Budapest
5
Day Itinerary •
Hungary
Five days in Budapest gives you time to explore one of the most beautiful capitals in Europe properly. Budapest was created in 1873 from the merger of Buda, Pest and Óbuda, and the resulting city straddling the Danube is among the finest urban landscapes in the world. The extraordinary Parliament building, the remarkable Fisherman's Bastion view, the outstanding thermal bath culture and the fine ruin bars of the Jewish Quarter make Budapest extraordinary. This route covers the complete Budapest experience. The remarkable Buda Castle complex, the extraordinary Parliament, the fine Szechenyi thermal baths, the remarkable Great Synagogue, the outstanding Andrassy Avenue, Memento Park, Margaret Island and the extraordinary Central Market Hall make five days of remarkable Hungarian culture in one of Europe's finest capital cities.
Best Time To Visit
April to October
Getting There
Budapest Ferenc Liszt Airport (BUD), direct from most European cities
Getting Around
Metro, tram and walking
Budget Per Day
Approx 15,000 to 35,000 HUF per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, walking and public transport
DAY 1
BUDA CASTLE AND FISHERMAN'S BASTION
MORNING
BUDA CASTLE AND FISHERMAN'S BASTION
Buda Castle, the extraordinary royal palace complex on Castle Hill above the Danube, is the most important historic building in Hungary. The remarkable Hungarian National Gallery inside the castle, the fine Budapest History Museum and the outstanding views of the Danube and the Pest skyline from the castle ramparts are all remarkable. The extraordinary Fisherman's Bastion, the remarkable neo-Romanesque terrace with seven towers representing the seven Magyar tribes, gives the most famous view of the Parliament across the Danube. Free. Travel: 15 min tram and funicular
MIDDAY
MATTHIAS CHURCH AND CASTLE HILL
Matthias Church on Castle Hill, the extraordinary Gothic coronation church of Hungarian kings with its remarkable diamond-patterned tiled roof, is the finest church in Budapest. The remarkable interior with its extraordinary frescoes by Bertalan Székely and Károly Lotz, the outstanding view from the church tower and the fine crypt with the remarkable collection of Hungarian royal regalia are all outstanding. Entry approx 3,000 HUF. Travel: 5 min walk
AFTERNOON
CHAIN BRIDGE AND DANUBE WALK
The Chain Bridge, the first permanent bridge across the Danube between Buda and Pest completed in 1849 and the most famous bridge in Hungary, is the finest walk in Budapest. The extraordinary stone lions at each end, the remarkable view from the bridge of both the Buda hills and the Pest embankment, and the outstanding Margaret Island visible upstream are all remarkable. The Danube embankment from the Chain Bridge to the remarkable Parliament building is the finest urban riverside walk in Central Europe. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Hospital in the Rock, a secret WWII and Cold War hospital and nuclear bunker carved into the limestone beneath Castle Hill, is the most remarkable hidden attraction in Budapest. Entry approx 4,000 HUF.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe Ruszwurm, Castle Hill The finest traditional patisserie in Budapest, open since 1827. | Lunch: Fisherman's Bastion terrace cafe Outstanding views of Pest with excellent Hungarian food. | Dinner: Borkonyha Wine Kitchen, Pest The finest Hungarian wine restaurant in Budapest. Book ahead.
DAY 2
PEST LANDMARKS
MORNING
PARLIAMENT BUILDING
The Hungarian Parliament Building on the Pest bank of the Danube is the most extraordinary building in Hungary and one of the finest Gothic Revival structures in the world. The remarkable 96-metre central dome, the outstanding decorated chambers and the extraordinary Hungarian Crown Jewels displayed inside the building are all remarkable. The view of the Parliament from across the Danube at night, when the extraordinary building is fully illuminated, is the finest in Budapest. Entry approx 8,000 HUF. Book ahead. Travel: 20 min walk
MIDDAY
ST STEPHEN'S BASILICA
St Stephen's Basilica, the largest church in Budapest with its extraordinary twin towers and remarkable dome giving the finest panoramic view of the city, is the most important Catholic church in Hungary. The remarkable holy right hand of King Stephen, Hungary's first Christian king, preserved in the extraordinary reliquary since 1083, and the outstanding mosaics and marble interior are all remarkable. The dome viewpoint gives the finest 360-degree view of Budapest. Entry church free, dome approx 1,500 HUF. Travel: 20 min walk
AFTERNOON
ANDRASSY AVENUE AND HEROES SQUARE
Andrassy Avenue, the extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage boulevard stretching from the city centre to Heroes Square, is the finest avenue in Hungary. The remarkable State Opera House, the fine Art Nouveau apartment buildings and the outstanding Terror House Museum in the former secret police headquarters are all remarkable. Heroes Square with its extraordinary Millennium Monument commemorating 1,000 years of Hungarian statehood is the finest public square in Budapest. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Postal Savings Bank on Hold Street, the most extraordinary Art Nouveau building in Hungary designed by Ödön Lechner in 1901 with its remarkable majolica-tiled roof, is the finest Secessionist building in Budapest. Free to view from outside.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: New York Cafe, Erzsebet Korut The most ornate cafe interior in Budapest, opened 1894. | Lunch: Central Market Hall The finest food hall in Hungary. Langos, kolbász and Hungarian produce. | Dinner: Onyx Restaurant The finest Hungarian tasting menu in Budapest. Book well ahead.
DAY 3
THERMAL BATHS AND JEWISH QUARTER
MORNING
SZECHENYI THERMAL BATHS
The Szechenyi Thermal Baths in City Park, the largest medicinal bath complex in Europe with its extraordinary yellow Neo-Baroque building and remarkable outdoor pools, is the finest thermal bath experience in Budapest. The remarkable 77-degree Celsius natural thermal water, the outstanding outdoor chess games played by elderly Hungarian men in the warm pool water and the extraordinary social atmosphere of the finest thermal baths in Central Europe are all unforgettable. Entry approx 6,500 HUF. Travel: Metro to City Park
MIDDAY
CITY PARK AND VAJDAHUNYAD CASTLE
Vajdahunyad Castle in City Park, the extraordinary pastiche castle built in 1896 for the Hungarian Millennium Exhibition combining Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements from famous Hungarian buildings, is the most remarkable architectural folly in Hungary. The fine Anonymous statue, the outstanding agricultural museum inside and the remarkable lake surrounding the castle are all excellent. Entry museum approx 1,800 HUF. Travel: 10 min walk
AFTERNOON
JEWISH QUARTER AND GREAT SYNAGOGUE
The Great Synagogue on Dohany Street, the largest synagogue in Europe and the second largest in the world with space for 3,000 worshippers, is the most extraordinary Jewish building in Hungary. The remarkable Moorish Revival exterior, the outstanding Hungarian Jewish Museum and the fine Raoul Wallenberg Memorial Garden with its remarkable weeping willow memorial are all outstanding. The extraordinary Jewish Quarter around it with the fine ruin bar culture is outstanding. Entry approx 4,000 HUF.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Kerepesi Cemetery, the most important historic cemetery in Hungary with the remarkable tombs of Hungarian statesmen, artists and national heroes, is the finest atmospheric walk in Budapest. Free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Szechenyi Baths cafe Coffee and pastry before the extraordinary thermal experience. | Lunch: City Park kiosk or Gundel Simple lunch or the legendary Gundel restaurant in the park. | Dinner: Kazinczy Street ruin bar The finest ruin bar street in Budapest for a Hungarian evening.
DAY 4
ALTERNATIVE BUDAPEST
MORNING
MEMENTO PARK SOVIET STATUES
Memento Park on the outskirts of Budapest has the most extraordinary collection of Soviet-era communist statues removed from Budapest's public spaces after 1989. The remarkable collection of Lenin, Marx and Hungarian communist leader statues, the fine Trabant car display and the outstanding documentary film about the Hungarian secret police are all remarkable. The extraordinary experience of seeing these remarkable monuments gathered in one outdoor museum is unlike anything else in Hungary. Entry approx 2,500 HUF. Travel: 30 min bus
MIDDAY
KELENFÖLD POWER STATION DISTRICT
The remarkable Kelenföld Power Station, the extraordinary Art Nouveau industrial building now being converted into Budapest's finest cultural complex, and the outstanding Buda south district along the Danube are the finest emerging neighbourhood in Budapest. The remarkable Kopaszi Dam peninsula nature reserve on the Danube, the fine outdoor bars and the outstanding views of the Buda hills make it the finest alternative Budapest experience. Free. Travel: Metro
AFTERNOON
MARGARET ISLAND WALK
Margaret Island, the extraordinary 2.5km park island in the middle of the Danube accessible by tram from both banks, is the finest green space in Budapest. The remarkable Japanese Garden, the outstanding Palatinus open-air thermal beach complex, the fine ruins of a 12th-century Dominican convent and the extraordinary musical fountain are all outstanding. The view of both Buda and Pest from the island's banks is the finest in the city at sunset. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Lukacs Thermal Baths, the most authentic and least touristy of Budapest's thermal bath complexes, is where local Budapestians actually bathe. Entry approx 4,500 HUF.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Budapest hotel Good breakfast before the Memento Park bus. | Lunch: Margaret Island cafe Simple Hungarian lunch on the finest park island in Central Europe. | Dinner: Kiraly Street neighbourhood The finest alternative dining street in the Jewish Quarter.
DAY 5
MUSEUMS AND FAREWELL
MORNING
NATIONAL MUSEUM AND PEST WALK
The Hungarian National Museum, the finest history museum in Hungary, tells the remarkable story of Hungarian civilisation from the prehistoric Pannonian era to the extraordinary 1848 Revolution. The outstanding Crown of St Stephen exhibit, the remarkable collection of Hungarian royal treasures and the fine Baroque palace building are all outstanding. Entry approx 2,000 HUF. Travel: 20 min walk
MIDDAY
CENTRAL MARKET HALL
The Central Market Hall on the Pest embankment, the extraordinary 1897 iron-and-glass market building, is the finest food market in Hungary. The remarkable ground floor with the finest Hungarian paprika, kolbász sausages and foie gras and the outstanding upper floor with the extraordinary lángos fried bread and the fine Hungarian craft stalls are both remarkable. The view from the upper gallery over the remarkable market below is outstanding. Free to enter. Travel: 15 min walk
AFTERNOON
DANUBE EVENING AND FAREWELL
A final afternoon on the extraordinary Budapest Danube embankment, perhaps taking the remarkable Danube boat tour for the finest view of both the Buda hills and the Pest Neo-Gothic Parliament from the water. The extraordinary Budapest at dusk, when the remarkable Chain Bridge lights up and the fine Parliament glows across the river, is the finest farewell to one of Europe's most beautiful capitals. Boat tour approx 3,500 HUF.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Dohány Street Synagogue at night, illuminated in extraordinary golden light with the remarkable memorial garden glowing, is the finest single photograph in Budapest. The view from Dohány Street is outstanding. Free from outside.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Budapest hotel Final Budapest breakfast. | Lunch: Central Market Hall upper floor Lángos and goulash soup in the finest food market in Hungary. | Dinner: Final Budapest dinner Farewell to the Paris of the East. Costes or Salon restaurant.
Where To Stay
Pest inner city, all nights Best location near everything. Approx 20,000 to 45,000 HUF per night. Buda option Quieter, more residential. 15 min by tram to the main sights. Booking ahead Book 4 to 6 weeks ahead in summer. Budapest fills fast in July and August.
Top Tips
1. Visit Fisherman's Bastion at dawn. It is extraordinary without the crowds.
2. Book Parliament entry online well ahead. It sells out fast throughout the year.
3. The Szechenyi outdoor pools are open year-round. Winter bathing in snow is extraordinary.
4. Budapest is exceptional value for food and thermal baths compared to Western Europe.
5. The ruin bars in the Jewish Quarter are the finest bar scene in Central Europe.
6. The Danube at night with Parliament illuminated is the finest city view in Hungary.
Total Budget
23,000 to 52,000 HUF/day