10 ESSENTIAL PLACES TO VISIT IN BUDAPEST

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This list of the best places to visit in Budapest, will help you to know this pearl of the Danube formed by the union of two cities: Buda and Pest, which looks spectacular both day and night.
Go along Váci Utca street or Andrássy avenue, cross the Chain Bridge, see the Parliament and the whole city from the Fisherman's Bastion, relax in one of its spas or parks, have a drink in one of its historic cafés or enjoy of an opera or ballet, they are just some of the many things to do in Budapest.
Based on the experience of our trip to Budapest in 4 days, we have made this list of what we think are the 10 essential places to see in Budapest. We start!

1. Budapest Parliament

The Parliament located on the banks of the Danube is the most famous building in the city. The neo-Gothic building is spectacular outside and inside, with an interior decorated with marble and gold that is incredible. Its most important treasure is the crown of St. Stephen in the Hall of the Dome, although it also highlights its main staircase and the Old Upper Chamber. The guided tour lasts about 45 minutes and is essential to understand the history and many of the curiosities of the place.
The best views of Parliament are obtained from a cruise on the Danube, from the viewpoint of the Fisherman's Bastion or from the Buda shore, from where the views are really wonderful. Another of the unmissable moments is when night falls, at which time the city dresses up.
On the bank of the Danube and next to the Parliament is the moving monument Shoes on the Danube, another place to visit in Budapest, built in memory of the Jews killed during World War II.
It is advisable to buy tickets in advance on this website www.jegymester.hu or book this guided tour in Spanish. A good option is to take advantage of a city tour that includes a visit to Parliament with a guide in Spanish.
Visiting hours: every day from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays close at 4:00 p.m. Guided tours in Spanish every day at 10:15, 13:15, 14:15 and 16:00 hours.

Budapest Parliament

2. Budapest Spas

The thermal water spas are one of the most essential places to visit in Budapest. In the city you can find up to 118 springs with a temperature between 28ºC and 80ºC. The first who enjoyed its waters were the Romans and later the Turks.
When entering one of them you have to make sure the pools are mixed, so you don't get any surprises and if you have a towel, flip flops or a swimsuit. Otherwise you can always rent it on the premises.
On weekends and parties there are many more people among tourists and locals, so if you have a chance it is best to avoid these dates.
Of the many spas in Budapest, the 3 best known are:

The Széchenyi Spa, one of the largest medicinal thermal baths in Europe and the most popular in Budapest. It stands out for its 3 outdoor pools producing a curious combination of the cold outside air with the hot water, when it is not summer. Inside it has 15 other pools, so as you can see, here you can spend many hours relaxing.
To avoid queues you can buy the ticket here or book this ticket that includes a relaxing massage.
They open every day from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
The Gellert spa It is located in the Gellert Hotel and is one of the most beautiful spas in the world, full of statues, columns and mosaics. Its spectacular main pool surrounded by columns came out in a famous advertisement for Danone.
It has massage services, saunas, therapeutic pools, thermal, outdoor, bubble, foam, waves or for children.
To avoid queues you can buy the ticket here or book this ticket that includes a relaxing massage.
They open every day from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Rudas Spa: This spa is Ottoman style as it was built during the Turkish occupation in the 16th century. These Turkish baths, another of the places to see in Budapest, have from therapeutic pools, saunas, steam pools ... although the one that stands out is its octagonal pool under a dome supported by eight pillars. It is mixed on weekends and from Monday to Friday only men can enter, and on Tuesdays it is women's day.
They open every day from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

If you want to go to a less touristy resort, a good option is the Lukács baths, known for their miraculous medicinal waters. If you want to try other Turkish baths besides Rudas, you can go to Király, which are the oldest and smallest Turkish baths in the city.

Gellert spa

3. Chain Bridge

The Chain Bridge is one of the most beautiful in the world and one of the essential places to see in Budapest.
It is also the oldest bridge in the city that connects Buda and Pest, looking special at night with its careful lighting.
The bridge was destroyed at the end of the Second World War by order of the Germans, was later rebuilt and reopened in 1949. The best views of the bridge are obtained from the shore of Pest, where there is a perfect bank area to sit or have a picnic with incredible views of the bridge.
The views that you have while going up or down the Buda Hill and from a cruise on the Danube at dusk are also very good.
Whichever you choose, or all if you can, we are sure you will love it.

Chain Bridge

4. Buda Castle

Buda Castle or Royal Palace is another of the buildings you have to visit in Budapest. Located at the top of Buda Hill it was built in the 14th century and during World War II it was almost in ruins and was rebuilt in a neoclassical style.
To go up to the castle there are several options, we recommend the one we made in our visit that included going up at sunset with the funicular and walking down at night. Inside is the Hungarian National Gallery, the Budapest History Museum or the Széchenyi Library, which although we do not consider your visit essential, if you have time it can be interesting. It is worth climbing the castle not only for the views of the city but also for the walk you can take throughout the neighborhood surrounding the castle, full of charming streets and shops.
A good option to learn more about the history of the castle is to book this guided tour in Spanish.
Museum hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Buda Castle, one of the places to see in Budapest

5. Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church

The Fisherman's Bastion, located on Buda Hill is the best viewpoint to visit in Budapest by far. This neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque style terrace has seven towers that represent the seven Magyar tribes that founded the country.
The best time to visit the viewpoint is at sunset and then stay until dusk so that you can see the city illuminated. Next to the Bastion is Matthias Church or Church of Our Lady, the most important Catholic church in the city where several Hungarian kings were crowned and also worth a visit.
Church visiting hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. On Saturdays they close at 4:30 p.m. and on Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
If it is your first time in the city, a good way to visit it and reach the Bastion knowing the whole history of the city is with a guided tour in Spanish.

Fisherman's Bastion, one of the best places to visit in Budapest

Recommended travel cards
Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.

6. Varosliget Park, one of the places to visit in Budapest

The Varosliget Park also known as the City Park, is the most important to see in Budapest. Going up the famous Andrássy Avenue, full of buildings with large facades and palaces, you will reach Heroes' Square, with the statues of the leaders of the seven founding tribes of Hungary, and from where you can directly enter the park.
Here you will find the beautiful Vajdahunyad Castle, a lake where you can rent a boat, the Széchenyi Spa and the famous sculpture “Anonymous”.
It is a very large place, perfect for a leisurely walk and spend a few hours. Also, if you go in autumn like us, it is especially beautiful because of the color of the leaves of the trees.
A good option to get to know the city better is to book a free tour in Spanish. Free!

City park

7. Budapest Opera

The Budapest Opera or the Hungarian National Opera, located on the large Andrassy Avenue is another of the places to see in Budapest. This Renaissance building with extraordinary acoustics has a facade with 16 sculptures of the most important musicians and composers of Hungary. You can visit with a guide in Spanish at 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., although you have to go well in advance if you don't want to run out of seats. A good option to secure your ticket is to book the guided tour here.
While they explain the history of the building and anecdotes, you will visit a part of the building, among which the royal box stands out. We chose to visit it by buying a ticket for a ballet show, although they also represent operas and concerts, and the prices are not usually very high. The experience is worth it!

Budapest Opera

8. Váci Utca

Váci Utca is a pedestrian street full of shops and restaurants that has become the most popular to visit in Budapest. At one end is the Vorosmarty Square full of shops and bars, with lots of life day and night. At Christmas, a beautiful market takes place here, which is one of the most visited places in the city at this time of year.
At the other end you will find the Central Market of Budapest, the largest and most famous of the five markets that were built at the end of the 19th century where in addition to seeing or buying fresh products, on the top floor you can eat very well at a good price .

Váci Utca Street

Our recommended hotel in Budapest
Our recommended accommodation in the city is the Maverick Hostel, located a few meters from the Liberty Bridge and one of the best quality / price ratios in the city. In addition to their excellent location, they offer airport transfer service and spacious and clean rooms.
For more information on the best hotels and neighborhoods you can consult this post of where to stay in Budapest.

9. St. Stephen's Basilica

St. Stephen's Basilica of Catholic worship is the largest church in Budapest, with a capacity of up to 8,500 people, and another of the most important places to see in Budapest. Budapest's neoclassical cathedral also has the largest bell in Hungary. You can climb the dome by elevator or walk, from where you will have beautiful panoramic views of Budapest. Inside is the right hand relic (the Holy Diestra) of Stephen I, the first king of Hungary.
Visiting hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturdays close at 1:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

St. Stephen's Basilica

10. Historic coffee shops

One of the surprises of our days in Budapest was when we entered the New York Café, from the Boscolo Budapest hotel. It has been one of the most expensive cafes we have been to, but the interior is spectacular and deserves to be included in the list of essential places to visit in Budapest. Decorated in golden color with frescoes and large lamps that make you move to the luxury of times gone by. It is advisable to try their cup chocolates and cakes. They open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Another of the essential coffees is the Centrál Kávéház. The place has a decoration that recalls its golden times in the early twentieth century, when it was a meeting place for poets, writers, intellectuals of Budapest. You have to ask for a good piece of cake with a coffee, more affordable than the New York Café. They open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Finally you cannot leave Budapest without entering the Gerbeaud Pastry, the most famous in Hungary. The price is quite high and there are many tourists, but their cakes and chocolates are delicious. They open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.