Top 9 Things to Do on a Budapest City Break
Few cities combine elegance, history and low prices so profoundly.
Steeped in the past yet locked in an embrace with the future, Budapest offers a tantalising array of activities for all tastes.
Whether you're into ancient castles and galleries, off-the-wall bars, or outdoor spa baths - the Hungarian capital has it all.
Is Budapest cheap?
Like many Eastern European capitals, Budapest is not as eye-wateringly cheap as it was a decade or so ago, but it still packs more bang for your buck than any Western European metropolis.
A hotel room, metro journey, or fancy restaurant meal is still noticeably less than in London, Paris, or Madrid.
Budapest: What to do
Here are some of the unmissable places to explore on your Budapest city break.
Hop on the funicular to Buda Castle
Integral to the city's majestic skyline is Buda Castle, which houses the National Gallery (home to works by Cezanne and Monet), Budapest History Museum and the Széchényi Library.
The breathtaking view of the Danube from the cupola was immortalised in the spy movie Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (2011).
The easiest way to reach the castle is via the funicular (1700 HUF/£3.5 return), which ascends from Clark Ádám tér.
Entry to the castle is free, but you'll need to pay to enter the gallery or museum.
Undoubtedly a must among Budapest city break things to do.
Széchenyi Baths
Few European capitals are blessed with an inner-city spa bath - but Budapest has several. The best is arguably the Széchenyi Baths, enveloped in the invigorating green space of City Park.
Take your pick from hot, temperate, and ice-cold pools, inside and out. It's the perfect way to relax for a few hours after a day of exploring the city's many museums and galleries.
It also doubles as a buzzing night spot on Saturday nights, when it hosts 'Sparty' - a weekly pool party with live DJs and a full-on sense of merriment.
At about £23 for a weekday ticket, and £26 for a weekend visit, you'll want to set aside enough time to get your money's worth. The massage treatments also come highly recommended.
The perfect end to - or beginning of - a Budapest weekend break.
Take a Danube River Cruise
Enjoy a scenic evening Danube River cruise and see Budapest's sights illuminated against the night sky.
Options include sightseeing cruises, dinner cruises, and even themed cruises with live music.
Shorter cruises cost between £14-£60, while a multi-day cruise with cabin accommodation starts at around £500.
Explore the Jewish Quarter
The historic Jewish Quarter offers many insights into the lives of Jewish Hungarians - both positive and traumatic. Highlights include the Dohány Street Synagogue, the largest synagogue in Europe and the Jewish Museum, presenting a myriad of religious artefacts, historic documents and multimedia presentations.
There are also poignant reminders of Jewish suffering over the decades and centuries, notably the Holocaust Memorial. Equally sobering is the so-called House of Terrors - focusing on the fascist and Stalinist regimes that targeted Jewish citizens.
The notorious ÁVH secret police houses are also found here.
While a visit here can be sobering, it's also a great spot for nightlife - with many lively Ruin Bars - drinking holes set up in abandoned buildings.
Go mural spotting
A series of eye-catching murals now adorn old firewalls - structures designed to prevent the spread of fires.
Look out for the artwork that celebrates the 1953 football match between Hungary and England, and the bold Rubik's Cube pieces (Ernő Rubik was Hungarian).
Other works focus on the scientist who helped develop the Covid vaccine, Katalin Karikó (also Hungarian), and the anti-Soviet 1956 Uprising.
Board the Children's Railway
The denizens of Budapest tend not to look back fondly on remnants of the Soviet occupation, but the Children's Railway is one exception.
Originally called the Pioneers' Railway, this pint-sized network gently wends its way through the Buda Hills, and is staffed entirely by children (that is, except for the driver!).
This charming attraction is surely the most leisurely way to see the epic Hungarian capital - and one of the most unabashedly fun things to do on a Budapest weekend break!
Enjoy a coffee break in the opulent New York Palace
Budapest is home to many fabulous old coffee houses, but the finest is arguably the New York Palace.
Refurbished by Thai hotel giant Anatara, you can sip your favourite caffeinated beverage under chandeliers and surrounded by tastefully gilt fixtures and fittings.
The fabulous interior design is, as you might expect, reflected in both the price and the long queue to get in. But the history of the place makes it worth every forint. After all, this is where the great and good of Hungarian cinema and literature once convened - going back to the 1890s.
Credit: skovalsky - stock.adobe.com
Sound out the House of Music Hungary
This wondrous building seemingly melds with the treetops of City Park.
Created by Japanese designer Sou Fujimoto, it's a hands-on history of music and doubles as a music venue for all manner of acts. It's a centrepiece of the Liget Project which aims to transform City Park into something akin to Vienna's Museum Quarter.
Kids will love the offbeat playground outside.
Credit: salarko - stock.adobe.com
Kick back in the Szimpla Kert 'ruin bar'
Szimpla Kert is the original Budapest ruin bar - so-called because it occupies a formerly abandoned structure.
Replete with weird and wonderful decor, fairy lights, and a spooky labyrinth of rooms, it has become the go-to spot for overseas visitors to party.
After a session here you'll doubtless wonder: why doesn't my city have a ruin bar?
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