My top 8 things to do in Budapest!
EXPLORE THE CASTLE DISTRICT
On the Buda side of Budapest enjoy a ride on the Funicular up to Buda Castle. You may wish to enjoy a tour of Buda Castle and/or their underground caves. Near here you can also visit Fisherman's Bastion which looks like it’s come out of a fairytale and Matthias Church which has a beautiful, colourful roof.
THERMAL SPA
Budapest is known for its thermal spas and there are plenty to choose from, but please be aware some have separate times for male and females so check their websites before you visit. A few baths that I know of: Szechenyi Thermal Bath is well known and one of the biggest. Gellert Thermal Bath and Rudas Thermal Bath are centrally located and easy to get to.
THE DANUBE RIVER
The Danube flows right through the heart of Budapest, splitting the Buda and Pest sides. Make sure you visit the Chain Bridge (it's a good one to walk across or get the tram across when visiting the Castle District). It's also nice to enjoy a boat trip along, either in the day or evening so you can see the Parliament building lit up at night.
ST. STEPHEN'S BASILICA
St. Stephen's Basilica is in the centre of Budapest. You can pay to go inside and climb up the steps to see some great views of Budapest. St. Stephen’s Square outside is a great spot to sit and watch people go by.
HISTORY
Budapest is filled with history and there are plenty of museums. The Jewish Quarter is known for it's Ruin Bars but it is also steeped in history. The Dohány Street Synagogue is great to visit as the Hungarian Jewish Museum is in the same building. Make sure your shoulders are covered when you visit.
THE SHOES ON THE DANUBE
On the bank of the river, take some time to visit The Shoes on the Danube. This sculpture memorial is for the Jews who were forced to remove their shoes before being executed on the riverbank during the war. The sixty pairs of shoes represent the larger number of people who sadly lost their lives.
VISIT THE RUIN BARS
Each ruin bar is unique and worth a visit (even if you don’t drink!). They're usually an abandoned building which have been turned into a bar. They're all very different so a really nice way to spend early evening before dinner. Szimpla Kert is my personal favourite, and it's worth visiting in the daylight as well as at night so you can have a good look around.
EXPLORING BUDAPEST
When exploring make sure you look up at the architecture and art on the walls, it is such a beautiful city. Enjoy some shopping, try the local food and make sure you stop to enjoy a Chimney Cake!
Bolt and Uber are both used in the city so I recommend using this to get around as well as their public transport - the trams, metro and scooters are so easy to use here!
