What to see in Budapest in 5 days

If you are planning a trip to the Hungarian capital, in this guide we tell you about what to see in Budapest in 5 days with a complete tour that we have done ourselves. We tell you how we organize each day to make the most of the time but without rushing. Spas, ruin bars walks through the Danube excursions near the city and Christmas markets if you go in winter.

Day 1 - Historic center of Pest and Jewish quarter

We started the day with a free tour through the historic center of BudapestThe tour is a great way to get to know the city without the hassle. The tour usually lasts about two and a half hours and passes through several of the most important places in Pest. We leave you the places we saw during the tour in case you want to do it on your own as well:

Parliament of Hungary

The tour started at one of the most impressive buildings in the city. The neo-Gothic facade is amazing, especially in soft light in the morning. If you have time, it's worth a visit. guided tour of the Parliament. As we were going to start the free tour, we only took some pictures from the outside with the intention of coming back the next day to see it from the inside.

Freedom Square (Szabadság tér)

In the Liberty Square you will find the monument to soviet liberation which commemorates the Red Army's entry into Budapest at the end of World War II. Although officially it celebrates the expulsion of the Nazis, for many Hungarians it symbolizes the beginning of decades of communist control under the influence of the USSR. For this reason, this monument generates quite controversial and is one of the few of its kind still standing in the city.

Over time, the Hungarians have been "redecorating" the square to give it a different meaning, placing statues such as the one of Ronald Reagan o George H.W. Bush as a symbolic gesture towards Western freedom and the end of communism. The square is also home to other controversial monuments, such as the one of the Holocaust (which has generated criticism for its attempt to whitewash history), making it a site loaded with recent history and contradictions. In front of it, there is a citizen memorial with photos, letters and real objects, which is very impressive. It is highly recommended to listen to it well explained in the free tour.

St. Stephen's Basilica

The St. Stephen's Basilica is the largest religious building in Hungary and one of the most important in the country. Its name pays homage to St. Stephen I the first king of Hungary, and inside it is stored his mummified right hand The relic can be seen on display in a small side chapel.

One of the best parts of the visit is climbing up to the panoramic dome From here you have a spectacular view of the whole center of Budapest, the Danube and the surrounding area. In addition, if you go in November/December, the square in front of the basilica becomes one of the most beautiful places in Budapest Christmas markets liveliest in the city.

• Schedule:
  • Monday to Saturday: 9:00-17:45
  • Sundays: 13:00-17:45
• Prices:
  • Entrance to the basilica: 2,400 HUF (general admission, about 6 €)
  • Basilica + dome + treasure: 6,200 HUF
• 🎟️ Advance ticket with audio guide here.

Vörösmarty Square and Váci Utca Street

Vörösmarty Square one of the most famous squares in the city, where the famous Váci Utca Street. In December they also mount a flea market with food stands and Christmas decorations. This is where we tried our first mulled wine of the trip (spoiler: it would not be the last).

The street Váci Utca is simply a very touristy pedestrian street, ideal if you feel like strolling among stores or doing some shopping.

Jewish Quarter

After the free tour, we went to the Jewish quarter of Budapest an area that mixes history, memory and nightlife. Today it is one of the most active neighborhoods in the city (our apartment was here), but it was also the place where the Jewish ghetto during the Nazi occupation in World War II.

The most emblematic place is the Great Synagogue Dohány Street, which is the second largest in the world. It was built in 1859 in Moorish style and is notable for the Holocaust memorial in the backyard, with the Tree of Life a sculpture in the shape of a weeping willow with the names of thousands of victims.

• 🎟️Podéis book a guided visit to the Synagogue here.

In this neighborhood you will also find some of the most important murals and works of urban art Budapest's most famous. The best known is the Rubik's Cube (the inventor of the cube was Hungarian), and there are also portraits, phrases and art related to the history of the ghetto. In addition, many streets hide pedestrian galleries and courtyards with cafes, second-hand stores or bars. We recommend wandering around aimlessly.

Andrássy Avenue and Opera

After lunch, we started to walk along the Andrássy Avenue The main street, one of the main arteries of Budapest and one of the most stately, full of luxury stores, theaters and cafes.

It was declared UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered an equivalent to the Champs Elysees in Paris, but without so much posturing and with more history behind it. If you go with time, it is worth to observe the buildings, many of them old palaces of aristocratic families that today are offices or embassies.

In the most central section of Andrássy is the National Opera one of the most elegant buildings in Budapest. Even if you do not attend a performance, you can visit inside with a guided tour that goes through the lobby, the auditorium and part of the backstage.

• Tours usually last about 30 minutes and are conducted in several languages.
• 🎟️Aquí you can book the guided tour of the Opera House in Spanish.

If you do not want to pay an entrance fee, you can enter free to the main hall to take a quick look at the stairs and the roof. It's worth it if only for five minutes.

Christmas market in the Basilica Square

From mid-November to the beginning of January, right in front of the basilica of San Esteban one of the most important Christmas markets most spectacular in Budapest. It is not the largest, but it is one of the most cared for and with the best atmosphere, especially when it gets dark and they turn on all the lights. What will you find in the flea market? We tell you everything:

• Projection of lights on the basilica façade One of the most original spots. From time to time they project animations and light shows with music on the main facade of the building. This gives a very special air to the whole environment, especially if you go at dusk.
• Craft stalls The market has everything from candles and ornaments to typical Hungarian products (embroidery, pottery, honey, wooden toys...). There is everything, and although it is not the cheapest, it is much more authentic than other more touristy markets.
• Typical food Mulled wine, langosh, sausages, goulash, all a delight! although eating at Christmas markets is not cheap.

🎄Christmas markets
If you visit the flea markets we recommend you to take advantage of the following weekdays since there are much fewer people and it is more comfortable.

Market hours:

• Sunday to Thursday: 11:00-21:00
• Friday and Saturday: 11:00-22:00
• Holidays (Dec 24-26): reduced opening hours

We went around 17:30 and everything was already on, during the week it is quite crowded but not crowded. It is a perfect place to have a casual dinner outdoors, take a leisurely stroll and soak up the Christmas atmosphere of the city.

Day 2 - Parliament, Danube riverbank and Buda hill

Visit to the Budapest Parliament

In the morning we went straight to one of the most iconic buildings in Budapest: the Parliament located on the banks of the Danube in the Pest part. From the outside it is already impressive for its size and its neo-Gothic facade, but the best thing is that you can visit inside.

Guided tour: is it worth it?

Yes, without a doubt. We took the tour with a guide in Spanish and it was quite enjoyable. They show you several rooms of the building, including the Dome Room where are the Hungarian Crown Jewels. Everything is very well preserved and gives the feeling of being in a palace rather than in an administrative building.

• 🎟️ Here you can book the guided tour in Spanish.

‼️Visit Parliament
We recommend book well in advance your visit, especially if you go on special dates such as the December long weekend.

Here we leave you important information if you want to visit it:

• Visiting hours:
  • Every day, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (in summer it is extended until 6:00 p.m.)
• Prices:
  • Adults (EU): 6,500 HUF (~16 €)
  • The ticket includes the guide in the chosen language
• Duration about 45 minutes
• Entrance The access is on the side street, not on the main façade (they will tell you if you book online).

Walk along the banks of the Danube up to the Chain Bridge.

Right after visiting the Parliament, we stayed in the area to take a walk around the a walk along the Danube to the Chain Bridge. If you walk along this stretch, you will find two stops that deserve all your attention: the monument of the shoes and the statue of the princess.

The monument of the shoes is a tribute to the Jews who were executed on the riverbank by the Hungarian fascist "Arrow Cross" party during World War II. They were made to take off their shoes before being killed and thrown into the water. And hence the monument is 60 pairs of iron shoes The shoes are placed directly on the edge of the dock. There are men's, women's and children's shoes.

A little further along, next to the same promenade, you will see the statue of the Danube Princess (Kiskirálylány). It is a bronze sculpture of a girl sitting on a railing, with a paper crown on her head. It has no direct relation to the history of the country, but has become a beloved figure for the locals.

It is a typical place to take pictures, especially because just in front you have a good view of the Buda hill and the castle in the background.

Buda Castle and Fisherman's Bastion

If you cross the Chain Bridge just on the other side you can walk up the hill to the castle or use the funicular although we went on foot (the climb is quite easy).

Buda Castle

More than a castle itself, it is a large palace complex which has been destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries. Today it houses the Hungarian National Gallery the Budapest History Museum and the National Library.

Entrance to the site is free of charge You can walk through the courtyards, viewpoints and gardens without paying. If you want to enter any of the museums, you must buy a ticket. There are also guided tours around the area of Buda Castle if you want to know more historical details.

From the southern bastion of the castle there are some very good views to Pest with the Parliament and the bridges, especially to the sunset.

Fishermen's Bastion

One of the most photogenic places in Budapest and also one of the most crowded. The Fishermen's Bastion looks like something out of a fairy tale, with its white towers and terraces overlooking the Danube. It was built at the end of the 19th century as a lookout, and its name refers to the fishermen's guild that protected this part of the wall in the Middle Ages.

• Open 24h
• Price: most terraces are free except for the highest one, which costs about 1,000 HUF (~2.5 €).

Right next door is the Matthias Church one of the most beautiful of the city, with ceramic roof The interior is quite curious (it has to be paid, but you can enter if you have time and desire).

Although it is a very touristy and somewhat expensive area (the Christmas market that was there was beautiful but everything cost twice as much We preferred to eat somewhere else), but the walk is worth it. The views from here are some of the best of the whole trip and if you go to the sunset you catch the city lighting up little by little.

Széchenyi thermal baths

After a full day of walking, crossing bridges and climbing hills, we decided to finish the afternoon with a nice hot water session in the Széchenyi thermal baths The most famous and photographed of Budapest.

As soon as you arrive, the building is impressive: high ceilings and that decadent air that many buildings in the city have. Upon entering they give you a bracelet which is used to store your things in a box office in the common changing rooms where you can change clothes.

The inner part has several pools of different temperatures, saunas and steam baths, although we did not find it as special as the outdoor area. Still, it is good for relaxing and resting your legs.

What we liked the most was outdoor thermal pool The pool is a great place to go, with the steam coming out of the water, people playing in the water whirlpool and you in your swimsuit while it is zero degrees outside (it literally snowed on us while we were in the pool). Be prepared to be cold as hell getting in and out of the pool. Like tip We can tell you that when you get out of the pool, you should run to a sauna there, there you will warm yourselves and dry yourselves.

Practical information:

• Schedule:
  • Open daily from 7:00 a 20:00
  • Outdoor pools are open all year round
• General admission price:
  • Enter 11.000 and 15.000 HUF (28-38 €) with box office (depending on the day as it is more expensive on holidays)
  • 🎟️ You can buy advance ticket here.
• Recommendations:
  • Bring towel, flip-flops and hat. (mandatory only if you want to swim in the swimming pool)
  • If you forget them or do not want to carry them, they can be buy there bathrobe, towel, flip-flops or cap.
  • Go with time: minimum two hours to make good use of it.

There is another option of thermal baths called Gellért which are in the Buda area, but we opted for Széchenyi after doing some research because they seemed a little better. The Gellert spa as we read is a bit more outdated and also does not have an outdoor pool area.

Day 3 - Excursion to Szentendre and ruin bars

Visit to Szentendre

In the morning we made a trip to Szentendre a small town just north of Budapest, about 40 minutes by train. It is very easy to reach from the station of Batthyány tér with the HÉV commuter train (line H5), which follows the river. If you want all the details go to our article how to get to Szentendre from Budapest. This tour can also be combined with Esztergom y VisegrádBut this time we prefer to focus only on Szentendre and take it easy.

❓ Esztergom, Visegrád or Szentendre
If you want to take a look at the 3 villages and see which one interests you the most, we have an article on which village near Budapest is most worth a visit?.

Szentendre has a totally different atmosphere from Budapest. It was a town of artists and it still has that bohemian air, with many galleries, handicraft stores, workshops and small museums. Ideal for strolling aimlessly, stop for a drink, and disconnect from the rhythm of the city. Anyway, we leave you the points to see in Szentendre to make sure you don't miss anything:

• Historical center The best thing to do is to get lost in its cobblestone streets, many of them pedestrian. Low houses, pastel-colored facades and lots of little souvenir shops. For example, we saw a spectacular Christmas tree ball shop, here here is the location.
• Orthodox Churches There are several, since the city had a large Serbian community. The best known is the Serbian Orthodox Church of Belgrade located on a hill with good views.
• Curious museums: if you have time, you can enter the Marzipan Museum (yes, it does exist), where there are figures made of marzipan, or to the Ferenczy Museum dedicated to modern Hungarian art.
• Walk along the Danube The river: Coming down from the center, there is a quiet path along the river, perfect to end the morning strolling and watching the little boats or sitting down to rest.
• Pastry shops and cafés There are many, and almost all of them have a nice terrace.
• Market with farm products We saw it by chance and found it to be very authentic, not touristy at all. Here the location.

As we mentioned before, if you are interested in seeing more villages, there is an organized excursion that includes also Visegrád and Esztergom: 👉 Excursion to Szentendre + Esztergom + Visegrád

Szimpla Kert and flea market at Vörösmarty tér

After spending the morning in Szentendre and returning to the center of Budapest at sunset, we were in the mood for something relaxing, so we went for a few beers at the Szimpla Kert the most famous dive bar in town.

This site is almost a tourist attraction in itself. It is the original ruin bar of Budapest, set up in a half-ruined building, full of recycled furniture, colored lights graffiti and objects hung everywhere. It has several rooms, a central courtyard live music on some days and a fairly extensive menu of beers, wines and cocktails (not cheap).

We tested some Hungarian craft beers which were quite tasty and not very expensive (about 4€ a pint). It's a very touristy place, but the atmosphere is cool, and it's worth a visit even if you don't drink anything.

✨ Szimpla Kert
We recommend you to go before 20:00 to be able to enter quietly without queues, after dinner there are horrible queues.

If you are interested in going out at night in this area, you can sign up for a ruin pub crawl with guideideal if you want to know other bars without having to look for them.

Christmas market at Vörösmarty tér

For dinner, we decided to return to the Christmas markets this time to the Vörösmarty tér The square is the largest and most centrally located in Budapest. Compared to the basilica, here there are more stalls, more variety of food and also more people, but it is easy to find something tasty and eat standing at the high tables that are scattered around the square.

We tested the lángos from Granny's Lángos one of the most recommended. We ordered one with garlic, bacon, sour cream and cheese... a bomb, but very good. For dessert, chimney cake Freshly baked, that cylindrical sponge cake cooked on the fire, with sugar, cinnamon and a thousand variations. Perfect to share and keep walking with warm hands.

Day 4 - Városliget Park, Heroes' Square and boat trip on the Danube River

Városliget Park and Heroes' Square

We started this day in a less touristic but very interesting area: the Városliget Park which is like the green lung of Budapest. To get there we went by subway to Széchenyi fürdő right next to the thermal baths. The stop is at the M1 line The oldest in the city (and one of the most beautiful, by the way).

The park itself is quite large and has everything: green areas a lake (which in winter becomes a skating rink), cafeterias It is ideal for a walk if the weather is nice or even for a picnic if you go in spring/summer.

• In winter, the skating rink that is mounted on the lake is one of the largest in Europe. Very atmospheric and overlooking the castle. Equipment can be rented on site.
• Nearby is the Vajdahunyad Castle The castle, which looks like something out of a medieval fairy tale. Although it is not a real castle, it was built in the early twentieth century as part of an exhibition. From the outside it is beautiful, and you can enter the courtyard freely.

After strolling around for a while and sitting on a bench to enjoy the day, we headed towards the Heroes Square (Hősök tere). In the center is the Millennium Monument The main entrance, with a soaring column crowned by the archangel Gabriel and several statues of Hungarian kings and leaders at the base. On the sides you have two large semicircular columns that also represent important figures in the history of the country.

For lunch we decided to get out of Hungarian food for a bit and went to an Asian restaurant that surprised us for the better: Cung restaurant specializing in Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. Very tasty and close to the park.

Boat trip on the Danube

After lunch, we went back to the center for a short walk to the walk along the banks of the Danube before sunset. This time we walked along the side of Pest The route goes south from the Parliament area towards the Elizabeth Bridge, enjoying the views of the castle and the Bastion illuminating little by little. It is a very quiet route, ideal to go without haste.

At dusk, we made one of the most recommended plans of the whole trip: a boat trip on the Danube with the Parliament and the illuminated bridges. There are several types, but we chose a simple one that included a drink (wine, beer or soft drink) and lasted for about 50-60 minutes.

• The boat goes from the center to the south and then turns around, so you can see:
  • The illuminated Parliament (brutal)
  • Buda Castle
  • Fisherman's Bastion
  • All the important bridges: Chain Bridge, Elisabeth Bridge, Liberty Bridge.
• Council Go early to get a good spot by the window or at the top if the weather is good (in winter, keep warm).
• 🎟️Aquí you can book the night boat ride with drinks included.

Városháza Park Christmas market

When we finished the boat ride, already at night, we went for a walk around another christmas market smaller but very cozy: the one in Városháza Park. It is just behind the Budapest City Hall, in the center, but somewhat more hidden than those of the basilica or Vörösmarty tér.

You can tell it is a little less touristy, more local. Ideal for a light dinner or another mulled wine. Here there were fewer lines and slightly more reasonable prices.

Ruin bar: Instant-Fogas

To finish the day, and since it was our last strong night, we went to meet another dingy bar, this time much more disco type: the Instant-Fogas. It is huge, with several rooms, different styles of music and many interconnected spaces (it literally looks like a labyrinth).

If you just want to have a quiet drink... maybe it's too much. But it's worth popping in for a browse. It was an intense way to end the day, although if you prefer something more relaxed, Szimpla Kert is always a safe bet.

Day 5 - Central market and Margarita Island

Central Market

For the last day we decided to take it easy. We went for a walk around Váci Utca to the Great Central Market The building itself is very beautiful, with a glazed ceramic roof and a metal structure. The building itself is very nice, with glazed ceramic roof and metal structure. Inside it is spacious, with high ceilings and several levels.

• First floor Fresh food stalls, cold meats, fruits, vegetables and spices (pay attention to the thousands of jars of paprika).
• Upper floor souvenirs, textile products and prepared food such as langosh or traditional dishes.

It is very photogenic, but quite touristy. I was at crowded Although it's worth a quick visit, it's not the best place to eat or shop if you're looking for local prices.

• Schedule:
  • Monday-Friday: 6:00-17:00
  • Saturday: 6:00-15:00
  • Sunday: closed
• 🎟️ Free admission (you only pay for what you buy, of course)

Afternoon on Margaret Island (Margitsziget)

Then we went to spend the afternoon at the Margarita Island one of the urban parks largest in Budapest. It is in the middle of the Danube, between the Margit and Árpád bridges, and can be reached on foot, by streetcar or even by bike if you rent one.

It is an ideal place for walking, biking, or picnicking especially if the weather is good. There are no cars (except for an internal electric minibus), so the atmosphere is very quiet. Here are some of the points of interest to see on Isla Margarita:

• Gardens, fountains and medieval ruins There are landscaped areas, a musical fountain, and the remains of a 13th century monastery.
• Running track It surrounds the whole island and is very popular among sportsmen.
• Small zoo with birds and farm animals, ideal if you go with children.
• Water Tower The building is a modernist building that today is used for exhibitions (if it is open, you can go up for some curious views).

It is best to go without specific expectations, walk around for a while and let yourself go. After several days wandering around Budapest, the calm of this place is appreciated.

Budapest must-see map

Here we leave you a map with all the sites that we have mentioned throughout the article and we also include restaurants and cafes of interest.

Frequently Asked Questions

What curiosities are there to see in Budapest?

Budapest is full of curious details if you go with your eyes open. Some that we recommend you not to overlook:

• The shoe monument on the Danube which is a very powerful tribute to the victims of the Holocaust.
• The meter M1 The oldest in the European continent (it seems to be taken from another era).
• The thermal baths The local people are part of everyday life here, not just something for tourists.
• The ruin bar Szimpla Kert literally mounted in a half-ruined building.

What is the most beautiful thing to see in Budapest?

This depends a lot on personal taste, but if we had to choose:

• See the Illuminated Parliament from the Buda area or the Fisherman's Bastion.
• The sunset boat ride by the Danube.
• The environment of the Christmas markets of the city, with special mention of St. Stephen's Basilica.
• And if you like history, the Liberty Square is brutal for the amount of symbols it concentrates.

What to see in Budapest in 1 day?

If you only have one day we propose this express tour:

• Tomorrow Parliament outside, Danube shoes, crossing the Chain Bridge.
• Noon Buda Castle and Fisherman's Bastion.
• Afternoon Back to Pest, St. Stephen's Basilica and flea market if it is December.
• Night Szimpla Kert: Quick dinner and beer in Szimpla Kert.

You can either do it on your own or sign up for a complete free tour to make the most of your time.

What to see in the surroundings of Budapest?

If you have more than 3 days in the city, it is worthwhile to do some of them getaway close. The most recommended:

• Szentendre Bohemian and colorful village along the Danube, perfect for a half-day excursion. We leave you here details on how to get there from Budapest.
• Esztergom The city of San Salvador: with its enormous basilica, it is one of the most important religious cities in the country.
• Visegrád The site has castle ruins and views of the "meander of the Danube", a very good option if you like nature.

You can also do this complete route in a day with this organized tour:
👉 Excursion to Szentendre, Visegrád and Esztergom

If you want to read other articles ideal for your trip that complement What to see in Budapest in 5 days you can visit our posts about Hungary.