Travel & transfer: Arrival at Budapest Airport
Land at BUD airport, collect your luggage and make your way into the city.
3 days · 24 stops
Budapest in 3 days
Three relaxed days in Budapest, based in Pest: arrival and a walk around the old town, then the Castle District and a thermal bath, finishing with Art Nouveau, the market hall and departure.
- Pace
- Balanced
- Budget
- Mid-range
- Season
- May
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Plan with your own wishesDay 1 · Budapest
Arrival and Central Pest
Arrive in Budapest, check in at the hotel and enjoy a relaxed afternoon in central Pest with St Stephen's Basilica, the Parliament and dinner at Menza.
11:00
11:45
45 min by taxi
12:30
13:30
Travel & transfer: Transfer from the airport to the hotel
Hotel Moments Budapestapprox. 9,000–12,000 HUF pp5 min on foot
13:35
14:05
Stay: Luggage storage at Hotel Moments Budapest
15 min on foot
14:20
15:20
Lunch: Lunch at Kiosk
Kiosk Budapestapprox. 6,000–10,000 HUF pp15 min on foot
15:35
16:05
Stay: Check in at Hotel Moments
A short stop to get into your room and freshen up before heading on.
10 min on foot
16:15
17:15
Sightseeing: St Stephen's Basilica and dome climb
The largest church in the city, with neoclassical architecture and a panoramic view over Pest from the dome.
Stephansbasilikaapprox. 2,500–3,000 HUF pp12 min on foot
17:27
18:07
Hidden gem: Liberty Square and high-rise Art Nouveau
8 min on foot
18:15
19:00
Sightseeing: Parliament from the outside and Kossuth tér
The neo-Gothic Parliament on the Danube bank is most impressive from the outside; also the wide Kossuth tér, with history around 1956.
20 min by public transport
19:20
21:05
Dinner: Dinner at Menza
Upscale Hungarian home cooking in a 1970s retro setting on Liszt Ferenc Square. Alternatively, Café Kör near the basilica.
Menzaapprox. 8,000–14,000 HUF ppOrder the duck or goulash; reserve beforehand for the evening.
Day 2 · Budapest
Castle District, Thermal Baths and Ruin Bars
A day between the Castle District, Gellért Hill and a ruin bar: Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church in the morning, a thermal bath in the afternoon, then across the Chain Bridge back to Pest in the evening and a drink at Szimpla Kert.
08:30
09:30
Breakfast: Breakfast at First Floor Eatery & Bar
First Floor Eatery & Barapprox. 4,500–7,500 HUF pp30 min by public transport
10:00
12:00
Sightseeing: Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church
Fischerbastei und Matthiaskircheapprox. 2,500–5,000 HUF ppThe viewing terraces of Fisherman's Bastion are free before 9 a.m.; later there is an entrance fee, and the church has separate tickets.
8 min on foot
12:20
13:30
Lunch: Lunch at Baltazár Étterem
Baltazár Budai Étteremapprox. 6,000–10,000 HUF pp25 min by public transport
14:00
14:40
Hidden gem: View from the slope of Gellért Hill
10 min on foot
15:00
17:30
Wellness: Relax at the Gellért Thermal Bath
Art Nouveau thermal bath with a colonnaded hall and warm pools, perfect for tired legs and architecture fans.
Gellért-Thermalbadapprox. 14,000–16,000 HUF ppBook tickets online in advance and choose a cabin instead of a locker, so you avoid queuing to change.
20 min by public transport
17:50
18:20
Sightseeing: Walk across the Chain Bridge
25 min by public transport
19:15
20:45
Dinner: Dinner at Rosenstein Vendéglő
Rosenstein Vendéglőapprox. 9,000–14,000 HUF pp10 min on foot
21:15
22:45
Drinks: Drinks at Szimpla Kert
The city's most famous ruin bar, with mismatched furnishings in an old courtyard. A beer or Unicum is a must.
Szimpla Kertapprox. 2,500–6,000 HUF pp
Day 3 · Budapest
Art Nouveau, Market Hall and Departure
Last day in Budapest: breakfast at a local favourite café, Art Nouveau around the Opera, langos in the Great Market Hall, and coffee and cake at Gerbeaud, then a relaxed trip to the airport.
08:30
09:30
Breakfast: Breakfast at Szatyor Bár és Bisztró
Szatyor Bár és Bisztróapprox. 3,500–6,000 HUF pp12 min on foot
09:50
11:20
Sightseeing: Hungarian State Opera and Neo-Renaissance
Ungarische Staatsoperapprox. 7,000–9,000 HUF ppTours are often booked out early, so book your ticket online in advance.
15 min by public transport
11:35
12:05
Hidden gem: Art Nouveau at Párisi Udvar
10 min on foot
12:20
13:30
Lunch: Langos in the Great Market Hall
Große Markthalleapprox. 3,000–6,000 HUF pp15 min on foot
13:50
14:50
Café: Coffee and cake at Café Gerbeaud
A traditional café since 1858 on Vörösmarty tér; try the Dobos or Eszterházy cake. A classic finale. Backup: Művész Kávéház.
Café Gerbeaudapprox. 4,000–7,000 HUF pp8 min on foot
15:00
15:30
Break: Collect your luggage at the hotel
Collect your luggage from the hotel and check out, if you haven't already.
15:30
16:40
Travel & transfer: Journey to BUD Airport
Take a taxi or the train to the airport. Allow plenty of time for check-in and security.
Flughafen Budapest Liszt Ferenc (BUD)approx. 9,000–12,000 HUF pp
Planned with AI and checked with OpenStreetMap. Opening hours and prices can change – please double-check on site.
FAQ
How many days do you need in Budapest?
Two days are enough for the main sights; three days are more relaxed and leave time for a thermal bath. With four days you can also plan trips such as to Szentendre or the Danube Bend region.
Which neighbourhood is best to stay in?
For first-time visitors, District V around Parliament and the Basilica is the most practical. If you want to go out in the evening, choose District VII; if you want quiet, Buda is better.
Is Budapest expensive?
Compared with Germany, Austria or Switzerland, Budapest is mostly cheaper, especially for food, train rides and admission fees. However, tourist venues in the centre and bars at weekends can be noticeably more expensive.