I had a speedy 2 day visit to Budapest this summer. It did end up being one of my favourite spots though!
Here's what I thought was worth a visit while I was there.
Where to stay?
I stayed at the Mercure City Centre Hotel Budapest:
Link to the Hotel on Trip.
The hotel is situated in the centre, it was super easy to travel to and from various sights from the hotel. I also found it very easy to find public transport from the hotel or just beside it.
Buda Castle - Fisherman's Bastion and St. Matthias Church
Head here early - I found that 8:30am was early enough (plus it was a wet morning) but the rain cleared by 9:30am and the crowds started to appear. The tour groups seemed to start to arrive further down the Buda Castle area around 9am, so prior to the opening times you should be clear to take photos and have space.
Some of the buildings are currently being renovated (July 2023) so you may experience some restrictions, I still managed to walk between multiple buildings in this higher area and reach the funicular as well.
Also, I chose not to enter any of the buildings, I was there before they opened anyway but also this meant I could see the exteriors and could enjoy photo taking for free. The views are stunning and you don't necessarily need to pay for it!
2. River Cruise
I chose to take multiple river tours across my summer in each city and the Budapest river cruise did not disappoint. The link above shows the option I took, which included a welcome drink. The tour lasted around 1 hour and travelled the River Danube. I was able to see various points of interest as I went along and enjoy a breezy sit down in the early evening. The cruise allows you to relax and sightsee at the same time, what more could you want!
3. Self-Walking Tour
Taking myself off on an adventure was definitely the way to see a lot of landmarks for me. I would highly recommend picking some sights to see and working your way through them. Budapest is an incredibly walkable city, and if necessary, the buses run everywhere and it's very quick to get the Budapest Go app that allows you to grab a ticket.
Setting off from the City Centre Hotel, I walked around the local streets before heading down to the river front where I found the 'Shoes on the Danube' memorial. This is to represent the Jews who lost their lives over the years. Following along the path here, you'll find the Hungarian Parliament Building - stunning and huge!
Next up, I headed back into the centre - located the Big Wheel and walked out towards the 'New York Cafe' - very famous, popped inside to take a photo and left - I would argue, it wasn't worth waiting for a table just for a photo.
Through the streets in this area, you can find Szimpla Kertz - they open around 3pm for drinks and are quite unique in design as Ruin Bars. I would recommend heading into one of these and enjoying a drink while people watching.
After this, I jumped on the public bus to cross the Chain Bridge (currently closed for Reconstructive work but only usable by transport). From the other side, I enjoyed getting photos of the bridge and walking along this side of the River Danube towards 'Liberty Bridge'.
4. Liberty Bridge
Ok, it's a bridge, but it's unique and fun to take photos next to.
This bridge carries the green metal look you might expect in the US and with the Yellow Trams running across, it can really feel out of place. This bridge is currently a great option for wandering across while the Chain Bridge is out of action.
5. Thermal Baths
Now, I wasn't going to visit these, however, I ended up with a few free hours in the afternoon so...
I walked along to Gellert Thermal Baths - picturesque yes, worth paying almost 11,000HUF for, not so much.
Just down the road, I had seen the Rudas Thermal Baths - much smaller and a lot cheaper. As I was only planning on having a break here (not spending all day) it made sense for me to just pay less.
Rudas has multiple sections, the swimming pool, the steam rooms, the sauna and the wellness centre and none were that busy (even at 1pm). If you are only thinking of heading to the baths for a quick break, I would recommend trying Rudas as opposed to the more well-known baths.
6. Citadel
Currently, the Citadella is closed for renovations (story of my life) but that doesn't stop numerous people, myself included, climbing up the steps (and hills) to reach the top, hoping for it to be open.
If you do head up there, the platform just in front is still open and accessible and worth it for the view over Budapest.
Tour guides were taking groups of people up here, even without the Citadella being open. Just sit and wander there for a while!
I really enjoyed 2 days in Budapest and I saw a lot! Check out the gallery below for the types of places you should be able to squeeze into a quick visit:
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