Budapest Travel Guide

Mar 11

Budapest! I just loved this city. Budapest is vibrant city that beautifully blends history with modernity. There are two sides - Buda and Pest - that are divided by the Danube River. Buda is the more vibrant, bustling side and Pest is the hilly, historic side. You will find everything from incredible architecture like the Buda Castle and Hungarian Parliament to ruin bars and thermal baths. Plus, the food was divine! This is definitely a city that left a lasting impression on me and I can’t wait to go back. Read on for my recs on where to stay, what to do, and where to eat.

Click HERE to view all of my recs on Google Maps.

Where to Stay

Hotel Clark: We stayed at Hotel Clark during our trip. It is a stylish and contemporary boutique that sits right at the foot of the iconic Chain Bridge on the Buda side of the city. It offers stunning views of the Danube River and Buda Castle. It had great amenities and great service. You have to walk or uber across the bridge to ge to the Pest side of the city but I didn’t mind it. I enjoyed my stay here and 10/10 would stay again.

Sights to See

Buda Castle: Perched atop Castle Hill, this historic palace offers stunning views of the city and is home to the Hungarian National Gallery and Budapest History Museum. We didn’t end up doing a tour but definitely marveled at it’s architecture each time we came and went from our hotel room. It’s a sight to see!

Parliament Building: One of Budapest’s most iconic landmarks, this neo-Gothic architectural masterpiece sits on the banks of the Danube, offering tours that showcase its grand interiors.
Chain Bridge: This historic suspension bridge connects Buda and Pest, providing a scenic walk and stunning views of both sides of the city, especially at night.
Fisherman’s Bastion: A fairy-tale-like terrace with neo-Gothic and Romanesque architecture, providing some of the best panoramic views of the Danube and Pest.
Heroes’ Square & Andrássy Avenue: An iconic square featuring the Millennium Monument and statues of Hungary’s most significant historical figures. It sits at the end of Andrássy Avenue, a UNESCO World Heritage site and elegant boulevard lined with upscale shops, historic buildings, and cultural landmarks like the Hungarian State Opera House.
Matthias Church: A beautifully ornate church with a striking multicolored tile roof, located near Fisherman’s Bastion. Its history dates back over 700 years.
Gellért Hill & Citadella: A steep hill offering panoramic views of the city, with the Citadella fortress at the top and the Liberty Statue commemorating Hungary's liberation.
Váci Street: A bustling pedestrian street in the heart of Pest, perfect for shopping, dining, and soaking in the local atmosphere.

Things to Do

Thermal baths: If you’re in Budapest, checking out the thermal baths is a must! There are a few options in the city, see below:

Széchenyi Thermal Bath: This is one of the largest and most famous thermal baths in Europe, Széchenyi has beautiful outdoor and indoor pools and spa. This is the one we went to. Be warned that since it is the most popular and largest it can get pretty busy. We went when it was 30 degrees farenheit out and that didn’t stop people from visiting. The hot thermal baths were a welcome to the frigd cold air outside. It was like a reverse cold plunge. If you plan to visit the spa, make a reservation in advance as massages and other services book up quickly.
If you're looking for a smaller bath with potentially less people, try either Lukacs Thermal Bath, Rudas Thermal Bath, or Gellert Thermal Bath.

Jewish Quarter (Erzsébetváros): Definitely explore the jewish quarter! It’s a vibrant neighborhood known for its ruin bars, street art, and rich Jewish history, including the stunning Dohány Street Synagogue, the largest in Europe.
Christmas Markets - I was specifically excited about a trip to Europe in late November to visit the Christmas markets. They are just the epitome of the holiday season to me and unfortunately they are just not done that well in Cali (where I’m from) as they are in Europe. Depending on when you go, there are several markets open to check out (see more details here). We went to the one in Szent István Square (St. Stephen’s Square).
Westend Shopping Mall - This is just your usual shopping mall but I still enjoy visiting them when I travel to explore different international brands and shops.

Where to Eat

Mazel Tov (Jewish district)- Mazel Tov serves fusion Middle Eastern cuisine in a relaxed setting under a gorgeous gazebo. This was my favorite restaurant in Budapest! I still think about the food until this day. I don’t think you can go wrong with anyting you order. We ordered the large grill platter with shawarma, kebab patty, merguez sausage and the Yemeni sous vide chicken breast. I highly recommend both.

Twentysix Budapest (Downtown) - Known as “The greenest restaurant in Hungary,” Twentysix is a mediterranean restaurant in a gorgeus plant-filled botanical garden. We stopped here for brunch and had some delicious smoothies, pancakes, and omelettes. I also ordered the avocado toast, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
Cirkusz Café (Jewish district) - Popular brunch restaurant serving savory dishes. There’s usually a line to get in but worth the wait! I had the french toast which was just divine. This is definitely one of my top three spots I recommend to eat at.
New York Café - The New York Cafe is located in the Anantara New York Palace Budapest hotel. The hotel was built in the late 1800’s and bult in Italian Renaissance-style making it an artchitecural gem and the reason why it’s marketed “The most beautiful cafe in the world.” Reservations are not accepted during the day, so expect to wait for a while to get in. We waited for about 20-minutes before hopping out to go to Cirkusz Café instead. So while I can’t vouch for the food, I can recommend it to those who want to sip on some coffee or tea and admire it’s beauty.
Karavan Food Fair - If you’re looking for a quick bite or some delicious food truck food, check out Karavan. It’s located right next to the ruin bars.

Where to Drink

Ruin Bars - The ruin bars were on of my favorite things to see in Budapest. They are a collection of bars in an abandoned buildings that were turned into eclectic bars and social spots. It’s a great place to go for a night out or even just a drink.

Leo Rooftop Budapest - If you’re looking for a rooftop bar, definitely check out Leo Rooftop. It’s located at the top of Hotel Clark and gives stunning views of the Danube river and city skyline.

stephanie mendez