Budapest: A city divided by the Danube into two sections, Buda and Pest. This enchanting city contains endless things to do and has some awesome sites to see. Visitors will not go hungry thanks to the plethora of restaurants and cafes found on every corner. This is a city I can see going back to again and again and each time experiencing something new. 2 days in Budapest will enable you to see all the main sites in a weekend.
Want a guided tour to start out your trip and get acclimated to the city? Then check out Guru Walks for a free guided tour. You can book online to reserve your spot and pay what you wish when you get there. Check out the tours in Budapest here.
History of Budapest
Present-day, Budapest is the capital of Hungary. Its history began during the Roman times as an early settlement. Throughout the years, it switched hands many times and saw various leaders, including the Mongols and the Ottomans. In the late 1800s, it became the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Budapest also saw many revolutions throughout its history, which eventually led to it becoming the capital it is today. The central area of Budapest is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
When to Spend 2 Days in Budapest
Budapest is a fabulous city to visit any time of the year. We opted to visit during summertime due to my summer vacation. The weather was gorgeous. If you visit in winter, there will be Christmas Markets and most likely snow, so be prepared to bundle up. The city will be the least crowded during the fall and springtime.
How to Get to Budapest
Budapest has an international airport that I have often seen inexpensive flights into from the United States. We came from Bratislava, Slovakia, so we opted to take the train to Budapest. This train only cost us 9€! Budapest is also a short train or bus ride from many other European cities, such as Vienna, Munich, and Prague.
Transportation in Budapest
Once in Budapest, opt to buy the 24-hour transportation pass. For a little less than $6, you get 24 hours of access to the buses, trams, and metros across Budapest. This comes in handy when visiting different places in Budapest so you can save some steps and not have to hike up hills repeatedly (there are quite a few). Budapest is also a very walkable city, and it is easy to walk between many of the sites.
From the airport, you can also take a shared transfer or a private transfer. Alternatively, you can opt to use the Hop-on, Hop-Off bus around Budapest.
Where to Stay for 2 Days in Budapest
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Budapest hotels here!
We opted to stay on the Pest side of Budapest because it was slightly cheaper. We rented an apartment a little bit Northeast of the Parliament Building. Our location was not bad, but next time, I think I would choose to stay a little bit further South next time. I recommend staying near Budapest Castle or in the Great Synagogue area. The following are some excellent options.
- Hilton Budapest
- Hampton by Hilton Budapest City Centre
- Intercontinental Budapest
- Budapest Marriott Hotel
- Novotel Budapest Danube
- Suites Milford Budapest (Castle)
What to See During 2 Days in Budapest
Budapest offers so many places with gorgeous views. Visitors could spend a week seeing the city and not be able to see it all. The following is a guide if you only have 2 days in Budapest, but I recommend more if possible! If you want a tour of the city, check out this option, this full day Budapest tour, or this Budapest food tour.
Day 1: Buda
Today, spend the day exploring the “Buda” part of Budapest. The western side of Budapest is filled with hills and was once the capital of Hungary. Buda is the more historical side with older buildings and a deeper history.
Prima Bakery
Cost: $
Hours: Varies by location
Start your first of 2 days in Budapest with a stop at Prima Bakery for breakfast. This bakery chain is located in several places throughout the city. They have delicious and affordable breads and pastries that are good for a snack or breakfast.
Fisherman’s Bastion
Cost: Free or $3.50 if you want to climb the turrets
Hours: 9am-9pm
Fisherman’s Bastion is an iconic photo spot in Budapest. From this spot, visitors can catch gorgeous views of Budapest, especially the Parliament Building. Built in the 1800s, Fisherman’s Bastion has seven turrets representing the seven Hungarian Tribes and was once used as a castle. These turrets look out over the city.
Many of the areas are free to enter, but if you would like to climb up to the turrets, you will have to pay an admission fee. I recommend visiting early in the morning if you want pictures without people in them. Also, it is a great spot for sunset, but it does get crowded. For Disney lovers, it kind of looks like the Disney castle logo!
Matthias Church
Cost: $7
Hours: Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm, Sat: 9am-12pm, Sun: 1pm-5pm
Matthias Cathedral, built in 1015, is located next to Fisherman’s Bastion. Visitors can buy tickets to enter the Cathedral, climb the tower, and visit the museum. You can also attend mass in the Cathedral.
Budapest Castle
Cost: Varies by Museum
Hours: Varies by Museum
Budapest Castle is where the Hungarian kings once lived. This complex on Castle Hill began being built in the 1300s. It currently houses several museums, such as the Hungarian National Gallery, the Budapest History Museum, and the Museum of Military History. Note that there is no castle part to tour anymore – it is all museums. I was slightly confused about this at first! You could also take this guided tour of the complex.
Balthazar
Cost: $$
For lunch, head to Balthazar. This delicious restaurant is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat while up on Castle Hill. They have some delicious salads and burgers as well as some awesome views.
Faust Wine Cellar
Cost: $25/person
Hours: Thurs: 5pm-8pm, Fri-Sun: 2pm-8pm, Mon: 2pm-5pm (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
After lunch, head to Faust Wine Cellar for a wine tasting. If you are interested in trying Hungarian wine but are unable to make it to the countryside, Faust Wine Cellar is the perfect place to try some. Make sure to make a reservation in advance, or you will unlikely get a table. They offer a tasting of 6 or 9 wines, and you can taste white, red, or do a mixed tasting. Plan to spend at least an hour tasting the different wines.
Gellert Hill
Cost: Free
Hours: 8am-7pm
This afternoon, head to Gellert Hill to take in some more gorgeous views of Budapest. Gellert Hill is the perfect place for hiking. There are multiple paths that lead up to the top of the hill. Although it is a bit of a trek to reach the top, it is so worth it for the view you get of Budapest. There are also several vendors at the top selling food, beverages, and souvenirs.
Street Food Karavan Budapest
Cost $-$$
Hours: Varies by vendor
Tonight, grab dinner at Street Food Karavan Budapest. This street contains several food trucks that serve an assortment of foods, from traditional Hungarian Lángos (deep-fried flat bread) to Mexican burritos. There is also a bar truck. It is a great place to go with a group or before a night out at the ruin bars.
The Ruin Bars
Cost: $
Hours: Varies by bar
After dinner, head to the Ruin Bars. These bars are popular because they are built into the ruins of old buildings. There are a ton of bars in this area, but the most popular and largest of these bars is Szimpla Kert. Szimpla Kert has multiple stories, and it contains a plethora of rooms to explore. Sometimes, there is live music, and some rooms even have food you can order.
Day 2: Pest
Pest, the eastern side of Budapest, contains more of the modern-day government buildings of Budapest. Many of the buildings are more modern and the area is larger than Buda.
Artist Cafe
Cost: $$
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 9am-9pm, Fri: 9am-10pm (closed weekends)
Today, grab breakfast from Artist Cafe, the perfect place to start your second of two days in Budapest. This cute little cafe serves some yummy breakfast options and has a plethora of pastries. It is the perfect place for a quick breakfast and is pretty affordable.
Dohany Street Synagogue
Cost: $14
Hours: Sun-Thurs: 10am-4pm, Fri:10am-2pm (closed Saturdays)
The Dohany Street Synagogue is the largest synagogue in Europe and the second largest in the world. It was built in 1859 in the Morrish style and also contains the Hungarian Jewish Museum and a memorial to those who perished in the Holocaust.
St. Stephen’s Basilica
Cost: $6
Hours: Varies
Named after the first king of Hungary, St. Stephen I, this Basilica is now one of the most important church buildings in Hungary. It is one of the tallest buildings in Budapest and hosts many organ concerts. You can easily spend an hour exploring here during 2 days in Budapest.
New York Palace Cafe
Cost: $$
Hours: 7am-12am
You cannot miss grabbing lunch or a snack at the New York Palace Cafe during your 2 days in Budapest. This cafe is known as the “most beautiful cafe in the world.” It was definitely gorgeous, and the apple pie and hot chocolate were delicious! If you want to get fancy, you can add 24 Karat gold to your hot chocolate. They also offer an afternoon tea service for two.
Visit a Thermal Bath
Cost: Varies
Hours: Varies by location
This afternoon, opt to visit one of the many thermal baths in Budapest. Visiting a thermal bath was one of my favorite things we did in Budapest. It was a perfect way to unwind and relax after lots of traveling.
The most popular thermal bath is the Szechenyi Thermal Baths, but we opted to visit the Gellert Thermal Baths. I enjoyed Gellert because it was a bit smaller and less crowded than Szechenyi. Other options include the Dandar and Lukacs thermal baths. You can read more about Budapest Thermal Baths here.
Pándzsáb Tandoori India Étterem
Cost: $$
Tonight, grab dinner at Pándzsáb Tandoori India Étterem. This delightful Indian food place is near the Parliament Building and is very reasonably priced. It is especially good with a large group so you can order a variety of dishes. It is the perfect place for your last meal during your 2 days in Budapest.
Evening Stroll Along the Waterfront
Cost: Free
To finish off your 2 days in Budapest, take an evening stroll along the waterfront. Oftentimes, there is a fireworks display from Budapest Castle that you can see along the waterfront. Along your walk, make sure to check out the Parliament Building.
If you are interested in touring the building, make sure to book tickets ahead of time, as the tours fill up quickly! Also, make sure to visit the Shoes on the Danube. The Shoes on the Danube is a memorial that rests on the bank of the Danube River to commemorate the Jews shot on the banks of the river during World War II.
More Than 2 Days in Budapest?
If you have more than 2 days in Budapest, add these sites to your itinerary.
Budapest Eye
Cost: $10
Hours: Sun-Thurs: 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 11am-12am
For gorgeous views of St. Stephen’s Basilica, a ride on the Budapest Eye is a must. We chose to ride it at sunset which provided some picture-perfect views. The ride takes at least 30 minutes, so it was well worth the $10 cost.
Central Market Hall
Cost: Free to look
Hours: Mon: 6am-5pm, Tues-Fri: 6am-6pm, Sat: 6am-3pm (closed Sunday)
Central Market Hall is full of any food products you could want. The second floor is full of Budapest souvenirs. This is the best place to stop during 2 days in Budapest if you want anything to take home with you.
Heroes Square
Cost: Free
Heroes Square is one of the major squares in Budapest. In the middle of the square is a memorial to Hungarian heroes. Several museums line the square. It is a great place to relax for a little bit or take in the local sites.
House of Terror
Cost: $11
Hours: Temporarily Closed for Refurbishment
The House of Terror is a museum about the communist and fascist regime in Hungary during the 1900s. It is housed in a former Nazi headquarters and contains artifacts, documents, and multimedia displays. Inside is also a memorial to the people persecuted by the regime. This is an interesting stop for history lovers during 2 days in Budapest.
Szechenyi Chain Bridge
Cost: Free
The Szechenyi Chain Bridge is one of the many bridges that span across the Danube River and connect Buda and Pest. The original bridge opened in 1849 but had to be rebuilt after World War II. It is worth taking a walk-through to see how ornate some of the decorations are.
Vajdahunyad Castle
Cost: $7
Hours: Tues-Sun: 10am-5pm (closed Mondays)
Vajdahunyad Castle is located along the lake in City Park. It uses several different architectural styles, such as Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque. The original castle was made of wood and cardboard, but it was later reconstructed. Inside, it contains a museum on agriculture. Many people love to come here for the pictures.
Visit a Museum
Cost: Varies by Museum
Hours: Varies by Museum
There are over 60 museums in Budapest. They range in topics from art, history, and even wine. Make sure to visit at least one! If you want to spend a lot of time at museums, make sure to get a Budapest Card. It covers your admission to over 60 museums across Budapest.
Other Places to Eat in Budapest
If you need some other food ideas in Budapest, check out these places listed below. I never went hungry in Budapest. There is an amazing assortment of food available. Make sure to try Hungarian Goulash soup and a chimney cake. You could also check out this sightseeing cruise.
Lesco Hungarian Fast Food
Cost: $
This place is a Hungarian cafeteria-style place. You tell the workers what you want at an assembly line and then pay at the end of the line.
Most Bistro
Cost: $$
Most Bistro serves some Hungarian fare as well as some Asian dishes. On the weekends, they serve brunch. They also serve a variety of lemonades and have an extensive bar list.
Pizzica
Cost: $
Pizzica was a great place to grab a quick slice of pizza on the go. They usually have cheese and a couple of other rotating types.
Final Thoughts on 2 Days in Budapest
As you can see, there are so many amazing things to do during 2 days in Budapest. Budapest makes for the perfect weekend trip from all over Europe. If you have the time, add other amazing cities in the area to your trip, such as Prague, Vienna, Bratislava, or Belgrade. It makes for an amazing Eastern Europe itinerary.
2 thoughts on “2 Days in Budapest: How to Spend an Exciting Weekend in Budapest”
You did quite a bit in two days! That’s awesome. I loved the time I had when I went to Budapest, but I wish I would have known about Street Food Karavan. Looks amazing with lots of options!
It is such an amazing city! I can’t wait to go back.