Three days in Budapest: a Complete Budapest Itinerary

The city had been on my bucket list for a long time, so spending three days in Budapest was a bit of a dream come true for me.

The Hungarian capital, with its cheap drinks and spindly little balconies adorning intricately carved buildings, offers travellers everything they could want from a European city break: bucketloads of cultural sights, intriguing history and a hedonistic nightlife scene.

Perhaps most importantly though for travellers, the city has a unique attraction that’s unrivalled anywhere else. In Budapest, that’s the iconic thermal baths.

Here’s our three day Budapest itinerary, which covers all the main attractions and famous places to visit in Budapest.

A three day itinerary for Budapest

This is the day-by-day itinerary my partner and I followed for three days in Budapest. If you’re wondering how many days to spend in Budapest, I’d say three days is perfect.

During our short stay, we were able to see all the tourist attractions and felt we achieved a good balance between cultural stuff and just unwinding over a bottle of Dreher!

At the beginning of our three days in Budapest, I picked up an official Budapest Card. They’re ideal for people visiting Budapest for the first (or even third) time, and you can select cards for either one day, two days, all the way up to five days depending on the length of your stay in Budapest.

These cards get you free or discounted entry to over 30 of the best Budapest attractions and tours, and you can buy one online before your trip.

I found the Budapest Card especially useful because you also get unlimited free rides on public transport. Alternatively, a Hop On Hop Off bus ticket is an easy way to get around Budapest and entitles you to a few freebies.

Day 1 in Budapest: A stroll along the Danube

Start day one in Budapest with a walk along the River Danube to The Széchenyi Chain Bridge, the first permanent bridge to link the two sides of Budapest.

If you’re ready for breakfast, stop for eggs at Börze, which is located across from the city’s old stock exchange building. Adventurous travellers should order a local dish like rakott krumpli. This will no doubt fill you up for a full day of Budapest sightseeing!

A stroll across the Danube over to the Buda side of the city takes you to the foot of the Castle Hill Funicular, which opened in 1870. Towering 170 metres over the river, the cobbled streets of Buda’s Old Town and the 13th century Royal Palace nestle proudly atop Castle Hill – but there’s time to explore this area fully tomorrow.

Continue along the riverbank until you’re opposite the Hungarian Parliament building. Viewed from across the water, the impressive sugar-white facade is even better in real life than the pictures.

It’s the largest building in Hungary and one of Europe’s oldest legislative buildings, with over half a million precious stones embedded in the Gothic Revival design.

The architect behind the design apparently went blind before the building was finished.

Cross Margaret Bridge and you’ll be back in Pest, where you can explore the Parliament Building and its neighbours up close. You can do a 45 minute tour of the exquisite building if you want to learn all about its intriguing past.

Around 10 minutes walk from the Parliament Building, you’ll find St. Stephen’s Basilica, a Roman Catholic place of worship that was built between 1851 and 1905. Entrance is free but there are regular organ concerts held there, which you need tickets for.

You’ve probably seen my next recommendation on your Instagram feed! Cool down with a flower-shaped ice cream from Gelarto Rosa, which is just next to the Basilica.

In the late afternoon, take to the water. You can do a one-hour cruise along the Danube with a cocktail included for just less than a tenner. Or, turn it into a party with a cruise that offers pizza and unlimited beer. I know which one I’d go for…

If you’d prefer to keep moving, walk up Gellért Hill for stunning panoramic views over the city as the sun goes down. There’s a monument and a citadel that was built by the Habsburgs after 1849 on the hill.

Take it easy on your first night in the city with dinner and drinks on Váci Utca, Budapest’s famous pedestrian shopping street. We stopped at Vörösmarty ter, a lively square surrounding a monument. We ate dinner alfresco, bundled in blankets. So romantic!

Day 2 in Budapest: Fisherman’s Bastion,  a famous cafe and ruin bars

In the morning on day two of your weekend in Budapest, eat breakfast at one of the few decent spots on the Buda side of the Danube at Bartók on Bartók Béla Boulevard.

Suitably fuelled up, head to Castle Hill and climb Fisherman’s Bastion, or ‘Halászbástya’, as it’s called in Hungarian. No, I don’t know how to pronounce that either.

Haul yourself up to the neo-Gothic, net-romanesque terrace for sweeping vistas of Budapest.

Completed in 1902, The Bastion takes its name from the guild of fishermen that was responsible for defending this stretch of the city walls in the Middle Ages. It was built to celebrate the Hungarian State’s 1000th anniversary as the powers that be strived to make Budapest a liveable city by slapping up some stunning buildings. I’d say they succeeded.

You can pay to go to the upper viewing balconies but we stuck with the cheap seats, where the view was still breathtaking. Fisherman’s Bastion’s seven fairytale towers are full of handy archways for posing and there was a cute Hungarian folk band playing there during our visit!

We even found a cafe hidden in one of the enclaves where you can grab a bite for lunch.

The Bastion wraps around the baroque Matthias Church which dates back to the 13th Century. You can do a tour of the church between 9am and 5pm, or before 1pm on Saturdays / after 1pm on sundays.

Explore The Budapest History Museum and the Hungarian National Gallery while you’re in the Buda Castle area.

You’ll have worked up an appetite by this point, so head to someplace special for dinner. I recommend The New York Cafe, which is renowned as the most beautiful cafe in the world. You can read my review of The New York Cafe in Budapest if you’re unsure whether it’s worth the money.

In terms of Budapest nightlife, there’s one place in Budapest no boozy traveller can miss: Szimpla Kert, the most famous of the city’s ruin pubs.

These drinking spots are built in Budapest’s old District VII neighbourhood (the old Jewish quarter) in the ruins of abandoned buildings. They’re the main attraction in Budapest for people who come to party.

Szimpla Kert was the original ruin pub and it opened in 2001. Stuffed full of antique furniture, a hoarder’s haven worth of junk and curious objects, this bar alone gives Budapest the coolest nightlife scene in Europe.

Fancy a late night snack? Stop at Retro Langos on your way home to pick up a langos, which is made from dough, sour cream and cheese. You might need the stodge at this point!

If you’re travelling in Budapest solo, a bar crawl is a great way to experience Budapest’s nightlife and meet fellow travellers. This one lasts for five hours and specifically crawls the ruin bars.

Day 3 in Budapest: Thermal baths, Andrassy Avenue & Sundowners

Wake up to the smell of Hungarian chimney cake being made on a sweet and coffee walking tour. The warm smell of cinnamon entices patrons in to the old fashioned bakeries around Budapest. Today would be the perfect time to take a food tour of Budapest, so you know exactly what local treats to order on your next visit. Or you can book a strudel making class!

We took a walk along the Danube to see the Shoes on the Danube, a memorial which commemorates the Jewish people who lost their lives in the 1940s. They were forced to strip naked on the banks of the Danube and face the river; a firing squad then shot the prisoners at close range in the back so that they fell into the river to be washed away.

This creative memorial is a little eerie and very moving. It’s a must-see in Budapest.

For lunch, head to the second floor of the Great Market Hall, at the Pest end of Szabadság Bridge. You can also pick up souvenirs at this market. Take a tour of the Market Hall to learn about the various Hungarian dishes being served.

After lunch, walk through Heroes Square, the largest square in the city which was created in 1896 to mark the thousandth anniversary of Hungary, and City Park. In Heroes Square, you might like to stop at  the Museum of Fine Arts or Kunsthalle (Hall of Art).

We went to the Lukács Thermal Baths because it was free with the Budapest Card but if I was to go back to Budapest, I’d go to the Széchenyi Spa instead. That’s the big outdoor one you’ve probably seen on Instagram! You can get a full day pass online or pay a bit more and get a massage during your visit.

We spent the afternoon walking along Andrassy Avenue, an iconic boulevard that dates back to 1872.

To toast the end of our fantastic three days in Budapest, we sipped sundowners at 360 Bar. From the rooftop bar you can see Downtown Budapest from above: the State Opera House, the Old Academy of Music, the Old Art Hall and the Budapest School of Performing Arts.

Not ready to hit the hay after sundown? Head back to District 7, Budapest’s party zone!

More things to do in Budapest (See all)

If you have more than three days in Budapest or anything in this itinerary doesn’t appeal to you, check out these alternative things to do in Budapest.

Best day trips from Budapest

In Hungary for longer? I’ve compiled some of the best day tours from Budapest below.

Food and drink experiences in Budapest

One of the best ways to sample a destination’s culinary prowess is to do a food-themed tour. Check out these foodie experiences!

Where to stay in Budapest

Highly recommended five-star hotels in Budapest include Kempinski Hotel Corvinas Budapest, New York Palace, Corinthia, Aria Hotel (amazing rooftop bar) or Four Seasons.

If you’re looking for something more mid-range but still stylish, there’s The Aquincum Hotel Budapest, Danubius Hotel Gellért, Callas House, art’otel budapest or Hotel Clark Budapest.

If you’re doing the budget backpacker thing, there are loads of decent hostels in Budapest. I always choose a Wombats hostel if possible as I’ve always had good experiences. Hostel One is hailed as the best place to stay in Budapest if you’re there to party, and Maverick Hostel and Ensuites looks seriously cool – it’s housed in an old mansion.

Booking.com Booking.com

How to get to Budapest

You can fly to Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport from major UK airports and it’s best to trawl Skyscanner to find the cheapest deals. You can also get to Budapest by train from many destinations around Europe. If you’re backpacking around Europe, an Interrail pass is often the best way to save money on multiple train journeys. My 10 day Europe tour itinerary might come in helpful!

I got the bus and train from Budapest Airport to the city centre. With my Budapest card in hand, I hopped on to a 200E bus at the airport, then changed on to a train at Kőbánya-Kispest station. A short ride took me to Ferenciek Tere station, and our hotel was just steps away. The old school train carriage is full of characters! Of course, you can always book a private transfer from the airport to your hotel, which works out quite reasonable if there are a group of you.

More Budapest travel tips

Old school yellow streetcars are a fun way of getting around Budapest. Want to experience the world’s longest streetcar ride? Hop on streetcars 4 or 6 and ride from the first to the last stop in either direction!

It’s always wise to get travel insurance before a trip. World Nomads are loved by many seasoned travellers – you can get a quote using the box below.

If you’re travelling around Hungary, the Lonely Planet Budapest & Hungary travel guidebook will be a huge help.

Use my Travel Resources page to book your Budapest trip

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All Europe travel guides

Our short break in Budapest was  packed full of exciting sightseeing, booze and good food. Whether you’re in to edgy nightlife, baroque architecture or you’re just looking for somewhere cheap for your next European weekend away, Budapest is worth visiting, again and again.

I hope you’ve found my guide to what to see in Budapest in three days helpful. Have you been to Budapest or is this European favourite on on your travel bucket list? Let me know in the comments!

If you’re planning a trip of your own and want to use my Budapest itinerary for inspiration, you can pin any of my pictures on Pinterest. You can also like my Facebook page and follow me on Twitter and Instagram.

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