Budapest Things To Do

The Castle District
A memorably picturesque, car-free area set on the hills of Buda. The vast Buda Royal Palace is a fascinating mix of Gothic and Baroque and contains important national museums and monuments within its walls, including the Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art, Budapest History Museum, the Hungarian National Gallery and the National Széchenyi Library. Matthias Church, with its curious mix of architectural influences, coloured tiled roof and Gothic spire, is famous throughout Hungary.

The Danube
Take plenty of time to explore both banks of the river. Tram routes ply both sides of the Danube and provide good views. Summer city breaks in Budapest feature boat trips and ferries. The mid-19th century Chain Bridge is by far the most famous of the 9 bridges linking Buda with Pest and is particularly picturesque at night. For some of the finest views of the Danube and Pest explore the delightful ramparts, stairs, turrets and arcades of the Fishermen's Bastion built on the castle walls. Of the buildings along the Danube don’t miss the glorious Parliament building modelled on the Houses of Parliament in London.

Parks
Visit Gellért Hill for some of the best views of both halves of the city and the course of the Danube. Many of Budapest’s famous spa baths are found in the area, including the Gellért Baths with its gloriously opulent Art Nouveau hotel. Margaret Island has old-fashioned charm, a Dominican convent, a Franciscan church, beautiful gardens, an open-air theatre and an open-air thermal swimming pool. The vast landscaped Varosliget Park contains a circus, a zoo, lakes and the bizarre Vajdahunyad Castle. Statue Park is a unique graveyard for the huge statues of the Communist years, including Marx and Lenin.

Andrassy Ut and Erzsebert
Two essential neighbourhoods to explore. Andrassy ut is packed with fabulous buildings and monuments like St. Stephen's Basilica, the State Opera House, the Municipal Operetta Theatre, the Franz Liszt Memorial Museum, the Palace of Art and the Museum of Fine Arts. Deak Square and Heroes’ Square are two of Budapest’s finest. The old Jewish quarter, Erzsébet Town, is particularly picturesque and contains Europe’s largest synagogue, a superb construction of coloured brickwork, towers, domes and intricate arches and windows. Don’t miss seeing the interior and the adjacent Jewish Museum and Memorial.

Thermal baths
World famous Budapest spas are an unforgettable experience, featuring hot springs, thermal swimming pools, steam rooms, massage, mud packs and saunas. The best known are the Gellért Baths, set in wonderfully stylish Art Nouveau splendour. The Széchenyi Bathhouse is one of Europe’s largest. The superb Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal Spa is expensive but worthwhile for the beautifully restored Art Deco fixtures. For a more authentically Turkish experience try the Kiraly Baths or Rudas in Buda.

Budapest City Breaks  Getting Around Budapest

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