Travel Tips For Budapest – A Guide For First-Timers

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Last updated on September 5th, 2025 at 08:38 am

If you’re planning to visit Budapest soon, we’ve compiled this thorough list of useful travel tips for Budapest to help you plan your trip.

With its diverse dining scene, beautiful architecture and unique spa culture, Budapest is one of the best places to visit for a city break in Central Europe.

In this guide, you’ll find all the travel tips for Budapest you need to plan your escape to the Hungarian capital.

Where Is Budapest?

Known as the Spa Capital of The World, Budapest is the capital of Hungary, a landlocked country in Central Europe. Budapest is in the northern part of Hungary, close to the border with Slovakia.

Budapest is the second-largest city on the Danube River. The latter divides Budapest into Buda and Pest.

Buda is on the western side and Pest is on the eastern side of the river. Together with Obuda in the city’s north, Buda and Pest were unified to form Budapest in 1873.

Best Time To Visit Budapest

With an average high temperature of around 25°C, summer is attractive for planning a trip to Budapest. However, Budapest gets crowded in summer, as it’s the peak season in Central Europe.

On the other hand, with fewer crowds, the shoulder season in April, May, September, and October is the best time to visit Budapest. The weather is mild, with temperatures between 10°C and 15°C, perfect for sightseeing.

We’ve been to Budapest twice, in April and May. However, we’d definitely consider visiting in winter to soak in the warm waters of the numerous thermal spas scattered across the city.

How Many Days in Budapest

Many people consider Budapest a typical weekend destination. However, to truly appreciate all the main attractions at a relaxed pace, it’s ideal to spend at least four days in Budapest.

This allows enough time to visit some of the best thermal baths in Budapest as well.

If you’re planning a multi-day itinerary through Central Europe and find yourself short on time, keep in mind that three full days is the minimum required to see some highlights of Budapest.

Below, you can watch our YouTube video detailing our version of a 3-day Budapest itinerary, along with an extra fourth day and the best travel tips for Budapest.

Resources & Travel Tips For Budapest

How To Get To Budapest

By Air

Budapest has an international airport, a 40-minute drive from the city centre. It’s a big hub for Ryanair and Wizz Air, Hungary’s low-cost airline, and it’s connected with almost every country in Europe.

If you prefer to use public transport to get from the airport to the city centre, the direct airport bus 100E runs every 30 minutes. You can buy tickets on the bus using your bank card.

If you’re a large group or have heavy luggage, consider booking an airport transfer that will drop you off right at your hotel.

By Bus

Budapest is also well-connected to nearby major cities by bus. A great way to roam Central Europe is by taking one of the numerous bus routes throughout the region.

For example, Budapest is a 6-hour bus ride from Belgrade, while the trip to Vienna takes around three hours.

The central bus station for international routes is Napliget, a 15-minute drive from the city centre. A metro station right outside Napliget Bus Station provides easy access to the heart of Budapest.

By Train

Similar to the bus network, trains in Budapest connect the city to Bratislava, Vienna and Prague by frequent routes.

Taking the train is perfect for longer trips, such as from Prague to Budapest.

The trip between Prague and Budapest lasts around seven hours. This specific train starts from Berlin or Hamburg, making it a convenient choice if you want to explore more of Central Europe.

Budapest has three main train stations. Budapest Keleti Station for eastbound routes, Budapest Nyugati Station for westbound routes and Budapest Deli Station for southbound routes.

How To Get Around Budapest

Budapest is a flat city, very easy to explore on foot. While Pest is completely flat, in the Buda part of the city, you’ll inevitably have to climb up Buda Castle Hill at some point.

Buda Castle Hill is home to some of the main attractions in Budapest, such as Buda Castle, Matthias Church and Fisherman’s Bastion.

Apart from walking, you can get there by riding the historic Buda Castle Funicular or by bus.

Although walking is the best way to get around Budapest, sometimes, weather conditions may not be ideal or you may want to save some time. In these cases, public transport can take you everywhere in Budapest.

Trams in Budapest are frequent and quick. They’re also perfect for sightseeing. On a rainy day, you can hop on Tram 2 for one of the most beautiful tram routes in the world.

You can take the tram from the Hungarian Parliament building to the Great Market Hall – or vice versa – for a fun and relaxing sightseeing ride along the Danube River.

There’s also a reliable metro system in Budapest. Apart from a means of transport, Metro Line M1 is also one of the main Budapest attractions, as it’s the oldest metro line in mainland Europe.

You can buy and validate your ticket at the same time with your bank card. Keep in mind, Budapest Card holders have unlimited access to public transport.

Is Budapest Safe?

Like most cities in Europe, Budapest is safe for tourists. Petty crime, like pickpocketing, isn’t uncommon in crowded places and touristy areas, though.

Yet, Budapest is a safe city to visit for everyone, solo female travellers included, as long as you use your common sense when it gets dark and avoid sketchy places.

To feel safe when travelling, buy your travel insurance for your trip to Budapest.

Money in Budapest

Even though Hungary is a member of the European Union, the local currency isn’t the Euro but the Hungarian Forint.

Some shops or restaurants may accept other currencies, like US dollars or Euros, but that’s the exception rather than the rule.

It’s always best to pay in Hungarian forints to avoid scams and overcharges.

If you want to exchange some money to have cash, compare and double-check rates at the various exchange offices before you do.

That said, it’s always best to use a credit card to avoid crazy conversion fees and commissions. You can pay by card almost everywhere in Budapest.

During your trip to Budapest – and everywhere else in Europe for that matter – we recommend a card like Wise to top up, exchange currency at the best rates and pay for everything easily through your mobile app.

Tipping in restaurants and bars is not mandatory in Budapest, but expect to be prompted to use the tip button on the POS device. Usually, tips are around 10% – 15% of the bill.

Languages Spoken in Budapest

Hungarian is the official spoken and written language in Budapest. It’s one of the hardest languages for foreigners to learn.

Thankfully, compared to the past, after the fall of communism and the rise of tourism in the years that followed, English is widely spoken by Hungarians.

What To Pack For Budapest

Rain is common in Budapest throughout the year. Therefore, among those travel tips for Budapest that you shouldn’t forget is to pack a raincoat and a travel umbrella.

If you travel in spring or autumn, pack light clothes for the warm temperatures during daylight and warm layers for the night.

Don’t forget to pack your plug adaptor if you come from the UK or the USA.

Whatever season you plan to travel to Budapest, pack a swimsuit and flip-flops for the thermal baths.

Keep in mind that a swimming cap is mandatory in the swimming pools of spa complexes, so pack your cap if you are an avid swimmer.

Otherwise, you can buy one at the spa complex, as there’s usually an on-site shop there.

Where To Stay in Budapest

The first decision you have to make before booking your stay in Budapest is whether to stay in Buda or Pest.

Buda is situated on the western side of the city. It’s home to many historical attractions and it’s an overall calm residential area.

On the other hand, Pest is on the eastern side of Budapest. It’s flat and easy to walk around, vibrant and full of bars and restaurants.

Some of the most famous attractions in Budapest are located in Pest. In our opinion, downtown Pest is the best area to stay in Budapest.

Below you will find our suggestions for the best hotels in Budapest. In any case, try to avoid booking an Airbnb for your stay in Budapest.

If you’re wondering why, have a look at this article we wrote about the Airbnb effect.

Situated conveniently near Chain Bridge and the Danube River, the 4-star Prestige Hotel is housed in a renovated historic building, ideal for a luxurious and unforgettable stay in Budapest.

Stories Boutique Hotel, a 4-star boutique hotel in the heart of Pest, is the ideal hotel to create your own story in Budapest.

A few steps from Saint Stephen’s Basilica, the 4-star Hotel Moments Budapest is one of the most imposing buildings on Andrassy Avenue.

Vegetarian Food in Budapest

Although traditional Hungarian cuisine is heavily meat-based, Budapest is a pleasant surprise for vegetarians and vegans.

The city’s diverse food scene abounds with vegan and vegetarian options. You can even find the country’s national dish, goulash, in its vegan version in Budapest.

Goulash may be Hungary’s national dish, but langos is probably the most popular comfort food in Budapest. If you haven’t tried langos before, you don’t know what you’ve been missing.

Langos is a sinful piece of deep-fried dough, topped with sour cream, cheese and any other topping of choice, like veggies or olives.

Apart from traditional Hungarian dishes though, in Budapest, you can try cuisines from all over the globe. The city is home to exquisite restaurants that feature ethnic food from all corners of the world.

In terms of dessert, Budapest won’t disappoint. While in Budapest, don’t miss the chance to try the iconic kurtoskalacs (chimney cake) or the lesser-known palacsinta (Hungarian pancakes) and retes (Hungarian strudel).

Speaking of dessert, a stop at Gelarto Rosa for its Instagram-perfect rose-shaped ice cream is a must.

Best Restaurants in Budapest For Veggie & Vegan Food

• Kozmosz Vegan Restaurant for the best vegan versions of Hungarian traditional dishes.
• Epoch Vegan Burger for delicious vegan burgers.
• Retro Langos for scrumptious langos.
• Dobrumba for mouthwatering Middle Eastern food. We loved the zaatar fries and the harira soup.
• Mazel Tov for its fantastic setting, the divine grilled cauliflower with tahini and the falafels.
• Qui if you missed Thai food while travelling.
• Karavan is a lively food court with many veggie and vegan options, right next to the most famous ruin bars, Budapest’s one-of-a-kind pubs that you should visit at least once.

What To Buy in Budapest

If you’re wondering what to buy in Budapest as a souvenir to bring back home, here are some suggestions:

• Paprika: Paprika is an essential part of Hungarian cuisine. In Budapest, you can find top-quality paprika in many types, such as hot, sweet, smoked hot and smoked sweet.
• Palinka: A traditional liqueur made of fruit.
• Hungarian Secret Boxes: Carved in wood, these boxes come in various sizes and colours. At first glance, they look like ordinary jewellery boxes. However, their uniqueness lies in the fact that it’s impossible to open them until the shopkeeper shows you the secret way to do it.
• Rubik’s Cube: You can buy a Rubik’s Cube anywhere in the world. But why not grab one at its birthplace? Erno Rubik, a Hungarian architect and sculptor, invented this game in Budapest in 1974.
• Hungarian Dolls: Dressed in traditional folk clothes, these dolls are a great gift not only for children but also for collectors.
• Hand-painted Eggs: Although they are most popular around the Easter holidays, you can find these beautiful hand-painted eggs all year round in Budapest.
• Lavender: Hungary has its very own lavender fields and lavender-themed items are among the best things to buy in Budapest.

We hope that this thorough Budapest travel guide helps you plan an amazing trip to the Hungarian capital. Do you have any unique travel tips for Budapest you’d like to share with us? Let us know in the comments!

WORDS & IMAGES: Katerina
EDITING: Maria