This 3 days in Budapest maps out the best itinerary to enjoy your stay in this most incredible city! 3 days in Budapest itinerary can work anytime of the week, but for hypothetical purposes, planning this out as a land Thursday night or Friday morning with Friday-Sunday full days plan.
3 Days in Budapest (At a Glance):
Day 1
- Breakfast at Torokmez
- Fisherman’s Bastion & Matthias Church
- Castle Hill
- Sunset at Citadella
- Gellert Bath
- Liberty Bridge
- Dinner at Mazel Tov or Dobruma
- Bar Crawl
Day 2
- Breakfast at Horizont
- Coffee at New York Cafe
- Explore Jewish Quarter
- Lunch at Vintage Garden
- Vajdahunyad Castle
- Szechenyi Baths
- Dinner at Hungarikum Bistro
- Szimpla Kurt Ruins Bar
Day 3
- Breakfast at London Coffee Society
- House of Parliament
- Shoes on Danube
- Walk along Chain Bridge
- Lunch at Retro Langos
- Take a ride on the Budapest Eye
- St. Stephen’s Basilica & 360 Watch Tower
- Dinner at Zincenco Kitchen
- River Cruise on the Danube
Day 1 in Budapest
Breakfast at Torokmez
10-11:30am: Start your morning with breakfast at Torokmez, a brunch cafe, on the Buda side of the city. Torokmez offers vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options and the cutest patio space. The staff was SO friendly too, they were even kind enough to charge my phone for me while I ate.
I ordered the Immune Juice (beet-carrot-apple-ginger) and the avo-salmon bagel which were both delish! (In the photo below, it has arugula on it which I can’t remember now if I requested. So if you want arugula on it double check since I don’t see it included on the menu). Stalk the full menu in English here.
Know Before You Go
Torokmez opens daily at 8am and the address is: Budapest, Margit utca 27, 1023 Hungary. To get to the cafe, you can take the tram depending on where you are staying to the Wesselényi utca/Erzsébet körút tram stop. It is then just a quick minute walk to the cafe!
Fisherman’s Bastion & Matthias Church
Continue your 3 days in Budapest, by taking a ~20 min walk (or 20 min tram) over to Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church. You can kill two birds with one stone here as these sights are side by side. The Fisherman’s Bastion is absolutely stunning and a must see during your 3 days in Budapest. It has the most incredible views of the Danube River, the House of Parliament, Buda Castle, and Castle Hill.
Know Before You Go (Fisherman’s Bastion)
Fisherman’s Bastion is easily one of the top visited attractions in Budapest. If you want to beat the crowds, you can plan accordingly and arrive at sunrise. The address is Budapest, Szentháromság tér, 1014 Hungary and entry is free for the bottom level. You can pay about $2 USD to climb up the top turrets (which I did not find necessary, the views were already incredible from the bottom).
Know Before You Go (Matthias Church)
This church actually used to be used to be a Coronation church for past Hungarian Kings. You do have to pay a small fee of ~$4-6 USD depending on age/student status. If you are visiting on a Sunday note that they do not open until 1pm. Every other day they open at 9am.
Castle Hill
Continue your day by walking to Castle Hill and exploring the many building surrounding including Buda Castle. The castle was destroyed by fire in WW2 and has since been reconstructed. When walking through, there was a free exhibit you could walk into sharing more of the castle history with photos and videos. Inside the castle there are a variety of wings containing the Hungarian National Gallery, The National Library, and Budapest History Museum.
Additional Option
If interesting in hearing more about the history of the sights including Fisherman’s Bastion, Matthias Church, and Castle Hill, you can book a 2-3 hour walking tour below via GetYourGuide. Plan accordingly if you want to be at a certain spot by sunset (which I recommend the Citadella summarized below).
Sunset at Citadella
I highly recommend planning your trip out to catch the sunset at the top of the Citadella. It can take 20-30 min to get all the way up to the top from the Buda Castle so make sure you allocate enough time. Sunset times vary by month, so plan ahead and know what time the sun will be setting during your visit. The later in the year, the earlier the sun sets!
Gellert Thermal Bath
It’s about a 15 minute walk to your next destination: Gellert Thermal Bath. This was the the most relaxing nightcap following a day of walking around the sights. There are a variety of thermal baths with water coming from Gellért hill’s mineral hot springs. Temperatures in the baths can range from 35°C to 40°C (95°F to 104 °F). I absolutely loved the architecture and style inside. Make sure to check out the outdoor pool upstairs as well with a sauna!
Know Before You Go:
A daily ticket costs about $17-18 for entry with access to all of the baths. They sell everything you may need on site including swimsuits, towels, swim caps, bathrobes, and sandals. Gellert also provides you a locker where you can change into your swim attire for the baths. Daily hours are 9 am-7 pm.
Note that for ease, I preferred to walk around with my swimsuit, flip flops, and towel in a backpack all day while exploring the sights so that I did not have to purchase new.
Shop Thermal Bath Essentials:
Walk Across Liberty Bridge
Take a walk back to your accommodation via the Liberty Bridge. If still open, you can swing by Central Market Hall (closes 5pm Mon, 6pm Tues-Fri, 3pm Sat, and closed Sunday). Take a taxi (use Bolt app – works just like Uber in Hungary) or train back to your hotel/Airbnb to freshen up for the night. There is a tram/metro station right at the end of Liberty Bridge called Fővám tér M where you can take a ride home.
Dinner in Jewish District
Head over to Mazel Tov or Dobrumba for dinner in the Jewish District. HIGHLY recommend making reservations in advance or you may not be able to get a table. I ate at Mazel Tov during my time in Budapest and it was DELICIOUS! I also had looked at Dobrumba which had the coziest interior and the food looked amazing! You really can’t go wrong with either.
Mazel Tov
Note from what my memory recalls, the food pictured below was off the seasonal menu and absolutely delicious. Pita with dips, beet soup, and salmon.
Dobrumba
Another great option for dinner your first night in Budapest. Dobrumba is a cozy restaurant in the Jewish Quarter offering Mediterranean and European plates. Full menu here and make a reservation here.
Bar Crawl
If you have the energy, you can top off your first day in Budapest with a Bar Crawl. The bar crawl was definitely a highlight of my time in Budapest, and I definitely recommend trying to get a taste of the nightlife and meet other travelers! There are a variety of bar crawls you can book that typically explore around 4 unique bars and then all finish at the same maze club called Instant Fogas.
Know Before You Go
There are a couple of Budapest Bar Crawls I recommend checking out:
- The Original Budapest Bar Crawl
- Meeting Time: Daily 9:30pm
- Meeting Location: Grandio Party Hostel, Nagy Diófa U. 8, 1072 Hungary
- Price: €20 Euros
- Includes: One hour free drinks, drinking games, VIP Entry, 4 ruin bars & 1 club
- Pub Crawl Budapest
- Meeting Time: Daily 9pm
- Meeting Location: Oktogon, Burger King
- Price: €11 Euros Online or €20 Euros In Person
- Includes: Free welcome shots at each bar, VIP Entry, 4 ruin bars & 1 club, Money back guarantee if not satisfied
Day 2 in Budapest
Breakfast at Horizont
Start your morning with breakfast at Horizont, a cozy restaurant that also serves healthy vegan & vegetarian options. I ordered the smoothie bowl and juice which was delicious and loaded with all the toppings. Menu is subject to change, but you can view part of it here.
New York Cafe
Hop on over to New York Cafe, often voted as the “Most Beautiful Cafe in the World” to grab a coffee or slice of cake. It is just right across the street with the most stunning, lavish, and opulent interior. It is definitely worth seeing during your 3 days in Budapest.
Know Before You Go
Note, the lines can get very long so it may be worth popping in before breakfast if you don’t see much of a line then. If you want to instead have breakfast here, note that it can be pricier, and you will absolutely want to make a reservation in advance here. The cafe opens their doors at 8am, so the earlier you arrive the better.
Jewish Quarter
Take a stroll around Jewish Quarter to admire the three main synagogues: Dohány Synagogue (largest in Europe and second largest in the world), Kazinczy Street Orthodox Synagogue, and Rumbach Street Synagogue. You can also admire Szimpla Kurt (Budapest’s first ruin bar) during the daytime and take a stroll through the KARAVÁN street food market. KARAVÁN offers a variety of local Hungarian delicacies such as chimney cakes and Langos along with a bar where you can stop for a drink.
Lunch at Vintage Garden
Pop into Vintage Garden to see the most aesthetic, cute restaurant in the city with seasonal decor. The food was delicious too!
Vajdahunyad Castle
Learn from my mistake, and visit the Vajdahunyad Castle BEFORE you head to the Szechenyi Baths. You will most likely not have time to visit it after taking a dip. The castle looks absolutely stunning and definitely a must see for when I return to Budapest! It was built in 1896, and is now home to several festivals, concerts, and exhibitions.
Szechenyi Baths
Another must do in Budapest is to take a dip in the the Szechenyi Baths. I would try to get there before sunset to also see the baths in the daytime.
Know Before You Go
Note the lines can take a while to get inside, so allocate an extra 30 minutes before sunset to arrive. Also, do not miss out on the additional rooms upstairs with countless additional baths and saunas! We found a salt rock sauna which was incredibly relaxing to wind down in for a bit. If unsure where these additional rooms are, do not hesitate to ask an employee!
Dinner at Hungarikum Bistro
Head over to Hungarikum Bistro for an authentic Hungarian experience. I am bummed I did not a chance to try this restaurant, but it was highly highly recommended by my brother in law who said the goulash was to die for! Voted Traveler’s Choice in 2021, and an average 4.7 star review on Google, this is absolutely a must try in Budapest! Stalk the menu here and make a reservation in advance here.
Szimpla Kurt
Finish your night with drinks at Szimpla Kurt, one of the most famous and first Ruins Bars in Budapest. It has a vibrant atmosphere, and has a variety of rooms worth exploring with different themes in each one. Know it can get extremely crowded, but absolutely worth it once inside!
Day 3 in Budapest
London Coffee Society
Start your morning of your 3 days in Budapest off with a coffee, matcha, avocado toast, or smoothie bowl from London Coffee Society. They are open daily from 9am-3pm, and have a 4.7 star rating with over 1,800 Google reviews.
House of Parliament
The House of Parliament is one of the most prominent building in Budapest. Completed in 1905, it is the tallest building in the city tied with the St. Stephen’s Basilica.
Know Before You Go
You can purchase tickets for the House of Parliament here and I highly recommended to purchase ahead of time as there are limited tickets available. There are only specific time slots run in different languages (aka not all time slots will be in English). So plan accordingly!
Shoes on Danube
Walk over to this chilling memorial with sixty pairs of iron shoes lined upon the edge of the Danube River. This was created as a remembrance to the people, majority of them Jews, who were shot into the Danube during WW2. At different points along the memorial reads in Hungarian, English, and Hebrew: “To the memory of the victims shot into the Danube by Arrow Cross militiamen in 1944–45. Erected 16 April 2005.” It is a simple, chilling, and moving exhibit honoring so many lives lost.
Chain Bridge
Walk along the Chain Bridge for some amazing views of the city and bridge itself. Note, the bridge was unfortunately closed during my time in Budapest for renovations, but is now open once again. It takes about 10-15 minutes to cross to the other side.
Lunch at Retro Langos
Head to Retro Langos to try the famous Hungarian Langos – which is essentially a fried bread dough with pizza toppings to your customization. Great for something fast casual, and I loved this spot so much I came here more than once!
Budapest Eye
After lunch, take a ride on the Budapest Eye for panoramic views of the city, or just admire the wheel from the ground. You can purchase tickets in advance here. Prices for adults start at 3000 FT or ~$10 USD. The ride only takes about 10-12 minutes to go around.
St. Stephen’s Basilica & Tower
Walk 6 minutes to explore the St. Stephen’s Basilica. The Basilica was named in honor of Stephen, the First King of Hungary and is currently Hungary’s third largest church. It is also the highest building in Budapest next to the Hungarian Parliament Building. The interior is absolutely stunning, and I got chills walking through during a service with the congregation singing. Church entry is free (donations encouraged), and you can pay to walk or elevator up to the tower viewpoint.
Know Before You Go
Try to time walking to the Basilica to get up to the tower right before sunset. Remember the sun can set pretty early in the fall (around 4pm) so plan accordingly! The tower is HUNGARIAN CASH ONLY which was such a disappointment during my trip as I did not have enough time to withdraw cash and make it back up in time for the sunset. At the top you can get a 360 panorama view of the city! Def a must see for when I return 🙂
Zincenco Kitchen
Danube River Cruise
You can choose from a variety of options below for a nightime boat cruise on the Danube River. I recommend this tour as a better option as the meeting point is much more central to the city.
I hope you found this 3 days in Budapest guide helpful, and be sure to reach out on Insta or email if you have any further questions. Hope you have the most amazing trip! If you have more than 3 days in Budapest, you can check out this post rounding up 21 things to do in Budapest!
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xx,
