explore it yourself:
The journey and accommodations:
We arrived by train from Bratislava on the evening of June 24th and stayed until the morning of June 28th. We arrived into Budapest-Nyugati and we departed out of Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport.
Below is what AI recommended for accommodations:
1. Maverick City Lodge
2. Baroque Hostel & Coworking
3. Dean’s College Hotel
4. Hotel Mika Downtown
5. Ibis Styles Budapest Center
Per AI’s recommendation, we went with Maverick Budpapest SoHo (one of several Maverick locations in the city). We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here with every aspect of the stay going smoothly right from the check-in. The workers at the reception were very friendly and we were able to leave our bags in a luggage room for the day as we arrived a few hours before check-in. The hostel hosts fun guest events almost every single day from group taco nights to beer-pong matches, they go out of their way to invite everyone to come meet each other. The hostel partners with several local tour guides and river cruises which you can book right at the front desk (we recommend the river cruise!)
The sleeping situation here is as nice as it gets in a shared dorm room. The air conditioning worked great so our room was very cool all day despite the heat wave outside that led to 95+ degree heat every single day of our stay. The in-room lockers are very large and fit all of our baggage with ease. We were in a 6-bed mixed dorm room and the beds were comfortable so we slept great here.
We were pleasantly surprised by the amount of cleaning the staff does here as well. It truly felt like every time we stepped out of the room, there was someone mopping the floors, cleaning the bathrooms, wiping down windows, etc.
The area around the hostel might have been our favorite part about our stay. The SoHo area is completely lined with bars and restaurants on both sides of the streets. We love trying new restaurants and with this location we couldn’t have picked a better spot to stay.
We really enjoyed our stay here and would highly recommend to anybody traveling through Budapest looking for a reasonably priced option (~$30/night). Maverick definitely contributed to us having the best 3 Days in Budapest.
Note: * our additions to ai itinerary and exclusions are crossed out, also see our summary at the bottom.
Day 1: Buda Castle District &Gellért Hill (West of the Danube)
Castle Hill
- Iced lattes from Flatty*
- Szechenya Chain Bridge*
- Buda Castle – Explore the courtyards, and optionally the
Hungarian National GalleryorBudapest History Museum. ~$15- We opted to walk around the outskirts of the castle grounds while taking in the views of Budapest. The scenery is unbeatable from atop the hill!
- Matthias Church – Stunning Gothic church with colorful Zsolnay tiles.
- The tiling on top of the church is so unique, such a stunning building.
- Fisherman’s Bastion – Iconic lookout with postcard views of Pest and the Parliament.
- There are plenty of outdoor bars to sit and have a drink while taking in the vies here!
- Lunch at
- Jamie’s Italian* – Cozy spot with terrace seating and views of Buda Castle district.
- This was just steps from the Matthias Church and was a great option to grab a bite while getting out of the heat. The Julietta pizza was delicious!
- Jamie’s Italian* – Cozy spot with terrace seating and views of Buda Castle district.
Tip: Arrive early to the castle for the best light and fewer crowds.
Gellért Hill & Surroundings
- Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum – A hidden historical gem beneath the castle. (We just saw the exterior and the lobby)
- Gellért Hill – Hike or bus up for panoramic city views.
- We chose to hike up the hill to watch the sun set over the city. Despite hiking in the grueling heat, it was definitely worth it for the view!
- Citadella & Liberty Statue – Great vantage points.
- Plenty of photo ops from the top of the hill such as these.
Gellért Baths– Wind down with a dip in this historic Art Nouveau thermal bath.- CLOSED UNTIL 2028!
Dinner & Cruise
- Early Dinner at:
- Fat Mama* – Located next door to our hostel, great ambiance with indoor and outdoor seating. Really good chicken tenders and caesar salad.
Menza– Trendy restaurant in Liszt Ferenc Square with Hungarian cuisine and a cool atmosphere.- OR
Hemingway Étterem– Quiet riverside terrace with Hungarian-European fusion.
- Danube River Cruise – Especially beautiful at sunset or night when landmarks are lit up.
- After talking with the front desk at our hostel, we were recommended the ‘Budapest Boat Party’ cruise that comes with all-you-can-drink Prosecco cocktails.
- For just 27 EUR per person you can choose either the 8:00PM or 10:00PM cruise (we recommend the 10PM cruise in the summer for better views of the parliament building lit up). The service on the cruise was great as you were constantly being offered refills on your drinks and with 6 different drink types it was fun to try them all!
- After talking with the front desk at our hostel, we were recommended the ‘Budapest Boat Party’ cruise that comes with all-you-can-drink Prosecco cocktails.
- Elizabeth Square* – Ferris wheel in a pretty square park.
- Smash Langos* – Smash burgers on the famous Budapest Langos.
Day 2: Pest Highlights & Parliament (East of the Danube)
Parliament Area
- Croissant from Arán Bakery*
- Hungarian Parliament Building – Take a guided tour (book in advance!).
- We skipped the tour and walked the outside of the building. The architecture is absolutely amazing!
- Shoes on the Danube Bank – Poignant Holocaust memorial.
- This was a really somber memorial in remembrance of the ~20,000 invdividuals murdered along the Danube river between 1944-1945.
- Liberty Square – Site of Soviet and U.S. monuments, surrounded by historic buildings
- There is some controversy surrounding the statue in the square which claims to memorialize “victims of the German occupation” while opposers claim this neglects to mention Hungary’s complicity in the holocaust.
- Protesters have placed personal artifacts, notes, and photos, serving as a ‘counter-monument’ directly in front of the government-installed statue. We stayed to read several of the notes which contained some of the most tragic stories from holocaust survivors and their families.
- There is some controversy surrounding the statue in the square which claims to memorialize “victims of the German occupation” while opposers claim this neglects to mention Hungary’s complicity in the holocaust.
City Center & St. Stephens
- Lunch at one of the below:
- Cookie Beacon Brunch* – The Cinnamon Roll iced latte was perfect to pair with the Cinnamon Roll cookie!
- OR
Biarritz Restaurant– Elegant dining near Parliament with Hungarian flavors.
- St. Stephen’s Basilica – Climb the dome for one of the best city views. (fee at the door)
- Another example of a ticketed attraction where we chose to walk the outskirts.
- Andrássy Avenue Walk – Admire 19th-century architecture en route to Heroes’ Square.
- Although this was a long walk up the whole street, the architecture was so interesting to see on the route and the park at the end was a great spot to sit and rest.
- City Park (Városliget) – Wander through this large green space.
- We sat here after our walk up Andrássy Avenue and on the South-East portion of the lake, the views of the castle and hot-air balloon were incredible.
- Vajdahunyad Castle – Storybook-like castle inside the park.
- Dinner at
Robinson Restaurant– Lakeside dining in City Park.- Hummus Bar* – Amazing falafels and hummus, great for a light dinner.
Miniversum– Fun, detailed miniature world of Hungary (especially if you enjoy quirky museums).- Parliament Building View* – We went right before sunset and stayed until the sun went down and all the lights were shining on the building. It was amazing!
Day 3: Thermal Baths, Jewish Quarter, & Ruin Bars
Relax and Recharge
Széchenyi Thermal Baths– One of Europe’s largest and most iconic bath complexes.- We ended up choosing the Palatinus Strand Baths* on Margit Island (Margaret Island) as a more affordable option at roughly half the price. It was 99 degrees Fahrenheit when we visited and the pool water was warmer than we would have liked so it was not particularly refreshing. The pool was absolutely crowded as well so we would consider choosing another option if we were to come back.
Bar Hop
- Central Market Hall*
- Rumpus Tiki Bar* – Hawaii-themed cocktail lounge
- The drinks are slightly expensive here but for good reason; they are very tasty and you can get some very strong options if you’d like.
Csendes Létterem– Vintage Bar & Café- Szimpla Kert – The original ruin pub; eclectic, artsy and must-see.
- This was such a fun atmosphere we went back 2-nights in a row!
- Street Food Karavan Budapest*
- So many different food options to choose from here, we went with some tenders from Crunchy Chicken & Co. which were great!
Jewish Quarter & street Art
- Dohány Street Synagogue – Largest in Europe; includes museum and Holocaust memorial. We just viewed the exterior of both synagogues.
- Rumbach Street Synagogue – Recently restored and less crowded.
- Gozsdu Udvar* – Small lively street with restaurants and bars.
- Hidden Gems: Hunt for street art murals and tiny art installations in back alleys.
- Dinner at:
Mazel Tov– Stylish Middle Eastern/Hungarian fusion in a courtyard setting.- OR
Instant-Fogas Complex bar - OR #1 Birria Taco Bar* – Some of our favorite tacos we have ever had.
final thoughts:
Overall Rating: 9.5
Would we go again? We would love to come again. This has been one of our favorite cities of all our European travel so far.
Favorite moment:
Bailey’s favorite: Watching the sunset from Citadella. It was an incredible way to see the city.
Parker’s favorite: The party boat cruise was a reasonably-priced experience for all that was included. The views of the city from the river were incredible and the cocktails were delicious, I would do this again in a heartbeat.
Favorite meal:
Bailey’s favorite: The Birria tacos from #1 Birria Taco Bar.
Parker’s favorite: Burgers at Smash Langos were so delicious and filled with all sorts of toppings.
Any surprises? Everything, we feel like Budapest is extremely underrated and doesn’t get enough love.
Anything we missed? Széchenyi Thermal Baths, although we were looking forward to these famous baths in the City Park prior to our trip here, by day 4 we felt like we had spent a lot of money already so we opted for a cheaper pool option on Margit Island.
Food spots AI recommended, but we didn’t have a chance to go: Menza, Hemingway Étterem, Biarritz Restaurant, Robinson Restaurant, Csendes Létterem, Mazel Tov, and Instant-Fogas Complex bar.
Average step count per day: 20,400 steps
How did ai do?
Nailed it: AI did a nice job recommending a hostel that we really liked in a cool area with plenty to do and see right at our doorstep. We felt it was useful for directing to us to different areas of the city that we may not have made our way to with just our own research as well.
Needs work: Recommended a bath house that is closed until 2028. Make sure you’re doing some of your own research so you’re not disappointed upon arrival. Once again, AI tends to recommend a lot of ticketed experiences so we opted to skip quite a few here to save money.