After his tour with Hi,hi Guide Kata, Remco from the Netherlands wanted to share his experience, so other travelers could discover Budapest the same as he did.
Kata took Remco and his 8 friends, all first time visitors to Budapest, visited to the top things to do and secret places only locals know about. The result is 9 things everyone must see when visiting Budapest for the first time.
1. Parliament of Budapest
It’s the seat of the Hungarian government, but most of all it’s stunningly beautiful. The iconic Parliament of Hungary is probably most famous building of Budapest.
According to Kata, it should be every traveler’s first stop when visiting the city.
2. St. Stephen’s Basilica
St. Stephen’s Basilica is known for its size and beautiful organ concerts. Basilica is the biggest church in Budapest with a capacity of over 8,500 people.
The church towers over half the city, being one of the highest viewpoints. ‘Pest’ is the flat side of Budapest, and if you ask any local about the church, they will tell you that the church is the most visible in the Pest skyline.
Inside the church, the decorations seem dark and gloomy, but the details in the architecture are truly elegant and gorgeous, so look closely!
The top of the dome can be reached by either taking a lift or climbing 146 stairs. The topmost point offers one of the best views in the city.
The church is located in the centre of Budapest, so you cannot miss it easily. The church is the venue of very nice classical concerts throughout the year, including high-end concerts as part of the popular Budapest Spring Festival.
3. Ruin Bar Szimpla Kert
Kert being short for “open air cinema,” Szimpla Kert is the first and most famous ruin bar in Budapest.
This iconic kert pub has inspired a wave of ‘ruin pubs’ all over Budapest since it opened in 2002 and relocated in 2004.
Although it is one of the most popular bars in the city, many locals love to go here and it is a true cultural experience.
The idea behind the bar was to create a relaxing and exciting environment to socialize and have a tasty drink. The area is open to anyone, making the atmosphere inviting and people friendly.
4. Restaurant Mazel Tov
In the Jewish Quarters of Budapest, this Jewish restaurant is one of the best.
The food at Mozel Tov is delicious with Israeli dishes and Mediterranean style cuisine. They also serve some local favourites, such as the shawarma plate and the spicy merguez, which is a North African sausage made from beer paired with beets, tahini and matbucha.
Mozel Tov is quite popular, so we would advice to make a reservation in advance!
5. Széchenyi Bath
Szechenyi Bath is a spa in the city park of Budapest. This 100 years old Bath is one of the biggest in Europe and hosts 18 different pools.
Along with the indoor and outdoor pools, there are also massage treatments, saunas, a gym and a bar with beer and wine.
At the bar, there is the special natural water that is the same water that supplies the pools from over 1000 meters below the ground.
The spring waters of Szechenyi Bath were discovered in 1880s, and by 1913 millions were enjoying the fun aqua therapeutic powers of the baths.
It is open every single day throughout the year, including national holidays. As it may get busy sometimes, it’s smart to pre-book your tickets online.
6. Buda Castle
Buda Castle, often called the Budapest Castle, is on top of Castle Hill. The UNESCO World Heritage protected Royal Palace houses a museum that tells the history of Buda and Pest, each representing one side of the Danube river.
You can get to the castle by elevator or by walking up the hill. Remco preferred the second option as there is no waiting line for a fresh hike, and the views over the city are astonishing.
Some of the best gastro fairs and festivals have been held at the castle, such as the Hungarian Palinka Festival, the Buda Castle Easter Fair, the Budapest Wine Festival, the Hungarian Festival of Folk Arts and many more.
7. Buda Hills
Are you craving for some outdoors adventure? At the Buda hills, there are beautiful hiking trails up to 500 meter peaks.
During winters, skiing, snowboarding, sledding and cross-country skiing are all favorites. During the warmer seasons, walking and mountain biking are very popular sports.
In addition, there is also Challengeland located in the hills, which is a huge playground with several zip-lines. The Buda hills are in close proximity to Janos Hill, which is the highest point in Budapest.
A fun way to get to Normafa is to take the Children’s Railway. The rail goes along the route and stops at some popular recreation spots, like the Szechenyi Hill, Wildlife Park and the Huvosvolgy.
If you get the munchies, at the Huvosvolgy there is a Hungarian restaurant that has excellent food.
8. Andrássy Avenue
This street is also called “The Champs-Elysées of Budapest”. Andrassy Avenue is home to many upscale boutiques, including Louis Vuitton, Ermenegildo Zegna, Burberry and Gucci.
Andrassy Avenue is not only about shopping though. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of Budapest’s most elegant and well-known streets with many impressive 19th century architecture.
The avenue stretches from the bustling Elizabeth Square to the proud Heroes’ Square, with Budapest’s green area, City Park, at the end.
A walk along this avenue will take a few hours at a leisurely pace. You can spend about half a day exploring City Park and its surroundings.
Among the shops and boutiques, the Hungarian State Opera House is worth a selfie too.
9. Palinka, the local spirit
Palinka is a traditional fruit brandy that many Hungarian locals themselves make (and drink). Home-brewed Palinka is the best.
It varies in alcohol percentage and is made from a variety of fruits, like plums, apples and apricots.
The way of making Palinka has risen to an art. Uncles or grandparents brew the alcohol with their younger children as a family tradition.
Budapest locals will usually know someone to go out of town and who would be willing to get you a bottle to take home. Luckily for Remco, Kata’s uncle just finished a batch.
10. Sziget Festival
The Sziget Festival is one of the largest music and cultural festivals in Europe. The famous week-long festival in Budapest is on the Obúda Island. The name Sziget literally means island in Hungarian.
The festival hosts more than 1,000 performances. The event has become student driven, promoting rock music. It is now being increasingly labelled as a European alternative to the Burning Man festival because of the unique features. One of these features is the “party train” that transports festival-goes from all over Europe.
