Itinerary for Budapest in 3 Days

Budapest is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating capitals in Europe and, above all, is an excellent destination for a weekend getaway. Despite being a capital, the historic center can easily be visited on foot, immersing yourself even more in its beauty, among splendid attractions and historic buildings.Here are all our tips for organizing a 3-day itinerary in Budapest. See also: Things to see in Budapest

Buy the city card: to save on the cost of individual attractions and transportation, we recommend purchasing the Budapest Card, which includes free access to many of the attractions included in our itinerary.

Distance traveled 3.1 km Places visited Chain Bridge (free), Fisherman's Bastion (free / towers 1,200 HUF/$3.10), Matthias Church (2,900 HUF/$7.50), Buda Castle (National Gallery 4,800 HUF/$12.50), Citadel (free), panoramic cruise Where to eat Lunch at Lánchíd Söröző (Get directions), Dinner at KIOSK Budapest (Get directions)

First time in Budapest? Let yourself be guided: for a first approach to the city, we recommend a hop-on hop-off bus tour, to identify the landmarks and learn stories and anecdotes.

Budapest is divided into two parts by the Danube River: Buda and Pest. Devote the first day to Buda, the oldest part of the city. The starting point is the wonderful Chain Bridge, in Hungarian Széchenyi Lánchíd, one of the symbols of Budapest, easily reachable from any point in the historic center (Get directions).Budapest, being crossed by the Danube, has several bridges that connect the two banks, but the Chain Bridge is the most famous and oldest in the city. Admire it from Clark Ádám tér, on the Buda side, where you can access Buda Castle. The bridge is 375 m long and at the beginning, there are two lion statues, the city's symbol.If you want to take a great photo of the bridge, cross the pedestrian walkway to reach Széchenyi István tér (Get directions), from this square you will enjoy the perfect angle for a top shot!Visiting time: 30 min

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Consider a guided tour: it is an excellent solution to discover secrets and anecdotes about the Buda District and its most iconic attractions like the Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church. Info and prices here.

To reach this stop: 7 min walk (Get directions).Once across the bridge, walk to one of the most beautiful attractions in all of Budapest, the wonderful Fisherman's Bastion. The road is a bit uphill, but easily traversable with comfortable shoes (550 m, 7 min).The Fisherman's Bastion is a viewpoint that looks like it came out of a fairy tale. Its peculiar architecture and the wonderful view of the city have made it one of the most beloved spots by tourists. You will always find a lot of people here, but the view is truly priceless (access to the towers full price 1,200 HUF/$3.10, reduced price 600 HUF/$1.55).Don't miss a visit to Matthias Church, or Mátyás Templom, one of the oldest buildings in all of Budapest with its approximately 700 years (variable hours, generally Mon-Fri 9:00-17:00, Sat 9:00-12:00, Sun 1:00-5:00 PM; full admission 2,900 HUF/$7.50, reduced 2,300 HUF/$6.00). Inside it houses the Sacred Art Museum, where you can also admire a replica of the royal crown.Visiting time: 1.5 hours

The Starbucks with one of the most beautiful views: Starbucks is a renowned international coffee chain, but the one in Budapest has an extra edge. It is located right inside the Bastion, with a beautiful view of the inner courtyard and its towers. Enjoy a break here! Get directions

To reach this stop: 10 min walk (Get directions).For the afternoon, we recommend visiting the wonderful Buda Castle, the ancient residence of the kings of Hungary and one of the most beloved attractions in the city. You can easily walk from the Fisherman's Bastion to it (900 m, 15 min).Situated on a hill, its gardens offer a splendid view of the Danube and Pest. The Castle is now open to the public and hosts three important museums:the Hungarian National Gallery, developed over 4 floors and featuring numerous artworks, the Historical Museum of Budapest, which recounts the key stages of the city, and the National Library.Additionally, you can also discover the Castle Labyrinth through a guided tour of the underground.Unfortunately, there is not enough time to visit everything, so admire the gardens and choose only one of the other activities based on your interests.Visiting time: 2 hours See also: Visit to Buda Castle: hours, prices, and advice

Take the funicular down: the castle is connected to Clark Ádám tér via a historic funicular. Take it to go down and admire the city slowly flowing in front of you, an experience not to be missed! Active daily 8:00 AM-10:00 PM, round trip full price 4,000 HUF ($10.30), reduced 2,000 HUF ($5.15). Get directions

To reach this stop: 25 min walk (Get directions).Once you descend from the castle via the funicular, it will already be mid-afternoon. Then, head to perhaps the most beautiful viewpoint in Budapest: its Citadel. From Clark Ádám tér, it's about 2 km, walkable (25 min) or take tram line 19 or 41 from Clark Ádám tér to Szent Gellért tér - Műegyetem M (5 min), then you can continue on foot (10-15 min).The Citadel is the highest point in the whole city and along the path to climb, you can admire numerous statues and remnants of the ancient fortress. At the top stands the Statue of Liberty, in memory of all the soldiers who lost their lives defending their country, however the area is currently under renovation so the highest point may be fenced off. You can still enjoy the walk and admire the breathtaking views, especially at sunset.The climb to the Citadel can be challenging; if you don't feel like walking, take the tourist bus.Visiting time: 1.5 hours

Conclude your trip with a cruise on the Danube: a cruise is an unmissable activity in Budapest and is undoubtedly the best way to conclude your first day. Choose between the panoramic cruise (Duration 1 h, last departure at 9:00 PM) and the romantic dinner cruise included (Duration 2 h, departure at 7:00 PM).

Distance traveled 4.2 km Places visited Budapest Parliament (6,000 HUF/$15.70 approx), St. Stephen's Basilica (from 2,300 HUF/$6.00), Vörösmarty tér square, Váci utca pedestrian street, Great Market Hall (free), Hungarian National Museum (3,500 HUF/$9.10), Jewish Quarter (free / guided tour of the Great Synagogue) Where to eat Lunch at Nagy Vásárcsarnok (Get directions), Dinner at Legfelsőbb Beeróság (Get directions)

Dedicate the second day to Pest and start it by visiting one of the symbols of the capital and Hungary: the wonderful Parliament (from April to October 8:00 AM-6:00 PM, from November to March 8:00 AM-4:00 PM; full price 6,000,00 HUF/$15.60, reduced price 3,000,00 HUF/$7.80 - Get directions). Located on the banks of the Danube, on the Pest side, it is easily reachable with a pleasant walk along the riverbank. We recommend arriving right at 8:00 AM, to participate in the first tour.The building is uniquely beautiful on the outside: it features a Gothic style, with neobaroque and neo-romantic influences. Stretching 268 m long, it houses the Hungarian National Assembly. And if the exterior leaves you speechless, seize the opportunity to visit the interior as well: by participating in a guided tour (45 min, to be booked as soon as possible on the official site), you can visit the Golden Hall, the House of Lords, and the Domed Hall, where the Holy Crowns of Hungary are located.Visiting time: 1 hour

Admire the shoes on the Danube bank: the center of Budapest is rich in statues, and on the riverbank, a short walk from Parliament, one of the most significant artworks, the "Shoes on the Danube Bank," pays tribute to the Jewish citizens who were executed on the banks during the Holocaust. Get directions

To reach this stop: 13 min walk (Get directions).After visiting Parliament, head to St. Stephen's Basilica, or Szent István Bazilika (Mon-Sat 9:00 AM-7:00 PM, Sun 7:45 AM-7:00 PM; Church full price 2,300 HUF/$6.00, reduced 1,700 HUF/$4.40, only the panoramic terrace and treasury full price 4,300 HUF/$11.20, reduced 3,400 HUF/$8.80, combined ticket full price 6,000 HUF/$15.60, reduced 4,800 HUF/$12.40), an imposing Church in the heart of the city. You can easily reach it on foot from Parliament by following the Danube promenade (1 km, 13 min).St. Stephen's Basilica is one of the most important monuments in the city, in addition to being one of the tallest buildings (its dome dominates the skyline) and one of the most important religious buildings in all of Hungary! It is dedicated to Stephen, the first King of Hungary, and inside the reliquary, his presumed right hand is kept.Visiting time: 1 hour

Climb to the dome: ascend the high Dome of the Basilica and admire a wonderful panorama of the entire city and even Buda. The combined ticket for church+treasure+dome costs 4500 HUF/$12.00 approx.

To reach this stop: 8 min walk (Get directions).From St. Stephen's Basilica, walk (650 m, 8 min) to Vörösmarty tér, the heart of Pest, home to the city's wonderful markets, and from here head down Váci utca, a charmingly pedestrian-only street that runs through the entire center of Budapest until reaching Fővám tér, where the Central Market is located. Enjoy a stroll along the street, among the shop windows, and maybe indulge in some shopping.Visiting time: 30 min

Stop at Budapest's historic café: in Vörösmarty tér, you will find the historic Café Gerbeaud. Order a coffee or cappuccino and try its wonderful desserts, especially the Dobos Cake, the most famous Hungarian dessert in the world. Prices are definitely high compared to the average, but it is an experience to live, here it feels like you have stepped back into the 1800s! Get directions

To reach this stop: 1 min walk (Get directions).After walking the entirety of Váci utca (from Vörösmarty tér about 1.3 km, 17 min), you will arrive at the wonderful central market of Budapest, the Nagy Vásárcsarnok (Mon 6:00 AM-5:00 PM, Tue-Fri 6:00 AM-6:00 PM, Sat 6:00 AM-3:00 PM, Sun closed; admission free).This is the largest covered market in Budapest, as well as one of the largest in Europe! Opened at the end of the 19th century, it consists of three different levels, where you can find all kinds of products: mainly fish in the basement, food stalls and typical products on the ground floor, stalls with souvenirs, local crafts, and clothing on the upper floor.Visiting time: 1 hour

Stop for lunch: the central market is the perfect place to stop for lunch. You can opt for something quick at the stalls on the ground floor or sit down in one of the restaurants to taste traditional Hungarian specialties. See what to eat here

To reach this stop: 6 min walk (Get directions).After lunch, head to one of the most important museums in the capital, the Hungarian National Museum, or Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum (Tue-Sun 10:00 AM-6:00 PM; full price 3,500 HUF/$9.10, reduced 1,750 HUF/$4.55). You can easily reach it on foot from the market (500 m, 6 min).Founded back in 1802, in this museum you can discover the history of the country, from its foundation to 1990. Among the collections are exhibited relics and works, the oldest of which date back to prehistoric times. Among the highlights is certainly the crown mantle of the Kings of Hungary!Visiting time: 2 hours

Enjoy a walk in Múzeumkert: this is the garden surrounding the building, a true open-air museum. Here, you can admire numerous sculptures and fountains. Get directions

To reach this stop: 10 min walk (Get directions).Finally, head to the Jewish Quarter of Budapest, which hosts the third largest Jewish community in Europe. From the museum, you can easily walk there, following Múzeum krt (700 m, 10 min).Once you arrive at the district, visit the Great Synagogue, the second largest in the world, second only to the Synagogue in Jerusalem. Built between 1854 and 1859, its main architectural style is Moorish, but you can also see Byzantine, Romanesque, and Gothic details. Given the extended closing hours, you should be able to visit it without problems, especially in the summer! If you want to enjoy a richer experience, discovering many historical anecdotes and curiosities about the Synagogue and the Jewish Quarter in general, we recommend the guided tour of the Jewish quarter.Visiting time: 2 hours See also: Visit to the Great Synagogue: how to get there, prices, and advice

Spend your evening here: it's one of the hotspots of the nightlife. First, enjoy a relaxing break at the New York Café, dubbed the most beautiful café in the world (Get directions), then dine at Szimpla Kert (Get directions), one of the most beautiful Ruin Pubs in Budapest, that is, nightlife venues located inside old buildings and decayed courtyards.

Distance traveled 1.2 km Places visited Heroes' Square, Széchenyi Thermal Baths (online tickets), City Park Városliget Where to eat Lunch at Széchenyi Fürdő Büfé (Get directions), Dinner at Kiskakukk Étterem (Get directions)

Start this final day at Heroes' Square, one of the most beautiful squares in Budapest. The square is easily reachable from the historic center of Budapest via metro, with the closest stop being Hősök tere (M1 line; from the central stop of Deák Ferenc tér 8 min - Get directions).Heroes' Square, in Hungarian Hősök tere, is the most famous and iconic square in Budapest, dominated by the Millennium Monument, or Millenniumi emlékmű, where the statues of the founders of the country are located. The square represents the entrance to the large city park, Városliget, where the Széchenyi Thermal Baths are located, the famous baths where we recommend spending the entire morning.Visiting time: 15 min

To reach this stop: 7 min walk (Get directions).Spend the whole morning at one of the wonderful thermal baths in Budapest. The Hungarian capital is indeed a renowned thermal city and just a short walk from Heroes' Square (600 m, 7 min walk), right in the city park, are the Széchenyi Baths.The Széchenyi Baths are the most famous baths in Budapest, especially for the uniqueness of the location: they are housed in a wonderful neobaroque style building. Open all year round, the outdoor pool is always accessible, thanks to the warm water which, with its steam, creates a truly unique and surreal atmosphere. There's nothing better than relaxing here after three days of walking through the city's streets! And if you want to indulge in some pampering, there are plenty of wellness treatments available, such as massages.Visiting time: 3 hours See also: Visit to the Széchenyi Baths: hours, prices, and advice

Buy your entrance in advance: as the most famous baths in Budapest, they are often the most crowded. To secure a spot and avoid long queues at the ticket office, purchase your entrance in advance, which also includes the use of a locker or cabin. Info and costs here

To reach this stop: 1 min walk (Get directions).After relaxing at the baths, dedicate the rest of the afternoon to the stunning City Park, which houses the Széchenyi Baths. This is the most important green area in Budapest, once a hunting ground for Hungarian noble families, today it is a recreational spot for citizens and tourists.Here you can rent boats and take a romantic ride on Lake Városliget, visit the Vajdahunyad Castle, which houses the Royal Agricultural Museum, visit the Museum of Fine Arts, or go to the Zoological and Botanical Garden.Visiting time: 3 hours

Budapest, despite being a European capital, is an affordable destination, ideal even for those traveling on a budget. The city is connected to major European destinations by low-cost flights, and from Northern Italy, it is also possible to arrive with companies like Flixbus.For accommodation, the best choice is to stay in central Pest: here, in addition to well-known luxury hotel chains, you can find many offers and accommodations such as apartments and hostels. For getting around, you can easily walk, but public transportation is also efficient and economical: single ticket for metro and tram is 350 HUF ($1.00), daily ticket is 1,650 HUF ($4.80). Alternatively, you can also use the tourist bus, great for getting accustomed to the city. Finally, eating out is also very affordable, which allows you to taste many traditional specialties (average cost $10.00).Let's take a closer look at the costs for a weekend:

Food costs about $30.00 per day per person (including breakfast, lunch, dinner) Museum and attraction costs average price $23.00 per day per person following our suggested itinerary Transportation average price $5.00 per day per person (indicates costs for public transport, any taxis, and transfers to and from the airport) Hotel, lodging and b&b from $20.00 per room (for hostel options), from $30.00 per room for hotels - view the offers Leisure from $10.00 per day per person (including snacks, coffee, appetizers, drinks, ...) Total cost of a weekend in Budapest from $205.00 per person (excluding flights and/or transfers)

A low-cost destination in Budapest you can stop in less touristy locales and spend only $10.00 for very generous dishes. Don't forget to try street food and desserts like the famous kurtos; Avoid winter in winter, only December is recommended for the Christmas markets. In January and February, it gets dark early, cruises operate on reduced hours, and it is decidedly very cold - learn more here; How to get there the airport of reference is Budapest-Ferenc Liszt, 12 miles from downtown, connected by train (900 HUF/$2.50) or taxi (25 min, average cost 7,000 HUF/$20.00) or via comfortable transfer service Where to sleep in Buda in District I Várkerület. In Pest, for families District V Lipótváros-Belvaros, for nightlife and youth District V Lipótváros-Belvaros and District VI Terézváros, for savings District VII Erzsébetváros - learn more here; Move around on foot or by public transport the historic center is compact and the main attractions are close to each other. To reach more distant points, such as Heroes' Square, you can use the metro or tram (daily ticket 1,650 HUF/$4.80). The tourist bus is also recommended for familiarizing yourself with the city - learn more here; Choose the thermal baths that suit you best we recommended the Széchenyi Baths, the most famous and absolutely not to be missed, but there are really many thermal baths in the city, such as the Gellért Baths near the Citadel - learn more here; Currency and exchange Hungarian forint (HUF) / exchange: $1.00 = 360.30 HUF. In many places, you can pay by card; in others, cash is still required. Don't exchange money at the airport; wait until you arrive in the city.