3 days in Budapest is enough to visit most of the main sights. This itinerary will help you get the most out of your short stay. Let’s explore the busy downtown of Pest and the medieval Castle District of Buda. You will also have time to soak your tired muscles in our baths. Let’s go! 😊
3 days in Budapest: Day 1 - Explore Downtown
Szamos Cafe - breakfast with a view
Start your day with a sandwich, a good coffee, or try some of the other delicacies in Szamos Cafe at the corner of Kossuth Square and Nádor street. You will not regret it. 😊
Parliament and Kossuth Square
Walk around Kossuth Square, where the House of Parliament is located.
The richly decorated, Neo-Gothic styled Parliament is the third largest Parliament in the world. The national flag in front of it is ceremonially raised and lowered every day. Soldiers stand guard and the changing of the guards happens once every hour.
If you would like to see the interior of the building, you should go on a tour. Tours take 45 minutes and you will get guiding, information about the history of the building and of course you can see the crown jewels. These tours sell out far in advance. Make sure you book your tickets online.
Tours: English tours are offered at 10:00, 12:00, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30
Cost: HUF 3,500 EU Citizens; HUF 6,700 non-EU Citizens
Book your tickets in advance: this is the website where you can purchase your tickets in advance.
Shoes on the Danube Promenade Memorial
After visiting the Parliament, go to the bank of the Danube and head to the south. In about 5 minutes you will arrive to the Shoes on the Danube Promenade Memorial.
The sixty pairs of shoes commemorate those who were shot into the Danube by the Nazis.
Victims were instructed to take off their shoes before being shot. Their bodies fall into the Danube and carried away by the river.
The Memorial was unveiled in 2005.
St. Stephen’s Basilica
St. Stephen’s Basilica is the most significant Roman Catholic Church in Budapest. It can host 3,500 people at the same time. Have a look at the mummified right hand of our first king. The panorama from its lookout terrace is wonderful, it really worth the climb.
Basilica is open: Monday – Friday 9 am to 7 pm; Sunday 7:45 am – 7 pm
Bell Tower: 10 am – 6:30 pm between June and September; 10 am – 4:30 pm between November and March and 10 am – 5:30 in April, May and October
Cost: 200 HUF / 1 EUR as donation, HUF 1000 to climb the tower
After visiting the Basilica, walk back to the Danube through Zrínyi street.
On the corner of Zrínyi street and Szent István square stands Gresham Palace, the most luxurious hotel in Budapest. Even if you are not staying here, have a quick peek inside.
Danube Promenade
The Promenade stretches between the Chain Bridge and the Elizabeth Bridge on the Pest side of the river. The panorama over the Buda Castle, the Citadel and the Gellért Hill is marvelous from here.
Walk along the Danube Promenade to Vigadó Square.
Vörösmarty Square
If you want to take a quick break, step into Gerbeaud. This fancy coffee and pastry shop has delicious cakes and coffee. If this coffee shop is not your style but you would like something sweet, there is also a Szamos cafe at the corner of Deák Ferenc street and Váci street, right next to Hard Rock Cafe.
Váci street
This is the main shopping and pedestrian street of downtown Budapest. This two kilometers long street runs between Vörösmarty Square and the Central Market Hall.
Visiting the Market is not part of this day, I recommend strolling through cute little streets instead. 😊
So, walk along Váci street and cross Szabad sajtó út (the only huge road that crosses Váci street) and continue your walk, straight.
Now you are on the other side of Váci street. This part is calmer, there are fewer people on the street. Also, you can see restaurants here, but I do not recommend them. There is only one exception, Fatál restaurant (fatál means “wooden plate” in Hungarian, not something deadly 😀 ).
From here I recommend taking tiny streets, I give you a Google map as a guide.
So, the route:
From Váci street, turn to the left and walk through Nyári Pál and Papnövelde streets. You will arrive to Egyetem tér (“University square”). Here you can sit in a Starbucks and/or Pad Thai fast food restaurant, if you would like to. (There will be better options later.)
Károlyi Garden
From here, Károlyi Garden is just around the corner. I recommend to have a rest here (maybe ask your coffee or your pad thai in a paper cup/box and sit on one of the benches in Károlyi Garden. There is no bathroom here, so use it in the restaurants before heading to the garden).
There is also a cute “winebar and garden”, called “Csendes Társ” with tables outdoor at the main entrance of Károlyi Garden, and a cafe/restaurant, “Csendes” (yeah, same company) with a menu, if you would like to try something new.
Unger House
The palace connecting Museum Boulevard with Magyar Street is one of the earliest works of Miklós Ybl, one of the greatest masters of Hungarian architecture.
The building was built between 1852 and 1853, commissioned by Henrik Unger.
On the first floor of the building, which features Romantic, Byzantine, and Moorish elements, we can see seven small balconies, each of which are supported by two griffons from below. Have a look at them from Múzeum körút.
The courtyard, which is most commonly used as a shortcut, is covered by wooden blocks – similarly to the driveway of the Opera House.
The worn building definitely deserves a thorough renovation.
For more info about hidden courtyards in the vicinity, check out my post: Hidden courtyards in Budapest.
National Museum and the Palace Quarter in Józsefváros
The area you are going to visit now is called Józsefváros, named after the heir of the Hungarian throne, Emperor Joseph II in 1777.
This area has seen and experienced a lot during history. Flood damaged the whole neighborhood in 1838, demolishing 900 houses. Aristocrats built their palaces and mansions here between 1860 and the WW1.
Bullet-marks on the buildings show that the area was scarred by numerous wars and fights such as the Second World War, the 1956 revolution and the subsequent Soviet attack. By the early post-communist period, the Józsefváros had a reputation as the poorest and most crime-ridden area of Pest.
Today, the area is renewed or being renewed, some of the district’s streets are converted into pedestrian-only areas. The slum is converting into a friendly neighborhood, where restaurants and cafes are already thriving.
The Palotanegyed (Palace Quarter) is part of Józsefváros. It includes a few streets behind the National Museum.
National Museum
It was the first palace built in the Quarter between 1837 and1847. Its presence raised the value of the whole area, where wealthy families started to build their residences.
After visiting the National Museum (inside or outside) walk a few hundred meters on Baross street to Szabó Ervin Library.
Here is the map of this area (from the National Museum to Dohány street Synagogue)
Wenckheim Palace - Metropolitan Szabó Ervin Library
The building at Szabó Ervin Square was built between 1886 and 1889 with Neo-Renaissance, Neo-Baroque, Rococo and Biedermeier elements. The palace was named after and built for Frigyes Wenckheim. In 1927 the building was sold to the capital and Szabó Ervin Library opened its doors to the public and has been operating in the palace ever since.
Have a peek inside!
Address: Szabó Ervin square 1.
Almássy Palace
Hungarian Chamber of Architects operates in this smaller palace.
It has a very unique, oasis-like inner garden and ivy-run walls, a wall fountain and flower-patterned stone paving.
There is also a small restaurant inside with classic daily menus and reasonable prices.
Address: Ötpacsirta street 2.
Gróf Károlyi Alajos Palace (my favorite)
This building – by Miklós Ybl – was one of the first buildings erected after the completion of the Museum. It showed aristocrats that investing in the area behind the Museum has potential.
It burned down in 1944 and doesn’t have a proper function ever since.
Building of the Hungarian Radio
Well… It is just an ugly modern building, built during the communist regime. I heard rumors about its demolition.
Eszterházy Palace (the red brick building)
It was built in 1871 and was the residence of the Hungarian President between 1946-48.
Since 1950 it is also one of the buildings of the Hungarian Radio and it is famous for its Marble Room and its superb acoustics.
Gróf Festetics Palace - Andrássy University
This palace was one of the luckiest of all as it survived the past century without much damage, so it is in its original condition.
It is also an Ybl-building that was built on the model of Italian palaces.
Today the palace is not only an event venue (four unique banquet halls can be rented for photo shoots, filming or weddings) but also the home of the private Andrássy University, the only completely German-language university outside German-speaking countries.
Students are listening to the lectures in one of the most beautiful buildings in Budapest.
Address: Pollack Mihály square 3.
Degenfeld-Schonburg Palace
This palace on the corner of Bródy Sándor Street and Puskin Street was partly an aristocratic palace and partly a tenement house. The residents of the two sides used separate entrances and staircases so they did not interact much.
This palace is a bit different than the others. Its main front facing Pollack Mihály square is majestic but modest, while its side on Puskin street is quite monotonous. Comparing its facade to Festetics Palace or Károlyi Palace it does not seem to be palace-like.
Its architectural approach is more like the concept of the palaces in downtown and Lipótváros, meaning it does not flaunt, or show off even between more casual blocks of flats. Only its elegance and tiny delicate features show that “different” kind of people lived in it.
The values of Degenfeld Palace – the doorway, hallway, the grandness of the main staircase and the cast-iron balcony of the courtyard – are uncovered only for those who step inside the building.
When Miklós Ybl – the architect – died, the whole building was covered with a huge black veil.
House of Representatives (Today: Italian Institute)
Again, a building designed by Miklós Ybl. 😊
This palace, that was completed in just 5 months in 1863, was originally built for the Lower House of Representatives. The upper house of the parliament hold their meetings in the National Museum until 1904, when the new Hungarian Parliament building opened.
Since 1942 the building has been housing the Italian Cultural Institute. Currently is has a library, a 500-seat concert hall, a café and even a 140-seat cinema.
Address: Bródy Sándor street 8
After this short sneak-peak into the Palace Quarter, head to the Great Synagogue. It will take about 10-15 minutes on foot to get there.
Great Synagogue of Dohány Street - take a walk through District VII
The Jewish district is made of narrow streets, passages, hidden courtyards, designer shops and all kinds of bars and restaurants.
This unique mix makes this quarter one of the most exciting neighborhoods of Budapest.
After World War II, District VII — the old Jewish quarter — was left to decay.
About 10 years ago, bars and restaurants began to appear again in abandoned buildings.
Have a rest in a Ruin Bar. From the outside, there usually isn’t much to see, but once you get in, you find yourself in a funky, laid-back bar filled with nice people and good food.
Explore the Jewish Quarter.
From the Synagogue, walk along Dohány street to Kazinczy street.
Have a look at Szimpla, the most famous ruin bar of Budapest, then continue your stroll along the street to Ellátó Kert.
From here Gozsdu Courtyard is just a few steps.
Visit the courtyard, eat and drink something if you would like to, the courtyard is full of bars and restaurants. Or: Zing Burger is right at the entrance of the courtyard in Király street.
From here head to Deák Ferenc square, and have a rest on one of the benches while you enjoy the sight of the small pool and make new, duck friends. 😊
3 days in Budapest: Day 2 - Citadel + Castle District
Fővám Square - Great Market Hall
A tourist-favorite, for sure, but locals are also flock the aisles.
Here you will find everything that you need for a tasty breakfast. Try “lángos” on the second floor or eat strudels on the ground floor (middle, main aisle).
TIP: there is also an ALDI supermarket in the basement.
Gellért Hill
Just across Liberty Bridge towers Gellért Hill. There are several routes to take upwards, you can’t miss them, just follow the stairs and tracks on the Danube side of the slope. Take your time, enjoy the sights.
It will take you 30 minutes maximum to arrive to the top.
There you will find lookout terraces and of course the Citadell and the Statue of Liberty.
If you are hungry or thirsty already, I recommend a small shop, Füge. Here you can purchase soft drinks, an ice-cream or a coffee.
Philosopher’s Garden
This little lookout point is quite unknown.
Here you can find it. It has two statues, the group of spiritual leaders (the “philosophers”) and the statue of Prince Pest and Princess Buda.
Tabán
Tabán is a green slope overlooking the Buda Palace right at the foot of Gellért Hill on its north side.
This is the route I recommend walking along. This way you will not get hit by cars will pass Czakó Garden, a very cute bistro/restaurant/pastry shop.
Here is a nice route from Tabán towards the Palace.
Várkert Bazaar
This complex is made of newly renovated Neo-Renaissance buildings and flower garden. From here the Castle District is easily accessible on foot or using the escalator and elevators.
Castle Hill
Castle District consists of 3 different parts: the Palace on the south side, Szent György Square (in the middle) and the historical residential quarter on the north.
The Royal Palace dates back to the 14th century.
Today it houses three institutions:
Hungarian National Gallery
National Széchényi Library
Budapest History Museum
Dísz Square
As you walk towards Dísz Square you will see excavations. These are ruins, castle walls from the medieval ages. They revealed during the WWII bombings.
Tóth Árpád promenade
This street has gorgeous views of the Buda side. During April the cherry trees are blooming.
If you take the stairs downwards to Lovas street 4, you arrive to the Hospital in the Rock.
Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum – “The history of the Hospital in the Rock is the story of saving lives” – quote from its website
This Museum (Sziklakórház Atombunker Múzeum) is part of a six-mile stretch of interconnected caves and cellars beneath Buda Castle Hill.
During World War II, the caves and tunnels were connected, fortified, and used as an air raid shelter and an emergency surgical hospital was also built within the caves.
Úri street
The best street if you would like to see some medieval details on its residential houses.
At the end of Úri street you will see Mary Magdalena Church. Turn to the right and walk to Wiena Gate Square – Bécsi kapu tér.
Fortuna street will lead you to to Szentháromság Square – the highest point of Castle Hill. The Holy Trinity Column was erected to fend off the plague epidemic.
Here is a map of this section.
Ruswurm cafe is just a few meters away from here. Try their poppy seed strudel, somlói galuska and pogácsa. If there is no free table, fear not! Just take the delicacies with you as right in front of Matthias Church there is a small park with benches.
Matthias Church
Matthias church has a long and interesting history.
I wrote a detailed blog post about it, that will help you to explore the most interesting parts inside of it.
If you have the time and you are not claustrophobic, climb up to its tower. You will not only see a beautiful panorama but you will get a short guided tour with it. There are three little “rooms” in the tower with interesting details and the bells are also visible.
Tours depart every hour. You can buy your ticket at the ticket office, right in front of the church.
Admission:
Church: 1800 HUF (about USD 6.30/EUR 5.60 – full price)
Tower: 1800 HUF (about USD 6.30/EUR 5.60 – full price)
Fisherman’s Bastion
Fisherman’s Bastion is one of the most Instagramable spots in Budapest.
This is the place where girls are wearing evening dresses barefoot for their Instagram photoshoot at about 4 am. 😀 #fishermansbastion
Sitting on its high walls is an another hobby for some. Weird.
One thing is true for sure: you will probably regret not visiting this place.
The Bastion is only a 100 years old, and was named after the fish market located nearby during the medieval times. The fisherman protected this part of the wall, the bastion commemorate their efforts.
Chain Bridge
Just walk down the stairs from Fisherman’s Bastion (take the stairs that are at the main entrance of the Bastion) or go back to the Funicular.
If you decide to ride the Funicular, you can expect a much shorter queue on the upper station. If you would like to walk down on the trail (5 minutes), you will have the opportunity to get a close look at the Funiculars as they pass right under the tiny pedestrian bridges that cross their route.
Walk across Chain Bridge to reach Pest side.
As you arrive to the Danube Promenade, you are already back in downtown.
Tip for the night: ship cruise
3 days in Budapest: Day 3 - Andrássy Avenue, City Park
Andrássy Avenue
Today you will visit our “Champs-Élysées”, a boulevard full of high-end boutiques, embassies and villas.
If your hotel is not near the City Park, don’t forget to grab your bathing suit, flip-flops and towels before leaving your hotel.
Andrássy avenue runs straight between downtown Pest and the City Park. It is one of the World Heritage Sites of Budapest.
Walking along the avenue, you will have the chance to have a glimpse at some of the most beautiful buildings in Budapest. I wrote a post about the avenue, so check it out!
Main sights:
Opera House
The building is a result of a competition between Budapest and Vienna.
Emperor Franz Joseph gave a condition before agreeing to the construction of the Opera House: it had to be smaller than theirs.
Well, it is smaller, but much more beautiful. 😉 It was built by Miklós Ybl, the architect who is not unfamiliar to you now. 😊
Dreschler House
This is the building that stands right opposite the Opera House. It has a rough history. It was built in 1883, functioned as the Hungarian Ballet Institute, recently there were plans to convert it into a luxury hotel.
Café Parisi
This building with its Art Nouveau facade was the center of bourgeois life where dance evenings, balls, fancy dinners, a casinos entertained the locals. Later, it was turned into the most elegant store in Budapest. Recently a book shop operated in it, today it houses the French-style Café Parisi.
Have a peek inside, or drink a coffee here as the painting of Károly Lotz can be seen as a magnificent backdrop.
Address: Andrássy Avenue 39
Mai Manó House
It is the House of Hungarian Photographers, and built in 1894. Its first owner was Manó May, a family and children photographer.
Its front is richly decorated with reliefs, sculptures and Zsolnay tiles.
Address: Nagymező street 20.
Liszt Ferenc square
Before you reach Oktogon, you will see a small square on the right. This is Liszt Ferenc Square (Franz Liszt Square) which was named after the world famous Hungarian composer. The square is famous full of restaurants and cafes.
House of Terror
Between Oktogon and Heroes’ Square stands the House of Terror Museum that was founded to commemorate tortured and murdered Hungarians.
There is a 4-metre high piece of wall before it, it is an original part of the Berlin Wall that divided East and West until 1989.
Address: Andrássy Avenue 60
Heroes’ Square
At the very end of the avenue, you arrive to Heroes’ Square. The 36 meters high column of the Millennium Memorial can be seen from afar, guiding you to the square.
Have a look at the semi-circular colonnades with bronze statues that display the Hungarian history and our most outstanding and statesmen.
Museum of Fine Arts
This building of this museum is gorgeous. Its renovation ended during the spring of 2018.
It displays paintings, drawings and sculptures from Europe, for example a horseman sculpture by Leonardo da Vinci.
Besides many others it also has Italian works from the 4th century and Egyptian and ancient art.
Opening times:
Museum building: Tuesday – Sunday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, closed on Mondays;
Exhibitions: from 10:00 am, halls start to close at 5.30 pm on level 3;
Vajdahunyad Castle
Vajdahunyad Castle, that looks as a Disney Castle, stands on her own tiny island.
It was built for the 1896 millennial celebrations and represents 1000 years of architecture.
The styles (Romanesque, Renaissance, Baroque, Gothic) are displayed in separate buildings, living peacefully next to each other.
At first, the whole complex was built from wood and some kind of cardboards, but because people fell in love with it, it was built again from stone. 💜
Today it houses the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture. There are lookout terraces on the top of the towers.
Budapest Zoo
The Zoo is one of the oldest in the world as it was opened in 1866. Its protected historic environment is one of its specialities. Looking around you can see and feel the atmosphere of the first decades of the 20th century. The buildings were built in Romantic style with general characteristics that resemble our bath buildings.
Széchenyi Baths
It was a long day with lots of walking, relaxing your body and soul is a great idea, so visit Széchenyi Baths.
Széchenyi Bath is open: 6 am – 10 pm daily (Pump hall: 9 am – 5 pm)
I am pretty sure that you are tired and hungry already. Gundel restaurant is right next to the Budapest Zoo, less than 10 minutes from the Baths. Other option is Robinson restaurant, but please note that these restaurants are quite pricey.
This is the end of your 3 days in Budapest. I hope you enjoyed your self-guided walking tour. I am sure that you are tired now, but…
…I hope that you enjoyed every moment of your stay.
Come back soon to explore other parts of this unique city!
Download this itinerary in PDF format from here:
If you are unable to spend 3 days in Budapest, it’s okay. I have itineraries for you, too! 😊
Budapest in one day – complete itinerary
2 days in Budapest – complete itinerary
If you liked this post, please share it with your friends!
Pin it for later:
You might also be interested in these posts, too:
Wonderful blog, full of great ideas for our next visit to Budapest.
Thanks, Smita! Come back later as I will add new posts about attractions and things to do!
I have to admit, Budapest was not on my list of places to visit but it sure is now. So rich in history. Great post!
Woo-hoo! It was my goal! I hope you will visit my city. If you have any questions, feel free to ask, I am here! 🙂
It sounds like an interesting place to visit. Maybe one day I will get to visit it myself.
It is really an interesting city. Drop me a line if you are coming, I will help you with programs and other stuff! 🙂
The pictures are so beautiful! Your post has a lot of information and well written. I definitely think a helpful post for travelers.
Thanks Jenny! I hope it helps our visitors! 🙂
This is so comprehensive! You can definitely see a lot in 3 days! I’ll be going to Gerhaud’s because I have a big sweet tooth and it looks gorgeous 🙂
Gerbaud is definitely a good choice! One of the most famous coffee houses in Budapest (and Central Europe). Tell me later how you liked it! 🙂
Wow! Beautiful! I hadn’t thought of visiting Budapest. It’s on my list now of place to visit!
Hi Shaline! Drop me a line if you are coming, I will help with planning! 🙂
Really good post, explained nice and simply. I’ve only ever heard great things about Budapest and it’s been on my list for the longest time! I’m hoping to get there sooner rather than later and your helpful itinerary has definitely given me a useful heads up about what I can see. There seems like so much to do. Vajdahunyad Castle in particular looks very cool.
Thanks Stuart! 🙂 And you are right, Vajdahunyad Castle is definitely one of the coolest castles in Hungary. I hope you will be able to visit us soon! If you have any questions or would like some additional information regarding an attraction, just ask!
I was in Budapest for a few days in June. Such a beautiful city! There are definitely some places I’ll have to visit next time, this is a really helpful list 🙂
Happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay in Budapest. Come back anytime, there are a bunch of things to see and do here all year round! 🙂
Hhhhhmmmm….this is a good brief review of Budapest. I would definitely look back at it!
I hope you will be able to use my itinerary. If you need any more info, just drop me a line. 🙂
Great post about beautiful Budapest. I have pinned it so I will have it to look back on next time I go there. Thank you 🙂
Absolutely gorgeous. Pinned for future travels!