3 days in Budapest

The capital of Hungary is bisected by the Danube River. Its 19th-century Chain Bridge connects hilly Buda with flat Pest. Budapest is a beautiful city where you will find artists (and paprika) everywhere.

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WEATHER

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The climate of Budapest is humid continental. The hottest month is July which temperatures that can reach the 30°C and the coldest month is January (-1°C). The wettest month is May.

 

We visited Budapest at the end of April and we had 2 sunny days, but one of the days was cold and it rained a lot. 

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TRANSPORT

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There are different ways to reach Budapest city centre from the airport. You can take bus no 100 that runs every 30 minutes and takes around 35 minutes to reach Deák Ferenc tér central metro station. We took bus no 200 to Kőbánya-Kispest​ metro station and from there we took M3 metro line towards Újpest–Központ.

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If you prefer to take a taxi stick to the official yellow cars to avoid disappointment. The price system is a minimum fare of HUF 450, and HUF 280 per kilometre. The taxi will cost you around 26€ (8045 HUF). You could book your taxi in advance in order to avoid queues at the airport. Use this link here Taxi from the airport to Budapest.

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Once in Budapest city centre we used the public transport and we also walked a lot. You can get a 24-hour (HUF 1650) or a 72-hour travelcard  (HUF 4150)  which is really convenient. 

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PLACES TO SEE AND THINGS TO DO

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Day 1

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• Take the funicular that will take you from Adam Clark Square to Castle Hill.

• Spend the morning at Castle Hill where you will find Buda Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion (from where you can enjoy great views of the city) and Mattias Church.

• Enjoy a relaxing time at Széchenyi thermal bath, the largest medicinal bath in Europe.

• Take a boat cruise. I will recommend to do it at night. The company that we chose included two drinks and we could also enjoyed live music which was a plus.

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Day 2

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• Start the second day visiting the Parliament Building. You can't miss it, so book your tickets here Parliament Building tickets.

• Near the Hungarian Parliament you will find the Shoes on the Danube Bank. This is a memorial to honour the Jews that were killed during World War II.

• Have a look at the State Opera House building. They offer regular tours or, instead, book a ticket to an upcoming show. Check what is on her Shows at State Opera House. 

• Go to Heroe's Square, one of Budapest major squares. 

• Walk across Chain Bridge at night and enjoy a beautiful view of the city.

• End up your day at one of Budapest ruin bars, funky bars built in the ruins of abandoned stores, lots, etc. 

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Day 3

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• Don't miss St. Stephen's Basilica, the most grandiose church of Hungary.

• Pay a visit to Dohany Street Synagogue which is an icon of Jewish resilience.

• Spend some time at Great Market Hall, one of my favourite spots in Budapest. Here you will find gourmet food as well as some basics.

• Walk around Vaci Street, the famous pedestrian shopping street of the city. Apart from shopping, you will find many restaurants where you can have some lunch.

• End up your trip walking around Andrassy Avenue, an elegant avenue with Neo-Renaissance palaces and houses, and upscale boutiques. 

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Note: Everywhere you go in Budapest (restaurants, sightseeing,etc) you will find musicians which I found amazing. I really enjoyed that! You will also find many places where they sell Hungarian paprika which is one of the main spices used in their cuisine.

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FOOD AND DRINK

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If you like beer, go for Dreher or Soproni. People that prefer wine should try Tokaji Aszu (a sweet wine that goes really well with dessert) and Egri Bikaver (Hungary's most famous red wine). If you wish to try something really strong, be brave and go for Palinka which is a traditional fruit brandy.

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I really enjoyed the food in Budapest. Here I mention some typical Hungarian dishes:

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• Gulyás: Soup of meat and vegetables seasoned with paprika and other spices. I have to say that I tried the best goulash here in UK, as one of my good friends is Hungarian and she cooked it for me. I love this dish!

• Halászlé: River fish soup spiced with paprika. 

• Kolbász: Hungarian sausages.

• Foie gras: Hungarian foie gras is really good and a must try. 

• Pörkölt: Boneless meat stewed with paprika, vegetables but no potatoes.

• Rántott Sajt: Flat cheese croquette.

• Dobos torta: Hungarian sponge cake with a chocolate cream and caramel cover.

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My personal recommendation: 

 

• Magyar Gulyas Etterem, a restaurant located in Vaci street where we tried delicious foie gras and some Hungarian wine. Address: Vaci utca 83, Budapest.

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WHERE TO STAY

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When we visited Budapest we booked an apartment through booking.com. The Ivory Boutique Apartments were great value for money and they were conveniently located in order to visit Budapest main attractions. Arany János utca Metro stop is nearby the accommodation and St. Stephen's Basilica is only 200 yards away. There is a nice bakery in front of the apartment where you can get some tasty pastries for breakfast.

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If you would like to check prices or book an apartment, check this link here Ivory Boutique Apartments.

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BUDGET

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The currency in Budapest is the HUF or Hungarian forint. Budapest is an affordable city, so I will recommend you to exchange around £150 for 3 days (excluding flights and accommodation).