Quick answer: There are plenty of things to do in Budapest. Széchenyi Thermal Bath, the Hungarian Parliament building, Fisherman’s Bastion, a cruise on the Danube, Hospital in the Rock and learning about the local areas, such as the Palace Quarter. You can spend 3 days doing the main attractions, but if you want to go bathing, caving, or visit Margaret Island, then you can easily spend an extra day or two.
There really are so many things to do in Budapest that most people leave with a partially completed bucket list and a promise to return. And honestly, why wouldn’t they? It’s packed full of thermal baths, ruin bars, stunning views of the Danube and interesting history. For example, there is a hospital built into a cave below Castle Hill.
We have rounded up 30 fun things to do in Budapest based on different types of travellers: first time visitors, those looking for something different, lovers of the unusual and those wanting to avoid busy crowds. All information has been verified using official websites and reference sources.
Each location has been chosen because it is either very popular amongst most visitors or has an interesting story to tell. If an attraction can be booked using TickYourList we have noted this. Where we were unsure of any details we have referenced back to the listing.
One honest note: prices and opening times change, so use our notes as a starting point and confirm before you go.
Best Time to Visit Budapest
Short answer: The best time to visit Budapest is late spring (April-June) or early autumn (September-October). The weather will be pleasant and there will still be plenty of energy in the city without the busy summer crowds.
Spring: The weather will be pleasant for walking around. Days are longer and the Danube, Castle Hill and outdoor cafes will be great.
Summer: This is the busiest time of year. Long evenings, lots of festivals and boat trips on the river. However, prices will be higher and you may find queues at major attractions.
Autumn: A great all round time to visit. Great for seeing sights, thermal bathing and eating.
Winter: Although it will be colder, it can be very atmospheric. Christmas markets, bright riverbanks and thermal bathing makes it a great time to visit if you are wearing warm layers.
Things to Do in Budapest for First Timers
If it’s your first visit, start here. These eight are classics for a reason, and together they cover both banks of the Danube.
1. Soak in Széchenyi Thermal Bath
Budapest sits on thermal water, and Széchenyi is where most first timers take the plunge. The current bath opened in 1913 to plans by Győző Czigler, after a smaller artesian bath had run in City Park since 1881. It grew in 1927 and its pools were rebuilt in 1999. Go on a weekday morning and book your Széchenyi Spa tickets with TickYourList ahead of time. The M1 metro even has a stop named after it.
2. Admire the Hungarian Parliament
You can’t miss it. The neo-Gothic Parliament building dominates this section of the Pest bank of the river. It certainly looks great at night when illuminated from the river. You can only visit by booking onto a guided tour so book ahead during busy periods. Walk approx. 300m south to visit the Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial.
3. Walk up to Fisherman’s Bastion
This storybook terrace was designed by Frigyes Schulek and built between 1895 and 1902. Its seven-pointed towers stand for the seven Magyar chieftains who founded Hungary in 895. Arrive early. The views over the Danube and Parliament are best before the tour groups appear.
4. Wander Castle Hill
Buda’s Castle District is all cobbles, courtyards, and viewpoints. If your legs are tired, take the funicular up. Stay alert! There’s some fascinating history hidden beneath Budapest and there’s plenty to see at the Hospital in the Rock museum.
This is a great place to stroll around. Start at the top and just let yourself be carried along – if you want a nice view or have a coffee then stop! You can easily spend half a day but two hours will definitely be enough to give it a good initial tour.
5. Cruise the Danube (pizza included)
With the riverbanks, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue all part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, there will be no shortage of great views. The river is the best seat in the house. TickYourList’s 60-minute Danube cruise with pizza and unlimited beer puts a slice in your hand while the city glides past. Simple, relaxed, and very Budapest.
6. Eat your way through the Great Market Hall
Opened in 1897 and designed by Samu Pecz, this steel-framed hall covers roughly 10,000 square metres across three floors. Downstairs you will find produce, pickles and fishmongers. Upstairs, souvenirs and food stalls. Come hungry and go before the lunchtime rush.
7. Pause at the Shoes on the Danube Bank
The memorial plaque states that 3,500 people died at the scene including 800 Jews. Estimates vary however and some say many more than this number died. The victims were made to take off their shoes and were then shot, causing their bodies to fall into the water.
8. Stroll Andrássy Avenue
This grand boulevard runs from the city centre to Heroes’ Square, past the Opera and plenty of cafés. The M1 line runs beneath it, with stops at Opera, Oktogon and Hősök tere, so you can walk one way and ride back.
Unique Things to Do in Budapest
Now for the ones that make friends back home say, “Wait, really?”
9. Ride the M1 Millennium Underground
Opened in 1896, the M1 was the first electrified underground on the European mainland and the second oldest in the world, after London’s. It’s now part of the UNESCO listing. Treat a single ride as a tiny time machine.
10. Get lost in the Light Art Museum
Tucked inside the Hold Street Market Hall at Hold utca 13, this immersive museum has a new exhibition called EGO, running from 9 October 2026 to the end of February 2027. Expect interactive installations on selfhood and social media, including a “black mirror” and a room you play with your voice. Book Light Art Museum tickets on TickYourList and allow 60 to 90 minutes.
11. Pedal along the Danube
A bike ride is the easiest way to cover the river without a crowded tram. Our Budapest Danube River Views Bike Ride gives you the postcard angles at an easy pace. Check the listing for route, duration and what’s included. Riding is also a smart pick if you dislike queues, because you move on your own schedule and stop for photos whenever the light is right.
12. Escape to Margaret Island
This green island is 2.5 kilometres long and only 500 metres wide, and cars have been restricted since the 1980s. Come for the Music Fountain near Margaret Bridge, where jets dance to music, and for the small Japanese Garden with its mildly thermal fish pond.
13. Have a drink at SzimplaKept
The original ruin bar opened in 2002 and moved to Kazinczy Street 14 in 2004, in the Jewish Quarter, inside a former stove factory site. It hosts film nights, live music, and a farmers’ market. Reports say it can draw thousands on a busy night, mostly visitors, so go early.
14. Step inside the Cave Church
The chapel was carved into the hillside and was blessed by Pauline monks in 1926. It was closed off by the communist authorities in 1951 but opened again on 27 August 1989 after the concrete wall was pulled down. You get a quiet, slightly dramatic feel.
15. Try an Ottoman-era bath
Széchenyi is grand. Rudas is older, with a domed pool dating from the Ottoman period. If you want a different feel, pick one of each. Confirm the current entry rules before you go, and pack swimwear and flip-flops so you are ready to jump in.
16. Hop on Tram 2
Riding along the Pest riverbank costs the price of a normal ticket and gives you Parliament, the bridges and Castle Hill without a tour. It will not blow your mind, but it is a lovely, cheap way to spend twenty minutes.
Unusual Things to Do in Budapest
Budapest has a darker, stranger side too. These seven are well worth the detour.
17. Tour the Hospital in the Rock
Beneath Buda Castle, a cavern hospital was started in 1939 and finished as an emergency surgical centre in 1944. Built for 60 to 70 patients, it once treated about 600 wounded soldiers. In the Cold War it became a nuclear bunker, kept secret until 2004, and it opened as a museum in 2007. You can only enter on a guided tour. Wear a sweater.
18. Meet the statues at Memento Park
What happens to a city’s communist monuments when the regime ends? In Budapest, they went to an open-air museum designed by Ákos Eleőd, which opened on 29 June 1993. It holds around 42 statues, including Lenin, Marx and Engels, plus a replica of Stalin’s Boots. It is quirky, thought-provoking, and a bit surreal.
19. Face history at the House of Terror
At Andrássy Avenue 60, this museum opened on 24 February 2002 in a building once used by the Arrow Cross Party and later the ÁVH secret police. It documents both fascist and communist rule, and its basement displays the old cells. It is heavy, so plan something gentler afterwards.
20. Go caving under Buda
The hills beneath Buda hide caves you can explore on guided visits. A guide is required for the main show caves. Wear shoes with grip and pack a layer. It also works as a rainy-day plan, since the air underground stays steady whatever the weather above.
21. Visit the Underground Railway Museum
Deák Ferenc tér station is home to a small museum about the metro. If the M1 charmed you in number 9, this is a short, offbeat follow-up that costs little time. Look for the old-fashioned details and picture the first commuters stepping aboard in 1896.
22. Ride the Children’s Railway
In the Buda Hills, a narrow-gauge railway is staffed largely by children, apart from the driver. Locals love it, and it’s a sweet change from museums and baths. It is especially fun with kids, and the ride winds through leafy hills.
23. Taste pálinka
Pálinka is Hungary’s fruit brandy, and a guided tasting is a fun way to learn what the fuss is about. Sip slowly. It’s stronger than it looks. Ask for a few flavours, such as plum, apricot, and pear, and pair them with something salty.
Non-Touristy Things to Do in Budapest
Want the Budapest locals use? Start here. You will still find a few other visitors, but far fewer.
24. Spot op art at the VasarelyMuseum
Victor Vasarely, the Hungarian-born pioneer of op art, has a museum in Óbuda. His work also appears in the Light Art Museum’s collection, so it makes a neat pairing with number 10.
25. Rest in Károlyi Garden
Hidden near Károlyi Mihály utca 16, this small city-centre garden is a calm pocket between shopping streets. Bring a book and a coffee.
26. Walk the Fiumei Road National Graveyard
It may sound grim, but this atmospheric cemetery is a gallery of sculpture and a who’s who of Hungarian history. Go on a quiet morning and wander slowly. Bring a camera, but stay respectful, since this is still a place of remembrance.
27. Lunch at the Hold Street Market Hall
The same historic hall that houses the Light Art Museum is also a neighbourhood market. Grab lunch where office workers do, then pop next door for the art.
28. Explore the Palace Quarter
Behind the National Museum, the streets of Józsefváros have grand old mansions, quiet cafés and almost no tour groups. Wander without a plan. Stop at a bakery for a snack and let the architecture do the entertaining.
29. Take a day trip to Szentendre
This riverside artists’ town is about an hour from the city by train. Go on a weekday for a gentler pace.
30. Linger in a neighbourhood café
Budapest’s coffeehouse culture is a daily ritual. Pick a corner café away from the main sights, order something sweet, and watch the city go by. It’s the best free plan on this list, apart from the coffee. Bring a newspaper or a notebook, and don’t rush. Lingering is the whole point.
Things to Do in Budapest at a Glance
| Experience | Best for | Rough time | Good to know |
| Széchenyi Thermal Bath | First timers, relaxing | 2–3 hours | Opened 1913 |
| Fisherman’s Bastion | Views, photos | 1 hour | Built 1895–1902 |
| Danube pizza cruise | Evenings, groups | Check listing | Bookable on TickYourList |
| Great Market Hall | Food lovers | 1–2 hours | Opened 1897 |
| M1 Millennium Underground | History fans | 20 minutes | Opened 1896 |
| Light Art Museum | Unique, rainy days | 60–90 minutes | EGO runs to Feb 2027 |
| Danube bike ride | Active travellers | Check listing | Bookable on TickYourList |
| Hospital in the Rock | Unusual, history | About 1 hour | Guided tours only |
| Memento Park | Unusual, history | 2 hours | Opened 1993 |
| Vasarely Museum | Non touristy | 1 hour | In Óbuda |
Getting Around Budapest
Short answer: Getting around Budapest is easy via walking, metro (M1, M2, M3, M4), trams and buses. The central areas can be covered easily via the metro with the M1, M2, M3 and M4 lines. The Tram 2 line is also useful for getting great views of the river.
Walking: Central areas are small so make sure to wear comfortable shoes to walk on the cobbled streets and up the hills!
Metro: To get to Andrássy Avenue, Heroes’ Square and Széchenyi take the M1 line. For Parliament, Deák Ferenc tér and Déli take the M2. To get to the Great Market Hall area and Nyugati take the M3. To get to Gellért Hill and Fvám tér take the M4.
Trams: Take the Tram 2 to get along the Pest embankment for some of the most beautiful views of the riverfront.
Tickets: You can get a single ticket, travelcard or airport shuttle ticket from official BKK ticket machines, the BudapestGO app or authorised vendors. Make sure to check that you have validated your ticket.
Airport: Ferenc Liszt International Airport has bus links to the city. Allow extra time during peak times.
Free and Rainy-Day Things to Do
Free things to do in Budapest
- Walk across the Széchenyi Chain Bridge and along the Danube promenades.
- Visit the Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial.
- Explore Margaret Island, its gardens and riverside paths.
- Wander Andrássy Avenue, Heroes’ Square and the Palace Quarter.
- Enjoy viewpoints around Fisherman’s Bastion; some terrace areas may charge a small fee, so check locally.
Best rainy-day activities
- Soak in Széchenyi, Rudas or another thermal bath.
- Tour the Hospital in the Rock or the House of Terror.
- Visit the Light Art Museum, Hungarian National Museum or Museum of Fine Arts.
- Go caving beneath Buda with a licensed guide.
- Take a covered Danube cruise or spend a slow afternoon in a historic café.
Planning Your Budapest Trip
A bit of planning will help you here. Divide the areas you want to visit so that you don’t have to cross the river back and forth. So do a morning of Castle Hill and Fisherman’s Bastion, a morning of Parliament and Shoes memorial and an evening of the Jewish Quarter. The M1 line makes getting to Andrássy Avenue and Széchenyi easy.
Also book tickets in advance for the more busy places. Parliament, Light Art Museum and Széchenyi. The museum recommended booking a time slot to avoid waiting in line. Wear comfy shoes. This city rewards walking.
Leave a little slack in your evenings too, because dinners and drinks here tend to stretch.
Suggested three-day outline:
- Day 1: Castle Hill, Fisherman’s Bastion, Matthias Church area, Danube views and an evening river cruise.
- Day 2: Parliament, Shoes on the Danube Bank, St. Stephen’s Basilica, Andrássy Avenue and Széchenyi Thermal Bath.
- Day 3: Great Market Hall, Jewish Quarter, Szimpla Kert, Cave Church or Gellért Hill, then a Danube-side dinner.
- Day 4, if you have it: Margaret Island, Memento Park, Hospital in the Rock, caving, the Children’s Railway or Szentendre.
Final Thoughts
Budapest is not a city you tick off. It is one you sink into, sometimes literally. Pick a few favourites from each list, leave room for a wander, and let the river set the pace. When you’re ready, browse things to do in Budapest and book the experiences you’d hate to miss.
FAQs
What are the best things to do in Budapest for first timers?
For a first visit to Budapest, start with Széchenyi Thermal Bath, Fisherman’s Bastion, the Hungarian Parliament, a Danube cruise and the Great Market Hall. These highlights cover both banks of the Danube and fit comfortably into a two- or three-day itinerary.
What are some unique things to do in Budapest?
Unique things to do in Budapest include riding the 1896 M1 Millennium Underground, exploring the immersive Light Art Museum, cycling along the Danube, visiting the Hospital in the Rock and having a drink in Szimpla Kert, the city’s best-known ruin bar.
What are unusual things to do in Budapest?
Unusual things to do in Budapest include touring the Hospital in the Rock, wandering Memento Park’s communist-era statues, riding the Children’s Railway, visiting the Cave Church and going caving beneath the Buda hills.
What are non touristy things to do in Budapest?
Less touristy things to do in Budapest include visiting the Vasarely Museum in Óbuda, relaxing in Károlyi Garden, walking the Fiumei Road National Graveyard, eating at Hold Street Market Hall and exploring the Palace Quarter.
How many days do you need in Budapest?
You need three full days in Budapest to see the main sights without rushing. Add a fourth day for thermal baths, caving, Margaret Island, Memento Park or a day trip to Szentendre.
Is the Light Art Museum open now?
Yes. The Light Art Museum’s EGO exhibition opened on 9 October 2026 and runs until the end of February 2027. Check the museum’s official website for current opening hours and ticket availability before you go.
Are there free things to do in Budapest?
Yes. Free things to do in Budapest include visiting the Shoes on the Danube Bank, strolling Margaret Island, walking Andrássy Avenue, crossing the Chain Bridge and exploring the Palace Quarter. Tram 2 is not free, but it costs the price of a standard public-transport ticket.
What is the best way to see the Danube?
The best way to see the Danube depends on your pace: a cruise gives you the full skyline, especially at sunset or after dark, while a bike ride lets you stop for photos and explore at your own speed. Tram 2 is a budget-friendly alternative.
Do I need to book tickets in advance?
Yes, book timed tickets in advance for popular Budapest attractions such as the Hungarian Parliament, Széchenyi Thermal Bath and the Light Art Museum. Advance booking is especially important in summer, on weekends and during holidays.
Is Budapest easy to get around?
Yes. Budapest is easy to get around by metro, tram, bus and on foot. The city centre is walkable, Tram 2 follows the Pest riverbank, and the M1 metro connects Andrássy Avenue, Heroes’ Square and Széchenyi Thermal Bath.
