Three Days in Budapest (on a budget!)

Hi travel fam! I just got back from the most amazing three days in Budapest. I would have loved to be there longer, but being abroad for a month meant that I had to come home! So here’s my guide for the best three day Budapest itinerary, especially for those of you on a budget like me!

Getting into and around the city:

First thing you need to know is how to get around Budapest.

To get from the airport into the city, use the MiniBud travel shuttle. It’s super cheap (about 12 USD per person) and drops you off right where you are staying, so you don’t have to worry about hauling your luggage on the Metro! Be warned, you may stop at one or two other places depending on the other passengers, but to me it was a quick trip and well worth it! If you want to guarantee that you will head right to a certain spot, don’t use a taxi! The best thing to use is Bolt. It’s the Uber of Budapest. It will ensure that the taxi driver won’t take you around in circles to make more money! Download it before you go, or use the free wifi at the airport to do so right when you land.

To get around the city, we basically walked everywhere! A few times for things farther away or when we were tired after a long day, we used Bolt. I’ve heard good things about the Metro, but we didn’t feel like we needed it, and Bolt was extremely cheap and convenient to get to all of the sites on this list!

Where to Stay:

We stayed in the Jewish section of the city at The Maverick City Lodge hostel. They have dorm style rooms for those on a budget, but we opted for a private room. Perfect location, fun events, and friendly staff made for a wonderful experience. I would definitely recommend staying here!

Now that you know the basics: here’s my three day itinerary!

Day 1: Exploring Pest

Budapest is actually two cities, Buda and Pest, separated by the Danube River. Our hostel was on the Pest side, so I started there.

First, head to St. Stephen’s Basilica. This is one of the most famous churches in Budapest, and well worth a stop. From here, walk the less than half a mile to Mr. Funk. Get yourself a Freakshake if you are feeling wild. You may be in a sugar coma, but trust me. You won’t regret it! The milkshake was one of the more expensive things in Budapest (about 10 USD) but well worth it.

We chose to walk off the sugar coma along one of the main shopping avenues in Budapest: Vaci Uta over to Central Market Hall. Inside you will find two floors of stands selling all kinds of things! The bottom floor is all food, and the top is more touristy souvenirs (where you can barter for prices if you want). From here, walk across the famous Chain Bridge over to Gellert Hill. On the hill you will find a church built into a cave as well as The Citadella for beautiful views of the Pest side of the city.

In the evening, wander around some of the streets around your hostel and try some local foods, or explore some of the famous ruin bars of Budapest (more below!)

Day 2: Hopping over to Buda

Start early and head to Fisherman’s Bastion. This spot will make you feel like you are in a real life fairytale, but it gets busy quickly! Tour buses start showing up around 8am, so I recommend getting there by 7-7:30 if you want those dreamy pictures! Plus, if you get there before the workers, you don’t have to pay to climb the tower on the right side! Soak in some of the best views of the city!

Right near Fisherman’s Bastion, you will find Matthias Church and Buda Castle. I love a good church, so the approximately 4 dollar entrance fee to the church was well worth it! We also paid another 4 dollars to climb the tower (197 very narrow steps) for a 360 degree view of the city. Absolutely incredible!

Buda Castle does not currently house the president of Hungary, but the architecture is amazing, and you will find the Budapest History Museum inside. We decided to just explore the outside, but I heard great things about the museum as well.

From here, wander along the Danube River and cross any of the numerous bridges back to the Pest side. Head to the iconic Parliament building to see this beautiful place up close after seeing the views from Fisherman’s Bastion this morning!

After a quick siesta, head out to some of Budapest’s famous Ruin bars. Housed in old, dilapidated buildings, these bars have a vibe unlike any I have ever experienced. One of the largest, and most popular is Szimpla. I recommend heading here earlier in the evening if you don’t want to wait in a long line outside! Sit in a bathtub with your drink for a perfect photo opp! Other good ruin bars include Red Ruin and Instant (for more of a party scene).

Day 3: Never Leaving!

Start with a leisurely breakfast at one of Budapest’s famous cafes. We headed to the Grand Café, and while it was cute, the food itself was nothing particularly impressive, and the view was also not spectacular. I’ve heard wonderful things about New York Café, so in the future I would head there instead!

After your breakfast, walk off those calories with a stroll along Andrassy Avenue. The beautiful architecture lining both sides of the streets makes you feel like something straight out of a movie! At the end of the Avenue you will find Heroes’ Square: a beautiful monument dedicated to those who fought for the independence of Hungary.

From here, you have a few options! If zoos and botanical gardens are more your style, both are close! We opted instead to visit Vajdahunyad Castle and follow it with a trip to one of Budapest’s largest and most famous thermal baths: Széchenyi Thermal Bath. The castle is free to wander around and there is a beautiful, expansive park around it if you want to pack a picnic lunch!

The bath was the most expensive thing we did on the trip, costing between 26-50+ dollars per person. We just did the day pass with locker rental, and I really enjoyed my time there! There are three outdoor thermal baths and numerous indoor ones and saunas to explore. You can also relax with a spa treatment or cosmetic treatment! If you want it to be cheaper and less busy, head here before 8am. Between 6-8am there is discounted pricing! Finally, if you get lucky enough to be in Budapest on a Saturday night, the baths do Sparties! Foam, drinks, music, and fun all night.

End your day with a scenic cruise along the Danube River. We used Portum Lines and opted for a one hour boat ride. It only cost 10 USD per person and included one free alcoholic drink. You can also book dinner cruises that last longer, but whatever you choose, it is definitely worth it to see Parliament lit up from the water! Budapest comes alive at night, so definitely make sure you see it!!

There it is! Three magical days in an amazing city. I hope you all enjoy Budapest as much as I did! As always, drop me questions in the comments below! Happy travels, fam.