Ultimate Budapest travel guide

Budapest had been on my list to visit for some time and I finally got to spend three days exploring this April. Budapest was really pleasant in the spring but it looks especially picturesque in winter. It’s possible to get a really luxurious accommodation via airbnb that is also really economical. The apartment we stayed in had a huge TV room, beautiful kitchen and spacious bath. (Get $30 off airbnb by signing up with my affiliate link!) Plus, it was right by the Parliament building so it was easy to navigate and walk around the city. Here’s my Budapest travel guide for how to spend a few days in the capital city.

On our first day in Budapest we walked from Parliament down to the Gellért Thermal Baths, which was a straight shot but took about an hour. The spa is beautiful, but fairly crowded (we went mid-day on a week day). There are several pools indoor and out. We opted to soak in some of the warmer pools and then dry off in the sun by one of the outside pools. If you are hoping to swim at the laps pool make sure to bring a swimming cap, etc. You can also book massages here! Read more about the thermal bath options in Budapest here.

Parliament Building

Central Market Hall

The market is a great place to buy paprika and dried chilies!

After the baths we walked back across the Liberty Bridge to check out the Central Market Hall. This is the place to buy some Hungarian paprika to take home! There are tons of stalls offering spices and chilies, fruit, meat and bread and more. Even if you don’t need to buy any groceries this historic market is a cool spot to see and browse.

If you don’t have much planned I recommend taking a sightseeing bus in Budapest. The Big Bus company offers a really comprehensive tour. Pro tip: your ticket lasts 24 hours, so if you start in the afternoon one day, you can also ride the bus the following morning! Budapest is a large city and we did a ton of walking here – super tiring. The hop on/off tour lets you see the major sites, like the Chain Bridge, much more easily than on foot. If you have less then three days in Budapest and need to follow a shorter itinerary, the Big Bus is a great way to see a lot in a short time.

View of the Chain Bridge from the Liberty Bridge

The famed Fisherman’s Bastion was the top sight on my list, but I didn’t plan well enough to get there at dawn. I think this is the only was to get quality photos. By 10am it is swarming with people and very difficult even to walk around. After all, it is one of the most instagrammable places in Budapest. Additionally, they charge entrance to some of the more popular spots for snapshots like the towers.

View of Budapest from the Fisherman’s Bastion

Right across the way is the beautiful Matthias Church. Both places are incredible and I wish I’d been able to enjoy them more. I definitely recommend seeing this area any time of day, but if you can get there early I think that would be the best experience. From the Fisherman’s Bastion square we walked back to the Buda Castle area before rejoining the bus tour. If I had more time I would have liked to check out the Citadel area more on the Buda side.

Budapest has a huge nightlife scene and it’s a really popular spot for backpackers. Although I didn’t really go out on the town (club aren’t my scene) I really enjoyed the Ruins Bars. The original concept was to turn abandoned/condemned buildings into bars using salvaged furniture for a grunge eclectic feeling. The most famous, Szimpla Kert, has become as big a landmark as many of the historic buildings. Although it’s quite popular at night, we didn’t have any trouble getting in about 9pm.

Ruins bar in Budapest

There are several vegan options in Budapest and a lot of different styles of eateries. We ate at Vegazzi twice, as it was near Parliament/our accommodation. Vegazzi has a lot of pizza options, which are fairly good. I’d recommend the pasta in cashew cream sauce, but they have a big menu with plenty to choose from.

Cashew pasta at Vegazzi

Édeni Vegán worked out well because it was near the Fisherman’s Bastion square and this area didn’t seem to have many restaurants, let alone ones with veggie options. This is your chance to try traditional Hungarian food! They offer a mixed plate for a fixed price, but be careful: it was much cheaper for me to just buy the things I wanted. We sort of got burned on this and ended up having a really expensive lunch so definitely add up what you want first. My favorite item was the white pumpkin stew, but the falafel was also good. Budapest is the ideal city for foodies to visit as there are so many instagrammable foods and restaurants!

Traditional Hungarian food at Édeni Vegán

Traditional Hungarian food at Édeni Vegán

Our big splurge was a night at Nobu. I’d always wanted to try the famed sushi spot and the Budapest location didn’t have the long wait I’d imagine of the sister spots in Malibu and New York. Nobu has an omakase vegan menu that consists of seven courses. My favorite was the grilled aubergine (eggplant) in yuzu miso sauce – delicious. It was a good way to try several dishes and if I came back I’d probably order a few veggie rolls with one or two warm veggie dishes. I can’t really justify the price, but it was a really pleasant experience.

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