Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Budapest?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Budapest?
Most people spend two to five days in Budapest during their visit. The historic city offers amazing highlights such as the big city activities, the famous sights and museums, the historic old town, and the nightlife scene.
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. It's divided into two section, Buda, and Pest, which are separated by the Danube River and connected by the Chain Bridge. The Buda side is the hilly side. There's a funicular that runs up to the top of Castle Hill. The Pest side is flat with promenades and beautiful architecture. It also has a lively nightlife.
Do you have one or two days to visit Budapest? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Budapest?
The city of Budapest boasts plenty of sights and attractions, making it a popular destination for tourists. Given only one day, you will likely find yourself hurrying to experience the key highlights such as the big city activities, the famous sights and museums, and the historic old town. To truly savor all that the city boasts, a more generous amount of time is advisable. Many travelers opt for two to five days to thoroughly relish the wonders of the city. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit.
How to spend a day in Budapest
Since Budapest is such a large city, you can spend at least a day exploring the many neighborhoods, attractions, and activities found around town. Break up visiting popular landmarks with the more authentic neighborhoods for shopping and dining. The city is large with an authentic atmosphere that contrasts some of the more touristy cities around Europe.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private city tour by van ($142)
- Budapest Tuk Tuk City Tour ($119)
- Budapest Private 4 Hour City Tour Experience with a car / van ($142)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. The city's active nightlife includes dance clubs, local pubs, and cultural festivals throughout the year.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl ($23)
- Bingo Bar Crawl ($25)
- All You Can Drink Pub Crawl Through The Ruin Bars in Budapest ($59)
Budapest is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. Pest is very flat, making for an easy stroll, while Buda is more hilly.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Budapest?
Since it's a large city, you'll probably need more than a weekend to take advantage of everything to do in Budapest. Two or three days still gives you a good amount of time to explore, though, as you'll have a chance to experience at least some of the major attractions. In addition to the great big city activities and fun museums and landmarks, visitors can enjoy the nightlife, beautiful scenery, and shopping by staying for a weekend.
Budapest
How to spend 2 days in Budapest
Having a weekend (two to three days) in Budapest will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.
Don't miss the Hungarian Parliament Building during your trip to Budapest, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.
Budapest is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. Set against the river, the city has beautiful buildings and nice parks.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Budapest Art Nouveau Walking Tour: Decadence & Design ($75)
- Budapest to Szentendre bike & boat tour ($79)
- Welcome to Budapest Walking Tour ($3)
The public transit in Budapest is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. The metro, trams, and buses make it easy to get around town.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Budapest, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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