PERFECT BUDAPEST WEEKEND BREAK & ITINERARY FOR FIRST-TIMERS

If you’re planning to take a fun weekend trip to Budapest, you’re in for a treat. Budapest is a very charming historic Hungarian city and a weekend there will barely scratch the surface of its myriads of attractions. In this article, I offer you a fun Budapest weekend itinerary for exploring the top gems of  the city. In just 2 days you’ll see many of the top places to see in the Hungarian capital and you will leave culturally satisfied and pleasantly tired.

I’ll tell you exactly what to see, where to stay and how to get around in this detailed Budapest walking weekend itinerary. The following suggestions will provide you with great plan for an easy and fun trip.

Budapest is huge and not as walkable as Bratislava, the capitol of Slovakia. This itinerary involves lots of walking and taking public transportation. So, if you want, you can arrive in a plane, train, bus or boat and explore the city without the need of a rental or your own car. By walking and the use of public transportation you not only save money on gas and parking fees, but you also get a better geographical understanding of the city and get a good exercise.

Here below, you’ll find everything you need to know including whether it’s worth taking a weekend trip to Budapest, the walking distances between attractions, the best places to stay in downtown Budapest as well as your options for getting to Budapest.

I also give you tons of information on the best way to enjoy your walking weekend trip with a list of the best Budapest tours. If you travel independently, I share a perfect Budapest walking weekend trip itinerary so you can follow step by step and make the most of your time in the Hungarian metropolis.

 

IS IT WORTH TAKING A WEEKEND TRIP TO BUDAPEST?

Budapest is an unbelievably scenic city and there are many things to do there. With limited vacation time, short weekend trips to explore various destinations are your best bet for enjoying life a bit more. So, if you only have 2 or 3 days, use them to the fullest. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to see everything in just one weekend, but the following Budapest itinerary will show you the best places in town. I also suggest you come back another time and explore other parts of the city.

A weekend trip will certainly give you a sense of the city’s vibe and you’ll visit some of the main highlights. All in all, it’s absolutely worth it to visit Budapest just for a weekend.

BUDAPEST MAP

Below is a map with driving directions, itinerary and all points of interest. Click the map to open it.

HOW TO GET TO BUDAPEST

You basically have 5 options for getting to Budapest. You can take a plane, train, bus, boat, drive. All are independent ways to travel. Which option is the best for you?

 

TO BUDAPEST BY PLANE

Budapest uses the Ferenc Liszt International Airport that is well connected to many European cities and also to the city center. Depending on the place you are arriving from, find the best options and prices by searching for airplane connections via this search engine and this one as well. Or here is another big flight search platform. If you arrive by plane and need a transfer from the airport to your hotel, book this affordable airport shuttle transfer.

 

TO BUDAPEST BY TRAIN

It is very comfortable and easy to take a train from various European cities to Budapest. Budapest is well connected to other cities, and it has two main train stations: Budapest-Keleti and Budapest-Nyugati. Train journeys from the closest big cities are as follows:

• Bratislava to Budapest – with EuroCity trains 2h23min
• Vienna to Budapest – 2h37min to 3h17m depending on the train type
• Zagreb to Budapest – 5h54min is the fastest
• Graz to Budapest – 5 hrs

To find all the options and best prices, search for train connections via this search engine and this one as well.

 

TO BUDAPEST BY BUS

The main bus station in the city is Budapest-Nepliget Bus Terminal. To find all the options and best bus ticket prices for Budapest check out this search engine.

Journey duration:

• Bratislava to Budapest – 2h20min to 2h50min
• Vienna to Budapest – 2h50min to 3h05min
• Zagreb to Budapest – 4h50min to 5h15min
• Graz to Budapest – 4h15min to 4h50min

 

TO BUDAPEST BY CAR

The most independent and easiest way to reach Budapest is to go by car. Your own or a rented one. Please note that for driving in Hungary you must buy a highway vignette.  For a personal car up to 7 seats and 10-day validity you pay 23.23 EUR including service fee.

The following are the approximate distances and travel times from the closest big international cities:

• Bratislava to Budapest – 1h 59m & 200 km via highway M1
• Vienna to Budapest – 2h 40m & 245 km via A4 and M1
• Zagreb to Budapest – 3h 40m & 346 km via E65/E71 and M7
• Graz to Budapest – 3h 47m & 345 km via M1

WHERE TO STAY IN BUDAPEST CITY CENTRE

You probably already know that the city of Budapest is actually a blend of two towns that sit on opposite banks of the Danube River. Buda is the part with the Fisherman’s Bastion and the Royal Castle and Pest is the seat of the Parliament Buildings and the Szechenyi Thermal Bath. The recommended hotels are listed in 2 sections according to their location.

 

BEST HOTELS IN BUDA

The following 3 hotels have these features in common: location right by the Danube River, walking distance to Chain Bridge and Fisherman’s Bastion, top ratings

1. Novotel Budapest Danube (1027 Budapest, Bem rakpart 33-34.) – Excellent rating and location with Parliament Building views
2. Monastery Boutique Hotel Budapest (1011 Budapest, 30 Fő utca) – close to Fisherman’s Bastion and Chain Bridge, excellent rating, modern
3. Boutique Hotel Victoria Budapest (1011 Budapest, Bem rakpart 11.) – beautiful location overlooking the Parliament and Danube, top ratings

 

BEST HOTELS IN PEST

The following 3 hotels also feature prime location near the Chain Bridge and the Danube River, excellent ratings for service quality.

 

WHAT TO WEAR FOR A WEEKEND TRIP IN BUDAPEST

With this weekend walking itinerary, you will be on your feet a lot. You should wear comfortable and well-fitting shoes. The rest of your outfit also should be comfortable and easy-to-move-in. But this doesn’t mean that you should wear whatever falls out of your wardrobe. Keep in mind you are in a charming and historic European city not on a backcountry hike.

What I am trying to say with this is that you should also keep style in mind and dress nicely. Europeans dress more stylishly and with care. They don’t wear pyjamas to grocery stores or spend their days in sneakers, khaki pants and ochre T-shirts. When you pack your luggage for Europe, think of the colour and pattern combinations that go well together so you look your best for your photos as well as the others who walk by and look at you. Avoid a tasteless, clueless and immature look.

When you walk around the big European cities that attract masses of overseas visitors, half of the tourists roaming the streets look like they don’t own a mirror. Many wear impossible pattern and colour combinations of shapeless pieces topped with oversized ugly hats and even bigger, uglier sports shoes. Some ladies wear a lovely summer dress but destroy their look with huge and ugly sports shoes. Don’t they have a pair of flat sandals that would compliment the summer dress and still be comfortable for walking? Just from one look at tourists, Europeans can pinpoint their country of origin.

When you visit Europe, with your attire aim for chic, timeless elegance combined with a bit of comfort.

 

HOW TO SPEND A PERFECT WEEKEND IN BUDAPEST

2-DAY BUDAPEST ITINERARY FOR FIRST-TIMERS

So, let’s go!

DAY 1 – ARRIVAL TO BUDAPEST (FRIDAY)

You organize your day in a way, so that you arrive at a Budapest hotel of your choice in the late afternoon or early evening. You’ll have enough time for a transfer to your accommodation, dinner and a good night’s sleep.

Starting point: Let’s assume your hotel is Novotel Budapest Danube (1027 Budapest, Bem rakpart 33-34.) in Buda. This hotel is a great choice because it is located right across the Hungarian Parliament Building that is a beautiful venue to look at during day as well as during night. If you book a river-view room, it’ll be a treat. The hotel is also modern and sleek and close to the metro station.

 

DAY 2  – PEST (SATURDAY)

Today you’ll explore the Pest part of Budapest so wear nice but comfortable shoes and after breakfast off you go.

Parliament views – Enjoy the Parliament views as you walk along the river from the hotel towards the Margit Bridge (Margit Híd) (700m) and then cross the bridge to Pest. Right after the bridge walk to Statue of Imre Nagy (+ 800 m) and continue along the river towards the Parliament to Kossuth Lajos Square (+ 1km).

Parliament – If you choose to visit the Parliament Building, I recommend you buy an online ticket in advance to avoid lines and save time. This Parliament tour ticket includes an audio guide in multiple languages. The tour takes an hour of your time.

 

Shoes on the Danube Bank (Cipők a Duna-parton) – From Kossuth Lajos Square continue towards Statue of Count Gyula Andrássy on the south side of the Parliament and then continue to the riverbank. As you walk along the river, you’ll reach the metal statue of Shoes on the Danube Bank which is a WWII memorial. (+ 450 m)

Liberty Square – Head to Liberty Square (Szabadság tér) and from there to St. Stephen’s Basilica

St. Stephen’s Basilica (Szent István Bazilika) – To see this fantastic cathedral St. Stephen’s Basilica Entry ticket is your best bet because you’ll skip the lines and with an upgrade you can access the panoramic terrace for the best Pest views. (+700 m)

Central Market (Nagycsarnok) – Your next stop is the Central Market where you’ll have lunch. To get there you must walk (+700m) from the St. Stephen’s Basilica to Deák Ferenc Square (Deák Ferenc tér) where you enter the subway station M3 (Blue Line) and take the subway (metro) M3 direction Kőbánya-Kispest. You get off at Kálvin tér and walk towards the Danube River for approx. 350 m.

Walk around the market hall and have lunch there. I suggest you try Langos or Goulash on the upper floor. Don’t forget to buy some souvenirs which are much cheaper here than in touristy souvenirs shops downtown. Also, I suggest you buy a bag of sweet paprika spice and some cabanos or sausages which are Hungarian specialties, and Hungarians really know how to make them to perfection.

Dohány Street Synagogue (Dohány utcai Zsinagóga) – Your next stop is the beautiful and the largest synagogue in Europe, the Dohany Street Synagogue to which you’ll walk altogether approx. 1.3 km via Kálvin tér and then Muzeum krt.

The tour tickets can be bought on spot. The prices are as follows: adult ticket is 13 000 Ft (32.27 Euro), students with ISIC card 10 500 Ft (26.06 Euro) and kids 6-12 pay 5 000 Ft (12.41 Euro). They also offer family ticket for 30 000 Ft (74.47 Euro).

New York Café Budapest – Your next stop is the most beautiful coffee house in the world. You will walk down the Dohany Street for 900m towards Erzsébet körút street. The café is so popular that you might need to wait in line a bit. It moves fast so no worries. We were seated within 5 minutes.

Cakes and coffee are delicious; service top class and the interior is stunning. The prices reflect that so be prepared for an above-average sum. But hey, how many times in life you get a chance to eat in such a gorgeous place?

Hungarian State Opera (Magyar Állami Operaház) – Refreshed you’ll have your next stop at the Hungarian State Opera. The walk is approx. 700m via Kertész street, Dob street, Csányi street and Nagymező street. The 1-hour-long  Opera House Guided Tour shows you the interior of the building and you’ll get insights into the political dynamics influencing the history of the place as well as interesting info on the acoustics of the hall, the ventilation and safety.

Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere), Millennium Monument (Millenniumi emlékmű), Vajdahunyad Castle – These are the last stops of the day. In order to get there, take subway line M1 from the Opera Subway Station to Hősök tere. It takes about 15 minutes. Then enjoy the views of the huge and impressive square and then head towards the castle and the Városliget park. The castle grounds are open to public, and you pay entry tickets to various installations in various sections of the castle. Enjoy an evening walk in the park and when ready to leave head back to the subway station.

To get back to the Novotel Budapest Danube Hotel, take line M1 (Yellow Line) to Deák Ferenc tér where you switch to subway line M2 (Red Line) to Batthyány tér. The whole ride takes about 20 minutes. Some subway lines are historic, and the subway stations are nicely built so enjoy the surroundings.

From the Batthyány tér. subway station it’s only 230 m to the Novotel Budapest Danube Hotel.

DAY 3  – BUDA (SUNDAY)

Today you’ll explore the Buda part of Budapest so again wear nice but comfortable shoes and after breakfast head up the castle hill.

Fisherman’s Bastion (Halászbástya), King Matthias Church aka the Church of Our Lady of Buda Castle  (Budavári Nagyboldogasszony-templom) and Statue of St. Stephen I (I. Szent István szobra) – from hotel up to the bastion, it’s about 1 km of 15 min of walking. You cannot miss it. The hilltop fortress with 7 turrets offers panoramic views. Some of the turrets have paid entry as well as the King Matthias Church. The the Fisherman’s Bastion it’s only a short walk to the Buda Castle complex.

Buda Castle (Budavári Palota) – You can walk around the complex and explore the courtyards and impressive views. If you want to learn more in a fun way, take this Buda Castle District Walking Tour. It takes you around the whole castle hill as well as the Fisherman’s Bastion complex. This tour is informative but short and sweet and affordable, too.

Aranybástya Restaurant (Buda Castle, Csónak u. 1) – For lunch, make an online reservation to this rooftop restaurant with fantastic views of the Fisherman’s Bastion and the city. They serve Hungarian specialties as well as international dishes. Tasty food in a nice environment plus the view. Simply a great place to have lunch.

After lunch, walk down the hill to the Chain Bridge (Széchenyi Lánchíd) and walk across it to Pest. You’ll have one more fun experience before departure. Unlimited Prosecco, Beer and Aperol Spritz Cruise. It’s 75 minutes and while sipping a cool drink, you’ll see the parts of Budapest you haven’t seen yet. The relaxation on board will also be well deserved after so much walking 😊

If you want to fuel up before heading home, stop for some food in the bistros and restaurants along the Danube River such as Raqpart bar or even better: Lánchíd Söröző.

Hope you had a fantastic weekend break in Budapest, and you liked this long weekend itinerary.