Ultimate 3 Days in Budapest Itinerary For Culture & Food Fans

Budapest makes for the perfect city break. I recently spent 3 days in Budapest which was enough to see the main sights. I’m going to share my 3 day Budapest itinerary so you can see them, too!

There’s not so much to do that you’ll be rushing around yet you definitely won’t get bored. Since I’ve visited Hungary twice, both times in January, this weekend Budapest itinerary is an enchanting winter one.
Those travelling on a budget will be happy because Budapest is one of Europe’s more affordable cities. You can eat and drink cheaply, making it easy to sample the traditional foods. If you enjoy gluttonous carbs, I think you’re going to love Hungarian food!

There’s history in abundance in Budapest, although much of it is harrowing. But what’s new for our crazy world? Learning about it is an important addition to your otherwise relaxed sightseeing adventures during 3 days in Budapest.

How long to spend in Budapest?

At least 2 days! This is the minimum to see the highlights of Budapest.However, I’d recommend exploring Budapest in 3 days instead. You’ll have time to do and see more without rushing… More time stopping for coffee and snacks (win!).
If you’re keen to explore Budapest’s quirky side, you’ll want to spend 3 days. This also allows you to start the day slowly if you’ve had a couple of drinks the night before.

BUDAPEST ESSENTIALSAccommodation: Booking.com / HostelworldActivities: GetYourGuideGetting there: flight (Kayak), train (RailEurope), bus (Flixbus)
Getting around: Tram / Metro / bus

In a rush? Pin this for later on Pinterest.

Getting to Budapest

Begin your weekend in Budapest by flying into Budapest Airport. EasyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air are the lowest cost contenders. I use Kayak to find the best prices.From Budapest Airport, hop on the 103 bus which makes multiple drops in the city centre. This costs 1,800 HUF (€5) each way.Alternatively, book an organised airport shuttle (€10) straight to your hotel or a private airport taxi.Getting to Budapest by train: Budapest is well connected to cities like Vienna, Bratislava and Munich by train. Use RailEurope to book tickets.
Getting to Budapest by bus: The cheapest way to travel around Europe is by bus. Book tickets on Flixbus.

Getting around Budapest

If you don’t mind a bit of exercise, you can see most of the sights on foot. But to make the most of Budapest in 3 days, utilise public transport. You have a few options: Metro, buses and trams.You can purchase tickets for all three at ticket machines using cash or card. Your best option is a 24-hour ticket which includes unlimited travel and costs 1,650 HUF (€4.60).Budapest is a bike-friendly city. Consider a guided bicycle tour to see the highlights.
The final option is a hop-on-hop-off bus tour. These are obviously very touristy but quite fun (my guilty pleasure!).

Is the Budapest Card worth it?

If you’re not a big walker, the Budapest Card may well be worth it because it includes unlimited public transport (including to the airport).
You’ll also get free entry to Lukács Thermal Bath, 19 museums, luggage storage and 50% off many attractions. Book yours for €20.

Best neighbourhoods to stay during 3 days in Budapest

To be in the heart of the action, Belváros (downtown) and the Castle District are close to all the main attractions. To experience the nightlife, the Jewish Quarter is a great area to stay in Budapest.
There are countless hostels, hotels and Airbnbs in Budapest. We stayed in the Jewish Quarter during our 3 days in Budapest. It’s close to many of the best bars and restaurants and not far from the main sights.

Best hostels in Budapest

Wombats Hostel – this chain is a good option all around Europe with private and dorm rooms, social areas and daily events.The Hive Party Hostel – for backpackers looking to socialise, this base has a rooftop bar and famous ruin bar right beside it.
Pal’s Mini Hostel – for affordable private rooms within a hostel setting, you can’t rival the prices at Pal’s.

Best hotels in Budapest

OnRiver Hotels – for an impressive breakfast buffet and river views, this is an affordable hotel option in Budapest.Fortuna Boat Hotel – beside pretty Margaret Island, this hotel has rooms from basic to superior from €40 a night.
Hotel President – this venue has grand rooms, Jacuzzis, the works. Splash out on rooms for €100 a night.

Views from Buda Castle

The best season for a weekend Budapest itinerary

There’s no right or wrong time to spend a weekend in Budapest. It’s enchantingly beautiful in winter with views of the frozen Danube river and turrets coated in snow.However, it’s a vibrant city come summer with lots of outdoor events, parks and restaurants and bars serving food and drink outside.Spring and autumn are also good times to visit: you’ll avoid the summer crowds and it’s not too chilly in either season.
If you’re visiting in the summer months, incorporate some of these things to do Budapest during summer. Enjoy!

Budapest itinerary for 3 days – overview

Day 1, Pest side: Free walking tour, Hungarian Parliament, Shoes on the Danube and Budapest Bath House. For the evening, take a Danube boat cruise and eat at Langos Papa restaurantDay 2, Buda side: Central Market Hall, St Stephen’s Basilica, Chain Bridge, Buda Castle, ruin bars
Day 3, Jewish Quarter & Gellert Hill: Dohány Street Synagogue, Jewish Quarter, Mazel Tov restaurant, Gellért Cave Church, sunset at Gellert Hill.

Budapest itinerary – day 1 

Start with a free walking tour

Begin your 3 day Budapest itinerary by immersing yourself in the city and learning from a local guide.Most of my city guides suggest starting with a free walking tour. After all, who doesn’t love free things?
Free Tour offer various free walking tours of Budapest including an introduction to the city and a Buda Castle tour. They operate on tips so be sure to give one if you enjoyed yourself or learnt something new.

Take a tour of Hungarian Parliament

To head inside Hungary’s most iconic building, be sure to book a few days in advance. Inside, you’ll view the Hungarian crown jewels and explore the maze of chambers and staircases while learning about the building’s history from a guide. Book your tour here.
Alternatively, visit Parliament from the outside and snap some photos. You also get fantastic views from the other side of the Danube (pictured above) but we’ll save this side of Budapest for tomorrow!

Shoes on the Danube

A sad but meaningful addition to your Budapest itinerary

Nearby Parliament, you’ll find this memorial. A collection of metal shoes sit on the banks, remembering those who were shot and murdered there during World War II.The Arrow Cross militiamen were a fascist party who overtook the government in the mid 20th century, killing thousands and forcing countless Jews into concentration camps.
While the whole period was an atrocity, this specific memorial commemorates the 3,500 people killed on these banks and lost to the Danube, 800 of whom were Jews.

Széchenyi Spa Baths

A must for 3 days in Budapest

Add a thermal bath to your 3 day Budapest itinerary regardless of the season. Hungary has a long history of bubbling hot springs which have been used for leisure purposes for decades. Depending whether or not you like a hidden gem, you have a few options.The Széchenyi Baths are the most popular option, their bright yellow facade set against the blue sky and cloaked in plumes of steam. I’ve been twice and can’t vouch for them enough. Entry is €22 on weekdays and €24 on weekends including entry to the indoor and outdoor pools as well as locker hire.
The outdoor pools are by far the best, even if you have to run outside in swimwear during the winter. It’s a lot of fun in the evenings especially if you take advantage of the bar, although you won’t benefit from the gorgeous photo opportunities that you get in daylight.

Other thermal baths in Budapest:

• Gellert Baths are the second-most visited baths in Budapest. I hear the indoor baths are prettier than Széchenyi’s but the outdoor ones aren’t as good
• Rudas Baths – with 500 years of history, this bath complex includes a thermal room, a wellness room, a ladies-only area, and a rooftop pool. For a treat, book a spa & dining experience.

Budget tip – Lukacs Baths are free with a Budapest Card. If you’re not fussy about which spa you visit, get your €20 Budapest Card here and choose Lukacs (usually €12 entry).

City Park

Rather than board a train from Széchenyi fürdő Metro station outside the baths, take a walk in City Park. This large green space is flanked by World Heritage Site, Heroes’ Square, home to the Millennium Monument commemorating 1000 years since the Magyar conquest and foundation of the Hungarian state.
From Heroes’ Square, you can hop on a train from Hősök tere station.

Head for a hearty Hungarian dinner

There are countless restaurants and bars in Budapest, though we were exhausted on our first night from our 5am airport wakeup. From the thermals baths, we hopped on the Metro a couple of stops to Langos Papa, a gem of a Hungarian restaurant. Here you can try langos, deep-fried slabs of dough topped with calorific ingredients.
Order them individually or opt for the €10 dinner menu which includes a starter and dessert. I began with goulash and ended with cherry strudel: the perfect introduction to Hungarian food. There are so many langos varieties to choose from but you can’t beat the classic cheese and sour cream combination.

Evening boat cruise

The Danube has all kinds of evening entertainment from restaurants on the banks, party cruises and sit-down dinner cruises.
We took a sightseeing cruise with a glass of wine and audio commentary. They offer a totally different view of beautiful Budapest: even if you’ve seen the main sights already, they look effortlessly more beautiful at night, especially the majestic Hungarian Parliament building. Book your Danube river cruise here.

Budapest itinerary – day 2

For us, our second day in Budapest was the busiest for sightseeing. We were glad we’d had a relatively early night!

Central Market Hall

Continue your 3 day Budapest itinerary by wandering Central Market Hall and warming up over local food and drinks. Downstairs, it resembles a local market with fresh fruit, vegetables, fish and every type of salami imaginable.Upstairs, it has a food court and all the souvenirs you could ever need (including ones you probably will never need!).
Grab breakfast here. If you’re feeling adventurous, tuck into goulash or langos for breakfast. Anything goes in Hungary… Especially when you’re hungry 😉

Related activity: Central Market food tour with tastings

St Stephen’s Basilica

For a panoramic view of Budapest, click to the top of this 18th-century church. The view of Budapest in winter is especially pretty when scattered with snow.Climbing the tower costs 500 HUF (€1.40) which is a bargain for the photo opportunities it brings. There’s a lift if you don’t fancy the steep flight of stairs.
Venture inside the church for a small donation. It’s worth it to see the ornate, detailed ceiling. It gives Dohány Street Synagogue (which we’ll visit later) a run for its money, and it’s a great way to explore the different faiths in Budapest.

Food options near St Stephen’s Basilica

For coffee and traditional pastries (plus the biggest and best sausage roll I’ve ever eaten), pay a visit to Artizan Bakery. This cosy cafe just a short walk from St Stephen’s is the perfect breakfast or morning/afternoon pitstop, especially if you want to warm up from the cold. 
In warmer weather (and for major Instagram points), indulge at Gelato Rosa. We couldn’t handle it at -2 degrees but the rose-shaped ice creams look delicious.

Pastries at Artizan Bakery

Walk across Chain Bridge

Next, walk 20 minutes to Buda Castle across Széchenyi Chain Bridge.
The Danube river once separated the ancient cities of Buda and Pest so it’s an important part of history. It’s now a symbol for awakening and the joining together of east and west. The giant stone lions guarding the bridge are equally iconic.

Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion

At the top of Buda Hill on the other side of the river stands Castle Hill, a must for three days in Budapest.It’s a relatively easy climb but you might want to catch the funicular for novelty value, or just because you can’t be bothered to walk (no judgement)!A one-way funicular ticket costs 1,200 HUF. Once you reach the top, turn left for Buda Castle or right for Fisherman’s Bastion. Preferably take two hours and do both.
I particularly enjoyed Fisherman’s Bastion, a lookout tower straight out of a fairytale. The views over Budapest are spectacular.

Be sure to stop at Matthias Church, built in 1015. When the city was captured by the Turks, it was turned into a mosque but luckily not before its goods had been sent to Bratislava for safekeeping. Nowadays, its gothic turrets and mosaic tiles are a highlight.

Also at the complex is Budapest History Museum detailing the city from Roman times through Turkish rule, war, communism to the modern-day. You can also stop at the Hungarian National Gallery, the city’s fine art gallery. Browse thousands of works of art from medieval to surrealist. Climb to the dome at the top for unrivalled city views.
Entrance fees at Buda Castle:

• Budapest History Museum – 2,000 HUF
• Hungarian National Gallery – 1,800 HUF
• Fisherman’s Bastion – 800 HUF
• Matthias Church – 1,500 HUF

Make your way back down Castle Hill and walk along the river until you’re opposite the Hungarian Parliament building. From here, you can hop on a Metro train from Batthyány tér, though good luck trying to pronounce it!

Simpla Kertz (or another ruin bar)

For a weekend Budapest itinerary, head to a ruin bar or two. They’re busiest on weekends but you’ll have a good time regardless of the day, especially if you visit Simpla Kertz. This is Budapest’s most iconic ruin bar, once a hidden gem and now popular with tourists.Ruin bars in Budapest have sprung up in derelict warehouse buildings, giving new purpose to abandoned buildings. Simla Kertz is packed full of quirky furnishings from pianos to bathtubs that you can use as benches.Wrap up in winter as it’s not much warmer than the outdoors unless you curl up by a heat lamp with a shisha pipe. Drinks are definitely tourist prices, with bottles of wine starting at €14.
Other ruin bars in Budapest include Anker’t, Ellato Kert and Durer Kert.

Budapest itinerary – day 3

Dohány Street Synagogue

As the largest synagogue in Europe (not to mention the most beautiful), Dohány Street Synagogue is the ultimate place to learn about Jewish history as you explore this architectural masterpiece. It was built in the 1800s borrowing Moorish styles from North Africa and Spain.During its history, it’s been raided, bombed and used as a base for German Radio before being returned to the tragically diminished Jewish community.
Entry costs 4,500 HUF (€13) and includes a guided tour, entry to the Hungarian Jewish Museum in the same building, and access to the memorial to the 30,000 Jewish Hungarians who were killed during the Holocaust.

Suggested activity: Budapest Jewish heritage tour

The Jewish Quarter

Afterwards, wander the Jewish Quarter further for amazing street art, cafes and restaurants.For an indulgent brunch before or after the synagogue, visit Mazel Tov inside a refurbished warehouse (making it technically a ruin bar). This Middle Eastern-inspired eatery serves the best shawarma, hummus, falafel and shakshuka in the city.
For dessert, walk around the corner to Noah’s Patisserie Cafe to try flodni, a typical Jewish cake made with plum jam, walnut paste and poppy seeds.

Explore the caves

Many tourists have no idea but there are some enormous caves nearby Budapest, one of which is rumoured to have imprisoned Vlad the Impaler (the real-life Count Dracula)!Two of the most popular are Pálvölgyi Cave and Szemlő Mountain Cave. However, for this Budapest 3 day itinerary, I would recommend visiting Gellért Hill Cave in the afternoon so you can enjoy sunset from the top of the hill.Gellert Cave Church was built inside a cave by monks in the 1920s. Not only was it used as a wartime hospital but tragically, the head monk was executed inside by the ex-communist government.
Gellert Hill can be reached by foot from the city (simply cross Liberty Bridge). You can hire an audio guide to learn more about the caves.

Sunset at Gellert Hill

If views from Buda Castle weren’t enough for you the day before, spend the evening at Budapest’s most scenic vantage point.The hill is named after Saint Gerard who sadly also met his demise when anti-Christian rebels threw him from the top. Despite the gruesome history, this is the best place to watch sunset in Budapest.
Pack a picnic and finish your 3 day Budapest itinerary in style!

Extras for your Budapest itinerary

These stops will be on my Budapest itinerary next time I’m in town:

• The House of Terror – the Fascist Arrow Party’s headquarters held their enemies in these basement chambers. It’s certainly a sombre visit, but an important one to understand Budapest’s history. Entrance is 3,000 HUF.
• Margaret Island – this island on the Danube is a lovely place to relax in the summer. There are fountains, swimming pools, parks, gardens and even a water park! Entrance is free and you can arrive by tram.
• New York Cafe – dating back to 1894, this has been named the most beautiful cafe in the world. It’s a little pricey but what else would you expect? Visit for breakfast (as early as possible before it gets busy).

Where to eat during 3 days in Budapest

There’s so much to eat and drink during a Budapest weekend itinerary, from hearty Hungarian stews to Israeli cuisine and decadent desserts.

Breaded camembert

Some of the best Hungarian dishes to look out for include:

• Langos – deep-fried flatbread smothered with cheese and other ingredients
• Chicken paprikash – chicken cooked in a sauce made from onions, paprika, butter and cream
• Goulash – this typical stew (sometimes served in a bread bowl) is popular around Central and Eastern European countries
• Halászlé – fish stew with copious paprika
• Töltött kaposzta – cabbage leaves stuffed with meat, rice and topped with sour cream
• Breaded camembert cheese with blackcurrant dip.

Read next: Budapest food guide

Alternative activities for your Budapest itinerary

Maybe it’s your second time in Budapest or perhaps you want to escape the crowds and see an alternative side of Budapest. It’s a quirky and creative city with lots of street art, hipster cafes and off-beat things to do.

Alternative Budapest

Some of the best quirky things to do during three days in Budapest include…

• House of Houdini – this quirky museum focuses on the life of Hungarian-born American illusionist, Harry Houdini.
• The Pinball Museum – this museum has over 100 pinball museums saved from the scrap heap. While away a rainy afternoon by playing on them.
• Flea markets – visit centrally-based Gozsdu Weekend Market, Lőrinci Flea Market and the numerous other flea markets in Budapest. If your trip coincides with a weekend, there are even more to choose from.

Discover street art & quirky sights with an alternative Budapest walking tour.

Top tips for a 3 day Budapest itinerary

• Bring comfy shoes – there’s a fair bit of walking required.
• The currency is Hungarian Forint. There’s 350 HUF to 1 Euro.
• You should only use ATMs at banks. For the love of God, avoid Euronet (freestanding) ATMs like the plague! They charge insane rates and totally rip you off.
• Budapest is a safe city but, like any capital, there may be pickpocketing. Consider a bum bag with secure zip for security.
• Make sure to bring your own towel to the bath houses. The ones for hire are pretty grim. I travel with a quick-drying microfibre towel.
• Don’t travel anywhere without insurance. I use World Nomads.

Where next?

If you’re travelling around Europe, there are plenty of fantastic cities nearby. These include:

• Vienna – you can reach the capital of Austria in a few hours from Budapest. With decadent palaces, fantastic food markets and cake (so much cake!), it’s one of my favourite European cities. Use my 3 day Vienna itinerary.
• Bratislava – I recently travelled to Bratislava and was pleasantly surprised with what I found. There are many reasons to visit Bratislava including the castle, ‘grammable umbrella street, hearty Slovakian food and the fact beer is cheaper than water! Use my 1 day Bratislava itinerary.
• Romania – I travelled from Budapest to Timisoara by FlixBus. I loved this colourful city almost as much as my whole Romania road trip!
• Czech Republic – although it’s not super close, I’d really recommend exploring Prague (not just for the incredible Prague food scene) and Cesky Krumlov.