Budapest Itinerary

Szia everyone! It's hello in Hungarian but pronounced like "see yA!". This is a quick guide to your 48-hour stay in Budapest, or should I say buda-PESHt. Your first tip is to learn how to pronounce the city right and then remember it for life. I remember spending only two days here, it's very doable if you split by riverbank: Pest on day one, Buda on day two, then close out with the thermal baths.


WHAT

sightseeing, river tours, dining


WHEN

Mar-Oct (National Labor day is May 1)


GETTING AROUND

Bus or Metro, Taxis (for airport)


Day 1 - Pest side

  • Hungarian Parliament Building: Take a guided tour of this neo-Gothic icon, one of the largest government buildings in the world.

  • St. Stephen’s Basilica: Climb to the dome’s observation deck for a 360-degree view of the city, or attend an evening organ concert

  • Central Market Hall Lunch upstairs at the food stalls — get lángos (fried dough with sour cream and cheese) and a goulash (paprika meat stew). You can grab some souvenirs around here as well.

  • Walk down the Danube River/Elisabeth Bridge or take the evening boat ride to see the grand architectures on the left and right of the river

Day 2 - Buda side

  • Buda Castle walk the courtyards, skip the museums unless you have a specific interest. Grab Kürtőskalács (commonly known as chimney cake) nearby.

  • Fisherman’s Bastion wander the cobblestone streets of the Castle District and take in the panoramic views of the city from the fairytale-like turrets. Get there early, you'll beat both the crowds and the ticket booth. The seven turrets represent the Magyar tribes who founded Hungary.

  • Mattias Church Right next to the Bastion.

  • Heroes Square Monument/Museum of Fine Arts next to each other, see some El Greco, Raphael, Velasquez pieces here.

  • Széchenyi Thermal Bath - 38°C thermal at one end, lap pool in the middle. Crowded around sunset.


Getting around: Taxis from/to airport, use buses for the city. Buses in Budapest run every 10 minutes. You will insert a little paper ticket into a machine to validate it (also applies for metros). You could buy one for 330 HUF (USD$1.20) or a block of ten for 3000 HUF in the stations. It is technically only used for a 'single' trip, many locals have informed me that you can use the same slip for up to 120 minutes. Most attractions in the city center are within walking distance from each other, with the exception of the Parliament, Buda Castle, and Heroes Square. Just plan your route accordingly.


Dining

Disclaimer: wasn't a real fan of central European cuisines, but a few memorable ones below.

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