in ending the Cold War, which in turn helped to end the Russian influence in Hungary.
Parliament
In my opinion, the Hungarian Parliament Building is arguably the most spectacular building in Budapest. Opened in 1905, the building was constructed in a neo-gothic architectural style, and it is just stunning.
While visiting Parliament is worth a visit simply for the exterior, you can also book tours (link here) to check out the interior of the building. It is recommended that you plan this well in advance, as the building is not open for tours on Monday when Parliament is in session, plus it can be closed for special events.
All of the tours are guided in your language of choice and are about 50 minutes long. Fair warning: it is a little bit chaotic queuing up for your tour with all of the other tourists there, but once you make it through the security checkpoint (like airport security, but no liquid restrictions), it’s a very relaxed tour experience.
Here are a few highlights from my tour.
Shoes On The Danube
Just adjacent from Hungarian Parliament building is the Shoes On The Danube memorial. The memorial features true to size sculptures of shoes in the style of those worn by Budapest’s Jewish community during the Holocaust. The memorial is a tribute to those who lost their lives tragically during the Holocaust.
Mazel Tov
My favorite restaurant experience on the Pest side was hands-down at Mazel Tov. Mazel Tov is a ruin bar/restaurant, albeit a much more gourmet, high design one. Do not judge a book by its cover here. While the exterior looks rundown, the interior is anything but. Step inside to a light, airy two-story space dotted with green plants and chic white tables.
The menu features Israeli street food, with the option of trying small plates or ordering larger mains. I opted for a chicken shawarma main, which came with a delicious flatbread and one of the most flavorful beet salads that I have ever had. The portion was huge – I could only eat half of it – and I was trying because it was so good. The spices and the tenderness of the chicken was just perfect. I topped it off with a sinfully delicious iced coffee – more like dessert than anything, but wow, it was delightful.
On another occasion, I had something akin to a mezze platter – an assortment of little salads and dips with an Aperol spritz. Also divine!
New York Palace Cafe Budapeste
On one of my many Budapest trips, I checked another restaurant off of my bucket list – the New York Palace Cafe in Budapest. Located in the oh-so-stunning The Dedica Anthology hotel, both the cafe and hotel are stunningly beautiful. It’s one of those historic buildings that you enter and just say “wow!” However, as a fun fact for you, the building was constructed in 1894 to be the local head office for the New York Life Insurance Company!
I went to the cafe on a cold, snowy night in Budapest. As I walked in – with no reservation mind you – I was lucky to only have a short wait for a table. After ordering a glass of Hungarian white wine, I opted for the duck, which came with ricotta dumplings. It was cooked perfectly!
As the New York Palace Cafe is known for its desserts, I could not stop at just the duck. Asking my waiter for advice, he looked at me kindly and asked, “Are you a ‘sweet’ person?”
I responded jokingly with, “I hope so!”
To which he said endearingly, “Haha of course, but with desserts!”
And this, my friends, is how I was charmed into this oh-so-divine hazelnut cake. With its thick ducle de leche esque outer layer and hazelnut cake interior, it was absolutely divine. If I haven’t gushed enough about this place, consider this a confirmation. You must go!
Oinos Wine Bar & Bistro
A bit off of the tourist beaten path, I really enjoyed Oinos Wine Bar & Bistro. I actually discovered it by walking by it en route to my work meetings. I took a look at the reviews online and decided to go try it!
I started with a hot pumpkin curry soup. During a cold, wintery January in Budapest, it was spicy, comforting and all-things incredible.
I followed with a seared ahi tuna with a mango, green apple salad. This was also prepared fantastically and was full of flavor. And yes, I did also enjoy a delicious glass of Hungarian white wine with this meal!
Piccolo Cafe
During one of my Budapest trips, it was boiling hot outside. I was craving a smoothie for breakfast and used Foursquare to find Piccolo Cafe. I watched them make my smoothie with real, frozen berries and strawberry juice. It was refreshing and really hit the spot!
Other recommended restaurants that I did not get to try:
Where To Stay In Budapest
As I have been to Budapest many times before, I’ve stayed at a few hotels. I personally would prefer staying on the Pest side, as I think there is more to see there and you can walk to more. However, if you only have one day or really want to see Buda Castle the most, then that could make more sense.
Here are mini reviews of where I have stayed:
Hilton Budapest: Located on the Buda side, the Hilton Budapest is a fantastic choice if you want to spend most of your time in the Buda Castle area or are traveling with people less able to walk long distances. The hotel is a premium quality Hilton with a beautiful ground floor lounge and restaurant where we loved the breakfast buffet. We only stayed here for one night, so I cannot speak to other amenities or facilities, however, a pro tip is to splurge on a room with a view of Fisherman’s Bastion.
K+K Opera Hotel Budapest: I’ve stayed at this hotel twice, pre and post room renovations. Before the renovation, I wouldn’t have recommended this hotel as the rooms were just average. However, after the renovation, the rooms are SO cute, making this hotel a lovely little boutique option in Budapest, also with a good morning breakfast buffet. The location next door to the Opera makes the hotel walkable to many attractions like St. Stephen’s Basilica, luxury shopping on Andrássy út, plus about 10-15 minutes walking to great restaurants I recommended like Mazel Tov. However, one warning: the hotel room door keys are hilariously old school, but don’t worry you’ll be fine :).
I sadly cannot find my photos from this hotel, but if you want to take a look, TripAdvisor’s traveler photos give an accurate look: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g274887-d276383-Reviews-K_K_Hotel_Opera-Budapest_Central_Hungary.html#photos;aggregationId=104&albumid=104&filter=2
Courtyard by Marriott Budapest City Center: This is your classic Courtyard by Marriott hotel. It’s super comfy, sizeable rooms and a yummy breakfast buffet. It’s also very centrally located as the hotel name would suggest. You’re only a few minutes walk from so many great restaurants, like the Oinos and the New York Palace Cafe that I recommended above.
Getting Around In Budapest
As I’ve always been to Budapest for work with an extra day or two added for sightseeing, I just take a taxi from the airport into the city. From the airport, the process is super easy to pick up a taxi, just follow the signs and directions. While I don’t remember my receipt from the airport into the city, my ride from the Courtyard by Marriott Budapest City Center back to the airport at 9am during a weekday was 7250 Hungarian Forint, which is about 19 British pounds, so pretty affordable given that it’s a 30 minute drive between the two.
For getting around, I mostly walked and took taxis here and there using the Bolt app, which was previously called Taxify app. The Bolt app allows you to hail local taxis safely and was a good, reliable experience. Budapest doesn’t have Uber, but if you’re comfortable with the Uber app functionality, the Bolt app will be super easy for you to use. Bonus: using the app removes any language barriers in communicating your address.
To get the app: https://bolt.eu/en-gb/cities/budapest/. Bonus: if you want to use my promo code when signing up, it gives you up to 13 pounds off of your first ride and then will gift me 13 pounds as well. My code is: KKZWT
Budapest does also have public transportation options, but I cannot speak to them, as I haven’t tried it yet.
Final Thoughts
Budapest is an AWESOME place for a holiday. I’ve now been in the summer, fall and winter and while anytime of year is a good for a visit, I prefer summer and fall. I’m just not a fan of cold weather! With the city’s mix of incredible attractions, museums, food, spas, and more, you could easily plan a 3, 5 or 7 day holiday depending on the pace you want to go at, plus how much you want to see.
If you have any questions, leave a comment below and I’ll do my best to get back to you ASAP!
For more of my travel adventures, visit: https://thesavvybostonian.com/category/travel/
Disclosure: Hotel links in this post are affiliate links, which provide me with a small commission for any bookings made through my links. If this bothers you, just search for the property yourself and book without my link. I use affiliate links as a way for my readers to say thank you for the time it takes to create this content. This post alone took 10 hours to compile…with love :)! I only recommend hotels that I have stayed at and enjoyed. I have not been paid to mention any of the above attractions, hotels or restaurants in this blog post.