In this article, you will find a sightseeing guide to spending one day in Budapest!
Budapest is a city of immense cultural significance and lots of fantastic sights. For a traveler having only one day to explore the Hungarian capital, it can feel quite overwhelming. Let me help you with a perfect itinerary to get the most of Budapest in one day!
Morning
(one day in Budapest)
To kick off your great day in Budapest head to the Castle District!
To do that you have three options:
1) taking a bus 16 from Deák Ferenc tér metro station getting off at Dísz tér
The price of single ticket is 350 HUF (1,12 EUR)
To check the timetables go HERE
For a Budapest public transport practical guide go HERE
I suggest you buying a Budapest 24-hour travelcard to minimize costs of using public transport
The price is 1 650 HUF (5,32 EUR)
2) taking a Buda Castle Funicular from Clark Ádám tér
Funicular is a great way to enjoy the view but it is a bit pricey option
Single ticket is 1200 HUF (3,87 EUR), return – 1800 HUF (5,80 EUR)
All the info about the funicular HERE
3) walking up the hill taking the stairs from Clark Ádám tér
Castle District is one of the most sights-packed areas of Budapest!
First of all go to the Buda Castle to admire the grandiose architecture and iconic Budapest views
Currently Buda Castle houses Hungarian National Gallery and Budapest History Museum
After enjoying the grandeur of the Castle take a walk though the charming streets of Buda part of the city
In 1849 the Chain Bridge linking Buda with Pest was opened as the first permanent bridge across the Danube and in 1873 Buda and Pest were officially merged with the third part, Óbuda (Ancient Buda), thus creating the new metropolis of Budapest
Go to one of the most beautiful highlights of the city, splendid Matthias Church
To enter the church you have to buy a ticket, the price is 1500 HUF (4,83 EUR)
All information about visiting the Matthias Church can be found on the official website
After the church go to the iconic Fisherman’s Bastion. It is one of the symbols of the city as well as a great viewpoint to enjoy the splendid view of the Parliament building
You can walk around the picturesque Castle District for a little while to feel the Old Town atmosphere
Take bus 16 again to descend to the Pest part, – it’s time for a coffee break!
Get off at József nádor tér bus stop and walk along the elegant Október 6. St to a place called Espresso Embassy
Espresso Embassy is one of the best coffee shops in the city as well as a great place to take a break before exploring the city further
Check my article on 5 great coffee shops in Budapest, Hungary for the other good coffee places in the Hungarian capital
Afternoon
(one day in Budapest)
After having a coffee break head to one of the most beautiful parliament buildings in the world – Hungarian Parliament Building
It is currently the largest building in Hungary and still the tallest building in Budapest
For the information about visiting the Hungarian Parliament Building go to the official website
After grandiose Parliament walk to the impressive St. Stephen’s Basilica
You can get inside for free and admire beautiful interior
Then take a vintage metro at Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út station to the Hősök tere station. This will bring you to another symbol of Budapest – Heroes’ Square
There are two museums on the square to choose from:
- Műcsarnok – contemporary art museum
- Museum of Fine Arts – closed for renovation until February 2018!
Take a walk to the City Park packed with interesting things to see and do including:
- Vajdahunyad Castle – a castle built for the Millennial Exhibition which celebrated the 1,000 years of Hungary since the Hungarian Conquest of the Carpathian Basin in 895
- Széchenyi Thermal Bath – famous bath complex in Neo-Baroque style
You can spend a day just exploring the area around the Heroes’ Square but if you have a day only then I suggest having a glance at the sights and proceed on
Lunch Time
(one day in Budapest)
Budapest is home to many restaurants of different cuisines and price ranges. If you don’t know where to go you will be overwhelmed by the quantity of different food places in the city. Let me share with you some good choices for a place to eat in Budapest!
For Hungarian cuisine:
Good and affordable places to eat include:
Evening
(one day in Budapest)
If you’re still ready to explore after a long and colorful day in Budapest, I suggest going to the Citadella Hill for absolutely magnificent views of Budapest
You can do so by taking bus 27 from Móricz Zsigmond körtér M to the bus stop Búsuló Juhász (Citadella)
The views there are the best ones to observe in Budapest
Another idea for the evening could be a relaxing stroll along the Andrássy Avenue – a masterpiece of city planning. Home to many boutiques, cafes, restaurants, it is a beautiful highlight of the Budapest city life
Check out my other articles about Budapest:
- Art Nouveau in Budapest: 11 amazing buildings and where to find them
- TOP 3 Cheap Eats in Budapest, Hungary
And about Hungary:
- 7 great things to do in Miskolc, Hungary
- TOP 5 Things to Do in Debrecen, Hungary
- Top 5 places to visit in Northern Hungary
Thank you for reading!
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Pavlo is an experienced travel writer published by CNN, BBC, The Guardian, The Independent, The Irish Times, Time Out, DK Eyewitness and Lonely Planet. He’s been writing about Poland for 9+ years.
Great Guide! I love the breakdown including the prices, ect. I definitely want to take a return trip to Budapest (and hit up some of the places on this list)!
Thank you very much!