Is Budapest Worth Visiting? Why You Should Go To Hungary’s Capital

Sharing is caring!

An Introduction to Budapest

Is Budapest worth visiting? Well let’s start by explaining a little bit about the Hungarian capital.

Hungary was country number 59 on my quest to visit every country. And Budapest is one of Europe’s most popular city break destinations. Therefore I was keen to see what all the hype was about.

The capital is actually the result of two neighbouring cities merging, either side of the Danube River. If someone asks you “which two cities combined to form Budapest?” You won’t have any problems remembering the answer. The cities were called Buda and Pest.

Buda sits on the western side of the river, with lots of hills and landmarks. Buda Castle is arguably the highlight of these, sitting on the banks of the Danube.

Pest is the more popular eastern side with the bustling streets of Budapest’s restaurant and bar scene, as well as many cool buildings. The Hungarian Parliament is one of the most popular buildings here, again sitting on the banks of the Danube.

Budapest is famous for three things above all else. Its stunning architecture, thermal baths, and quirky ruin bars.

Here I will talk through my experiences in the Hungarian capital and offer some tips on what to do.

Is Budapest Safe?

In a word: yes. Budapest is just like any central European city. Ultra safe with almost no risk of violent crime. Hungarians are very nice people who take safety and security very seriously, therefore it is unlikely anything will go wrong during your time in the capital.

That does not mean Budapest is crime-free however. There is still a risk of pickpocketing, although this is significantly lower than in Western Europe and other parts of the world.

Perhaps the biggest issue to look out for is scams. These particularly happen around the Vaci Utca (Vaci Street) part of the city. Here you will find lots of bars, cafes, restaurants, shops and souvenir stalls. Be careful however as many of the restaurants are notorious for serving poor quality food for extortionate prices, often capped off with a few hidden charges. There are also clip joints operating in this part of town, so keep a close eye out for these and avoid them at all costs.

Is Budapest Expensive?

No. This is by the most affordable popular destination in Europe. Paris, London and Rome are incredibly popular, yet will certainly put a dent in your wallet. North Macedonian capital Skopje, Bosnia’s Sarajevo and Albanian city Tirana are cheap, yet (unfortunately) don’t receive so many tourists. Budapest is the best of both worlds.

I spent £19 or $24 per day here by staying in hostels and not eating in upmarket restaurants. Of course, spending more will enable you to get more out of your time in Budapest, but it’s very possible to save a lot of money here.

What are the Main Attractions in Budapest?

Hungarian Parliament Building

The jewel in Budapest’s crown when it comes to the Hungarian capital’s beautiful gothic architecture. This impressive building is where the Hungarian parliament sit to debate laws used to govern the country.

Tourists can have a look around with a guided tour of the parliament building. Prices start from 5,000 HUF for European Economic Area (EEA) citizens, and double that for non-citizens. At the time of writing: $1 = 353 HUF. EEA citizens are anyone from an EU country, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. You also qualify as an EEA citizen with a residence card.

Buda Castle

The main attraction on the west side of the Danube. It sits on a hill by the edge of the river. The castle is home to many Hungarian artworks in the National Gallery. You can also see the History Museum in here. As a bonus, you get great views of the city from the top of Magdalene Church Tower. The basic entry fee is 2,500 HUF for adults. Although additional fees apply for each attraction.

Thermal Baths

Is Budapest worth visiting for the thermal baths alone? Some would say yes. After all, Hungary is topped only by Iceland and New Zealand when it comes to attracting visitors for thermal experiences. There are over 220 thermal baths in Hungary with many of those in Budapest. The most popular one is Szechenyi, which is the largest spa in Europe. Other popular spots include the Gellert, Lukacs, Kiraly and Rudas Baths.

The baths have various rules with some such as Rudas, Szechenyi and Lukacs open at night. Whilst Rudas Baths are the only ones in the city offering single-gender sessions. They are open to just men on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Tuesday is the sole woman-only day. The baths are open to everyone at the weekends including Friday nights.

Vaci Utca

Vaci Street is one of the most popular tourist spots in Budapest. However as mentioned previously, you do need to be more on guard here. The notorious Grill House for example appears fascinating at first glance. After all, did you really expect to find a restaurant in Budapest with zebra, python and alligator meat on the menu? All I will say here is that you should check the Google reviews…

The street has classic tourist favourites such as Hard Rock Cafe, combined with more local hole-in-the-wall type places selling the delicious chimney cake. For anyone unaware, the chimney cake is a delightful spiral-shaped pastry made of dough, occasionally topped off with various flavours. Cinnamon is the most popular.

Vaci Utca has a vast array of global restaurants including Lebanese, Greek, Japanese, Italian and more. Oh, and Hungarian restaurants too!

This part of Budapest is worth seeing if you want to get stuck into the food, drink and shopping aspect of the city.

Ruin Bars

Budapest is famous for being home to many ruin bars. “What is a ruin bar?” I hear you ask. Ruin bars were abandoned buildings, mostly within Budapest’s Jewish District. They were kitted out with some furniture, yet little more than that in terms of redevelopment. Then they were opened as bars which have since become popular with hipsters. Many of them also host music events.

The ruin bars are some of the most popular spots for nightlife in Budapest today, so why not check them out?

If you’ve been to Japan and you love the Golden Gai in Tokyo, you will definitely enjoy Budapest’s ruin bars.

The River Danube

One of Europe’s most famous rivers runs right through the heart of Hungary’s capital. Therefore it’s no surprise that it offers a lot to see and do. Other than walking beside it to check out some of the impressive architecture, you can take a boat ride down the river as well to see the views from the water. You also have the option however to dine on one of many river cruises. You are generally looking at over $50 per person for a dinner cruise, although some bargains may be out there if you look hard enough.

The Danube also hosts a much more sombre attraction, the Shoes on the Danube Bank. This sculpture shows a series of shoes alongside the river. They resemble Jewish people who were forced to take their shoes off and stand by the river before being shot during 1944 and 1945.

Where Should I Stay in Budapest on a Budget?

Having spent a long time trawling through the best places to stay in Budapest, I will share some of my findings below, including where I stayed during my time in the Hungarian capital. Let’s start with that one.

MP Hostel Budapest – Dorm Beds Starting from €14/£12/$15 (Reopens on March 27th 2024)

A great option if you’re looking for a quiet space. The dormitories are large, but there are small tables on each floor where you can work undisturbed, as well as a quiet bar space which doubles up as a working area downstairs.

The dormitories are also divided into mini rooms of two, with curtains providing privacy, although you can still hear your neighbours with ease.

This hostel is well-located near Budapest’s main attractions, and had excellent wifi. It also has private rooms available.

Please note it is closed at the beginning of 2024 with the hostel set to reopen on March 27th.

Best for: Budget backpackers and digital nomads

Onefam Budapest – Dorm Beds Starting from €22/£19/$24

With over 1,000 reviews on Booking and an average rating of 9, this is one of the best hostels in the city. It is known for very friendly staff, and a social atmosphere. Just like MP Hostel, this place is located very centrally near all the best attractions in Budapest.

Beds have privacy curtains and there are working spaces within the hostel.

The main selling point of this hostel is a variety of activities and social events, as well as a bar within the hostel.

It is a bit of a party hostel, which is great if this is what you’re looking for. The one common criticism however is issues with cleanliness.

For many, this is the number one hostel worth visiting in Budapest!

Good for: Solo backpackers and party enthusiasts

Maverick Urban Lodge – Dorm Beds Starting from €7/£6/$8

This hostel is a little further south than the previous two, located alongside the river, not far from Central Market Hall.

There’s a large common area here which is great for social activities. It also hosts various drinking events including bar crawls.

Again, it has privacy curtains by the beds, as well as sockets and a light.

It’s also very clean, and there is a breakfast available for a small fee. Although the breakfast has received critical feedback from multiple guests.

Best for: Solo backpackers and anyone looking for activities

NETIZEN Budapest Centre – Dorm Beds Starting from €22/£19/$24

This is a more relaxing hostel than some of those mentioned above. Come here if you want some quiet time rather than wild parties.

It is located right by Budapest-Keleti train station which has connections all across Europe ranging from Zurich in Switzerland to Istanbul in Turkey. Despite being further from the main attractions than those mentioned above, this is a very convenient spot for getting in and out of Budapest.

There is a good breakfast available for a small fee, with Hungarian and continental options available. It also has a good space to work in.

Good for: Digital nomads and anyone looking for a quiet hostel

Avenue Hostel – Dorm Beds Starting from €9/£8/$10

One of the cheapest hostels in Budapests and also one of the most popular. Over 11,000 people have reviewed this one on Booking alone, and a further 7,000+ on Hostelworld.

It is located around 20 minutes away from Budapest-Keleti train station and a similar distance from the River Danube. However, it is one of the cheapest places to stay in the city, and also has breakfast included.

Once again, there are privacy curtains on the beds. And whilst this isn’t the number one spot for social activities, staff are happy to help you find the best things to do in Budapest.

Staff here are very friendly, although you can hear a lot of noise from outside. Overall however, this is one of the top places worth visiting in Budapest.

Best for: Budget backpackers

Is Budapest Worth Visiting?

Absolutely. Few cities in the world offer so much to do on such a low budget. You can spend weeks in the Hungarian capital and you will not run out of new things to discover.

The thermal baths offer something no other European country can come close to competing with, aside from Iceland. The ruin bars are also a unique feature associated with Budapest, not other European cities.

And the architecture is second to none. You will find it hard to discover buildings in Europe that look more impressive than the Hungarian Parliament Building.

Therefore is Budapest worth visiting? It’s a resounding yes from me!

Is There Anything Else Worth Seeing in Budapest?

As a football fanatic it had been my intention to get to a game. And none appealed more than a Ferencvaros match, with Hungary’s biggest club regularly popping up in European competitions.

Unfortunately Hungary’s footballing golden era, spearheaded by legendary Ferenc Puskas, is very much a relic of the past. The 1954 World Cup runners-up struggle to attract fans to watch most domestic games, with Ferencvaros the exception.

Off to the ground I went, naively hoping to buy a ticket on the gate. Big mistake.

The queue was massive, and it was only whilst waiting, I realised you couldn’t even buy a ticket without registering for a Fradi Supporter Card.

This would have been possible at the ground, but would have delayed getting into the game. In fact the game kicked off whilst I was a long way back in the queue. Long story short, I gave up just before half time having calculated I would make the last 30 minutes at most.

Whilst my mission to watch the Hungarian giants failed, there was a fun atmosphere outside the ground on match day, and fellow football fans may enjoy checking the Groupama Arena out.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Budapest

After just three days in the Hungarian capital I headed onto Slovakia before finishing my trip in Poland. A job opportunity came up and I no longer had unlimited time to explore extensively.

For anyone wondering, I got the job teaching English in South Korea which is where I wrote this article from!

And quite frankly, three days is not enough. Sure you can do a weekend trip to get a surface-level feel for the city, but I would recommend a minimum of a week to see a good amount.

As previously mentioned, nowhere is better than Budapest for the balance of activities and affordability, so why not give it a go?

If you enjoyed this post, read about everywhere else I have been en route to visit every country in the world on my blog contents page.

Sharing is caring!