Budapest, Hungary

City Passes: 

Budapest Card → official city card of Budapest. Provides benefits for public transportation, museum entrance, and discount rates to other attractions. 

  • What does it include? 

    • Free use of public transportation. 

    • Free mobile app that includes 12 tours and 500 points of interest. 

    • Free entry to certain museums and baths. 

    • Free walking tours (two daily) 

    • Free entry to Lukács Baths and discounts to others. 

  • Cost: 

    • 24h → $24.73

    • 48h → $37.09

    • 72h → $49.46

  • Where to buy? 

    • Purchase online and pick up at various locations throughout; including the airport. 

    • May also purchase online and print a voucher that will let you exchange it for a card at different metro stations, info stations or hotel reception areas. 

      • Must have valid passport or ID to complete this. 

  • For more information or to purchase, visit the official site → https://www.budapestcard.org 

Transportation: 

Airport: Transportation to and from the airport varies depending on traveller preference. But these are the available options in Budapest that I looked into:  

  • Taxi: most expensive, but most convenient if time is an issue or you have a good amount of luggage. To find a taxi, simply walk outside the terminal and look for the Fo Taxi kiosk. 

    • There is no UBER in Budapest! 

    • There will be drivers offering a discounted price, these are freelance drivers that are not regulated. You may use them at your own risk, I never did. 

      • Note: driving in these countries is a bit more active than in the USA. I did not witness any accidents, but drivers speed a little more and tend to change lanes more often than here. 

    • Taxi cost to PEST the main attractions area will be around 6500 HUF or $22.01 

  • BKK Nonstop Tourist Bus: The 100E bus is comfortable and offers direct transportation to 3 main areas (Kalvin Ter, Astoria, and Deak Ferenc Ter). 

    • Hours: 4am - 12:30am every half hour 

    • Stop is located between Terminal 2A and 2B

    • Cost is about 900 HUF = $3.05 ← Cheapest option

Arriving through train:  If you are coming into Hungary through a train, like I did, then it will be easier for you to arrive to your destination. 

  • Depending on where you are coming from, prices and timetables will differ. 

  • Most trains arrive to the main train terminal in Budapest, Budapest Keleti or Budapest Kelenfoe. From these, you can catch public transport to any part of the city. 

    • Eurail

    • RailEurope 

  • ***Make sure you check if seat reservation is required or recommended! I did not check this ahead of time and had to stand in the middle of the hall for about 1h with my backpack because there were no seats left. 

    • Most people do not check and you end up in a very crowded train, unable to walk, move or seat on the floor. 

Walking Tours: 

I love doing walking tours in every city I visit because it helps me see the most of a city and also meet locals and other tourists. Plus, each tour is personalized by the guide and you get tips and recommendations based on their own experiences. 

  • Free Walking Tours in Budapest is a great company offering these tours at multiple times and without reservations needed, just show up! 

  • Original Walking tours start daily at 10:30am, 2:30pm or 6:30pm. 

  • Visit their site for more information → http://www.triptobudapest.hu

A little history: 

Budapest is the capital of Hungary and it was created in 1873 by the merger of three cities; Buda, Óbuda and Pest. The city has about 2 million inhabitants and it spreads on the banks of the river Danube. Buda extends to the hills on the west side of the Danube, while Pest sits on the left bank of the river in the lowlands. Much of the city has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status and it is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe (I agree!). 

Buda: Considered the classier and more residential side of the city. Attractions on this side include: 

  • Fisherman’s Bastion 

  • Buda Castle

  • Matthias Church 

  • Gellert Bath 

Pest:  Where all the action happens, it is the most touristy side and where to hang out and have fun. 

  • Parliament Building

  • Opera House

  • Heroes’ Square

  • Szechenyi baths

  • Budapest Zoo

  • Vajdahunyad Castle  


Both parts of the city are connected by the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, a suspension bridge that spans the river Danube. Pedestrians can cross the river by walking this bridge. 

Places to visit based on location

BUDA:  

  • Buda Castle District → Complex that includes multiple sites including the historical castle and palace complex of the Hungarian Kings in Budapest. 

    • Home of the National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum.

    • Opening hours: 10am - 6pm 

    • The Buda Castle district is open all day and night, this includes its streets, courts and some of its attractions (i.e. Fisherman’s Bastion). 

    • There are multiple tours available that visit the attractions outside and take about 2hr. For more information visit the official site → http://budacastlebudapest.com/buda-castle-tour/ 

  • National Archives 

    • Located in Buda Castle Hill

    • Free entry 

    • Hours: Mon: 8.30 am – 14 pm, Tues, Wed, Thur: 8.30 am – 17.45 pm, Fri: 8-30 am – 14 pm

  • Matthias church  

    • Located in the Buda Castle District 

    • Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-1pm, Sun 1pm-5pm 

    • Price is $5.50 pp 

    • Beautiful church, for females be sure to cover your shoulders. (Otherwise you have to wear a napkin provided there to cover them). 

  • Fisherman’s Bastion 

    • Open 24hr

    • Entrance is free to the upper towers before 9am and after 7pm. 

    • $3 fee for entering the upper balconies 

  • Gellért Baths → Founded in 1918, includes 10 pools of various sizes and temperatures. 

    • Hours: everyday from 6am to 8pm 

    • Located in the Gellért Hotel, but can visit for a fee that includes your entrance and a cabin or locker to store your things. 

      • Entrance + cabin weekend: $25.85

      • Entrance + cabin weekday: $24.73

      • Entrance + locker weekend: $24.73

      • Entrance + locker weekday: $23.61 

    • Beautiful photo opportunities. 

PEST: 

  • Szechenyi thermal baths  → largest medicinal bath in Europe, built in 1913. Most visited and much praised attraction in Budapest. Consists of 18 pools and 10 saunas. 

    • Open 6am - 10pm every day  

    • Access to all 21 pools, saunas, etc. 

    • Price depends on whether you want to reserve a cabin or locker: 

      • Entrance + cabin: $21.33 (weekday) - $22.01 (weekend) 

      • Entrance + locker: $19.64 (weekday) - $20.32 (weekend) 

      • Entrance + cabin + towel: $37.25 

    • Beautiful photo opportunities 

  • Hungarian state opera house → Neo-Renaissance opera house located on Andrassy ut. One of the most beautiful building, do not miss this jewel!  

    • Daily tours @ 2pm, 3pm, 4pm. 

    • Tickets can only be purchased at the opera house entrance hall on the right side on the same day. 

    • Cost is $8.47  

  • Hungarian parliament building → the seat of the National Assembly of Hungary. It is a popular attraction and beautiful inside. 

    • Guided tours are available if the National Assembly is not in session. 

    • The tour takes about 45 min and includes the main entrance stairs and hall, one of the lobbies, the old House of Lords, and the Hungarian Crown Jewels. 

    • Opened 9am - 6pm 7days a week 

    • Cost: $22 pp / $12 for students (Non-EU citizens) 

  • St Stephen's basilica → Roman Catholic basilica, considered the 6th largest building in Hungary before 1920. 

    • $6 for a tour visiting the overlook tower; without tower is $4 

    • $3 donation to just go in and see it? Unsure. 

    • Monday to Friday tours 10am-3pm 

  • Vajdahunyard castle → Located in the City Park of Budapest. Built in 1896 as part of the Millennial Exhibition. Looks like a fairytale castle. 

    • Open 10am - 5pm for the castle / all day for the courtyard 

    • $4 pp to enter the castle which is now the museum of agriculture. 

    • Beautiful to walk around the castle grounds and looks at the various styles.   

  • Hosok Tere → one of the major squares in Budapest. 

  • Andrassy ut-grand avenue → main boulevard dating back to 1872. Lined with spectacular Neo-Renaissance mansions and townhouses. 

    • Also one of the main shopping streets. 

  • City park 

    • Main entrance is @ Heroes Square (Hosok Tere) 

    • Free to visit

    • Arrive through the Millennium Underground 

**All museums are closed on Monday** 

FOOD: 

Overall, food in Hungary is very affordable due to the currency change. When given the option, always pay in HUF (Hungarian Forint, their national currency). This will be cheaper than allowing them to change the cost to euros or dollars. 

  • New York cafe → Known as the most beautiful cafe in the world! This place is definitely worth a visit. 

    • VERY instagram-worthy. 

    • Located in the New York Palace Budapest Hotel. 

    • They take reservations, however I did not make any when I visited. 

    • Expect to pay more than average for your coffee/food, but the view alone is worth it. 

    • You can visit for breakfast (like I did) and have the option of selecting from a breakfast menu or the buffet. 

  • Vörösmarty ter (square) → Great square for shopping and dining. Centrally located, you will find multiple restaurants lining the pedestrian-only streets. 

    • Dinner cost here was about $25 to $30 for 2 people (very cheap and good). 

    • Things to try while in Budapest include: 

      • Goulash (my favorite) 

      • Chicken Paprikash 

      • Sponge cake

      • Fisherman’s soup. 

Sheila GarciaComment