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Budapest, Hungary- Photo by Keszthelyi Timi on

Top 10 Things To Do In Budapest During a Short Stay

Budapest in Hungary is a beautiful destination and quite a tourist attraction. It is a multicultural destination and there are so many things you can do when you decide to visit.

Whether it is for a short stay or a long stay. It has amazing architectural designs thus letting us know that its beauty is not only God-given but also has a great human touch. It has something for everyone.

Therefore, if you are ever there for a short stay, maybe for a long weekend or a day or two, here are some of the things you can actually do to keep busy and actually entertain yourself.

1. Visit the St. Stephens Basilica

St. Stephens Basillica- Author; Unknown-

There is an observation deck that costs HUF 400. Here you can enjoy the view and just enjoy the rich history of Budapest. You can also access using the stairs or by taking the elevator.

It has 365 stairs to the top. You can either walk it up or just take an elevator. The staircase of the church is also amazing so make sure to take a couple of pictures.

It’s really worth the trip to take while in Budapest. It is one of the favourite things to do while in the city.

2. Visit the Central Market Hall on an empty stomach

Budapest Great Hall Market- Author; Dd-ang2s-

One advice. Don’t eat before heading to the Central Market Hall. It is the oldest and largest indoor market in Budapest. It has more than enough food stalls and restaurants to fill you up.

With the variety of foods you will find there, you can be sure you will fill up pretty quick.

It is highly suggested that when there, you pick up some Hungarian spices & liquor to bring back home. The good news is, the prices at Great hall are the lowest you will find in Budapest.

3. Go partying at the Budapest Ruin Bars

Budapest, Red Ruin Bár- Author; Christo-

It’s kind of hard to describe what a ruin bar is but the simplest way to describe it is that the Budapest ruin bars are one-of-a-kind bars.

They have been around since 2001 in Budapest’s District VII neighbourhood. That is the old Jewish quarter.

The ruin bars are in abandoned buildings that were left behind after World War II. If you are just walking down the street, you may not even realize it’s a bar, but as soon as you enter, you are welcomed into another world.

Each ruin bar is different, but they all are full of character so expect every room to be different and a bit strange, especially if you are not used to such an environment.

The oldest ruin bar in Budapest is Szimpla Kert, which is open daily.

Note that ruin bars are very popular and can get crowded very quickly. So if you want to avoid the hustle of a crowded place, go before 11 pm. Furthermore, there are Budapest ruin bar tours that visit several bars, although you can easily create your own ruin bar crawl.

4. Take a tour of the abandoned Jewish Cemetry

Cemetry- Photo by Victoria Kure-Wu on

One of the most unique tours in Budapest is the Jewish Cemetery Tour. Make sure to visit the ‘Salgótarjáni út cemetery,’ which is the oldest Jewish burial ground on the Pest side of the city.

Most of the Jewish population was forced out of Budapest during World War II so naturally, the cemetery turned into ruins. The trees and plants began to take over the graveyard giving it quite an eerie aura.

When you visit, be careful. Always watch your step since most of these tombs have fallen through the ground.

Nevertheless, some of the tombstones and burial chambers are massive and gorgeous in their own unique kind of way. It is weird to call a headstone pretty, but there is something about this cemetery. Sure enough, it is a strange place to visit but very photogenic.

The cemetery is not open to the public but can be opened for visitors if arranged in advance, which is why you will need to go with a local.

5. Riding the Budapest Eye Ferris Wheel

Budapest Eye Ferris Wheel- Author; Globetrotter19-

Ride one of the world’s largest travelling Ferris wheels should also be on your bucket list when you visit Budapest.

It stands over 200 feet tall and has like 42 cars. When you think about it,that’s pretty impressive.

Every night, the  Eye Ferris wheel lights up the square with over 10,000 coloured lights. This is usually the highlight of any evening spent near the wheel.

Another thing, whether you are riding day or night, the Ferris wheel has excellent views to offer.

FYI: It operates daily in Erzsébet Square.

6. Take a ride of the Funicular up to the Buda Castle

Ride to Buda Hill- Author; Prabhachatterji-

The easiest and most scenic way to the Buda Castle is to ride the Buda hill funicular to the top.

The Buda Castle Funicular has actually connected the shores of the Danube and the Buda Castle since 1870. Then in 1897, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

There are two stations, the lower station is on the Buda side of the Chain Bride, and the upper station is on the Pest side on Castle Hill. Two trams that run the 300-foot track, will have you to the top in ten minutes.

The funicular runs daily 7:30 am-10 p.m but it is advisable to go early in the morning or just before sunset. By that time, the view is simply breathtaking.

7. Touring the Gellert Hill Cave Church

Gellert Hill Cave Church- Author; Nettadi-

The most exciting place to make sure you have visited while at Budapest is this cave church tucked away in the Gellért Hill Cave. However, don’t expect vaulted ceilings like in the other Gothic churches in the city.

This church was built in a natural cave by monks in the 1920s and the name of the church is Sziklatemplom, which means ‘Rock Church’ in Hungarian. During WWII, the church served as a hospital and took in refugees from the war.

After the war, the new communist government that took power arrested all the monks, and the head monk was executed, just for helping people.

This cave church is a top sight in Budapest for both its uniqueness and its very rich history.

8. Relax and appreciate the breathtaking view from Fisherman’s Bastion Viewpoint

Budapest, Fisherman’s Bastion- Photo by Yoav Aziz on

One of the best views of Budapest is from the lookout at Fisherman’s Bastion. Historically, the towers were lookout towers, but now it’s the best lookout in Budapest.

Seven towers are free to enter, and some of the upper towers have a small fee (under $3 though) during peak season.

When you’re visiting Matthias church, just walk around the balcony to reach the Fisherman’s Bastion.

9. Go cruising on the Danube River

View from Gellért Hill to the Danube- Author; Visions of Domino-

It wouldn’t be Budapest without the Danube River. There are tons of river cruises in Budapest from lunch or dinner cruises, half-day cruises, or even a Danube River cruise to and from Germany.

When visiting Budapest, take your time and cruise the river. The view and ambience will for sure blow your mind. Especially at night when there are so many coloured streets and bridges

10. Take time to watch the changing guards at Hungarian Parliament Building

A changing of the guard ceremony- Author; Dennis Jarvis-

If you have time while on your short stay, you can also watch the changing of the guards at the Parliament. You literally can’t miss the Parliament Building. It’s Hungary’s most recognizable building, and it is very huge and conspicuous

FYI: The Hungarian Parliament is the 3rd largest parliament building in the world and the largest building in Hungary. It took 17 years to construct, and it was finished in 1902.

There are parliament tours, but since tours are limited, lines can be long, and it often sells out days in advance. It’s, therefore, best to book a Budapest Parliament tour in advance online.