2 days in Budapest: How to make the most of a 2 day Budapest itinerary

A trip to Europe is not complete without a visit to the stunning Hungarian capital of Budapest. And if you are only spending 2 days in Budapest then you have come to the right place. This 2 day Budapest itinerary will provide you with all the information you need to know on visiting, including sights, accommodation, food, drink, and much more.

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So why would I want to spend to 2 days in Budapest?

Why would you want to spend 2 days in Budapest? Well, I’m glad you asked. Budapest is one of those places that honestly has a little bit of something for everyone.

Let’s say you are a history buff and want to spend your 2 days in Budapest brushing up on the long and turbulent history of the city. Then tick – you can do that.

What about foodies, you might ask? Again, tick that off the list because Budapest has a whole host of restaurants and cafes that will appeal to your tastebuds.

The nightlife is also pretty impressive, from fancy cocktail bars, to the cheap and cheerful (but never dull) ruin bars across the city.

You’ve also got beautiful architecture, a gorgeous river to explore, and some thermal baths for those in desperate need of a pamper. Whatever it is you want from your 2 day Budapest itinerary, you are pretty sure to find it.

Wondering if Budapest is worth visiting? Here is a handy guide.

Where to stay during your 2 days in Budapest?

There is a lot of information out there when it comes to accommodation in Budapest. So let’s break it down into areas.

First, Budapest itself is broken up into two parts, Buda and Pest split by the Danube River. The city is also made up of 23 Districts so you should get used to words like District III etc being banded about. Very simply on the Buda side, you have Buda Castle and as a whole the area tends to be calmer in the evenings. So if you want your 2 days in Budapest to be on the quieter side this may be the area for you.

On the Pest side, you have Houses of Parliament, as well as the Ruin Bars. Pest is the best place to stay if you are wanting to enjoy the nightlife and party to the wee hours.

Wherever you choose to stay though (in the centre at least), you won’t find yourself too far from the main attractions.

Best Districts in Budapest for accommodation

Here are the best Districts to stay in during your 2 days in Budapest.

District I – Buda Castle

District 1 includes the Buda Castle area. It is located on the west bank of the Danube, and is home to attractions like Fisherman’s Bastion, The Royal Palace, and Matthais Church.

It’s great if you don’t want to party, and your idea of a night out is more go to a restaurant and sip wine. The hotels in this area are also a little on the expensive side, so it’s ideal for luxury travellers.

For a luxury experience you can visit the Hilton Budapest where you will get some stunning views over the city.

Or for something a little cheaper you have the Ibis Hotel. It is still close to the attractions in Castle Hill, and is geared towards a more economical traveller.

District V -Parliament & Downtown Budapest

Across the Danube from the Buda Castle area is District V, which includes attractions like the Parliament Building and St Stephens Basilica. It’s very central and close to food, drink, and most importantly public transport. This is your ideal area for first time visitors. There are a number of boutique hotels, all ranging in price.

If you are wanting to splash the cash then checkout the Aria Hotel. It boasts some great city views, and has an onsite spa too.

It’s not all pricey accommodation around here though. Budget travellers will be pleased to know that there are several backpackers hostels in the area

District VI – Terézváros

Perfect for culture vultures, and those looking for mid-range accommodation is Terézváros. The area is close to the Hungarian State Opera House, the Liszt Ferenc Music Academy, and the Operetta Theatre.

For mid range accommodation the K+K Hotel Opera is great. It’s close to the cultural sights, but also a 10 minute walk to some of the ruin bars in the city. There hotel rooms are modern and spacious, and the location is great.

Things to do during your 2 days in Budapest

Anyone visiting Budapest will of course be curious on what the best things to do in the city are. There is honestly no shortage of fun things to do in Budapest. And like we eluded to above there is something for everyone in this city. Here are some of our recommendations on things to do during your 2 days in Budapest.

Szechenyi Baths

One of the best things to do in Budapest has to be to visit the Szechenyi Baths. They are a major tourist attraction, built in 1913. The baths are considered to be medicinal and water is supplied by two thermal springs. The water contains all the good stuff like calcium, magnesiam, bicarbonate, metaboric acid and fluoride.

Admittedly I don’t know what any of that means, but what I do know is that the water contains certain healing properties. Said to cure a range of things from respiratory issues to arthritis, the baths are also great for just relaxing.

At Szechenyi Baths there are 18 pools to choose from, plus 10 saunas, various massage therapies, facial treatments and more. Or you can just chill out and float around whilst sipping a beer. Either way it’s an enjoyable experience.

We do recommend booking in advance as this is a popular attraction in Budapest. It’s also somewhere that you probably want to spend a good few hours at. So if you do only have 2 days in Budapest you might not be able to fit it in. That being said it is the ultimate Budapest experience so if it is on your bucket list go for it!

Margaret Island

If you want a bit of a break from the hustle and bustle of Budapest, head to Margaret Island. It’s a 2.5 kilometre island of serene parkland right on the Danube, and perfect for those looking for some green space. There is a musical fountain here near Margaret Bridge and if you happen to be near it during one of the 4 daily ‘performances’ you are in for a treat.

St Stephen’s Basilica

St Stephen’s Basilica is a must on your 2 day Budapest itinerary. For starters it is a very distinctive part of the city skyline and is one of the tallest buildings in the city, apart from the Hungarian Parliament building. How tall is tall when it comes to buildings in Budapest? Well you are looking at 96 metres which might not be tall by say North American standards but in Budapest it’s a big deal.

Named after Stephen the first King of Hungary, the basilica took 54 years to build. Work was started in 1848 and eventually completed in 1905. Entry is free, although a donation is highly encouraged. If you want to visit the top, or do a guided tour though this will be extra.

The inside is beautiful filled with intricate artwork, and the large dome, which makes you feel so small and insignificant when you gaze up at it. If you have the time and money we highly recommend making your way to the viewing platform on the exterior of the building. You get such an incredible view of Budapest, and it is well worth the additional cost.

To get to the top you will need to pay around 600 HUF. And good news there is a lift too in case you were worried about having to climb the stairs. If you want to book in advance here is a handy link which includes a tour and tower access. It is recommended particularly if you want to skip the queue – which can be long at times.

Danube Cruise

Sailing along the Danube, particularly at night is a great experience. The city lights reflect magically off the river creating a wonderful atmosphere. Day or night though, it’s a great way to get a different perspective on Budapest.

Hungarian Parliament Building

As mentioned above the other ‘tall’ building in Budapest is the Hungarian Parliament. It is probably one of the most recognisable buildings in Budapest (thank you Instagram). The striking Neo-Gothic architecture is a favourite among tourists, and I will admit that we did take tons of pictures here too.

Shoes on the Danube

Shoes on the Danube is a really moving memorial located on the banks of the Danube. It represents the thousands of Jews that were killed during World War 2 by the Arrow Cross Militia. Jewish residents were marched down to the Danube, and ordered to remove their shoes before being shot. The idea was that their bodies would fall into the river and be carried away.

What really hits hard here though is that several of the shoes are children’s sized. It’s a very symbolic, painful, but important memorial in the city. As we approached the memorial it started to rain, and it was honestly such an emotional moment.

Dohány Street Synagogue

The Dohány Street Synagogue is an important place in Budapest, particularly if you are wanting to explore some of the city’s Jewish history. It was built between 1854 and 1859 in the Moorish Revival style. The architect Ludwig Forster is Viennese with the inside designed partly by Frigyes Feszl.

The complex itself consists of the Great Synagogue, the Heroes’ Temple, the graveyard, the Memorial and the Jewish Museum. Another cool fact is that it is the largest synagogue in Europe and seats approximately 3000 people.

Dohány Street Synagogue is also known as the Great Synagogue or Tabakgasse Synagogue, and is located in District VII. You will need to pay for entry and this is around HUF 4500.

Széchenyi Chain Bridge

The Széchenyi Chain Bridge is another must visit place in Budapest. It is one of the most prominent landmarks as it connects the Buda and Pest sides of the city. Chances are you will walk across here at some point during your 2 days in Budapest.

If you can visit around sunset, and walk towards the Buda Castle area, you will be treated to some gorgeous views.

House of Terror

The House of Terror is another must for your 2 day Budapest itinerary. It’s a museum that centres around the fascist and communist regimes in Hungary in the 20th Century. This is quite a difficult museum to walk around. It details the sheer horror of what the victims of these regimes endured.

One of the most emotional moments is towards the end of the tour where you get into an elevator. Everything is dark and the lift descends slowly with ominous music. When you get out of the lift you will find yourself in the basement of the building which is also where you will see examples of the cells where prisoners were tortured and killed. It is so moving and we highly recommend coming here to learn about, and understand what went on.  

The House of Terror is a really popular attraction and we spent ages lining up to purchase tickets. So if you find yourself in the same situation there is a tour you can do that allows you to see the museum with a guide, and this includes your entry too.

Hungarian National Gallery

Art lovers will love the Hungarian National Gallery. It is located in Buda Castle with some pretty impressive views over the city.

The Gallery was established in 1957 as the national art museum, and it has collections covering Hungarian art in all genres. The interior is also quite spectacular and the dome is accessible at certain times of the year.

You probably need a good 3-4 hours to have a good look in here, so it might not be doable as part of your 2 days in Budapest, but as we said if you love art you should definitely make the time to visit. Entry costs HUF 2,600.00 or Free with the Budapest Card.

Buda Castle Hill Funicular

The Buda Castle Hill Funicular is not only a practical way to get up an otherwise steep hill, but is also an important historical part of the city. It was completely rebuilt after it was destroyed in World War 2. And in 1987 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.

It has been in service since 1870 (and obviously there was the time when it was destroyed and rebuilt), so it is quite historical and a very popular tourist attraction. The lines for this do tend to be quite long, so our recommendation is to get there early. The funicular opens at about 7.30am and closes at 10pm, so plenty of time to catch a ride. A one-way, ticket costs HUF 1,200. A return tickets is HUF 1,800.

Fisherman’s Bastion

The Fisherman’s Bastion is a stunning terrace located across the river from the Parliament Building. There are several Romanesque look out terraces making it the perfect place to take pictures and enjoy the stunning views.

The façade itself is around 140 metres long and honestly is one of the most recognisable structures in Budapest. There are seven stone towers that are supposed to represent the 7 chieftains of the Hungarians who founded Hungary in 895.

The original walls were built in the 1700’s but the structure that we see today was built between 1895 and 1902 by Frigyes Schulek who also restored the nearby Matthias Church.

I think this was one of our favourite places in Budapest because of the sheer beauty of it. The terrace was actually built for the 1000th birthday of the Hungarian State, although it certainly looks much older.

There are several places along the terrace where you can sit with a drink and admire the views. I know these places are usually so overpriced and we usually avoid them but we felt it was worth spending a little bit of money to just sit and admire the view. And it seriously was a good view! Having a drink here was a very memorable part of our 2 days in Budapest so we do recommend it if you get the chance.

Entry costs HUF 1000 and you get a 10% Discount with the Budapest Card.

Matthias Church

Right next to Fisherman’s Bastion is the most visited Catholic church in Budapest, Matthias Church. Established between the 13th and 15th Century this Neo-Gothic style building is well worth a visit.

It’s an important building in Hungary, hosting many a royal wedding, as well as a number of classic/ organ concerts. You can go inside for around HUF 800, or you can just admire it from the outside, whilst exploring the area.

Hospital in the Rock

The Hospital in the Rock is certainly one of the more unique attractions on your 2 day Budapest itinerary. You essentially get the chance to explore the underground caverns of Buda Castle which were turned into a working hospital during WWII. Construction began in 1939 and was completed in 1944. The hospital staffed 40 doctors, nurses and assistants.

Initially it became a hospital for wounded civilians injured in airstrikes, and eventually soldiers too. Conditions inside the hospital were bleak. During the Siege of Budapest the hospital had to handle the wounded and dead, and were often without food or medical supplies. Staff had to sometimes reuse supplies, taking them from the deceased to reuse. It was only designed to treat 60-70 patients, but at one point there were 600 wounded soldiers being treated here.

You can only enter the caves as part of a guided tour, but this gives you the chance to learn so much about the conditions that hospital staff had to work under. This was one of our favourite tours in Budapest, so we highly recommend it. Entry is around 4000 HUF but you get a discount with the Budapest Card. Also I should note, you can’t take photos inside, hence the photo we have gone with for this post is of the outside of the hospital.

Labyrinth of Buda Castle

The Labyrinth is a series of tunnels under Buda Castle. These caves once held the infamous Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Count Dracula as a prisoner for 14 years.

This attraction is a lot of fun and if you go after 6pm you can explore with an oil lamp for light. You basically get let loose in the underground tunnels and get to explore with little direction. In some parts its completely dark expect for phone torch lights, as you try to make your way through. This is another unique experience in Budapest.

Eating and drinking as part of your 2 day Budapest itinerary

Eating and drinking will of course be a huge part of your 2 day Budapest itinerary. And let’s be honest, it’s probably one of the best things about visiting a new place. Here are some of our recommendations based on our own research and favourite places to eat and drink.

Drinking during your 2 days in Budapest

Budapest does have a bit of a reputation of being a party city. With the cheap drinks, quirky ruin bars, and much much more. Here are some recommendations on drinking as part of your 2 day Budapest itinerary.

Szimpla Kert

You only have to spend 5 minutes googling where to drink in Budapest, to realise that Szimpla Kert is one of the favourites. It’s Budapest biggest and most iconic ruin bars, and you absolutely have to visit as part of your 2 days in Budapest.

There are several smaller bars inside, and it is filled with quirky and unusual objects. I’m pretty sure at one point in the night I was sitting on a giant plastic Kangaroo. The atmosphere in here is incredible, and honestly you just have to see it to believe it.

Csendes Vintage Bar & Café

This is another popular ruin bar in Budapest, although much smaller than Szimpla Kert. This is a more mellow chilled out ruin bar, that is perfect for having a chat and a drink. It used to be a grand coffee house in the times of the Autro-Hungarian empire, which probably explains the high ceilings. Today though it is filled with quirky furniture, and really creepy dolls hanging from the ceiling.

High Note Sky Bar

Located on the rooftop of the Aria Hotel this bar was actually voted one of the world’s top rooftop bars by Conde Nast Traveler. Based on this fact alone we knew we had to have a drink here. The view is amazing, particularly of St Stephen’s Cathedral that forms part of the bars stunning backdrop. It gets really busy though, and we were lucky to get a table, so we recommend booking in advance.

Rengeteg Romkafe

It was actually a fellow blogger who recommended Rengeteg Romkafe to us, and we are so glad that she did. This is home to the best hot chocolate we have ever had in our lives. It’s basically like drinking liquid chocolate, and it’s so rich and warming. Basically it is a great treat after exploring the city all day.

You walk in and the furniture is a mish mash of random bits, and vintage items. It’s dimly lit and perfect for a romantic afternoon drink. There isn’t an official hot chocolate menu, but you are encouraged to be as creative as you like.

I went with a salted caramel flavour with strawberries and cream, and Dave went with mint, dark chocolate and blueberries . When our hot chocolate arrived it was almost dessert like with its thick texture. The hot chocolates here are so good, that we recommend adding this as an attraction in its own right to your 2 day Budapest itinerary.

Eating during your 2 days in Budapest

Food in Budapest is a big deal, especially if you are a fan of good old fashioned comfort food. Here are some of our recommendations on places to eat that you should add to your weekend in Budapest.

For Sale Pub

One of our favourite places to eat in Budapest is the For Sale Pub. If you happen to be here for a weekend in Budapest, make sure you reserve a table in advance. The For Sale Pub is really popular. We didn’t book and had to line up for ages. But it was worth it.

The food is incredible and the portions are huge. It is also really quirky inside because from the moment you walk in you will notice bits of paper hanging from the ceiling and covering every inch of the walls. These are all notes from previous patrons who have left their mark on this quirky place.

You can order traditional Hungarian dishes here like Goulash and Schnitzel which is another plus.

Ruszwurm Confectionery

For the oldest traditional cafe and confectioner in Budapest head to Ruszwurm Confectionery. They serve some really good homemade cakes and desserts. My personal favourite is the Sachertorte which you might recognise as an Austrian staple.

New York Cafe

If you are wanting to try one of those grand traditional cafes that Europe is famous for, then New York Cafe is a brilliant one to try. And judging by the very long queue we were met with on our arrival, we aren’t the only ones who think so.

You walk in and you feel like nobility, with the marble and wood features, and crystal chandeliers. There is also coffee with gold on top on the menu, which if that doesn’t scream nobility I don’t know what does. We recommend going for breakfast, but do make sure you book a spot in advance.

Gerbeaud Cafe

The traditional old world coffee houses are popular in Budapest and if you want to try something a little less ostentatious than the New York Cafe head to Gerbeaud Cafe. It has beautiful high ceilings and wooden features, and honestly it is the perfect place to sip coffee and watch the world go by. They do a pretty good breakfast here as well.

Must try food and drink for your 2 days in Budapest

As part of your 2 day Budapest itinerary you are going to want to try some of the delicious food that the city has to offer. But where do you start? Here are some of the food that we think you should try if you are spending 2 days in Budapest.

Goulash

This is comfort food at its finest. And if you are visiting Budapest in the cooler months then nothing beats a steaming hot bowl of goulash. It’s filled with things like beef, and hearty vegetables, and very good dash of paprika.

Langos

You can’t really go wrong with Langos, which is essentially fried flat bread topped with sour cream and cheese. It’s probably more of a street food item as opposed to something you will find in restaurants, but definitely a cheap and comforting food to try to give you some much needed energy when exploring.

Chicken Paprikash

This is probably my favourite food in Budapest. It’s chicken cooked in a sauce filled with onions, tomato, garlic, peppers, and of course paprika. I know that doesn’t sound amazing but it is. Add some sour cream and *chefs kiss*.

Stuffed Cabbage

This one is a bit of a staple all over Eastern Europe truth be told, but Budapest is as good a place as any to try it. The dish consists of cabbage leaves filled with mince and rice (and usually paprika because it’s Hungary!). It also comes with a tomatoey sauce.

Unicum

Go to any bar in Budapest and you will see signs promoting ‘Unicum’, which is Hungary’s national liquor. It’s made up of more than 40 herbs, and is drank as an aperitif. Obviously we had to try it. We won’t lie, we were not expecting the taste. Apparently you either love it or hate it, we may be in the latter group.

Tokaji

When in Budapest make sure you try some Tokaji wine. Sometimes referred to as liquid honey, it is the most famous dessert wine in the country. It can be expensive, but it is really delicious and goes down a treat. Try some at the Aria Hotel bar and enjoy the sensational wine with some great views.

Sample 2 day Budapest Itinerary

2 days in Budapest doesn’t give you the longest time to spend in the city, but here is a sample 2 day itinerary to help you plan your trip, especially if you are a first time visitor.

2 Day Budapest itinerary for first timers

2 day Budapest itinerary map

Here is a map to help you navigate day 1 of our 2 day Budapest itinerary.

And here is a map for day 2 of our 2 day Budapest itinerary.

Things you should know before planning your 2 days in Budapest

Hopefully you are feeling inspired and ready to plan your own 2 day Budapest itinerary. So here are some things that we think you should know before you do.

• Museums are closed on Mondays so if your 2 days in Budapest includes a Monday you may need to change your itinerary up slightly.
• If there are any particular restaurants you really want to eat at, then book these in advance.
• Bring a good pair of walking shoes, cobbled streets and high heels are nobody’s friend.
• Carry some cash on you as not all places accept card payment.
• If you visit in the winter some tourist attractions might be closed.
• Similarly if you visit in the summer book your activities in advance otherwise expect long queues.

Is Budapest expensive? And how much money do you need for your 2 day Budapest itinerary?

So you’ve booked your trip and you are planning to visit Budapest. But how much money will you really need? Good question. Here is our advice.

Budapest isn’t hugely expensive, especially by European standards. But long gone are the days of super cheap travel to the city. For our 2 days in Budapest we budgeted around €150 between the two of us each day. This is not including accommodation.

Our recommended budget is probably what you will need for a mid-range trip. We splashed our occasionally and had cocktails or nice wine, but also went for cheaper drink options too. We ate at mid-range restaurants, and also purchased a 24 hour public transport ticket each day we were there.

You can do things a lot cheaper by avoiding restaurants, and opting for street food, or supermarket food. And you can obviously do things a lot more expensively, if you have the money.

What is the currency in Budapest?

The official currency in Budapest is the Hungarian Forint. You might see it abbreviated to HUF or Ft.  

Some places, especially the more touristy spots may accept Euros, but we highly recommend you pay in the local currency. This is because change will be given to you in Forint even if you pay in Euros, and the conversation into Euro’s isn’t always great so chances are you will probably end up paying more.

Also not all places in Budapest accept card, so this is another reason to make sure that you have some Forint on you.

The currency is one of those that has a ton of zero’s in it so just keep an eye on what notes you are getting when you are given change etc. Notes consist of 500 Ft all the way to 20,000 Ft. Although with the larger denominations you may struggle to pay for things in some shops, so if you are carrying cash try and have some smaller notes as well as the larger ones.

There are also coins such as the 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Everything is in Forint. So for example in the US there are dollars and cents, or pounds and pence in the UK, but in Hungary everything falls under Forint.

Is 2 days in Budapest enough?

Honestly 2 days in Budapest, is quite tight. You will only really begin to scratch the surface on things to do. And you will need to be strict with your time.

It is doable though, and you will get through a lot. It helps that a lot of the city’s key attractions are close together. Have a plan and stick to it, to make the most of your 2 days in Budapest.

If you have even less time you might be interested in this 1 day Budapest guide.

Should I buy the Budapest Card for 2 days in Budapest?

If you are only spending 2 days in Budapest you might be wondering if the Budapest Card is worth getting? It was something that we thought about. The card costs around €43 per person for 2 days, and public transportation is included. Some museums are included in the cost, and you can also take part in a free walking tour of the city.

Apart from the freebies, you also get discounts at some attractions. But not all.

Deciding on whether to purchase the card will of course depend on what you are planning to do in the city. We decided against purchasing the card because we knew exactly which attractions we wanted to see in Budapest, and the bulk of then were not included with the card.

Don’t just buy the card for the sake of it. Think about what you want to do and actually work out if this will save you money. We see so many people buying the card thinking it will save them so much money, and sometimes it does, but sometimes it doesn’t.

Getting around during your 2 days in Budapest

Getting around Budapest is pretty easy so you shouldn’t have any major issues. There are self service ticket machines located at most metro stations, bus, and tram stops. There is also an English language option you can choose when purchasing your ticket.

You then need to select your ticket type, for example you can opt for a single journey, or purchase a ticket for 24 hours. Make sure you validate your ticket when you enter the metro station or get on a bus or tram.

So should I spend 2 days in Budapest?

If you are wondering whether to book your 2 days in Budapest, let this be your sign to go for it. Like we said if you plan in advance, you really can make the most of a short time or even a weekend in Budapest.

We hope that this 2 day Budapest itinerary has helped you and provided you with some inspiration. If you have found it useful don’t forget to pin it for later.

Happy travelling!