In a nutshell
- We’ll show you 11 great things to do in Budapest that make for a perfect change of pace from classic sightseeing — on your city trip to Budapest.
- On a boat ride along the Danube, you can sit back and enjoy Budapest’s landmarks from the water — one of our top picks.
- Budapest is famous for its thermal springs! A wellness day at a thermal bath is genuinely relaxing and one of the most typical Budapest experiences you can have.
- For the evening, Budapest’s legendary ruin bars are a must — bars set in crumbling buildings and backyards with real character, often featuring live music, art, or film screenings.
Boat Tour on the Danube
A boat tour is a wonderful way to experience Budapest from a completely different perspective. As you leisurely cruise along the Danube, you’ll see some of Budapest’s top attractions along the promenade, including the Hungarian Parliament and Buda Castle. You’ll also pass directly under the Chain Bridge.
The most affordable option is the typical tourist cruise. You can sit on the open deck and snap tons of photos. The ride usually lasts about an hour. The downside, though, is that these boats are always packed to the brim, which takes away some of the charm.
One-Hour Sightseeing Boat Tour on the Danube
In addition to a boat tour, there are plenty of other exciting tours of Budapest where you can explore the city in alternative ways — like a bike tour or a culinary tour.
More tips for great Danube cruises in Budapest can be found here:
Wine and Specialties Tasting
Gabor also offers a culinary program to introduce you to the traditional cuisine of Hungary.
You’ll sample a variety of bites and specialties such as cheese, salami, pastries, and different types of paprika. The products come from a Budapest market and are super fresh. They’re paired with two local wine varieties. Optionally, you can also add on a spirits tasting.
While you indulge in the delicacies, you’ll learn plenty about winemaking in Hungary and traditional recipes.
For an extra charge of 30 euros for the entire group, you can also enjoy the tasting as a completely private experience.
Wellness at a Thermal Bath
Around Budapest there are more than 120 springs and more thermal baths than you could ever visit. Thermal baths are not only wonderfully warm year-round, they’re also packed with minerals and beneficial for all kinds of health conditions.
On top of that, a wellness day is simply pure relaxation and a welcome break from sightseeing!
The most famous baths are the Széchenyi and the Gellért. The palace-like buildings alone are worth a visit. But there are also several smaller baths that are less crowded and no less impressive.
If you want to learn more about Budapest’s thermal baths, check out this article:
Lies auch:
Shopping in Budapest
A little shopping spree is always a good idea, right? Budapest’s main shopping street is Váci utca, where you’ll find pretty much everything from mainstream chains like H&M to luxury brands. Make sure to duck into a side street or two, as they hide small boutiques and antique shops.
Also worth checking out is the Ecseri Flea Market. There’s a lot of junk here, but hidden among it are genuine vintage treasures. Plus, the flea market experience itself is part of the fun. You should definitely haggle, since prices can be a bit over the top.
For an under-the-radar pick, we’d point you to Paloma — one of our favorite Budapest hidden gems. In this courtyard you’ll find just a handful of small boutiques selling clothing, handbags, art, and jewelry — all handmade. In many of the shops you can even watch the designers and craftspeople at work and get their personal advice.
Drinks at a Ruin Bar
Budapest’s ruin bars are legendary! As the name suggests, they are bars and clubs that have sprung up in dilapidated buildings or ivy-covered backyards. Most of them are located in the Jewish Quarter, where Budapest’s alternative scene has developed over the past few years.
Don’t let that fool you into thinking they’re run-down, though — it’s precisely the mix of decay and modernity that gives them their charm. Each one has its own unique style, and some are even a kind of cultural center where you can catch concerts or film screenings.
The first and most famous ruin bar is Szimpla Kert, with a seriously creative interior. If you’re after wild nights out, head to Instant, with a total of 26 rooms and two gardens. And if you want to try some really good Israeli food, we recommend Mazel Tov.
Food at the Great Market Hall
They say the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, and when we want to get to know a city, we take a very similar approach. In Budapest, nowhere is better for that than the Great Market Hall.
There’s always a lively buzz here: locals doing their weekly shopping and tourists browsing between the stalls.
On the ground floor you can buy all kinds of products, from fresh fruit and vegetables to wine, cheese, and meat, as well as premium spices like saffron. On the first floor you’ll find food stalls serving delicious Hungarian dishes like a hot bowl of homemade goulash. Above that, you can shop for souvenirs to bring home.
We also just love the atmosphere of the hall itself, with its massive steel structure and large windows.
Exploring Underground Caves
Not many people know this, but beneath Budapest lies a truly vast network of limestone caves. The longest stretches an incredible 32 kilometers! They were formed by the water from the springs that today feed the many thermal baths of Budapest.
Admittedly, if you suffer from claustrophobia, this tour won’t be for you. But if tight spaces don’t bother you, you can become a cave explorer and discover Budapest’s underground world.
The cave tour is also a great option for rainy days. Regardless of the weather, bring a warm jacket — the caves can be surprisingly cool even in summer.
Attending a Folklore Performance
Budapest is genuinely famous for its folk dances, and if you want to experience Hungarian traditions up close, an evening at a folklore concert with dance performances is absolutely worth it.
The ensembles wear elaborate costumes and perform a variety of dances. Some of the dances originated hundreds of years ago in small Hungarian villages and have been kept alive to this day.
In short: a fantastic evening out and culture at its finest!
Ticket for a Folklore Show on a Dinner Cruise
Stand Up Paddling Tour
Not in the mood for a classic city tour of Budapest or a touristy boat ride on the Danube? Then give a stand-up paddleboarding tour on the Danube a try.
SUP is easy to pick up and just a whole lot of fun! What we especially love about this tour is that it takes place at sunset. When the Danube and Budapest are bathed in the last rays of sunlight, it makes for an absolutely stunning sight.
Your tour lasts about two hours and is led by an English-speaking guide who shares stories about the city along the way.
A Day at Margaret Island
Margaret Island sits right in the middle of the Danube and, as the green lung of Budapest, it’s the perfect place to unwind! All kinds of recreational activities are on offer — there’s a five-kilometer loop for jogging, a Japanese garden with turtles, and a small petting zoo.
On hot summer days, we recommend the Palatinus Open-Air Bath to cool off. It’s Budapest’s first outdoor pool and an absolute must, especially with kids. The wave pool and the water slide park are the ultimate highlight for the little ones!
Also super popular is the enormous musical fountain. Every half hour you can watch a water show choreographed to music — and in the evenings, the whole thing is lit up with colorful lights.
Sunset on Gellért Hill
Gellért Hill is one of the most beautiful spots in Budapest to watch the sunset. From up here, you can see the last rays of light bathing the rooftops in golden light as the city slowly transforms into a sea of twinkling lights.
For us, this is one of the most memorable things to do in Budapest — and it’s completely free.
We think the walk up on foot is especially lovely; it only takes about 25 minutes. Alternatively, you can also reach Gellért Hill by bus line No. 27.
Our tip: Gellért Hill gets very crowded with tourists at sunset. If you’re feeling motivated, go up for sunrise instead. At 6 in the morning, you’ll have the panorama almost entirely to yourself.
