From soaking in muscle-melting thermal baths to sipping on palinka in 19th-century coffeehouses, this list of cool things to do in Budapest will keep you busy. Take a stroll down Andrassy Avenue to see why Budapest is a postcard superstar and explore its contrasting architectural styles.
Step inside the ornate St Stephen’s Basilica to view one of Hungary’s most sacred religious relics. The Shoes on the Danube memorial is another must-see.
Castle Hill
A stroll down Castle Hill rewards visitors with spectacular river and city views. It’s also home to some of Budapest’s top attractions, including the St Stephen’s Cathedral (pre-book your ticket online for a skip-the-line visit) and the House of Terror, which recounts Hungary’s turbulent history with dictatorships through mock prison cells, a Russian T-34 tank, and pictures and portraits of those who died fighting fascist or communist regimes.
One of the best things to do in Budapest is take a tour of the city’s unique ruin bars—unpretentious drinking joints that pop up inside buildings that barely escaped the bulldozers. The first of these was Szimpla Kert, and today you can find them scattered throughout the city.
The Palace Quarter, meanwhile, is where you’ll discover pre-war mansions and quaint courtyards that are now popular with charming cafes and restaurants. It’s a nice place for a walk, and it’s especially lovely around sunset.
Those who want to get an idea of how ordinary people live in Budapest can check out the city’s markets, including the lively Lehel Market—the sort of place where you can buy everything from paprika spice packets to Hungarian porcelain, as well as low-priced drinking spots where you can join local regulars for a beer or shot of Unicum, the popular herbal liqueur. Alternatively, you can stroll along the riverside promenade of Ferencvaros, which is home to the famous whale-shaped contemporary building, Balna.
The House of Terror
A visit to the House of Terror is one of the most powerful things to do in Budapest, and an absolute must for anyone interested in Hungary’s history. Though most of the city’s attractions celebrate the vibrant capital it has become, this museum gives a more sobering view into Hungary’s dark past under fascist and communist rule in the 20th century.
A stark black building that’s hard to miss on the prestigious Andrassy Avenue, the House of Terror is not a haunted house or theme park-style “house of horrors”; it’s a proper museum dedicated to the many Hungarian victims of both Nazi and Soviet rule. You’ll learn about the gruesome practices of Hungary’s secret police and see offices and other artifacts that help you understand what it was like to live under the rule of these totalitarian regimes.
Once you’ve visited the House of Terror, walk north toward Shoes on the Danube Bank and then down the hill toward the gilded Parliament Building. From here, you can walk south to Margaret Bridge and along the way, you’ll get beautiful views across the river toward the Buda side of the city. If you have extra time, you can also head to Lehel Market, where you can sample Hungarian cold cuts, homemade jams, and more from vendors inside a quirky postmodern building.
Szechenyi Thermal Bath
Budapest is known as the City of Baths, a patchwork of thermal water spots where locals soak up some self-care. The Szechenyi, Europe’s largest medicinal bath, is the most popular spot in town. Here, you’ll relax in water containing fluoride, metabolic acid, calcium, magnesium, hydro-carbonate, and sodium, all of which have been shown to ease everything from respiratory problems to muscle soreness.
If you’re a history buff, the complex’s museum is worth a look. You’ll find a re-creation of the former Soviet-era spa, which was destroyed during the Revolution in 1989. The complex now houses a permanent exhibition, along with an outdoor pool and a Turkish-style building for massages, treatments, and saunas.
After a relaxing swim, head to Heroes’ Square or City Park for some fresh air and sightseeing. Stroll down Andrassy Avenue, the city’s version of the Champs-Elysee or Ringstrasse, for a chance to admire the fancy retail stores and handsome villas (many are embassies now).
Or, stroll through the quaint Palace Quarter with its pre-war mansions, swanky courtyards, and quaint buildings that barely escaped the bulldozers during Communist times. Then, if you’re in the mood for nightlife, grab drinks at one of Budapest’s ruin bars. Founded when creative locals opened unpretentious drinking joints inside neglected buildings of the old Jewish Quarter, these places are now hopping with fashionable Millennials and engineering students.
Ruin Bars
Whether you’re looking for a beer garden, a bar surrounded by cobwebs, or a market selling local produce, Budapest’s ruin bars are one of the city’s best-kept secrets. And while it’s true that the trend has become more mainstream and less ‘underground’ than when it began, there are still plenty of places to go if you’re in search of something a little different.
The biggest ruin pub in town, Instant/Fogas is what was once a series of apartments that have been transformed into themed rooms complete with kooky decor. DJs pump out music for dancefloor lovers while those preferring a more laid back scene can chill in the gardens. Drinks are a bit pricey but they do serve them in reusable eco cups so you can get your money back when you’re done!
For a more low-key, slightly creepy take on the genre, head to Csendes. Located inside what was a Transylvanian restaurant, this place is like the love child of a hoarder and a witch; walls are strewn with doll heads, weird religious paraphernalia, and stick things that looked straight out of The Blair Witch Project. It’s a good thing the cocktails and wine are delicious!