Plus what to eat in Budapest and cheaper activities to do in Hungary’s capital

Hungary’s capital Budapest is the most populous city in the country and one of the largest in the European Union. In 1873 it became one single city occupying both banks of the Danube River and unified Hungary’s former cities Buda, Óbuda, and Pest. Therefore, if you’re looking for fun free things to do in Budapest while traveling on a budget, this post will definitely come in handy.

How to Get to Budapest

Budapest’s Ferenc Liszt International Airport serves lots of airline companies flying to and from Budapest from all over the world. The Hungarian company Wizzair has the most well-connected flights to the capital from not only European cities, but also from Israel, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia, Ukraine, and Dubai.

The city is also well-connected through busses and trains to other European cities. For instance, we traveled from Zagreb, Croatia to Budapest by bus, taking around 5h in total with border crossing procedure. You can also drive from Austria, Slovakia, some cities of Romania, Serbia, and Czechia to name a few.

Budapest on a budget – FREE Things to Do in Budapest

Granted with UNESCO World Heritage Site status, Budapest for many is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It mixes its fascinating history with a bright, laid-back modern artistic style. Budapest attractions can vary from historic and iconic sites, museums, beautiful parks, and the most popular Ruin Bars. The city won’t leave you unsatisfied.

The most important places to see in Budapest are within the walking distance from each other, therefore, you won’t need to take public transportation once you get to the city center.

Looking for where to stay in Budapest? Check out this post of best neighborhoods and hotels in Budapest

Take a Free Walking Tour Budapest

Free walking tours are one of the best ways to introduce yourself to the city. The locals, who voluntarily work as the guides of those tours are happy to show and tell all the interesting details of their city. However, do note that even though the name suggests ‘Free’, it is not entirely free. You give the guide a ‘tip’ of the amount you think the tour was worth.

While there are several such tours in the city, I would suggest this particular company to start exploring Budapest for free. The company offers many interesting daily tours along with the general tour of the city.

We took the Free Budapest Tour that lasts around three hours and took as to the main landmarks of Buda and Pest. Besides, providing interesting insights of the city and Hungary in general, our guide also suggested where and what to eat in the city. She was happy to answer all the questions we had.

Admire the St. Stephan’s Basilica

One of the iconic places to see in Budapest is St. Stephan’s Basilica. This Roman Catholic church is named after the first King of Hungary, Stephen. His right hand is displayed here in the reliquary and if interested, you can enter the church and see it for a small fee. Otherwise, exploring the inside and outside of the basilica is free of charge.

Track down the various statues across the city

Budapest is definitely one of the most artistic cities I have visited. One of the fun things to do in Budapest is the track down those adorable statues scattered across the city. I had fun finding these pieces of art and taking pictures. Some have the history behind, while some are just the statues.



The sculpture of ‘Little Princess’, that in my opinion looks like Peter Pan, is one of the most popular arts in the city. Laszlo Marton, inspired by his daughter who loved playing in a princess costume, created it in 1972. And few know that the replica of this statue is displayed in front of the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space.

Very close to the St. Stephan’s Basilica, you’ll find this Policeman statue, standing on the corners of Oktober 6 and Zrinyi Streets. Inspired by the characteristic faces of Budapest, the artist Illyas Andras formed the physique of the statue after his grandfather.

Cross the Chain Bridge

Joining the Buda and Pest districts of the city, the Chain Bridge is one of the most popular and beautiful bridges here. Opened in 1849, it was the first permanent bridge across the Danube river.

Walk up to the 0 KM stone

When you cross the Chain Bridge towards the Castle Hill Funicular and Buda Castle, you’ll see one of the free Budapest attractions. This limestone indicates the point from which all road lengths to Budapest are estimated in the country.

Feel as if in a fairytale

We all dreamed of having a fairytale castle in our childhood. You can easily fulfill this dream at Fisherman’s Bastion – Budapest’s must-visit place for its gorgeous architecture and panoramic views over the city.







Surprisingly, the castle is not medieval. It was built in the 20th century in a neo-Gothic and named after the Guild of Fisherman, who defended that part of the city walls during the Middle Ages. You can wander here for free, but you’ll need to pay to walk on its walls.

Possess the World travel blog talks about how to spend the anniversary in the city

Commemorate the history

One of the mesmerizing free things to do in Budapest is the shoe monument on the coast of the Danube River. 60 pairs of shoes acknowledge those Hungarian Jews shot by Arrow Cross militiamen in 1944-1945. The victims were lined up at the coastline and shot into the water. A very touching and straightforward memorial is a must-see to understand the country’s history.



Admire one of the most beautiful Governmental buildings

The Hungarian Parliament building, located on the bank of the Danube River, accommodates the National Assembly. The building built in 1884-1904 in neo-Gothic style, is 268 meters long, the domes are 96 meters high and have 691 rooms.

Many believe (including me!) that it is the most fascinating and gorgeous building both inside and outside. If you are more interested to know how the government functions here, you can get a 45-minute tour costing around 5,200 HUF.

Visit one of the most famous squares

Heroes Square is the largest, most impressive, and the most visited sites in the city. It was built in 1896 to mark the thousandth anniversary of the country. An iconic monument features a central pillar and two parallel colonnades on both sides.

On top of the post, Archangel Gabriel is holding the Hungarian crown, while the colonnades house statues of other historic Hungarian figures.

Stroll around the Jewish quarter

One of the unique and free things to do in Budapest on your next visit is to wander through the streets of the Jewish quarter, where you’ll find interesting snippets of history, modern art, the biggest synagogue in Europe, and some of the most diverse nightlife.

Track down the street art

If you are a street art lover and looking for some of the most beautiful examples of this modern art, Budapest should be on your bucket list.







Here, I have seen the gorgeous works adorning the blank walls of the buildings. And if you’d like to learn more about the artists and how the whole movement started, you can take a Free Street and Urban Art Tour.

Check out Top 10 Photography Spots in Budapest

Go to an alternative bar crawl

Besides all the things mentioned above, the Jewish quarter is home to some of the most popular bars in town, called Ruin Bars. The whole concept of those bars started in 2001 when youngsters wanted to have a place to drink cheaply. What used to be an abandoned building or an unused outdoor space, they turned them into a nice, friendly, chaotic, and alternative bars that became a hub of Budapest’s nightlife.

The name, Ruin Bars, is exactly what it means. Don’t expect them to be nicely remodeled or posh, the whole idea is to leave those walls in their original state and decorating the area with vintage and second-hand items.





Szimpla Kert was the very first one and is still the most popular place to go for a drink in Budapest. However, do note that it gets packed in the evenings, while there’s a huge line of travelers outside waiting for their turn to get in. Therefore, I would suggest visiting the place a bit earlier than 6 pm or crawling to other bars before, such as Kuplung, Racskert, Ellato Kert & Taqueria, or Instant to name just a few.

Visit the Central Market Hall

Great Market Hall or the Central Market Hall, located near the Szabadság Bridge, is a great way to combine a bit of shopping with sightseeing. The area is not only favorable by many locals for their everyday grocery shopping, but it’s also popular among Budapest visitors.





Besides vegetables, seasonal fruits, and local products such as wines, spirits, and sausages, you can find handmade gifts and ornaments, various souvenirs, delicious chocolate bars, and food stalls on the second floor.

Note: closed on Sundays and national holidays

Here’s top day trips from Budapest you can take to both within the country and to neighboring states

Other Fun & Cheap Things to do in Budapest

Enjoy a Boat Ride Over the Danube

Dividing the city into two parts – Buda and Pest, Danube River offers various cruises all day round.

However, if you do not fancy a boat ride, you can still enjoy the banks of the river by walking along the coastline. You can even enjoy a cold or warm beverage at the bars and restaurants situated here.

Adults – 3,900 HUF; Students 3,500 HUF

Take a dip in thermal baths

Budapest is the city of spas and recreational parks, enabling its visitors to experience the culture and relax at the same time. The capital boasts with 12 thermal baths scattered across the city, where the temperature is at least 30C. Gellert and Szechenyl baths are the most popular ones. Alternatively, here’s the guide to the Rudas Baths in Budapest.

Cheapest bath 3,300 HUF

Ride the funicular

If you are tired of all the walks you did, you can save your legs a hike and ride a small funicular to the Buda Castle. Taking only a few minutes, the ride provides gorgeous views of the city, the Danube river, and some of the sights of the Castle Hill.

Adults – 1,200 HUF one way

What to eat in Budapest?

When visiting a new city or country, trying local delicacies and traditional meals are an absolute must. Hungarian cuisine is rich with soups, stews, luscious pastries, and delicious casseroles. Hungarian paprika is the most popular ingredient of the local cuisine, giving a unique taste and fiery color to the meals. This, though, doesn’t mean the dishes are burning hot. Here’s a short list of what to eat in Budapest

Goulash

This is the most famous meal to try in Budapest. This beef soup is made with paprika, onions, green peppers, and tomatoes. Some of the venues even add potatoes or noodles to the soup. The best place to eat goulash in Budapest is at Kek Rosza Restaurant.

Chimney Cake

Chimney cake or Kürtőskalács in Hungarian is one of the most popular desserts you need to try here. Made from the sweet dough rolled onto a wooden roller and grilled over the hot coals, the cake is a perfect snack while enjoying your walks in the streets of Budapest. Request to dip or top with walnuts, chocolate, vanilla, or cinnamon to name a few.

Turo Rudi

Just another great snack to get you going in the city. Suggested by our guide, she said that once we try, we either going to love it or hate it. If you are a bit familiar with the Russian Sirok, a cottage cheese bar dipped in chocolate, then you’ll definitely love it. You can find them in various grocery stores in the refrigerator section and comes with all the different flavors.

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