The capital city of Hungary is Budapest. It is a city full of rich history, great food and can’t miss sights. This beautiful capital is also full of surprises – whether you want to try the Hungarian cuisine or explore its historic Jewish quarter, soak up some culture at one of the many stylish museums or just relax with your loved ones by the water near the Chain Bridge or Fisherman’s Bastion. This guide will help you navigate Budapest and make the most out of your visit. As a local (born & raised in Budapest) I would like to show you my city! I am sure you will fall in love with Budapest (and with Hungary) 
Best time to visit Budapest, Hungary
The best time to visit Budapest is all depends on your personal preference. I think the best time to visit the city either Spring or Autumn. Here you can find the average temperature by month:
And here is the average rainfall in the city:
The average daily sunshine hours:
Spring
If you are in Budapest during spring, you can enjoy numerous things to do. There will be much green around the city center, making it a perfect place to stroll. Besides that, you can also enjoy your long walks around the city center at night and see beautiful buildings lit up brightly.you will be surrounded by blooming trees, cherry blossoms and tulips as well as more even temperatures that make exploring much easier.
Summer
In summer, there are fewer people around and it will be easier to find a place to enjoy a drink or two in one of Budapest’s many outdoor cafes. The sun does not go down till late, giving you ample time to explore the city and its many sides.
Autumn
My favorite season in Budapest is autumn, becase it is the best time to see all of Budapest’s colorful fall leaves without the winter chill.
Winter
Budapest is a city that lets you have a great time even in winter. It is due to the fact that it has many romantic destinations and cool places where you can enjoy the art and culture of the capital city.
Traveling from the airport to the city center
It’s easy to get to Budapest Hungary from the airport by taking a taxi or public transport. It’s also possible to book an airport transfer before you hoof it out of the airport and be dropped off at one of the city’s great hotels. The Liszt Ferenc Airport is located about 16 km from the city center.
Bus
This is the cheapest way to go to the city center. The bus No 100E provides a convenient, cost-effective and fast connection between the airport and the city center (it is a direct bus line without any stop until the city center). Journey time to the city center is 40 minutes. The bus service operates around the clock, seven days a week:
- every 7-10 minutes every day, during the day
- every 30-40 minutes at night, between midnight and about 3:30 in the morning
The price is 5,6 € (2200 Ft), and you can download an app called BudapestGo and you can purchase this ticket via this app. But you can also buy this ticket at the ticket booth (you can find the ticket booths on the terminal). You need to purchase the ticket before boarding.
If you are on a budget, there is another option: you can use the bus No 200E which goes to Kőbánya-Kispest metro station and you can use this bus for the price of a normal ticket. It runs quite often, in every 10-20 mins.
Taxi
The easyest and most convenient way is to use Kiwi taxi. They will wait for you at the exit with your name – how cool is that?!
The official taxi company is Főtaxi. Reservations can be made in person at the Főtaxi booths located at the exits of Terminals 2A and 2B. At the taxi ranks in front of the stands, taxis are continuously waiting for passengers. It is totally safe, but it can be quite expensive.
Shuttle
Budapest airport shuttle service takes you directly to your hotel/accommodation. You can reserve seats online (miniBUD shuttle). The price is affordable, however this service is shared, so it may take longer thank the 100E bus.
Car-sharing services in Budapest, Hungary
There are 2 main companies: MOL Limo and GreenGo. The MOL Limo has 15 dedicated parking spaces are provided for passengers at the airport’s parking lot. It is 10 mins by walking from the terminal. You should download their application in advance.
Payment in Budapest
However Hungary is a member of the European Union, the official currency is the Hungarian Forint (HUF). 1 euro is equal to ~400 HUF. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere but some smaller places may ask for payment in cash (but please try to avoid payment in euro/usd, because most probably the exchange rate will be really bad). You can withdrawn money at any ATM, I think the Revolut card is the best if you travel abroad.
If you would like to exchange currency, I would recommend to exchange euro or US dollar at Expert Exchange.
Best areas to stay in Budapest
The best areas to stay in Budapest are the inner city in Pest or the area of the Buda castle. Choose from a wide array of accommodations to suit your style, budget and desired location: several hotels, hostels, airbnbs are available.
Or if you would like to stay there for free, I can recommend the HomeExchange program.
The best districts to stay:
I., V., VI., VII. (I wouldn’t recommend to stay in the 8th district, it can be sketchy during the night). Personally I would stay on the Pest side – the nightlife is much better and the majority of the sites are located in Pest.
How to get around in the city
Getting around Budapest is easy – the city itself is walkable. Budapest’s public transportation system connects each part of the city and creates a system that is efficient, dependable and easy to use. There are many buses, trolleys, trams and even ferries operating in Budapest. The subway is often mentioned as Budapest’s best public transport option and it can be used to cover almost anywhere in the city with ease. The public transportation runs during the night. I always use Google Maps because it’s accurate and reliable.
Here you can find all of the types of tickets. You can download the app “BudapestGo” and you can purchase your tickets via this app. If you are using single tickets, don’t forget to validate them before boarding. There are several travel cards for 24 or 72 hours or you can buy the Budapest Card as well.
Uber doesn’t operate in Hungary – but you can use Bolt. But unfortunately it will not be much cheaper than taxi.
There is another option -using electric scooters/bikes! Lime is an electric scooter and bike-sharing app. Just download the app to find a vehicle near you, scan to unlock it, and enjoy the ride. The vehicles are dockless so it makes easier for you to utilize public transit options by providing an easy way to get to and from your departure and arrival locations.
Places to visit
Castle quarter
This is where you will find the Buda Castle, the Matthias Church and the Fisherman’s Bastion.
The Hungarian Parliament
The Hungarian parliament building is one of the most monumental buildings in Hungary – maybe in Europe?! You can even go to a guided tour inside the building.
Shoes on the Danube Bank
Just a few minutes of walking from the Hungarian Parliament building there is this memorial dedicated to the Jews executed by the Hungarian Nazi Party during the Second World War.
St. Stephen’s Basilica
You can go on the top of the Basilica – the view is amazing!
Great Market Hall
The building itself is breath-taking, and inside of the market there are dozens of food and souvenir stalls. Don’t miss to try lángos!
Great Synagogue
This synagogue is the biggest one in Europe. I would recommend to book a tour to understand the history of the building and also to have a better understanding on the history of the Jewish religion in Hungary.
Deák Square
This square is the hub of three metro lines in Budapest. Also you can visit the “Budapest Eye” and have a panoramic view over the city.
Heroes Square & Vajdahunyad castle
The Andrássy Street is the main boulevard of downtown Budapest. If you walk along the street, you will arrive to the Heroes Square. From here you can reach the Vajdahunyad castle.
House of Terror
House of Terror is a museum located at Andrássy street. It contains exhibits related to the fascist and communist regimes in 20th-century Hungary and is also a memorial to the victims of these regimes. It is a really dark museum but it worth to visit!
Opera House
The building itself is stunning – and it is worth to look inside as well.
Places to eat
Interactive map
I have created an interactive map with the best restaurants in Budapest Hungary. If you would like to eat Italian, Vietnamese or Greek food, check out this map.
Vakvarjú restaurant
You can try traditional Hungarian dishes and it is located in the city center.
Briós
It is a place for having breakfast or brunch. And the Pozsonyi street, where the Briós is located is such a cool street! One of my fav part in Budapest.
Espresso Embassy
Perfect place to have a coffee.
Menza restaurant
Cool neighborhood and good food – what else do you need?
High Note Skybar
It is a rooftop bar, and the view is amazing from here!
The Bálna
This place is located on the bank of the Danube and it has several restaurants and bars. The vibe here is excellent!
Things to do in Budapest
Soaking in a thermal bath – Hungary is famous for it’s thermal baths!
Hungary has several hot springs, and Budapest has a lot of thermal baths. These places are perfect for a relaxing getaway after a day of exploring the city. Széchenyi Baths is the most popular.
Cruise on the Danube
And it doesn’t need to be expensive, because the public transportation has boats.
Enjoy a ruin bar in Budapest
Budapest is famous for its ruin bars. The most popular one is Szimpla, but is mostly visited by tourists. It is expensive and not a local bar anymore. I would recommend to visit Csendes ruin bar, or Púder ruin bar or Szatyor ruin bar. If you are into parties with ruin-bar vibes I would recommend the Instant-Fogas komplexum. But if you are only into parties you should visit Gozsdu udvar or Doboz.
Walk across the Liberty Bridge/Chain Bridge
The view from the bridges are super cool.
Visit the Margaret island
this island is quite small and easy it is walkable. There are a lot of bars, a plage with swimming pools, a running track, a small zoo, a really cool fountain and so much green. It is such a popular place among Hungarians!
As a local I wanted to share with you the most important things about my beloved city. I have traveled the world, but I still think that Budapest is one of the best cities in the world!
If you need further information, please contact me via email or on any of my social media platforms. Thanks for reading this guide and have an amazing time in Budapest Hungary!
