The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need to Budapest
There is so much to see!
Budapest is a medieval city with a lot of history and amazing architecture.
Whether you are heading to the city for business or pleasure, there is a large variety of must-see attractions while you are there. Whenever one mentions Budapest, someone who has been there will have a list of can’t-miss sights.
You will want to fit in as much as you can. See the city hands-free by finding the nearest luggage storage company to drop off your shopping parcels and bags.
Budapest City Park
Budapest City Park, also known as Városliget, is full of great things to do no matter how old you are. With just over 300 acres, they are home to the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden, Vajdahunyad Castle, the Széchenyi Baths, the Art Palace, and the Museum of Fine Arts.
With so much to do in the park, you will need more than an hour or two when you visit, so plan to stay awhile. The Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden has over a thousand species from aardvarks to zebras as well as eateries and shops. It is also one of the oldest zoos in the world, opened in 1866.
The Vajdahunyad Castle is a whole day visit in itself if you want to see everything they have to offer. Built in 1896, the remarkable structure has carved pillars, stained glass windows, and huge crystal chandeliers. It is also the home of the Agricultural Museum.
Plan to stay at least an hour at the Széchenyi Baths as well. With three outdoor pools and 15 indoor pools, you will definitely find one (or more) to your liking. The building itself is amazing and you can get some fine selfies while you are there.
Take a Cruise on the Danube
There are several cruise options on the Danube but not all are of equal value and caliber. It mostly depends on how many hours you want to spend on the river and how much you want to pay. The two-hour Dinner Cruise includes food and drinks as well as seeing the Castle Quarter and Gellert Hill for about $22.
Another favorite, the 70-minute Budapest Daytime Cruise includes seeing the Chain Bridge, the parliament, and Margaret Island. All for under $20 per person. And the one-hour Evening Sightseeing Cruise includes a drink as well as seeing most of the landmarks of Budapest. All this for just over $10 a person!
Aquaréna Water Park
If you have the kids with you, visit the 28-acre Aquaréna Water Theme Park. It’s the largest aquapark in the country and has slides, cooling pools, and a jacuzzi. You can even play badminton, water soccer, and beach ball games. Besides the regular pool, you can also find these:
- UFO Slide
- Wild water slide
- Mole slides
- Free fall
- Rafting
- Lazy river
- Experience pool
- Boa constrictor slide
- Flying carpet
- Blue cave
- Black hole
- Acrobat pool
Walk Across the Chain Bridge
You have to walk across the Széchenyi Chain Bridge at least once while you are in Budapest. It was the first bridge to connect Buda and Pest, making it Budapest. You can get some selfies with the magnificent lion sculptures that guard the entrance and under the towers in the middle.
The bridge is especially beautiful in the evening when it is lit up for everyone to see. A Budapest tradition is to attach lovelocks to the side of the bridge and throw the key in the water. After crossing the bridge, you can take the hill to the Fisherman’s Bastion or visit Buda Castle.
Take a Castle Tour
Budapest has over a dozen castles. That’s right, real castles with moats and towers. To see them all in one day may not be practical, but you can see several if you start in the Castle District in Várnegyed. See the Fisherman’s Bastion, the Hospital in the Rock, and the Castle Garden Bazaar on your way.
It starts with Buda Castle, which was built in 1265 and was known as the Royal Palace in the past. On top of Castle Hill, this Neoclassical and Gothic Medieval structure is magnificent. Don’t miss the Grand Throne Room, which is a giant ballroom with amazing architecture.
Besides all of the preserved rooms, the castle is also home to the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Museum, the Budapest History Museum, the Royal Chapel, and the Hungarian National Gallery. In addition, you can find the national library with rare and antique books.
Take the funicular to the top, which has been shuttling visitors since 1920. You’ll also be able to see the Parliament, St. Stephen’s Basilica, and the bridge from the Citadel on Gellért Hill. The Citadel, built in the 1800s, is a 721-foot long fortress with 60 cannons. Learn more about the history while you are there.
Don’t Miss the Museums
To learn more about the history of such an ancient and preserved city, you have to visit some of the museums while you are in Budapest. Besides the museums inside the park and castles, there are over four dozen more to check out during your stay.
To visit the Museum of Fine Arts and the Palace of Arts at the same time, head to Heroes’ Square where they have a group of statues dedicated to the fallen soldiers. The square also has a huge Millennium Monument, a large green space, and shops and eateries to peruse.
For some fun history, check out the Pinball Museum. They have over 130 pinball machines. And the Chocolate Museum is another must-see for those with a sweet tooth. You even get to taste some freshly made chocolates.
Other museums to note include the Museum of Ethnography to learn more human history, the House of Houdini for magic lovers, the Museum of Applied Arts for art lovers, and the Fairy Tale Museum for kids as well as kids at heart.
Sources
https://www.hotels.com/go/hungary/things-to-do-budapest
https://www.timeout.com/budapest/things-to-do/best-attractions-in-budapest
https://travel.usnews.com/Budapest_Hungary/Things_To_Do/
https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/budapest-h-ps-bud.htm
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