Things to do in Budapest

Why go to Budapest

• Hungarian Parliament Building

  A neo-Gothic riverside colossus that rivals any parliament on earth, tours inside reveal gilded halls and the Hungarian Crown Jewels.

• Széchenyi Thermal Bath

  Soak in steaming outdoor pools inside a palatial yellow building in City Park, Budapest's most iconic and blissful experience.

• Fisherman's Bastion & Matthias Church

  Fairy-tale turrets on Castle Hill deliver the best panoramic views of the Danube and Pest skyline for almost nothing.

• Ruin Bars of the Jewish Quarter

  Szimpla Kert pioneered the genre, crumbling courtyards transformed into labyrinthine bars dripping with art, plants, and local energy.

• Hungarian State Opera House

  One of Europe's finest opera venues sells standing-room and cheap gallery seats, letting you experience world-class performance in a jaw-dropping gilded interior for under $15.

Good to know in Budapest

• Transit: A 24-hour unlimited transit pass costs about $7 and covers metro, tram, and bus, always validate your ticket or face on-the-spot fines from plain-clothes inspectors.
• Tipping: Tipping in Hungary has a local quirk, tell the server the total you want to pay (including tip) when they bring the bill rather than leaving cash on the table; 10% is standard.
• Tap water: Budapest tap water is clean, safe, and good-tasting, carry a refillable bottle and skip buying plastic bottles entirely.
• Free-entry days: The Hungarian National Museum and many state museums offer free admission on the first Sunday of each month, and the Széchenyi thermal bath area (not pools) is free to walk through.

Trip essentials