Our 10 must-sees in Budapest: Parliament, Széchenyi Baths, ruin bars, Fisherman's Bastion... Guide with prices and tips.
Budapest: 10 must-see attractions you shouldn't miss
Budapest is the city that surprised us the most in Europe. We expected a slightly gray Eastern European capital, but we found a vibrant city, breathtakingly beautiful, with a unique energy between imperial grandeur and underground culture. Here are the 10 experiences that, in our view, best sum up what Budapest has to offer.
Practical info Currency: Hungarian forint (HUF). 1€ ≈ 395 HUF (April 2026). |
1. The Hungarian Parliament
Impossible to miss: 268 meters long, 96 meters high, flamboyant neo-Gothic style, majestically set on the banks of the Danube. It is the third largest parliament in the world, and by far the most photogenic. The view from the Buda bank (Batthyány tér side) at sunset is unforgettable.
Practical info Interior guided tour: 6,000 HUF (~€15) for non-EU visitors, 3,500 HUF (~€9) for EU citizens. Online booking recommended (jfr parlement.hu). Duration: 45 min. Exterior view: free and magnificent, especially at night when it is illuminated. |
2. The Széchenyi Baths
Europe's largest thermal baths. 18 pools (3 outdoor, 15 indoor), water between 26°C and 40°C, and a magnificent yellow Neo-Baroque building. Watching locals play chess in the steamy 38°C water is an image you won't forget. The quintessential Budapest experience.
Practical information Price: 11,900 HUF on weekdays / 13,500 HUF on weekends (~€30-34) (tickets). Locker included. Open 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Restriction: reserved for ages 14 and up since August 2025. Tip: come early in the morning (before 9 a.m.) or at the end of the day to avoid the crowds. |
3. The Fishermen's Bastion and the Castle Quarter
On Buda Hill, the Fisherman's Bastion offers THE iconic view of Budapest: the Parliament, the Danube, the bridges, and the whole of Pest at your feet. Its 7 turrets represent the 7 founding tribes of Hungary. Right next door: Matthias Church (magnificent), the Royal Palace (museums), and cobblestone streets with incredible charm.
Practical info Access to the upper terraces: 3,000 HUF (~€7.50) during the day in high season. Free before 9 a.m. and from October to March. The lower terraces are always free, and the view is almost just as beautiful. Take the funicular up from Chain Bridge (1,800 HUF) or walk (15 minutes uphill). |
4. Ruin bars, Budapest's nightlife DNA
Ruin bars (romkocsmák) are the concept that Budapest invented and exported to the whole world: bars set up in abandoned buildings in the Jewish Quarter, decorated with vintage bric-a-brac, neon lights, and improvised works of art. The pioneer and most famous one: Szimpla Kert (since 2004).
Practical info Szimpla Kert: free entry, draft beer 1,200-1,800 HUF (~€3-4.50), cocktails ~2,500 HUF (~€6). Other recommended ruin bars: Instant-Fogas (the largest), Élesztő (craft beer). Neighborhood: District VII, around Kazinczy utca and Király utca. |
5. Gellért Hill and the Citadel, the panoramic view
If Fisherman's Bastion offers a classic view, Gellért Hill offers the ultimate view, a 360° panorama over the entire city, the Danube, the Buda hills and the Pest plain. The climb (20-30 minutes on foot from Liberty Bridge) is pleasant and wooded. At the top, the Citadel and the Statue of Liberty dominate the landscape.
Practical info Free access to the hill and the view. The Citadel is currently under renovation (check access on site). Best time: sunset. Go up the south side (less steep) from Liberty Bridge. |
6. The central market
The largest covered market in Budapest, in a magnificent red-brick building from 1897. On the ground floor: fruit, vegetables, deli meats, paprika (THE Hungarian souvenir), foie gras.
Upstairs: street food stalls (lángos, goulash) and crafts. It's the best place to sample Hungarian cuisine informally.
Practical info Free entry. Open Mon 6am-5pm, Tue-Fri 6am-6pm, Sat 6am-3pm, closed Sunday. Address: Vámház krt. 1-3 (at the foot of Liberty Bridge). Tip: avoid Saturday morning (crowds) and eat upstairs for an authentic lángos. |
7. Margaret Island
An island 2.5 km long in the middle of the Danube, entirely pedestrianized, lined with gardens, musical fountains, pools, and medieval ruins. It is Budapest's green lung, the perfect place for a break after the city's intensity. Budapest residents come here to run, picnic, and meet up on weekends.
Practical info Free access, 24/7. Accessible via Margaret Bridge (tram 4/6) or bus 26. Bicycle and cart rentals on site. The musical fountain puts on a show every hour in summer. Palatinus Pool (summer): ~4,000 HUF. |
8. The Danube by night
Budapest lit up at night, seen from the Danube, is a spectacle in itself. The golden Parliament, the illuminated Buda Castle, the twinkling lights, everything is amplified by the reflection on the water. You can take a mini-cruise or simply walk along the promenade on the Pest side (between the Chain Bridge and the Liberty Bridge).
Practical info Night cruises: from 5,000 HUF (~€12) for 1 hour. Legenda or Budapest River Ride are well rated. Free alternative: the pedestrian promenade on the east side in the evening, or the view from Margaret Bridge. The “Shoes on the Danube Bank” (memorial) is also along this route. |
9. The Jewish Quarter (Erzsébetváros), the cultural soul
Beyond the ruins, District VII is Budapest's historic Jewish quarter. The Great Synagogue (the largest in Europe), the omnipresent street art, the galleries, the fusion restaurants, the designer boutiques—it is the city's liveliest and most creative neighborhood. By day and by night.
Practical info Great Synagogue: guided tour ~7,000 HUF (~€17). Entry to the district: free (it's a living neighborhood, not a museum). For street art, wander along Kazinczy utca, Király utca and the inner courtyards. Tip: it's also the best neighborhood to stay in if you want atmosphere. |
10. Historic cafés, the culture of the kávéház
Budapest has a tradition of grand cafés comparable to Vienna. At the beginning of the 20th century, the city had more than 500 kávéház (coffee houses). Some have survived and restored their splendor: New York Café (the most opulent), Café Central (the intellectual one), Gerbeaud (the pastry shop). Having a coffee in one of these palaces is like going back in time.
Practical info New York Café : a coffee costs 3,000-5,000 HUF (~€7-12), expensive, but you're paying for the decor. Possible queue. Gerbeaud (Vörösmarty Square) : pastries ~2,500-4,000 HUF. Cheaper and just as beautiful alternative: Café Central (Károlyi Street). For quality coffee (not the historic atmosphere), go to Tamp & Pull or Budapest Baristas. |
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