A visitor traveling to Budapest has the chance to stroll through one of Europe’s most culturally rich cities. Hungary’s capital is one of the most popular destinations in Europe. Join us in discovering it!
Why Travel to Budapest?
Visiting Budapest is always a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in art and culture.
This beautiful city boasts a vast heritage thanks to its rich history. Together with Vienna, Budapest is one of those capital cities that seem grander than their small countries might suggest.
For dining, Spanish visitors will find prices are quite affordable. Additionally, there’s the Budapest Card, which can save you both time and waiting at the city’s main attractions.
One of the must-do activities in Budapest is a river cruise—a popular experience among most tourists. If you want to enjoy this too, here are some recommended tours:
- Daytime Sightseeing Cruise
- Premium Night Cruise with Tokaj Frizzante
- Night Cruise with Drinks and Live Music
- One-Hour Night Sightseeing Cruise with Drink
- Night Sightseeing Cruise with Unlimited Prosecco
Will you miss out on visiting?
Budapest Travel Guide
Budapest is a grand city with many landmarks worth exploring.
Here’s our Budapest guide, with everything you can do in the city:
- Vaci Utca:
This is Budapest’s main street, alongside Andrassy Avenue. It’s a pedestrian street full of souvenir shops, restaurants, and cafes.
- Andrassy Avenue:
An impressive boulevard that connects Erzsebet ter with Heroes’ Square and leads to the City Park.
This is undoubtedly the building that comes to mind when thinking of Budapest. It’s one of Europe’s most iconic and is the third-largest parliament building in the world, after Romania and Argentina. You can take a tour with this guided visit from Civitatis.
Its image with the Chain Bridge in the background is one of the city’s most recognizable sights. Often called the Royal Palace, it was once the residence of Hungarian monarchs.
Every day, a Free Tour takes place here, offering more insights into its history.
- Buda Castle Labyrinth:
A 1-kilometer-long labyrinth of caves, cells, basements, and springs. Now open to tourists, it has had varied uses throughout its history. You can book your ticket here to explore the caves.
Budapest’s oldest and most well-known bridge, inaugurated in 1849 after 20 years of construction.
A scenic lookout located in Buda, offering breathtaking views of the city.
One of Hungary’s most important neo-Renaissance buildings and a must-visit for travelers.
- Heroes’ Square:
One of Budapest’s most significant squares, with statues honoring the leaders of the seven tribes that founded Hungary.
The largest market built in the city in the late 19th century. It’s a great place to feel the authentic vibe of Budapest, as locals frequent it as well. We took a food tour here and would gladly do it again.
- Budapest Citadel:
The highest point in Budapest, offering spectacular panoramic views of the city, rivaled only by the Fishermen’s Bastion. Built in 1854 by the Habsburgs as a watchtower.
The second-largest synagogue in the world, with Jerusalem’s being the largest. It has a capacity for 2,963 people.
- Hospital in the Rock:
A unique site that once served as a nuclear bunker and hospital. An intriguing visit worth taking.
- Aquincum:
This important Roman city was unearthed in the late 19th century in Budapest. You can walk its ancient streets, seeing homes, shops, and even baths.
The country’s largest religious building, able to hold 8,500 people. It reaches 96 meters in height, matching the Parliament Building as Budapest’s tallest structure.
When visiting Budapest as a tourist, St. Stephen’s Basilica is a must-see, and interestingly, concerts are often held here that you can attend (click here to reserve your spot).
- Churches
Matthias Church: Officially named the Church of Our Lady, it’s Budapest’s most famous Catholic church. Built between the 12th and 15th centuries, it hosted royal weddings and coronations.
Rock Church: Inspired by the Shrine of Lourdes, this church is located inside a cave on the southern slope of Mount Gellert. A unique site with a guided history tour.
- Fine Arts Museum:
The Budapest Museum of Fine Arts, inaugurated in 1906 by Emperor Franz Joseph, is one of the city’s most visited attractions. It’s best to purchase tickets in advance through this link to avoid waiting in line.
- Holocaust Memorial Center:
This permanent exhibition honors the memory of over 500,000 Hungarian Jews who perished during the Nazi era.
- Thermal Baths:
There are many notable thermal baths, but the Szechenyi Baths and Gellert Baths are among the most famous. We highly recommend visiting one, as it’s truly worth the experience.
For example, you can get discounted tickets online for Gellert Baths here or for Szechenyi Baths here.
Tips for Your Trip to Budapest
Budapest is generally a safe city, but as in any major city, it’s wise to be mindful of petty theft when traveling.
Always keep your bags and wallets secure, and stay aware of your belongings, like coats, etc. These precautions apply not just in Budapest but in any large city.
Another important detail is that Hungary uses the Hungarian Forint, not the Euro, despite being part of the European Union. Where can you exchange Euros for Forints? Banks in Spain are often the best place to exchange currency, though some banks may have limited foreign currencies available. While exchanging Euros for pounds or dollars is easy, finding Forints can be more challenging. However, currency exchange in Budapest is straightforward with numerous exchange offices offering reasonable rates and minimal fees.
Enjoy your stay in a city that, though becoming increasingly Westernized and modernized, still has a Soviet-era charm that makes it uniquely captivating.
The costs of touring Budapest are still reasonable for those using Euros, so you can indulge a bit even in the more tourist-centered dining areas. This is something well worth enjoying in Central Europe, don’t you think?
Tourism in Budapest: The City and Its History
To talk about Budapest’s history is to talk about Obuda (the ancient Buda), Buda, the hilly area on the Danube’s left bank, and Pest on the river’s right bank.
Ancient Obuda was first inhabited by Celtic tribes until conquered by the Roman Empire in the 1st century BCE. For four centuries, it was the capital of the Roman region of Pannonia. Buda emerged as a Roman colony founded around 14 BCE.
In 896 CE, the union of seven Magyar tribes defeated the Romans and founded two new cities separated by the river: Buda and Pest. Hungary as a nation was born in 1000 CE with the coronation of its first king, Stephen I, and by 1222 it already had a Magna Carta. The Mongols destroyed the city in 1241, and King Bela IV ordered its reconstruction, leading to the formation of New Buda opposite Old Buda.
Buda became the nation’s capital in 1361, marking an era of economic growth that peaked in the 15th century under Emperor Matthias Corvinus. In 1526, Pest fell to the Turks, followed by Buda in 1541, with Buda becoming a Turkish capital and Pest abandoned. The Turks held power until 1686, when the Habsburgs defeated them, making Budapest part of Austria.
The Habsburg period was a prosperous time, with many churches and public buildings constructed. In 1849, the first permanent bridge over the Danube, the famous Chain Bridge, was inaugurated.
Austro-Hungarian Empire
In 1867, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was established, marking a golden age for both the capital and the nation. Industry thrived in Pest, which became the city’s most densely populated area.
In 1873, the three cities were united under the name Budapest, becoming the most important city in the Austro-Hungarian Empire after Vienna.
Following World War I, the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye ended Austria’s rule over Hungary, establishing Hungary as an independent state.
The 1920 Treaty of Trianon further reduced Hungary’s size, ceding Slovakia, Ruthenia, Transylvania, and other regions, making Budapest a large capital for a small country.
World War II
During World War II, Budapest suffered Allied bombings, and at the end of the conflict, it fell under Soviet influence. In 1989, Hungary abandoned communism after the Soviet Union’s fall, joining the European Union in 2004.