10 Best Travelling Tips to Budapest

When planning a trip to this destination, you shouldn’t just focus on what to see and do in Budapest. Its tourist infrastructure has improved significantly in recent years, making it much easier to get around and visit attractions such as the Parliament or Buda Castle, find somewhere to eat, or hire a guide to explain what you’re looking at.

However, no matter how well you prepare for your stay, there’s always a small chance that something might go wrong or that you’ll have to deal with an unexpected decision. That’s why I’ve put together a few basic tips for travelling to Budapest that you can bear in mind to ensure nothing goes wrong and you make the most of your time.

A great way to start your stay in the city is to take a guided tour that takes you to Budapest’s must-see sights. This way, you’ll not only get a first impression of the city, but you’ll also learn a bit about its history, which could come in handy for the visits you make later on.

If you’re sporty, you can book a bike tour in Budapest, though you could also opt for a walking tour through the city centre.

Another great option for exploring the city in comfort is to buy a ticket for the Budapest sightseeing bus, which is more highly recommended here than in some other cities.

The price (whether you choose the 24-hour or 48-hour option) is very affordable and the route takes in many of the tourist attractions you’ll want to see: St Stephen’s Basilica, the Chain Bridge, the Millennium Monument and the Synagogue, to name but a few.

With this mode of transport, which allows you to hop on and off at any stop, you’ll also enjoy the commentary provided on board, helping you learn about the city you’re visiting.

Hungary, despite being part of the European Union, currently retains its own currency, the Hungarian forint. As in all countries where this is the case, it is necessary to find the best places to exchange money.

Unless you need it urgently, my advice is to avoid exchanging money at the airport, as the exchange rate is usually unfavourable. Instead, look for bureaux de change in the city centre and compare several of them before deciding. Normally, you should get around 330 forints for every euro, but it’s always a good idea to check the rate before you travel.

Another increasingly popular option is a debit or credit card. On the one hand, you’ll be able to use it to pay in the vast majority of restaurants, shops and tourist attractions, and on the other, you can withdraw cash from the city’s many ATMs.

In both cases, I recommend checking in advance any fees your bank might charge. In my experience, it’s usually more practical to pay by card than to use it to withdraw cash.

Get used to the forints

Although it’s advisable to get used to new coins and notes in any country, in Budapest I’d advise you to keep** 1,000-forint notes** separate** from 10,000-forint notes**. Although the colour is slightly different, in dimly lit places it’s easy to mix them up and end up paying more than you should.

Trying new dishes and learning all about the local food is, in my view, part of any trip worth its salt. Even more so, if possible, when travelling to a place whose cuisine isn’t particularly well known. For that reason, I advise you to venture out and discover Budapest’s interesting culinary offerings,

Those who prefer to be accompanied on this journey of discovery can book one of the food tours offered in the Hungarian capital, which, in many cases, also include an introduction to the local wine production.

Among the dishes you simply must try are some that could be classified as fast food and others that are more elaborate. The most interesting are as follows:

• Goulash: Hungarian goulash is arguably the country’s most internationally renowned dish. It is a soup or meat stew with vegetables, well seasoned with paprika.
• Lángos: a type of fried flatbread served with sour cream, garlic sauce or cheese.
• Chicken paprika stew: Paprikás Csirke is another of the country’s most popular dishes.
• Halászlé: fish soup with paprika and some vegetables.

As well as the food, you mustn’t miss out on trying a glass of palinka during your trip, preferably in one of the ruin bars in the Jewish quarter.

Do you leave a tip in Budapest?

When you go to a restaurant in Budapest, bear in mind that it is customary to tip around 10% of the total bill. In some places, however, this amount is already included in the bill under the heading ‘service charge’.

Like other cities, Budapest also has a tourist card offering discounts on entry to some of its museums, monuments and attractions. The Budapest Card, as it’s called, could help you save money during your trip, but my advice is to check beforehand whether it’s really worth it for you.

This card is available in various formats depending on its validity. Validity ranges from 24 hours to five days, with an approximate price of between €23 and €62 depending on your choice.

It’s important to check which discounted attractions are included on the card you plan to use and to work out the cost of tickets if you were to buy them separately. Don’t forget to factor in the savings on public transport too, as the Budapest Card allows you to use it without limits.

The influx of tourists to Budapest has continued to grow in recent years. Until not too long ago, most visitors arrived in the city as part of a tour that included Vienna and Prague, but now more and more are spending several days in the Hungarian capital. This means it is necessary to buy tickets for some attractions in advance.

This need to plan ahead when buying tickets is even greater when it comes to the Parliament, one of the city’s most spectacular buildings. Its exterior alone is worth spending plenty of time examining in detail, but it is the interior that offers the most attractions.

The Parliament can only be visited via a guided tour, as explained in this article about tickets.

Although it is possible to buy them at the ticket office, after queuing for a considerable time, it is best to purchase them online via the Parliament’s own website or, better still, book a city tour that includes this guided tour of the interior.

Please note that the venue’s security regulations require you to arrive around 20 minutes before the scheduled start time of the tour.

With the exception of City Park (which you mustn’t miss), Budapest doesn’t have many green spaces where you can relax or even sit for a while whilst having a bite to eat. However, in the middle of the Danube there is a large space that is well worth a visit: Margaret Island.

Over 2,500 metres long, this large park is equipped with leisure and relaxation areas for all visitors. In fact, it is a regular meeting place for Budapest families on public holidays.

On the island, you can also see the ruins of the old St Margaret’s Convent, as well as a small church, a zoo, a swimming pool with water slides and an old water tower that now serves as a viewpoint.

One of the best ways to explore the island is by hiring a bike, though simply strolling around isn’t a bad option either. To get to the island, the best option is to take the tram (lines 4 and 6) to Margaret Bridge.

Joaquin’s Traveller Tip

If you’re a student, don’t forget to bring your student ID, as it will give you access to discounts at many monuments and museums.

Although there is no doubt about the city’s beauty in daylight, Budapest at night, with its night-time illuminations switched on, takes on a unique and almost more impressive appearance. My advice is to start by strolling along both banks of the river and admiring the Chain Bridge, Buda Castle or the Parliament from there.

If you have time, you should also head up to the castle district to visit the Fisherman’s Bastion, which offers some of the best views of the illuminated city. Of course, you can also book a night tour of the city to be accompanied by a guide.

When travelling to Budapest, people usually have in mind visiting places like Buda Castle, the Parliament, the main churches or the Central Market. However, if you have enough time, I encourage you to stray a little from those routes and discover some lesser-known but fascinating spots:

• Go on a hunt for street art: Budapest is full of giant murals and tiny figures on its walls. Do give this street art a look, as it’s sure to make an impression.
• A drink on a boat: this isn’t one of those fantastic evening dinner cruises. In this case, the pub is located on an old Ukrainian cargo ship moored on the Danube.
• Pinball Museum: if you miss the old pinball machines, in Budapest you’ll find an entire museum dedicated to them. Naturally, you’ll also be able to play a few games.
• Cemetery of Communist Statues: the site is home to a large number of the communist statues that once dotted the city.
• The hospital and underground bunker: in the Buda area, you can visit a former underground hospital that was converted into a nuclear bunker after the Second World War.

Most of the sightseeing you’ll do in Budapest will be on foot. However, you may at some point need to use public transport, whether to return to your hotel or to reach a monument you don’t fancy walking to.

Budapest has a good transport network, comprising trams, buses, a funicular and the metro – the fourth oldest in the world and the jewel in the crown in this regard. It is likely that the metro will be the one you use most.

Although you can buy single-journey tickets, priced at just over €1.10, if you plan to use it regularly, I recommend purchasing one of the available day passes. You can find all the information about the different types here.

To buy tickets or passes, simply head to a metro station, a newsagent’s or a kiosk.

One piece of advice you shouldn’t ignore is that ticket inspectors are known for being quite strict, especially with tourists. Don’t try to use any form of public transport without a ticket, as the fines are steep.

Travelling with children is a real challenge for many. Generally, they tire of museums and long walks more quickly and, naturally, prefer places where they can have fun.

Fortunately, Budapest offers plenty of places and activities for the little ones to have a great time:

• Aquaworld Water Park
• Take them for a ride through the hills of Budapest on the so-called children’s train
• Sign up for a trip to nearby Lake Balaton
• In Heroes’ Square you’ll find attractions they’ll love
• If you take them to the Széchenyi thermal baths, I guarantee they’ll have a brilliant time