Budapest in 2 Days Itinerary

Wondering what to do in Budapest? Budapest is a vibrant city and ideal for a weekend. Perfect for solo travelers, backpackers, couples and party animals, there’s a lot of things to do in Budapest.

Beautiful during the day and simply stunning at night, it’s quite hard not to fall for Budapest.

You can get around Budapest easily. Whether you’re a big walker or not, there’s a lot of options for public transport as well as daily, weekly and monthly passes.

Traveling Budapest in two days can be quite challenging but it is possible! Personally, I opted for a longer stay but if you’re traveling across Europe and you’re on a tight schedule you should know that you will still have plenty of time to make the most of it.

Budapest During the Day

As I mentioned above, you can see a lot just by walking. The following places are all in the same area. You should be able to walk around without having to pay for transport. Although you can always take a ferry to reach the other side of the Danube if the bridges seem a little too far away.

Gellért Hill

Budapest itinerary 2 days

Budapest two days

If you’re up for a short hike you should consider climbing Gellért Hill. It’s an easy one (140 metres) and doesn’t require you to be super fit. You’ll get stunning views of the city.

The Citadel (Citadella)

The Citadel is located at the top of Gellért Hill. You might want to check it out while you’re in the area!

Buda Castle

Places to visit in Budapest in 2 days

Buda Castle is located between Gellért Hill and the Fisherman’s Bastion. You can enjoy amazing views from this massive baroque palace.

Fisherman’s Bastion

What to see Budapest

What to see and do in Budapest

Budapest 2 days trip

What to see in Budapest, Hungary

Fisherman’s Bastion is a fairy tale building and will surely charm you with its amazingly colorful vibes. You’ll have to pay to access it but you can still enjoy the views around.

Hungarian Parliament Building

Must see in Hungary

My favorite building in Budapest was definitely the Hungarian Parliament Building with its pretty and unique gothic style.

The best way to see it is definitely from the other side of the Danube.

While you’re around you should make a quick stop to see the Shoes on the Danube Bank, which is a memorial to honor the Jews who were killed during World War II. Basically, people were ordered to take off their shoes before they were shot at the edge of the bank, falling in the Danube.

Budapest itinerary

Budapest At Night

What to do in Budapest at night

Fun things to do in Budapest at night

The city is completely different at night and you should consider going for a walk at night time to appreciate a whole new perspective of the city. The bridges and the main building will all be lit up at night.

Also, for some of us who like the “party animal life”, you might want to go out while you’re in Budapest!

Activities to Do in Budapest

Hungarian Cooking Class

cooking class budapest

While in Budapest, why not trying to cook some of the most traditional dishes in Hungary? We had an amazing time at the Central Hall Market, which is the largest indoor market in Budapest. First, we went for a little shopping session so we can get extra ingredients for our recipes. Then, we went to a cooking school where we cooked three dishes: the famous Hungarian Goulash, followed by a delicious Paprika Chicken and we made filled pancakes for dessert. This experience was offered by Tinggly. Read more about this fun cooking experience here.

Scenic Flight Over Budapest

Budapest

If you’re thinking of doing something a bit more crazy while in Budapest, you could go on an air cruise over the city. It’s an excellent way to get unique shots of Budapest while enjoying spectacular views. This short flight of 20 minutes will surely be memorable. We had someone picking us up at our Airbnb and the whole thing was super smooth. It was quite a fun experience to be in such a tiny plane. Obviously, the views were worth it and I can’t say no to an adrenaline dose, ha! This experience was also offered by Tinggly. Read more about this unique experience here.

The Bath Culture

The famous bath culture seems to be mostly for tourists nowadays. If you are able to relax amongst a crowd you might enjoy the experience. Here I’m talking about Gellért Baths, which is super Instagrammable and also quite pricey. Of course, the building is still an architectural beauty!

If you’d rather avoid the tourist path and save a few pennies I’d suggest you target less crowded baths like the Rudas Baths, Lukacs Baths, or the Kiraly Baths for a better experience.

Where to Stay in Budapest

You can find accommodation for pretty much every price range in Budapest.

Budget: Flow Hostel. The location was perfect to stroll around the Danube and there were many good restaurants around. I stayed in this hostel the first time I visited Budapest.

Mid-Range: Maverick City Lodge / M-Square Hotel / The Hotel Unforgettable

Luxury: Mystery Hotel Budapest / Kempinski Hotel Corvinus / Parisi Udvar Hotel

Book a Room!

Are you staying longer? Check out this list of 25 things to do in Budapest and this 3 days in Budapest itinerary!

BEFORE YOU GO TO HUNGARY

☑ Book your flight: If your flight isn’t booked yet – check out the flights on Skyscanner or via Google Flights. My top saving tip is flexibility. If you’re flexible, you should be able to find a cheaper flight.

☑ Book your accommodation: I always use Airbnb and Booking.com. If you’d rather stay in a hostel, you should take a look at the options on Hostelworld. If you click on the Airbnb link and you don’t have an account yet – you’ll get a $30 discount on your first booking.

☑ Protect your cute face: Oh, you may want to protect your cute face with a travel medical insurance. I would suggest SafetyWing as they offer the best rates, especially for long-term travelers. Otherwise, you can also take a look at World Nomads.

☑ Pack the essentials: You can consult this list when it’s time to pack your bag! Do not leave without a universal charger, a power bank and your passport!

☑ Do you need a visa? If you aren’t sure if you need a visa, it would be a smart idea to take a quick look before you go. You can use iVisa – it’s super useful and easy to use.

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