The Only Itinerary You Need for a Weekend in Budapest: 2 Days in Budapest
I recently got back from spending a weekend in Budapest and it was such a delight! Budapest is a really beautiful city and 48 hours in Budapest was the perfect amount of time to get to see a lot of the main sites and still get to casually walk around and enjoy little local shops.
This post includes our tried-and-true 2-day itinerary for Budapest plus info about where we stayed and helpful things to know before you go.
ARE 2 DAYS in Budapest Hungary Enough?
Definitely! We spent two full days exploring Budapest and I felt like it was perfect. Just like any travel destination, you could stay much longer than two days and explore much more. However, you can definitely hit all of the top sites in Budapest in two days.
We were able to take our time walking around the city, shopping in vintage shops and other eclectic stores, visiting the synagogue, taking in the views, eating delicious food, and even enjoying a nighttime river cruise.
You’ll see our tried and true, 2-day Budapest itinerary below!
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BEST TIME OF YEAR TO SPEND A WEEKEND IN Budapest
For the nicest weather, the fewest tourists, and the most affordable prices try to visit Budapest in May/June or September/October. However, we visited in early August and the city didn’t feel crowded and hotel prices were still quite affordable. So if July and August are when you are available, then go for it!
Another time you may consider visiting Budapest is during Christmas from late November to December to visit the Christmas markets.
WHERE TO STAY WHEN IN Budapest FOR 2 DAYS
One great thing about planning a trip to Budapest is that hotels are not nearly as expensive as in cities like London or Paris. We stayed at the D8 Hotel in Budapest and I was SO happy with our choice.
We only spent around 100 euros per night for an AMAZING, clean, new hotel in the most PERFECT location with a lovely complimentary breakfast.
The D8 Hotel is located in a super safe and nice location (which was important to us traveling as two female travelers). It was very quiet and peaceful at night, but still very close to everywhere you want to go.
It’s located only a 2-3 minute walk to a beautiful spot on the Danube River and the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, a 5-minute walk to where we boarded our nighttime river cruise, a 5-minute walk to the largest shopping street in Budapest and just a 15-minute walk to the eclectic Jewish Quarter. Seriously… I don’t think you can beat the location of the D8 Hotel.
Not only was the location of D8 Hotel superb, but the rooms were sparkling clean, the breakfast was great and the hotel reception area is a great spot to hang out if you want to be out of your room but not out on the town. And really, the price is INSANELY affordable- 100 euros per night for an amazing hotel? Yes please!
You can check out current prices for the D8 Hotel here– just book it, you won’t regret it.
MAP OF THINGS TO SEE IN 48 HOURS IN Budapest
*Use this interactive map to see each stop on this 2-day Budapest itinerary. Day one is in blue and day two is in red. Click on the full-screen icon in the top right corner to have this map open in your own Google Maps app or click on the arrow in the top left corner to see a pullout list of all points on the map*
TWO DAYS IN Budapest ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
This is a quick look at our tried-and-true itinerary for a weekend in Budapest. We flew in the evening the night before then explored for two full days making it a 3-night trip. Budapest makes for a great weekend getaway if you are based in Europe or it’s a great city to add to a greater European itinerary.
Day One Itinerary in Budapest:
- Morning
- Enjoy a scenic yellow tram ride along the Danube
- See the memorial shoes on the shores of the Danube River
- Shop for paprika at Central Market Hall
- Admire Liberty Bridge
- Afternoon
- Swim at Széchenyi Thermal Bath
- Try traditional chimney cakes
- Admire St. Stephen’s Basilica or climb to the top for pretty Budapest views
- Evening
- Dinner @ Retró Lángos Budapest to try traditional lángos
- See the Parliament Building lights reflect off the water on a nighttime Danube River Cruise
Day Two Itinerary in Budapest:
- Morning
- Enjoy the Farmer’s Market at Szimpla Kert Ruin Bar (Sundays only)
- Explore the Jewish Quarter and all the cute vintage shops
- Afternoon
- Lunch @ Mazel Tov Ruin Bar in the Jewish Quarter
- Tour Dohány Street Synagogue
- Walk across Széchenyi Chain Bridge
- Evening
- Dinner @ Leo Rooftop Budapest
- Watch the sunset over the city from Fisherman’s Bastion
- Take in the city lights from Buda Castle
ITINERARY FOR Budapest: 2 DAYS
Below is everything you need to know about each stop on our Budapest itinerary. This is our tried and true itinerary that we loved and I hope you like it too! Or you can take what you want from it and create your own perfect itinerary!
Budapest ITINERARY: DAY 1
MORNING:
Start the Morning with a scenic ride on tram Line 2 along the Danube River
Budapest has some very cute yellow trams and one of the most popular lines is Tram 2 which goes right along the Danube River. The easiest way to think of the route of Tram 2 is that it goes from just past the Parliament Building to just past Central Hall Market.
Years back, this tram line was actually rated as one of the top tram rides in the world by National Geographic.
It’s easy to find if you just make your way to the east side of the Danube River and you’ll see the various tram stops along the way. We rode the tram back and forth a couple of times to pass the Parliament Building, and the Shoes on the Danube as we made our way to Central Hall Market.
Taking a ride on Tram 2 is a great way to get off your feet and enjoy looking out across the Danube River. Our Hotel, D8 Hotel was perfectly positioned RIGHT near one of the Tram 2 stops giving us yet another reason to love our stay there.
See the Jewish memorial of shoes Along the shores of the Danube River
The art piece: ‘Shoes on the Danube’ is a chilling memorial to some of the horrifying events that happened in Budapest during WWII. Tens of thousands of Jews were required to take off their shoes along the banks of the Danube and then killed by gunfire to be washed away in the river.
The memorial was created by the film director Can Togay and sculptor Gyula Pauer and erected in 2005. The shoes are sculpted out of iron and made to represent shoes from the 1940s.
The shoes sit on the water’s edge right near the Parliament Building. The iconic yellow tram line 2 goes past the Shoes on the Danube (but you are a bit far from them to get a good view).
However, you can get off the tram at the Széchenyi István tér stop (right near the Széchenyi Chain Bridge) and walk to the shoes in about 5 minutes. This is the tram stop with the shortest walk to the shoes.
Shop for Hungarian Paprika at Central Hall Market
The Central Market Hall (or Grand Market Hall) is a large 3-story, 10,000-square-foot hall that opened in 1897 as a location for local farmers and vendors to sell their goods.
To this day, the Central Market is full of booths selling fresh produce, meat, and spices on the main floor (among many other things) and the upper floors are full of booths selling clothing, trinkets, and other Budapest souvenirs.
Plus the upper floor has a section of eateries selling traditional Hungarian favorites. However, the eating area can get quite crowded with limited seating so we opted to eat elsewhere.
You’ll also be sure to find stands selling sweet chimney cakes if you want to try one here
We enjoyed shopping for souvenirs at the market hall and came away with some linen dresses and jumpers for a great price plus different spices including Hungarian paprika.
Hungarian Paprika is often said to be the best in the world and you’ll find SO many booths selling variations of different ‘flavors’ in different cute containers/bags at the Central Market Hall.
Check out current opening hours here. The Market is always closed on Sundays.
Admire Liberty Bridge
Just outside of Central Market Hall is Liberty Bridge sometimes called Freedom Bridge (you can’t miss it). Take a few minutes to walk out onto the bridge and enjoy the views of the water, skyline, and hills. If you can’t tell by this itinerary- one of my favorite things to do in Budapest was enjoy the many beautiful views the city has to offer.
If you’re also into pretty views, be sure to check out this post: 8 Best Viewpoints in Budapest You Can’t Miss.
But anyway, back to Liberty Bridge. Liberty Bridge was constructed in the 1890s and is the shortest of the bridges crossing the Danube. You can walk using the pedestrian path across it to the bottom of Gellert Hill which has Gellert Thermal Bath at the base and a great viewpoint atop the hill.
We opted to head out towards Széchenyi Thermal Bath instead, but Gellert Bath and the Gellert Hill Viewpoint is much closer and it makes perfect sense to add to this point in the itinerary if that’s what you prefer.
Afternoon:
Enjoy a Swim at Széchenyi Thermal Bath
We full-on expected to spend a couple of hours swimming at Széchenyi Thermal Bath, however, when the time came around we just didn’t feel like getting wet and doing that whole thing (you know how it goes). So we opted to skip it.
However, from my research of thermal baths in Budapest, I felt that these were the most scenic thermal baths with beautiful yellow and white buildings. From pictures and reviews online, many of the thermal baths in Budapest (these included) do appear to have outdated interiors/locker rooms which some people may not love.
Although we didn’t go to the Szechenyi Thermal Baths, we did walk around the area. We noticed that there was a long line for those who hadn’t purchased tickets in advance, so I’d definitely recommend purchasing Szechenyi Bath skip-the-line tickets beforehand.
I think it’d be extra fun to swim at the Szechenyi Thermal Baths in winter when there is steam coming off of the water.
Another good thermal bath that I mentioned earlier that is easier to get to is the Gellert Thermal Bath. Gellert Thermal Bath is mostly comprised of indoor baths but it also has a large, outdoor wave pool which would be extra fun if you are in Budapest with kids.
Pick up some Traditional Chimney Cakes for an afternoon pick-me-up
Chimney cakes are a traditional Hungarian treat that is sometimes said to be the oldest pastry in Hungary. You’ll find chimney cake shops and stands all over Budapest so you’re never too far from one if you need a pick-me-up.
Hungarian chimney cakes are made from pastry dough wrapped around a wooden spool and slowly turned over an open flame or in an oven. The most traditional ones are dipped in cinnamon and sugar- but you can also find them dipped in other toppings like cocoa, nuts and Nutella. Or you can get really fancy and fill your chimney cake with ice cream and toppings.
As I said, there are chimney cakes all over Budapest, but we picked some up from a small stand near the Ferris Wheel of Budapest and a small shop near Széchenyi Thermal Bath.
Possibly an unpopular opinion, but I didn’t love the chimney cakes as much as I had hoped. I’m usually a sucker for any type of pastry but the chimney cakes didn’t really do it for me.
That being said, I still think you should give them a try since they’re such a staple in Budapest!
Admire St. Stephen’s Basilica from Below or climb to the top for pretty Budapest views
St. Stephen’s Basilica is a massive basilica located near the Danube River in Budapest. We just walked by and admired it from the streets below.
St. Stephen’s Basilica was built in the 1800s and is one of the most important churches in all of Hungary. It is named after the first king of Hungary, Saint Stephen, and dates back to about 1000 AD
You can pay for entrance to see the inside ( be sure to get the all-inclusive ticket that lets you up to the towers as the views look amazing) or book this guided tour of St. Stephen’s Basilica to learn more about the history which includes entrance in the tour price.
Evening:
Dinner @ Retró Lángos Budapest
Lángos is a typical Hungarian food made of fried dough with a variety of toppings. I really wanted to try these while we were in Budapest but hadn’t done enough research to know where to go. Unfortunately, the only ones I saw didn’t look very appealing (looking at you Central Hall Market Langos Shop).
However, after getting home, I researched more and found Retro Langos Budapest. Their photos look amazing and many say they serve the best langos in Budapest. I really wish we could have stopped here!
Instead, we tried traditional Georgian food (also a great experience!) from Hachapuri. Budapest has a few popular Georgian restaurants and it was fun to try a unique, different food that I’d never tried before.
Admire the City Lights on a nightime Cruise on the Danube River
One of the best things to do in Budapest is to take a nighttime cruise on the Danube River. If you only have time to fit in a river cruise during the day, that’s okay. However, the buildings along the river really start to show off their twinkling lights at night and their reflections in the water are beautiful!
You’ll notice how much more difficult it is to get tickets for the cruises after dark, so be sure to book your nighttime Danube River cruise in advance!
We waited until the day before to book our tickets and (thankfully) they had a couple tickets left for one of the latest departures of the night ( I think it was around 10 or 10:30 pm which is much later than this mom usually stays out 🤪). But it was worth it!
You can look at available tickets here for the cruise that we took.
It was a lovely one-hour cruise in a glass-enclosed boat with cozy, comfortable seats and even a complimentary drink! They had commentary about all of the iconic sites we passed and even a film at the front of the boat showing interior images of the buildings we passed which was a nice touch.
I’ve been on a lot of river cruises in Europe and this was the most comfortable one I’ve been on for sure.
Budapest ITINERARY: DAY 2
Morning:
Visit the Farmer’s Market at the Quirky Szimpla Kert Ruin Bar (Sundays Only)
If you are visiting Budapest for the weekend, be sure to visit one of the oldest ruin bars in Budapest, Szimpla Kert, for the Sunday Farmer’s Market from 9 am -2 pm. Ruin bars are unique, eccentric spaces created from the ruins of buildings mostly found in the Jewish Quarter of Budapest, although you will find some in other areas as well.
Szimpla Kert has got to be one of the most creative and quirky ruin bars in Budapest. It’s a mix of open-air and covered spaces with multiple rooms and unique furnishings around every corner.
Usually it’s a bustling bar/club with music and events, however, the Sunday Farmer’s market is quiet and a nice setting to just explore the unique building.
We started our walk through the Jewish Quarter here and then continued on to the many super cute stores and vintage shops on the nearby streets afterward.
Explore the Jewish Quarter with its Cute Stores & Vintage Shops
The Jewish Quarter in Budapest is such a cute area full of cute stores with local, handmade items and multiple vintage shops with unique vintage wares. I loved just wandering the streets and stepping into each shop that we passed.
If you’re like me and you like to have a few addresses on hand to help direct your wanderings, here are a few of the shops we stepped into:
Pesti Kornel Art Corner: Budapest, Síp u. 24, 1075 Hungary
Komondors Vintage Shop & Café: Budapest, Wesselényi utca 21, 1077 Hungary
Dressing Room: Budapest, Síp u. 24, 1075 Hungary
Judapest: Budapest, Kazinczy u. 52, 1075 Hungary
Afternoon:
Lunch @ MAzel Tov in the Jewish Quarter
Mazel Tov is a really cute restaurant/cafe often classified as a ruin bar in the Jewish Quarter and it’s in the MOST unassuming building (it really looks like an abandoned warehouse). But once you step in the doors it is a light, airy restaurant with high ceilings, twinkle lights, and greenery.
Something I love about visiting ruin bars in Budapest is thinking about the past inhabitants of the building and what it must have been before it was renovated into what it is today.
Mazel Tov serves a menu of Mediterranean/Middle-Eastern food (think falafel, hummus, lentil soups, shwarma etc) and it has become so popular that you’ll definitely want to look into making a reservation. You can make a reservation for Mazel Tov here.
Tour Dohány Street Synagogue
The Dohany Street Synagogue is the largest synagogue in Europe and the second-largest synagogue in the world. With an entrance ticket to Dohany Street Synagogue you can visit inside the synagogue, the Jewish Museum attached to it, the cemetery (which was a mass grave of thousands of Jewish bodies during WWII) and a smaller synagogue on-site (just to name a few of the things to see).
You can learn more about Dohany Street Synagogue here. We were able to walk up and purchase tickets day of. But like most places, it’s often suggested to purchase tickets in advance.
Keep in mind that modest dress is required (shoulders and knees covered) and men must have their heads covered but they offer small kipas if needed.
I really enjoyed learning more about the Jewish history of Budapest because it’s impossible to ignore the Jewish influence in the area. If we would have had more time, I would have loved to take this 3-hour walking tour of the Jewish Quarter coupled with a guided visit to the synagogue.
Admire Budapest as you Walk Across Széchenyi Chain Bridge
Szechenyi Chain Bridge is my favorite bridge that crosses the Danube River in Budapest. It has a pedestrian path lining both sides of the bridge and it offers beautiful views of both Buda and Pest including Buda Castle, the Parliament Building, and boats sailing along the Danube.
This bridge was completed in 1849 making it the oldest and first permanent bridge to cross the Danube River connecting Buda and Pest.
A walk across the Szechenyi Chain Bridge is a great way to get over to the Buda side of Budapest where you can have dinner or drinks at Leo Rooftop Bar and walk to Fisherman’s Bastion which I talk more about below.
Evening:
Dinner @ Leo Rooftop Bar
Leo Rooftop Bar is a great place to have dinner or drinks if you are looking for a bit of an upscale atmosphere with amazing views. It’s located JUST over the Széchenyi Chain Bridge atop the Hotel Clark Budapest and at the base of the hill of Fisherman’s Bastion (which makes it a perfect spot to eat before heading up to Fisherman’s Bastion for sunset).
The views from Leo Rooftop Bar are really quite amazing with stunning views of Széchenyi Chain Bridge and the Parliament Building along the Danube River.
Although it’s atop a hotel, the restaurant has it’s own entrance to the side of the hotel where they let you up a special elevator to the rooftop. The menu is made up of a variety of small plates that are made to share or order a couple for yourself.
We weren’t super hungry and were mostly there to take in the views, so we only ordered sweet potato fries and a goat cheese/hummus bread platter and some drinks. But they also have poke bowls, sliders, soups, salads and more!
There is a small outdoor seating area, but it’s also a smoking area so if you book your table outside, know that you may have neighbors smoking. However, you don’t need to sit outside because all of the seats in the restaurant have great views thanks to the huge glass wall of windows.
You do want to make sure you book a table ahead of time. We checked for bookings a couple of hours before dinner and they were all booked. However, we showed up anyway and they were able to get us a couple of seats at the bar.
Watch the Sunset over the city from Fisherman’s Bastion
Just a walk up the hill from Leo Rooftop Bar is by far one of my favorite viewpoints in Budapest was Fisherman’s Bastion. This area of Budapest offers stunning views across the Danube of the Parliament Building and the Pest side of Budapest.
It’s a decent uphill walk with a good amount of stairs to reach Fisherman’s Bastion, however, you can also pay to ride the Buda Castle Hill Funicular up the hill. It’s about $3.50 for a one-way funicular ticket.
Fisherman’s Bastion is a very fairytale-like area with stunning white columns and windows with breathtaking views around every corner. We watched the sunset over the city which I highly recommend. It was so beautiful to see the city turn different colors of pink as the sun set behind us and to watch the city lights slowly start to sparkle.
And Mathias Church which sits right next to Fisherman’s Bastion is one of the prettiest churches I’ve ever seen. The spires are gorgeous and the brown and turquoise roof is so uniquely beautiful.
You can even pay to go to the top of a tower in Mathias Church for even higher views- we didn’t know about that when we were there, but it could definitely be worth it.
Fisherman’s Bastion is free unless you want to go atop the columns on a slightly higher viewing platform. It costs €3-4 for the upper viewing platform and the fee can be paid in cash or card at a small vending machine at the bottom of the stairs.
Take in the city lights from Buda Castle
One other viewing spot near Fisherman’s Bastion is Buda Castle. Once the sun set completely, we stopped by Buda Castle to take in the city lights.
You can also visit Buda Castle during the day to explore the gardens and courtyards. Or you can pay for entrance to the the Buda Castle Complex to visit the Hungarian National Gallery, the Budapest History Museum or Buda Labyrinth.
TOP TIPS FOR VISITING Budapest IN TWO DAYS
- Book accommodations near the Danube River to spend as much time as possible walking along the banks taking in the gorgeous city and bridge views. This is one reason why I loved staying at D8 Hotel so much.
- We didn’t take public transit too much since Budapest is quite a walkable city. However, we did purchase the 72-hour Budapest Travel Card so that we could board public transit at any time without worrying about purchasing a ticket. It was only about $15 for the full 72 hours, however, it does not include the bus to and from the airport.
- Be sure to include at least one viewpoint in your itinerary. My favorite was the view from Fisherman’s Bastion.
- After dark is a beautiful time to be out along the Danube River. I recommend seeing it both during the day and at night. A great way to see the city lights at night is on a nighttime Danube River cruise (this is the one we took). The Parliament Building’s lights reflecting off the water are unreal.
- Be sure to try some of the amazing Israeli Mediterranean food that you can find all over the city (but especially in the Jewish Quarter). Mazel Tov Ruin Bar is a great spot for this (be sure to get reservations). And of course, try traditional Hungarian food as well!
- It’s super easy to get to the city center from the airport. The 100E Airport Express bus will get you to the city center in about 40 minutes.. You don’t even need to buy tickets in advance. You can purchase your ticket at a kiosk ON the bus using your bank card. A one-way ticket was about $6. We just put the Budapest Airport and our city-center destination in Google Maps and chose the option that said 100E Airport Express and it worked perfectly.
Check out my post 18 Things to Know Before Visiting Budapest Hungary for more Budapest travel tips!
And that’s everything I think you need to know to plan an amazing weekend in Budapest Hungary! This is our tried-and-true itinerary and we had a great weekend in Budapest. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below and I’ll be sure to get back to you!
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Heidi
Great itinerary, it’s on our list to visit!