The Hungarian capital is packed with sights and attractions - but you don’t need to rush around to see them all. Take your time and enjoy the city’s unique beauty from different angles.
If you’re looking for a great place to relax, visit Budapest’s many thermal spas. These baths are known for their healing powers.
Castle Hill
Castle Hill is one of Budapest’s top attractions. Home to Buda Castle, Hungary’s most impressive UNESCO World Heritage site, the district is packed with history.
The neighborhood is also a favored spot for a night out, with its lively bars and restaurants. Its narrow streets are lined with historic buildings that make for an interesting exploration of the neighborhood.
Gellert Hill
Gellert Hill is a 140-m high dolomite rock that rises above the Danube on the Buda side of Budapest. The hill is named after Saint Gellert, who was thrown to death by pagans.
Gellert Hill is a great place to go for panoramic views of Budapest. You can hike up to the top to see the Citadella, Liberty Statue, and Cave Church.
Margaret Island
Located in the Danube River, between Buda and Pest, verdant Margaret Island (“Margit-sziget”) is a tranquil getaway within Budapest. Flush with jogging tracks, thermal spas and a small zoo, it’s one of the most popular green areas in Budapest.
Pedestrian promenades navigate around parkland, an art nouveau water tower, the ruins of a 13th-century Dominican convent and a musical fountain. The island’s quaint attractions also include a handful of bars and restaurants.
Széchenyi Baths
If you’re looking for something relaxing to do in Budapest, the Széchenyi Baths are a great option. They’re the largest thermal spa in Europe, and they offer a range of different services and facilities.
They have indoor and outdoor pools, saunas and steam rooms. It’s also a popular place to get a massage. It’s a good idea to book your ticket in advance to make the most of this unique experience.
Széchenyi Palace
The biggest natural hot spring spa bath in Budapest and Europe, Széchenyi Palace is a grand Renaissance and Baroque building with 18 pools on site. Relax in the whirlpools, soak up the sunshine, or take a stroll around the gardens and ornate gallery.
It’s one of Budapest’s most popular attractions, so come early to avoid the crowds! There are also other thermal baths – Gellert and Rudas – but Széchenyi is the most famous.
Heroes’ Square
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Heroes’ Square is one of Budapest’s most iconic sights. The square is dominated by the Millennium Monument and two impressive neoclassical buildings.
The Millennium Monument features a 45 meter high statue of Archangel Gabriel with the Crown of Saint Stephen. It is built to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of the Magyar conquest of Hungary.
Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts houses one of the world’s finest collections of European art. Opened in 1906, it’s a must-see for Budapest art fans.
The collection is made up of paintings and sculpture from all periods. Its highlights include works by Raphael, Van Dyck, Rubens, and Rembrandt.
Budapest Zoo
Budapest is a European city like no other, and a true treasure trove for travelers. From thermal baths to ruined bars, the city captures the heart of everyone who visits.
The Budapest Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the world. Take a stroll through the park and see the animals.
Fisherman’s Bastion
If you’re looking for the best views in Budapest, Fisherman’s Bastion is the place to go. It offers stunning vistas of the city’s downtown, Buda Castle and even the Parliament building.
The viewpoint was designed in 19th-century by architect Frigyes Schulek, and is meant to evoke Hungary’s 1000-year-old history. The structure is fairytale-esque, with turrets and towers.
Budapest Opera House
The neo-Renaissance Budapest Opera House is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Home to the Philharmonic Orchestra and Hungarian National Ballet, it presents several performances each year.
Designed by Hungary’s greatest historicist architect Miklos Ybl, it’s a stunning piece of architecture that fits in with the elegant neighbourhood of Andrassy Avenue. The horseshoe-shaped auditorium is adorned with stunning frescoes by Karoly Lotz and landscape paintings by Arpad Feszty.
