How to Spend 2 Days in Budapest: Itinerary & Map
Whenever I had convos about the best cities in Europe, Budapest always came up. I knew it would be an awesome city to visit but I didn’t realize just how awesome. After seeing it for the first time this summer, I only regretted not staying longer. It’s such a wildly underrated city in my opinion. Budapest has an awesome vibe, is extremely affordable, and is full of things to do. This 2 days in Budapest itinerary is perfect for someone who likes to explore, eat well, and wants a solid introduction to what this amazing city offers.
As I preface with any of my guides, two days anywhere isn’t enough to absorb the city. However, sometimes all we got is two days, especially if you’re city hopping throughout Europe. But with a good plan, you can totally get the gist of what Budapest is like. I made the perfect 2-day Budapest itinerary that will give you just that. You will see highlights of the city, eat some delicious food, explore a thermal bath and understand why this city is one of the best in Europe.
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LISTEN TO DBE PODCAST ON VISITING BUDAPEST!
Steven and I chatted about all things Budapest so if you’d like some additional info on visiting this city, make sure to check out this episode on his awesome podcast!
Quick Logistics for Visiting Budapest
Things to know about Budapest
- Budapest is the capital of Hungary.
- Budapest used to be Buda and Pest which merged with Obuda becoming the city that it is today.
- Today there is a Buda side and a Pest side divided by the Danube River.
- You can’t go to Budapest and not visit a thermal bath.
- There is a very popular yearly music festival in the summer called Sziget.
- Hungarian is a very difficult language and that’s coming from someone who speaks fluent polish.
- WWII played a big (and dark) part in the city’s history.
- If you’ve been to Paris, you’ll understand why they call Budapest the Paris of the East.
Airport to City Center
Budapest Airport is located very close to the city. There is the 100E bus connecting the airport and city center and it only costs ~$3 USD. There are a couple of stops along the way but if you’re staying centrally, you’ll get off at Deák Ferenc tér. There are private vans offering a transport service too if you’d like more of a private experience. And of course, you have Bolt as your shared ride service too.
Transport within the city
With two days in the city, you’ll likely just walk everywhere as the city is very walkable. However, they also have amazing public transportation which you can use. Here is an awesome metro map but there is also a tram or a bus. Note the metro operating times so you don’t get stuck at night.
Where to stay in Budapest
The best area to stay in Budapest is Pest, especially for a first-timer. Buda is more residential and Pest is more lively for tourist activities, restaurants, and nighttime activities. Budapest isn’t too expensive but I wouldn’t say that the accommodations reflect that.
If you’re a budget traveler, there is Wombat’s Hostel, one of these hostels that has all the hostel amenities people love: daily activities, bar crawls, common space, and an on-site bar. Then you have the crazy party hostel The Hive. I personally stayed there for the night and I feel like if I were in my early 20s again, I would have been loving it. However, 1) I’m not in my 20s anymore and 2) after a 15-hour journey and horrible jetlag, this was a huge mistake on my end as there is a literal club in the middle of the place. However, this party hostel was for sure a vibe if this is what you’re looking for.
For highly rated and centrally rated hotels, consider these options:
- Casati Hotel: adult-only hotel with a gorgeous interior.
- Hotel Oktogon: has it all, a bar and a spa, and views of the city.
- Hotel Moments, with a simple but stunning interior that you will love.
- Emerald Hotel: nice rooftop bar and a great aesthetic.
- Leo Boutique: boutique rooms that are not only beautiful but also affordable.
People & Safety
Hungarians were some of my favorite people I met while traveling. Why? Well, because they have a common personality trait of being very honest but also very loving at the same time. You don’t have to guess what they’re thinking because they will tell you to your face. But in contrast to what I am used to with the coldness of Eastern Europeans, Hungarians couldn’t be more welcoming and warm while still having the strong honesty gene in them. I wish more of the world communicated as the Hungarians do.
In terms of safety, the city has a fairly low crime index and is generally safe for a tourist. As one, you are always a target for some pickpocketers but you won’t likely experience the aggressive petty crime of Spain or Italy.
Food in Budapest
If you’re a foodie, you are in for a treat because Budapest does have a great food scene. Every place that I had a meal at was wonderful. Before my trip, I prepared this Budapest food bucket list and I am happy to share it with you:
- Goulash: Most traditional meal which consists of meat and spice stew.
- Chicken Paprikash: Chicken in sour cream sauce with paprika. A true staple.
- Lecsó: A vegetable soup that is also one of the most popular dishes.
- Langos: Street food, which is a fried bread dough with savory toppings.
- Jokai Bean Soup: Veggie and sausage soup which is actually appetizing.
- Turos Csusza: Egg noodles with cheese and bacon.
- Palascinta: Delicious thin crepes that you have to try for dessert.
- Rakott Krumpli: Local version of a casserole.
- Rantott Sajt: Cheese croquettes.
- Toltott Kaposzta: Stuffed cabbage.
- Esterhazy torta: Walnut sweet cake.
- Palinka: A must-try fruit brandy that will give you a little buzz.
- Froccs: A popular Hungarian wine spritzer.
Random Useful Advice
The best time of the year to visit Budapest would be the summer months as the weather in that part of the world can get pretty cold. However, if you don’t mind the cold, Budapest is a really cozy winter destination as well.
The currency is the Hungarian Forint or HUF which has a conversion of around 1 USD to ~400 HUF. I withdrew some local currency from the ATM to have just in case but I did not need it as 99% of transactions can be covered with a card.
Speaking of money, Budapest is cheap. A great meal or a beer at a bar won’t cost you an obscene amount of money.
Bolt is a super convenient and affordable way to get around and I would download it before arriving in the country as you will need your phone number to confirm your account.
My must-haves for any trip are my e-SIM card from Airalo and travel insurance from Allianz and that’s what I will recommend on this trip as well.
Why Visit Budapest? Because the city has an amazing vibe on top of all the beautiful architecture and history within it.
2 Days in Budapest Itinerary
There is a good amount of things to see in Budapest in 2 days. My itinerary below is quite dense for two days so I certainly hope you sleep your jet lag off before embarking on my Budapest journey. It’s a mix of the popular with the less visited spots. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.
Day 1: Classic Budapest Spots & Intro to Budapest’s Nightlife
Sightseeing Gems
Budapest is a beautiful city and while you can be totally content just walking around and eating delicious food. But since we only got 2 days in Budapest so let’s make the most of it instead! My walking guide below highlights the top gems of the city, you can do it in either direction based on where you’re located.
- Széchenyi Square: Start your walking tour at this popular spot with incredible views of Budapest.
- Chain Bridge: One of the most beautiful bridges in the city connecting Buda and Pest is the Chain Bridge. However, in the summer of 2022, it was undergoing renovation and was closed.
- Shoes on the Danube: As you walk along the Danube promenade, spot this powerful memorial to those who were murdered by the horrible Nazis shooting people along the river.
- Parliament: The most recognized building of Budapest. While you should certainly see this beauty from across the river at night, what many people skip is visiting it during the day! You can take a guided tour and enjoy this masterpiece from the inside too.
- Liberty Square: After exploring the parliament, make a quick rest stop at this tranquil town square housing a fix of government buildings that are historically important symbols like the Regan statue for example. (Unless you’re interested/familiar with its importance, you can skip this stop.)
- St. Stephen’s Basilica: A remarkable catholic church that is the biggest in Budapest.
- BOATanic Terrace & Bar: Head back to the Danube to grab a well-deserved drink at this boat terrace.
- Vaci Utca: Next, head over to this shopping area. I’ll preface though, that this is a very touristy area of town. Not my cup of tea per se, but it’s one of those places you should see once.
Late Lunch Time
After a lot of exploring during the first part of the day, I recommend you head over to a super cute and somewhat of a hidden gem, the Gozsdu Passage. This street or rather a hidden passage is home to many restaurants, bars, and other attractions. Head there to grab a bite at the numerous options there!
After your meal, give yourself some time to rest before you head out for the night.
Budapest at Night
What distinguishes an average travel destination from a good one, is what the city turns to at night. Budapest is a very lively place at night and makes you want to explore, even being a grandma like myself.
Although cheesy, I would tell you to start your evening with a ride on the Budapest Eye. You’ll get good views of the city and enjoy the lively atmosphere of the area. After Budapest Eyes, walk over to a wonderful Belvarosi Lugas Restaurant for dinner. It’s a mix of foreigners and locals alike and the food is amazing!
Now, Budapest at night is perfect for those that just want a little taste of the nightlife but also those who wish to party till 5 am. I ended up having the intention of being the first one but ended up as the latter 🙂 Although pretty popular, I recommend starting your night at Szimpla Kert, one of the most known ruin bars. If you didn’t know, the ruin bars are very popular places in Budapest for your night activities. As the name suggests, they’re located in old abandoned buildings and have been decorated with the most random but fascinating decorations. You can easily spend a couple of hours walking around and soaking in this weird but awesome vibe!
Other popular places for your Budapest at night adventure include the following spots:
- Instant-Fogas Complex – A large party complex not to miss!
- Red Ruin – Another popular ruin bar.
- Pontoon Boat – I ended up at this place by accident and there happened to be a cool local band playing on it. The views of the Castle District were unmatched and I’m pretty sure I was the only tourist on the boat.
Day 2: Baths and Castles
For the first part of the day, you’ll enjoy the baths. In the chance that you had a full night of partying, the day will start with lounging at one of the popular baths for you. If you were a responsible adult, then you’ll enjoy it even more. Later on, I planned for you to explore Buda. You will wrap your day with a nice meal and a good drink.
Szechenyi Baths
As you probably know, Budapest is the city of baths. You have a couple of choices but if you only have 2 days in Budapest, then I’ll recommend the most popular one for you, the Szechenyi Baths located in Budapest City Park. It’s the most recognizable bath and for a reason! The combination of its yellow grand buildings against the blue waters is just something incredible.
Go there early in the morning as the baths get crowded throughout the day. I went close to opening and had the place to myself!
How to visit a bath in Budapest?
Visiting the bath is quite an experience and I will lay it out for you so you’re best prepared.
- Baths are open all year round! You can enjoy the warm waters during the winter too! Oh, and on Saturday nights they host parties! Something I want to do on my next visit.
- First, you need a ticket that you can pre-book online or in person. There are two types of tickets, a locker or a cabin one. The cabins are these tiny private rooms that wrap around the pools and give you some extra privacy and storage space. Either one is fine, I had the locker option and if you don’t mind changing in front of others, this will suffice.
- At the very minimum, bring a swimsuit, flip-flops, and a towel. I didn’t have a towel and had to pay the equivalent of a ticket to purchase one as they weren’t renting them at the time of my visit. Get a waterproof pouch if you want to take pictures.
- Enjoy the baths! There are pools outside but don’t forget to go inside the building to enjoy the indoor ones along with the saunas too!
- On average, people spend between 2-4 hours at the baths.
- After lounging, don’t forget to walk around the giant park that surrounds the baths. There are many attractions within it and it’s the perfect place for an afternoon stroll.
In addition to Szechenyi Baths, you also have Gellert Baths, Rudas Baths, which have an incredible night view of the city, Lukacs, or many others which get more and more local.
Lunch Time
The water does really make you hungry so after the bath experience, it’s time for a good meal before you continue on with your day. If you want something casual, there is a cute food truck area right next to Szimpla called Karavan which serves anything from Langos to burgers. If you want a traditional sit-down, head to Hungarian Bistro but note it’s open between 12-2:30 pm. You can also find a typical brunch at Kaptafa.
Castle District
For the second part of the day, you will head over to Buda, the more quiet and more sophisticated part of town. This will be the most tourist-dense part of town but you will understand why once you get there.
On the Buda side, you’ll find the Castle District, a stunning area of beautiful buildings and streets that’s certainly something you should see. The Castle District is situated on a hill so you’ll need to get there either by a ride, bus, or even funicular. I took a quick funicular ride and ended up at the top of the hill with the most stunning view of the river and the city.
Places to see there include Budapest Castle, which you can admire from the outside along its gardens. Then you have the beautiful St. Mathias Church, and Fisherman’s Bastion, which offers unmatched views of the Parliament and Pest. There is an overpriced cafe right in Fisherman’s Bastion which allows you to sit and soak in the beautiful views. Although pricey, I would recommend grabbing a coffee at the very least.
Perfect ending to your 2 days in Budapest
With 2 days in Budapest coming to an end, you deserve a nice meal at the end of your trip. I couldn’t recommend Mazel Tov enough for your last dinner. The food there was out of this world and the atmosphere was unmatched! You should probably make a reservation as the spot quickly fills up. Another place I liked was Koleves, a nice kitchen-like restaurant with some delicious food.
After a nice dinner, I’d recommend Mika Tivadar Kert, a low-key spot for a beer. The summer atmosphere was really cool and there weren’t too many tourists around. For a more upscale experience, check out 360 Bar for rooftop views of the city. If the streets are calling your name, head out to enjoy the amazing nightlife of Budapest near Király Street or Kazinczy Street for some party-dense areas.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Budapest
And that’s a wrap on your 2 days in Budapest guide. I loved my time there and I will recommend this place to anyone who wants an amazing European city experience but without the France/Spain/Italy tourist crowd vibes and prices. Budapest is an amazing destination and I will certainly return in the near future to spend more time there. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Comment below for some more recommendations that you think I should include in this guide!
If you’re visiting Eastern Europe, check out my Week in Poland guide as well! Poland is another destination that’s highly underrated and should be considered among more travelers!
Tour recommendations
Tours are an awesome way to get a little more from exploring and meet some awesome people along the way. Here are some recommendations for you to consider while visiting Budapest in 2 days:
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