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Have you ever considered a trip to Budapest, Hungary? It’s one of our absolute favorite places on the planet, and to explore this stunning Hungarian city, straddling the banks of the Danube River, is to love it. Keep ready for our full Budapest travel guide.

budapest travel guide
Photo credit: Taste Hungary

Why Budapest?

Hungary is bursting with amazing sights, sounds, and smells, and has a rich history that’s truly fascinating. Maybe you’re a museum buff. Perhaps you want to study the incredible architecture of the Hungarian Parliament building. You may be keen to sample the mouth-watering delicacies that come from this part of the globe. Or you might just want to see the meandering river with your own two eyes, rather than in travel guides and brochures. Whatever it is, Budapest ticks practically every box.

How Much To Budget For Visiting Budapest

When planning a vacation to Budapest, one of the first things most visitors ask us is how much money they’re likely to need. Fortunately, Hungary has quite a low cost of living, so you’ll probably find it much more affordable than many other European countries. However, outside of your flights and hotel, there are a few things to think about when budgeting for your trip…

Transport

Budapest is split by the river, with Buda to the west, and Pest to the east. So it’s almost like there’s not one city center, but two! And both areas contain places of interest. For example, Matthias Church is on the Buda side, while Heroes Square, City Park, and the Great Synagogue – the largest synagogue in Europe – are on the Pest side. So you’ll need to budget for public transportation between the two. 

Luckily, there’s an excellent transport system made up of bus, tram, trolley, and metro, and a single ticket is around $1. There are also plenty of taxi drivers around, and there’s even a ferry that stops at Margaret Island in the Danube. 

Activities

There are lots of Hungarian attractions located in Budapest, so make sure you budget enough to see all the places you want to enjoy. The good news is that many of them are very affordable. For example, an entrance ticket to the Budapest History Museum, where you can learn more about the area’s rich past, is just over $7 for an adult ticket. Not bad, huh?

But remember: there are many free things to do here, too – like spending some time in Memento Park or City Park. Or taking a walk along the Danube to see the World War II Danube Memorial, The Shoes on the Danube Bank. A walk around the Castle Hill district, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also completely free!

Photo credit: Taste Hungary

Food & Drink

While there are plenty of great restaurants in Budapest, you don’t need to budget for a full-on sit-down meal in the city every night you’re there. Budapest is home to some incredible – and affordable – street food. Or for something different, why not grab some light, local bar food and cheap beer at one of the city’s ruin pubs? 

Although tipping isn’t customary in this part of the world, it is welcomed in Budapest, so make sure to budget a little extra for good service. Of course, as travelers from the US, we may be used to tipping 20%, but 10% is considered standard here. 

Photo credit: Taste Hungary


Handy Tip – If you want to reduce the amount you pay out during your vacation, we recommend taking a look at the Budapest Card. You pay one price for unlimited public transport, and access to many museums and places of interest.


How Long To Visit Budapest

If you only wanted to see the top attractions, you could follow this Budapest travel guide and spend just a few days in the city. But to explore Budapest fully, you really need a bit more time. Especially if you’re keen to see both Buda and Pest, and try out some delicious Hungarian food while you’re here. You’ll find plenty of world-class sights and restaurants, and you should make sure you have enough time to enjoy them.

Something you might not want to miss out on is the city’s famous thermal bath: Széchenyi Baths. It’s got three outdoor pools, all naturally heated from the ground. Széchenyi Baths are the biggest thermal baths in Budapest, and definitely the most well-known. 

You could also spend days exploring the museums here, from the Hungarian National Museum to the House of Terror Museum. Dedicated to the Cold War, it’s where you’ll find the Iron Curtain monument. 

And, of course, you’ll want to allow even more time if you want to do some traveling in Budapest, or head out to the Hungarian countryside to visit places such as the wine-growing region of Tokaj

In general, I think 10 days is a good amount of time to try out a little bit of everything. 

Best Time to Visit Budapest

So… when should you plan your Hungarian vacation? It’s hard to say!

Typically, Budapest’s winters are pretty cold, and it could get down to slightly below freezing. But this is a great time to soak in the thermal baths, enjoying the warmth while the cold air blows around you. 

Summers, on the other hand, can be very hot, with an average temperature of around 70, and highs of up to 86… or even more. Budapest is really in full swing at this time of year, but there can be a lot of tourists. 

Personally, I like the shoulder seasons of spring and fall. 

If I had to choose just one time of year to visit, it would probably be between September and October. The temperatures are comfortable, and the city just seems to shine. September is also when the Budapest Wine Festival is held at Buda Castle, with tastings around the Hungarian National Gallery and other buildings near the Royal Palace. It’s a great chance to sample some of the local wines produced in the country such as Tokaj, Kékfrankos and Juhfark, the later of which is grown on volcanic soil.  Tokaj is the most famous being which is made as both dessert wines and dry whites.

But honestly, there’s never a bad time to visit. The Danube flows all year round. And even in the rain, snow, or hail, Matthias Church is absolutely breathtaking. 

Photo credit: Taste Hungary

Where to Eat in Budapest

Hungarian cuisine combines classic Central European fair with a bit of Balkans and Ottoman influences with a healthy dose of paprika on top for good measure. And while you’re in Hungary, you should definitely plan on trying some traditional Hungarian food like chicken paprikash, spätzle, and a fried bread called lángos which is the perfect street food to go with a craft beer. 

If you’re looking for some great restaurants, I suggest looking on the Pest side of the Danube. Buda definitely has some amazing places to eat, particularly in the castle district. It does tend to be a bit quieter and more residential than Pest, which is heaving with bars, restaurants, cafes, and more.  The area around the Hungarian State Opera House, along the iconic Andrássy Avenue, is a good place to start. My go-to spot for the kind of simple, grandma-style home cooking which requires no pretentious Michelin-style plating is Gettó Gulyás located in the old Jewish Quarter.

But if you ask me, I think it’s difficult to find anywhere better to eat than Great Market Hall. There are two floors, with the second floor housing masses of different food stalls and eateries. You can try the traditional Hungarian dish goulash here, and sample some really delicious local delicacies. We love this place so much that it’s one of the stars of the show on our Hungary and Northern Croatia Tour! 

Say Yes to Budapest

After traveling there for the past 25 years, we can honestly say that Budapest is one of our favorite cities in Central Europe to visit. Even in peak season, the breadth of the city’s sights and its numerous, distinct districts ensures that it never gets too crowded or touristy. The combination of its unique history, beauty, grand architecture, delicious cuisine, vibrant art scene and classic cafe-culture, Budapest holds a very special place in our heart. Looking forward to welcoming you on our next tour!

We’re here to help you plan your next adventure!

Already know where you would like to travel, but you are feeling a bit overwhelmed by the planning process? We can create custom itineraries to any destination in the world for groups of almost any size, or answer questions and provide recommendations. It’s best to contact us well in advance, so we have time to research and prepare, as well as find time in between leading tours in order to meet (virtually)!

AWS Staff

This post was published by the Adventures with Sarah team. Click here to find out more about the people that make everything at AWS happen.

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