A Weekend in Budapest

If you’re looking for a fun city break that won’t break the bank, Budapest is a great destination. I went there a few years ago as part of an interrail trip, and we managed to pack loads into just a couple of days.

Is Budapest worth visiting?

Absolutely! There’s great food and drink to try, some pretty impressive architecture to see and lots of fun things to do.

What should you do in Budapest?

The main things you should do if you have a couple of days in Budapest are see the iconic Hungarian Parliament Building, go to the Fisherman’s Bastion, visit a spa, and try langos!

The Hungarian Parliament in Budapest

What is Budapest famous for?

As well as the recognisable parliament building, Budapest is famous for its spas. The city is built over thermal springs – people have been enjoying the waters there for health and relaxation since Roman times.

There are still lots of different spas to choose from, ranging from the Rudas baths built under Turkish occupation in the 16^th
century to the Széchenyi Baths, which are the largest baths and were built in the early 1900s. We went to the Gellert Bath, which have a range of indoor and outdoor pools and some really cool Art Nouveau architecture.

How many days do you need in Budapest?

I’d say that 3 days is ideal, but you can see all the main sights in 2 days. It’s fairly easy to navigate round and nothing is too far away.

Is Budapest a walkable city?

If you are reasonably fit and able-bodied, Budapest is walkable. We walked everywhere and don’t think we got a taxi or public transport once!

A walking tour is a great way to see the whole of the city and learn about the history along the way. We did this free walking tour
on our first morning and it was a great way to get our bearings.

If you fancy a bit more of a hike, you can walk up Gellert hill and see Budapest’s Statue of Liberty and panoramic views of the city.

The view from Gellert hill

What food should you try in Budapest?

You have to try langos – Budapest’s own version of flatbreads, which are deep fried and come covered in soured cream and cheese…delicious!

And of course it’s the perfect chance to try an authentic Hungarian goulash.

Langos need to be sampled when in Budapest!

What about nightlife?

For a uniquely Budapest-style night out, head to the ruin bars. Located in District VII/the city’s old Jewish Quarter, these bars have literally been set up in ruins – old dilapidated buildings that have now been transformed into atmospheric drinking establishments. We went to Szimpla Kert, the most famous of the ruin bars, but there are plenty more to explore.

The old Jewish Quarter is also great to explore during the day – there is a beautiful synagogue and lots of interesting little shops to peruse.

Other cool things to visit if you have time are Margaret Island (the island in the middle of the River Danube), Buda Castle, St. Stephen’s Basilica and Matthias Church.

All-in-all, Budapest is a great destination for a weekend trip. Although I’m sure if you had longer there you wouldn’t get bored of enjoying the very inexpensive food and drink, visiting the different spas and strolling around this beautiful city.