the best of budapest

First, let’s get one thing straight. It’s pronounced Budapessshhhtt! Get this one right and you'll 
pretty much be considered a local.  

I wrote these suggestions for a fellow traveller I met on the road, who only had five hours in Budapest. I would obviously suggest staying longer, but this is still a fantastic list.

Get yourself a map - If you can find the map for the free walking tour get it, as it's got everything you need including transport, attractions and all the pubs.

Free Walking Tour - If you have time, the free walking tour is one of the best I’ve been on and is pitched at young travellers. The meeting point is at Vörösmarty square (tér) daily at 10:30am and 2:30pm


For your morning coffee hit, try My Little Melbourne Coffee at Madách Imre út 3. (Madách square). It has amazing Australian artisan style coffee, the best I had in Europe!

Sample some of the not-so-healthy Hungarian cuisine - There are plenty of great places to eat, try along Király utca (street). You should be able to get a starter, main and drink for about €10!

Get a souvenir at the Great Market Hall – a little touristy but those little paprika shovels are too cute

Take a bath; it’s probably been a while! - Visit the collection of thermal baths that the city is so famous for (http://visitbudapest.travel/activities/budapest-baths/)



Get your arse up Gellért Hill! - There, you’ll find a magnificent sunset! The sun goes down around 8.30-9pm (in summer) but go a little earlier because the light is just perfect for photos. Do what other travelers do and enjoy the view with a beer or two. The view from the Hill is just as spectacular by night; you can get a photo of all the bridges across the Danube.

Get your church on at St. Stephen’s Basilica; the largest church in Budapest

Take a stroll through the Castle District - is packed with historic sights and attractions, museums, great views and charming little streets

Wine me – visit one of the many wine bars and do some wine tasting.  If you didn’t already know Hungarian wine is top notch stuff! Seriously. Plus its cheap as chips at roughly 2 euro a glass!

Take a tram - Trams No. 2, 4 or 6 will take you to most of the places of interest

Marvel at the wonders of Hungary's Parliament Building - Good by day but unbelievable at night. If you want that perfect photo, look at it from the other side of the river. From the hill, walk down and left along the river until you reach it 

Walk along the Danube Promenade - Whatever you do, the views from the Danube Promenade at night are great.

Check out the famous Ruin Pubs - where old derelict factory buildings were equipped with rejected furniture of old community centres, cinemas, and grandmothers’ flats, bringing a retro feeling into the area and reigniting the night-life of budapest. Szimpla Kert is the largest and and consdiered best of them all but there are lots of other great pubs in this area too so just wander around the streets

Visit the best club in Europe - If you’re feeling up to it, head to A38; the famous reincarnation of a Ukranian stone-carrier ship floating on the Danube in front of Gallert Hill. A38 has been voted the best club in Europe and hosts many cultural events

For more info http://welovebudapest.com/en