Things to do in Budapest

Posted on June 26, 2013 Updated on February 22, 2014

Known as the Paris of the East and the Pearl of the Danube, Budapest has a lot to live up to. Famous for thermal baths, beautiful architecture and a troubled history it is actually made up of two cities, Buda to the West of the river and Pest to the East and it’s been one of those destinations that I’ve been wanting to go to forever.

Find all the locations listed below on my Budapest Map 

Things to Do:

• Thermal Baths – Budapest is famous for it’s medicinal waters so don’t leave without visiting one of the beautiful bath houses – the most well known ones are the Szechenyi and Gellert baths. One of the most magical experiences of my life was being in the steamy outdoor pool in the Szechenyi while it was snowing. Remember to take a towel and thongs (unlike we did!) You might also want to consider the Rudas Baths for a nighttime experience as they are open on Saturdays from 10pm-4am.

• Cave Chapel – there are quite a lot of caves in and around Budapest but this grotto cavern in Gellert Hill has been a home, a monastery, a hospital and is now a church under the care of the monks of the Pauline order. It sounds magical and I was devastated when we had to choose between going there or missing our flight. Next time! Cost 500 HUF

• Invisible Exhibition – an hour long experience where you will be guided by blind people through a series of rooms in total darkness. You can also take part in an Invisible Dinner or an Invisible Massage.  Cost  1450 HUF (cheaper on Mondays)

• Hospital in the Rock – a secret military hospital built into a cave in Castle hill that was converted to a nuclear bunker in the ’60s and is now a museum.  This was a pretty unique experience, we were hoping it would be either kitsch or fascinating and it managed to be a bit of both.  The gift shop is great – a random collection of cheap military surplus that make pretty interesting souvenirs.   Cost HUF3600

Slightly Out of Town:

• Children’s Railway – a unique railway that is operated almost entirely by children. Located on the outskirts of Budapest this is a little bit of a trek to get to so save it for a nice day where you can appreciate the scenery of the Buda hills. The railway operates every day between May and August but is closed on Mondays for the rest of the year.

• Memento Park – a little way outside the city this park features the Communist statues that used to be scattered around the city. It’s definitely worth doing the tour if you’re going to make the trip out here – it wasn’t as big as we expected and it helps if you understand more about the statues and what life in Hungary was like under Communism.    Cost 1500 HUF for entry to the park only or book a bus there for 4900 including entry fee with a 33% discount for online booking.

Places to Eat and Drink

Try gulyas (goulash soup) or the classic meaty stews pörkölt and the creamy red paprikas.

Restaurants

• Book Cafe – located in the beautiful Alexandra book store
• Chess Restaurant – an upmarket hotel restaurant – the food is quite experimental (my pork dish came with cocoa potato doughnuts with a caramel sauce).
• Marxim – communist-themed pizzeria, kitsch decor and known for cheap tasty food and beer.
• Most – underground cellar bistro, one of the few places in Budapest where you can get brunch

Coffee/Tea houses

• Gerbeaud Cafe  – the most famous cafe in Budapest, it is however quite expensive and posh so skip it unless you really want to splash out
• Coffee Cat – cute cafe that’s serious about coffee
• Printa – funky cafe and printing studio serving high quality speciality coffee

Something Sweet

• Try a flower shaped gelato made on site at Gelarto Rosa
• Indulge your sweet tooth with brightly coloured candy or cakes from the Sugar Shop

Bars

One of the most unique things about Budapest are the many ruin bars, funky atmospheric pubs that have been built in reclaimed abandoned buildings. Each kert, as they are known locally, is unique but they all have a great atmosphere. Often outdoors in courtyards and gardens they are best experienced in summer.

• Szimpla kert – the original and renown as still being one of the best ruin pubs in Budapest, they also hold markets during the day
• Fogashaz is a smaller, quieter ruin pub option. 
• Instant – arty underground ruin pub on Budapest’s theatre strip with lots of great cafes and pubs
• Corvin Teto is an open air rooftop club located on a massive roof terrace on top of a department store.
• Lampas – an enchanting cellar bar that often has live music.
• A38 bar – a club/bar inside a decommissioned Ukranian stone hauler ship from the sixties. Voted the best bar in the world by Lonely Planet readers recently so don’t expect to be the only ones to know about it.