Strap on your most comfortable shows and start early to make the most of your day in Budapest. Seeing all of Budapest in 1 day is practically impossible, however, we have tried and added all that is humanly possible, leaving time for travel, meals and casual strolling. Our 1 day itinerary in Budapest works best if you have the Budapest Card or Hop On Hop Off Card as these cards save a lot of your travel time and give quite a few freebies and discounts.With these cards and our itinerary, we assure to make your one day in Budapest as memorable as possible.
1 Day in Budapest
• Széchenyi Thermal Bath
• Budapest Parliament
• Walking Tour of Pest
• Walking Tour of Buda
• Danube River Cruise
1
Dedicate the first 3 hours of your day in the ‘City of Baths’ to Budapest’s most famous thermal bath and spa - Széchenyi Baths. Budapest has over 50 thermal baths and amongst these, Széchenyi Bath and Gellert Bath are the considered the best for many a reasons. However, we personally love Széchenyi and would strongly suggest going to this bath if you have the appetite for just 1 Budapest thermal bath during your trip. You can read our detailed guide on the Baths in Budapest and pick a bath amongst the Top 6 Baths in Budapest that suit your budget and liking.
Széchenyi Bath is the largest medicinal bath in Europe with 15 lavish thermal baths and 3 swimming pools supplied by two thermal springs. A whirlpool of activity, locals are seen playing chess on floating boards even while it is snowing and their Sparties ( spa- parties) every Saturday are amongst the most popular parties in town. Sparties go on till 3 AM and feature film screenings along with dance parties and laser shows.
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How to reach Széchenyi Thermal Bath
Tips :
- Cash in on the availability of online tickets for Széchenyi Bath and purchase your tickets in advance.
- Buying tickets on Headout gives admission to the bath along with a locker + private cabin + free massage. Tickets bought at the counter are inclusive of admission only.
- Going in the morning allows to escape the tourist hordes.
- Carry towel, modest swimming costumes and bathing caps. All 3 are available on rent/ purchase at the Baths, in case you forget to bring in any.
- Children below 14 years of age are not allowed into thermal baths.
- All the pools, spas and baths at Széchenyi are co-ed, hence modest swimming costumes are recommended.
Recommended Experiences
• Széchenyi Spa Skip The line Tickets with Locker
• Széchenyi Spa: 50 Minute VIP Massage for Couples
Plan to stay
2-3 hours
2
After spending a good amount of time lounging in the thermal baths get ready to tour the most iconic structure in Budapest - the Hungarian Parliament. Also, known as the Budapest Parliament, this domed Neo-Gothic structure inspired from the British House of Parliament serves as a vibrant government center and a proud city landmark on the Danube riverfront . The Budapest Parliament is the largest building in Hungary and a guided tour here offers a keen insight into Hungary’s rich political past. Both the interiors and exteriors are beyond impressive and enjoys the distinction of being the third largest assembly building in the world. You can read our detailed blog on the Budapest Parliament here. It briefly delves into the history of the building and talks about all that there is to see and do there.
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How to reach the Budapest Parliament
Tips
- Booking tickets online is highly advisable as there are only a limited quantity available each day and during peak season, they are sold out for days together.
- Guided tours that go on for 50 minutes are available in Hungarian, English, French, Hebrew, German, Russian, Italian and Spanish.
- Photography of the crown and the Dome Hall is prohibited. However, it is allowed in other parts of the building.
- Guided tours can be cancelled in case of parliamentary events, even as late as immediately before admission. Do check the schedule on the website you go on the date of your booking.
Recommended Experiences
• Budapest Parliament Priority Access Guided Tour
• Grand City Tour with Parliament Entry
Plan to stay
2 hours
3
After the Parliament building, it is time to explore the rest of Pest and the best way to do this is to take the city by stride. The Pest side of Budapest is predominantly set on a flat bourgeois plain and houses some of the key attractions of the city. Be it a guided tour or self guided tour, make sure to cover the following thoroughfares during your walk through Pest :
- Hungarian Parliament Building
- Shoes on the Danube Bank
- Gresham Palace
- Váci Street
- Dohany Synagogue
- House of Hungarian Art Nouveau
- St. Stephen's Basilica
- Hungarian State Opera House
- Pest Broadway
- Franz Liszt Square
- House of Terror
- Liberty Square
- Budapest Eye
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How to reach Pest
Tips
- The Guided Tour of Pest comes free with the Budapest Card
- If you're interested in spending time inside each of these sights, a self guided tour will work better. Guided Walking Tours does not entail entry into sights.
- If you're not up for walking, a segway tour is a fun way to cover the sights of the city.
- Having the Hop On Hop Off Bus Pass allows will tire you less as you can occasionally hop into the bus when you're legs wear off.
Recommended Experiences
• Guided Walking Tour of Pest
• City Center Segway Tour
• Budapest Card
• Budapest Hop On Hop Off Tour
Plan to stay
3 hours
4
After covering all of Pest, move over to Buda and spend your afternoon strolling along the cobblestone streets and hidden alleyways of the Castle District. Though the number of things to see here are much lesser compared to the Pest side of the city, all of them are famous and important landmarks you should not miss. Make sure you wrap up everything and reach atop Gellert Hill for the sunset. This hill boasts the best views of the city and sunset from up here is simply breathtaking. Here’s a list of all that you must see in Buda :
- Fisherman’s Bastian
- Buda Castle
- Matthias Church
- A ride on the Buda Hill Furnicular
- Heroes’ Square
- Andrássy Avenue
- Gellert Hill
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How to reach Buda
Tips
- The Guided Tour of Buda comes free with the Budapest Card
- If you're interested in spending time inside each of these sights, a self guided tour will work better. Guided Walking Tours does not entail entry into sights.
- If you're not up for walking, a segway tour is a fun way to cover the sights of the city.
- Having the Hop On Hop Off Bus Pass allows will tire you less as you can occasionally hop into the bus when you're legs wear off.
Recommended Experiences
• Guided Walking Tour of Buda
• Castle District Segway Tour
• Budapest Card
• Budapest Hop On Hop Off Tour
Plan to stay
2 hours
5
Cruising River Danube while you’re in Budapest is a taken, but the kind of river cruise makes a huge difference. You can read our detailed guide on Danube River Cruises here and choose from a curation of 6 cruises unique to Budapest and pick the one you find most intriguing. However, we think this particular dinner cruise with an Operetta & Folklore Show is an absolute gem that takes you right into the cultural extravaganza of Budapest. Moreover, seeing river Danube by night, with the twinkling lights and soothing breeze is simply mystifying. During this cruise, you are served a fabulous 4 course Hungarian meal along with beverages of your choice and you can glide by the Danube with an engaging show up front and breathtaking sights lining Danube on your sides. Don't forget to don your dancing shoes on this cruise as you will surely be tempted to groove and dance with the performers!
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How to Reach Danube River
Tips
- If you're looking to sightsee along Danube, you should consider doing a cruise in the late afternoon in order to see the city in day light and at nightfall.
- Only children above 18 years will be served alcohol on the cruises
- 2 other popular day cruises are the Craft Beer Cruise & Pizza and Beer cruise
Recommended Experiences
• Danube River Cruises
Plan to stay
2 hours
