How to spend one week in Budapest Hungary

Budapest was one of the first places we visited in Europe and it was so amazing! We spent one week in Budapest and we loved visiting all the historical sites, the culture, the food, everything!

On the blog, I will share the top things to do in Budapest. You can easily see most of the main attractions on a day trip, but to make the most of your visit, I suggest spending at least one week in Budapest so you can immerse yourself in the culture!

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Some things to know about Budapest

Budapest is Hungary’s capital and is situated along the Danube River. Chain Bridge separates the two sides of the city, the hilly Buda side and the busy city in the Pest side.

The main language spoken here is Hungarian, but not to worry most people speak English here. The currency used in Hungary is forints and we found that the conversion rate is similar to Euro.

Most places will accept a credit card, but always choose your own currency, since banks usually have a better exchange rate! The same goes when withdrawing money from an ATM.

Budapest is one of the most affordable cities in Europe. Flights to Budapest from Europe are very affordable on some budget airlines. We scored cheap tickets on Ryan Air!

Just be aware that with most budget airlines like Ryan Air, there are lots of other things you would have to pay for like check-in luggage and priority seating. Pack light and only bring carry-on luggage to save money!

Hotels in Budapest are very affordable as well. We chose to stay at the Nova Aparthotel which was located centrally and close to most of the main attractions. We got around using the hop-on-hop-off tour during the day and utilized a taxi in the evenings.

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How to get around Budapest

Budapest is a densely populated city and is easy to get around using public transportation.

However, we chose to do a hop on-hop off bus tour, just so we can learn more about the city through its audio tour.

It proved to be the best way for us to get around, especially with our little one, and the tickets came with a boat cruise as well.

You can easily see most of Budapest’s main sights on foot, but it’s nice to have other options on ways to get around Budapest with kids.

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Top things to do in Budapest

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There is so much to do on a visit to Budapest, and I share just a few of the best things to do in Budapest that you can add to your family vacation to Hungary.

You can easily see most of the main sights in Budapest in one day if you utilize one of the hop-on-hop-off bus tours, but I highly suggest a one-week visit, or at least a weekend in Budapest to make the most of your visit.

One week in Budapest: Visit Gellert Hill

One of the top Budapest attractions is a visit to Gellert Hill. We explored Gellért Hill on our first day, luckily we chose to do a bus tour as it is quite a trek getting up here.

From here you get the most amazing panoramic views of the city, and quite a few monuments to visit.

On top of Gellért Hill, you will also find the Citadella, which was a fortress built by the Habsburgs after defeating Hungary’s War of Independence in 1849.

This location was chosen as it was a prime spot for defending the city from rebellion.

At the bottom of the hill is the Gellért Spa, famous for its thermal baths, and the Gellért Hill caves.

This network of caves now houses a chapel which is still in use today and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Budapest.

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Relax at one of the Thermal Baths in Budapest

One of the best things to do in Budapest is the thermal baths. There are many thermal houses to choose from, but the Széchenyi is the most visited, and one of the oldest and largest medicinal baths in Europe.

The Bathhouses are supplied by two natural thermals and supposedly have curative properties. Because the waters can reach up to 77 degrees, most Bath houses don’t allow younger kids to get in the water.

We opted for the Palatinus Strand baths on Margaret Island instead, it was one of the most beautiful outdoor baths in the area, and a perfect place to beat the summer heat.

We spent most of the day here, the water was warm and there were play areas and splash pads for the kiddos.

If you make it to Budapest in the summer, make sure to add this to your itinerary. It was one of the highlights of our trip, and one of the most fun things to do in Budapest with kids.

Relax at Margaret Island

One of the best things to do in Budapest for families is a visit to Margaret Island. Margaret Island is a tranquil place within the city, with so many fun activities for the whole family.

Spend the day at the Palatinus Strand Bathhouse and let the kiddos go for a swim. You can even rent bicycles and explore the island, watch the musical fountains, or visit the small zoo.

It was well worth the visit, an escape from the busy city. Our little one enjoyed the playgrounds here and running around in the park.

Go on a taste of Budapest at the Great Market Hall

Another place of interest in Budapest is the Great Market Hall. When visiting new places we always like to try local dishes.

Here in Budapest, the best place to sample the local cuisine is at the Great Market Hall. The Great Market Hall is an indoor marketplace selling everything from fresh produce, to locally made products, including endless aisles of paprika.

One of the most well known dishes here is Hungarian goulash. Every restaurant in the city serves their version of this dish, we tried the one in the Market Hall and it was delicious!

Visit Buda Castle

 One of Budapest’s must-sees is a visit to Buda Castle. Buda Castle hill is another great place for panoramic views of the city.

You can hike up to the castle on a winding footpath or take the funicular up. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to tour the castle, as there was some kind of construction going on and it was closed for the day.

However, we did get to explore the surrounding area, It’s famous for its medieval and Baroque churches and buildings, and was a beautiful place for a stroll.

Expore the Fisherman’s Bastion

Fisherman’s Bastion is one of Budapest’s top tourist attractions and is free to enter. From here you get the most amazing views of the Hungarian Parliament and the city down below, and it’s absolutely stunning.

The Fisherman’s Bastion was built as a lookout tower and was named after the Fisherman’s guild who protected the castle walls during the Middle Ages.

This is one of the best spots to linger and just admire the fantastic views of the city. We were here in the summer and it was a nice relief from the hot sun.

Visit Matthias Church

Make sure to visit the nearby Matthias Church while at Fishermans Bastion. This Roman Catholic, gothic-style church was built in the 11th-century and is one of the most beautiful churches we’ve seen.

It was also used as a coronation church by Hungarian Kings for centuries, which is quite amazing! Definitely a must-see on your visit to Budapest.

Visit St. Stephen’s Basilica

Visit the St. Stephens Basilica, which was built in 1851. It is one of Budapest’s most significant tourist attractions as it supposedly contains the mummified hand of St. Stephen.

We didn’t get to see this relic, but just admiring the beauty of the basilica was worth the visit. It was really dark inside, which made taking photos difficult, except for the photo of the dome.

Enjoy a meal at the New York Cafe

Another place of interest in Budapest is the New York Cafe. Enjoy a meal at the famous New York cafe, located in the Boscolo Hotel. It is one of the most beautiful cafes we’ve ever seen and felt so palatial.

Admire the ceiling with its painted frescoes dating back to the 18th-century, it almost felt like we were dining in a Royal Palace. The food was served beautifully, and the wait staff was very friendly and accommodating.

Visit the Hungarian Parliament

We decided to visit the Hungarian Parliament on our last day here. The Hungarian Parliament is the seat of the National Assembly of Hungary, a notable landmark of Hungary and a popular tourist destination.

We did not take a tour of this place, simply because it was our last day and we didn’t want to monopolize our time on a tour, so we simply admired it from the outside.

Located right on the banks of the Danube River, it was one of the most beautiful buildings we’ve seen in Budapest.

Visit the Shoes on the Danube memorial

A stroll along the Danube River was the perfect itinerary for the day during our Budapest holiday. One of the sights worth seeing along the river is the “Shoes on the Danube” memorial.

It honors the people who were killed by the fascist militiamen during World War II, who was ordered to take off their shoes and were shot at the edge of the water so that their bodies fell into the river.

It was such a sobering memorial and a great reminder of this tragic part of our history.

Take a sunset cruise on the Danube River

One of the best things to do in Budapest is to see the city on a boat cruise. During our visit to Budapest, we used the Big Bus Tour to get around the city. When you purchase Premium or Deluxe tickets, you get a free River cruise on the Danube.

We spent our last night in this wonderful city cruising the Danube River. It was amazing to see the city from a different perspective. The Hungarian Parliament was just stunning from the boat, it’s definitely a must-do in Budapest.

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What to eat in Budapest 

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One of the best things about traveling is the food! When visiting Budapest, make sure to try the Hungarian Goulash, Chicken Paprikash, Lángos, and Kürtőskalács. 

Budapest is known for its production of paprika, and you will find most of the dishes paprika-based. The Market Hall is one of the best places to taste the foods of Budapest.

One of the top things to eat in Budapest is the Kürtőskalács, which is a roasted spit cake made from sweet dough, and rolled in sugar and other toppings. We’ve seen something similar in Prague and it tastes amazing!

Another must-try when in Budapest is the Hungarian Langos, which is a deep-fried dough topped with sour cream and cheese, and various other toppings. These are served everywhere as well and were something we ate daily in Budapest.

Of course, you can’t miss eating some Hungarian Goulash when in Budapest. They serve them practically everywhere in the city, and it’s one of our favorite dishes in Budapest. 

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READ NEXT: Top things to do in Prague with kids

I hope this Budapest guide inspires you to visit this amazing city. There are so many cheap flights to Budapest from anywhere in Europe, which makes it the perfect family vacation.

We had a great time exploring Budapest with kids. We spent one week in Budapest and felt it was the perfect amount of time to fully explore all there is to see during our Budapest family vacation.

Plan your family trip and visit one of the most underrated cities in Europe. Budapest is one of the most beautiful cities and was definitely one of our favorite family trips so far.

*Planning a visit to Budapest in December? Check out this post on some fun Holiday ideas in Budapest.

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