Top 7 Things to Do in Budapest

Budapest holds a very special place in my heart. It was the first eastern European city that I had been to, and it quickly became one of my favorite cities in Europe, alongside Berlin, Amsterdam, and Prague.

Budapest was different from all the other western and central European cities that I had visited previously. For example, Budapest was less expensive and less touristy. The city felt local and authentic. In most European cities, I felt like I was surrounded by more tourists than locals, but in Budapest, I was almost always surrounded by more locals than tourists, except at the tourist attractions like Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church.

In Budapest I felt like tourism was just starting to catch on and the city was still focused on its people and its culture rather than catering to mass tourism. For example, more people in Budapest spoke Hungarian than English. Shop owners actually got annoyed with me for not speaking the local language. In western Europe, locals would simply roll their eyes and switch to English as soon as they figured out I wasn’t from there. But in Budapest you couldn’t ‘opt out’ of the language or culture. It was awesome! This was an actual cultural experience instead of just a sightseeing tour.

I loved Budapest. I like blending in and observing. I prefer traveling to places where tourism isn’t the top priority. That being said, it’s not for everyone. Some people may prefer a more international city like Paris or London, and that’s fine, too. But if you’re feeling a little culturally adventurous, I’d definitely recommend visiting Budapest. Just brush up on your Hungarian before you go!

The Szechenyi thermal baths were fantastic! I visited in December and it was freezing outside, so I had to RUN from the indoor changing rooms to the outdoor pools in just a bathing suit. But it was worth it. I loved watching the steam rise off the water and into the chilly air. It was 30 degrees (Fahrenheit) outside, but I was toasty warm in the bath.

Szechenyi thermal baths

This was one of the most impressive pieces of Gothic architecture I’ve ever seen. Just the sheer volume of the building is phenomenal. It’s an enormous and powerful and it makes you feel small as you marvel in its spectacular wonder.

Hungarian Parliament Building at night

I encountered more tourists here than in any other part of Budapest. That’s probably because this viewing point is INCREDIBLE. You can see miles of the Danube and the massive Parliament Building from here. If you can break away from the view, you’ll notice that the Fisherman’s Bastion is pretty cool, too. It looks like a giant sandcastle!

I visited during the day, and then I returned at the end of the day to watch the sunset over the river. I stayed for the afterglow, until it got dark and the Parliament Building’s lights turned on.

Matthias Church next to the Fisherman’s Bastion

During WWII, Jewish people in Budapest were forced to line up along the river and remove their shoes. Shoes were valuable and could be sold on the black market. The victims were shot and their lifeless bodies fell into the Danube. Historians say the river was red with blood for days. Even children were shot, and there are child-sized shoes at the memorial to represent the murdered children. You can bring flowers to the memorial and place them inside the shoes.

If you’d like to learn more about Hungary during WWII, I recommend going on a history-focused walking tour. I went on an excellent walking tour and learned that the Hungarian leaders actually sided with the Axis powers at the start of WWII.

Shoes on the Danube Memorial

Budapest has awesome dive bars called ‘ruin bars.’ They’re located in the ‘ruins’ of abandoned buildings. Guests can order huge mugs of beer and standard pub fare. I ordered a burger and it was just and greasy and satisfying as I knew it would be. The ruin bars are filled with ever-changing pieces of furniture. My favorite was a bathtub covered in graffiti and filled with seat cushions for guests to sit down comfortably.

Szimpla ruin bar – I went back during the day to take this picture

Nestled between divey ruin bars is the most elegant cafe in Budapest. I didn’t dine here, but I was able to explore the inside and admire all of its lavishness.

New York Cafe

This popular fried dough can be purchased from street vendors or at a Christmas market. You can try it plain with powdered sugar or with Nutella drizzled on top. If sweets aren’t your thing, at least treat yourself to a cup of mulled wine. Mmmm.

Have you been to Budapest? What did you love most about it? Comment below!

– Travel Alli