Straddling a placid stretch of the Danube River, Budapest’s UNESCO-listed historic center thrums with rich culture and Bohemian flair. Explore centuries of history at St. Stephen’s Basilica, Andrássy Avenue, and Buda Castle by day, and join the revelers who pack the city’s ruin pubs until sunrise. To experience the city like a local, slip into the water at one of Budapest’s many thermal baths, which range from Ottoman-era bathhouses to art nouveau palaces with dozens of pools. And dining is a highlight of any trip to the city, from sampling aromatic paprika and rich pastries at covered markets to hunting for the perfect goulash to tasting Hungarian wines.
Summer is festival season in Budapest, and highlights include the Budapest Summer Festival, LGBT Pride, and weekend festivities on the Chain Bridge. To see Budapest’s UNESCO-listed monuments covered in a dusting of snow, visit in winter. The cold season is the perfect time to tuck into goulash, warm up at the thermal baths, and visit festive Christmas markets.
In addition to being supremely walkable, Budapest has a public bike-sharing system called MOL Bubi, which makes it easy to reach central landmarks. The metro system—running since 1896—covers most of the city. You can take buses or trams, and private taxis or ride-shares will get you even further afield. To skip the schlep up to Castle Hill, hop on the funicular from Széchenyi Chain Bridge. And don’t forget water taxis: The Danube boasts four separate boat lines.
Don’t miss Budapest’s quirkier attractions: Memento Park, an open-air collection of Soviet statues, the Children’s Railway, a working locomotive staffed entirely by kids, or the delightfully niche Hungarian Museum of Trade and Tourism in Buda’s historic Óbuda district, whose dry-sounding name belies a fun, kitschy history of the city’s hospitality industry and a rotating collection of worthwhile temporary exhibits, all easily accessible by tram.
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Originally three distinct cities— Buda and Óbuda, and Pest on the other side of the Danube River—Budapest is the elegant and historic capital of Hungary, famous for its steaming thermal baths, savory goulash stews, and iconic sights like the lion-guarded Chain Bridge, the Hungarian Parliament building, and panoramic Castle Hill.
...MoreDon't see any turnstyles in the metro station? Don't assume you can ride for free; tickets are frequently checked by hand at the exit. And when hitting the baths, do remember to bring your own towel and sandals. Those that arrive empty handed are often made to purchase an exorbitant entry package that includes a paper-thin cloth.
...MoreYes, you may only be scratching the surface, but three days in Budapest is enough to tackle the major sights. Plan a walk up Castle Hill to see the Fisherman’s Bastion and Buda Castle, take a dip in one of the city’s historic bathhouses such as Széchenyi Baths, and visit the ornate Dohany Street Synagogue.
...MoreLukas and Rudas bathhouses offer late-night opening hours on weekends, letting you squeeze in a soak before bedtime. And don’t be sure to miss the city’s romkocsma, or ruin bars—originally makeshift pubs and dance clubs created in derelict buildings and disused factories, they are now quirky and vibrant tourist hotspots.
...MoreHungary was under Ottoman occupation for 150 years, and hilly Buda formed its cultural and administrative center. Don’t miss traces of Ottoman heritage, including the city’s oldest bathhouse—16th-century Kiraly Bath—and a serene hilltop shrine and fascinating museum both dedicated to a Turkish-born Sufi dervish, Gul Baba.
...MoreHungarian is spoken in Budapest—not a Slavic language, as is often thought, but one actually related to Finnish. While English is undersood within popular tourist areas, you’ll do well to memorize a few basic words and greetings, like szia (hello or goodbye), köszönöm (thank you), and bocsánat (I’m sorry).
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