Budapest in 4 Days: everything you need to know

When you're planning a multi-day trip to a new destination it can be very easy to make the mistake of misallocating your time and routes.

Budapest is a city with so much to see and do, and in this four-day itinerary I'll tell you how to spread out the routes to make the most of every second and see a bit of everything.

The east side of Budapest is characterised by its completely flat terrain and is very easy to explore. Start your city tour by walking among the most impressive architecture and history on the banks of the Danube.

Hop on the Budapest sightseeing bus

If you're visiting Budapest for the first time, the best way to start your tour and get in tune with all that this wonderful destination has to offer is aboard the Budapest sightseeing bus. The route usually takes you across the Chain Bridge, visiting the Great Synagogue, the Millennium Monument and many more.

• Price: from approximately €37.
• Duration: you can choose between a 1, 2 or 3 day pass.

See the Parliament Building

Located on the banks of the Danube River, the Parliament Building is one of the most important and beautiful monuments of the city, making it one of the most important stops on any visit to Budapest.

To save time and money it is best to buy your tickets to the Parliament in advance, although I think the best way to get to know it is through a guided tour of the Parliament of Budapest, which always includes the tickets in the price.

• Opening hours: from 10am to 4pm.
• Price of the guided tour: from 51€.
• Duration of the visit: 1 hour is usually enough to tour the interior.
• For more info... Visit the post All about tickets to the Parliament of Budapest

Visit the Shoe Monument

Leaving the Parliament Building on the banks of the Danube, you will come across the Shoe Monument. A small attraction commemorating the history of the Hungarian Jews who were killed and thrown into the water during World War II.

Take a lunch break

The area around the Parliament is one of the most varied gastronomic districts in Budapest. Some options to consider are:

• Salaam Bombay: specialists in Indian food.
• Élelem Étterem: international food with a healthy approach; perfect for people with food allergies.
• Budapest Bistro: top quality Hungarian food, worth a visit for its garden terrace.
• Szamos Café: offers a varied menu accompanied by the best views of the Parliament building.

Take a tour of Budapest's Jewish Quarter

Erzsébetváros is the Hungarian name for this area of the city. It is one of the most eclectic, with an impressive history and traditions.

The best way to get to know it is through an excursion, which is why you will find in Budapest different tours of the Jewish Quarter that seek to adapt to every type of tourist.

• Price: from €32 for group tours and over €200 for individual tours.
• Duration: book about 4 hours for this experience.

Get to know Váci Uta

After your tour of the Jewish Quarter you will find yourself in the heart of the city with one of the most important shopping streets and one of the most picturesque. Visit it not only to see the beautiful shop windows of multinational brands, but also to admire the beautiful traditional architecture of Budapest.

Enjoy an evening of wine and cheese.

As you know, getting to know and exploring a new city is not only about monuments and architecture, gastronomy is an important part of the experience.

Hungary is known for its good quality wines, so booking one of your nights for a Hungarian wine and cheese tasting is something you won't regret. And one of the best ways to do this is by taking a food tour of Budapest to learn about the history and tradition from an expert guide. But you can also visit some of the many bars in the city that offer this experience on your own:

• Kadarka at 1068 Budapest, Király utca 42.
• Doblo at 1072 Budapest, Dob utca 20.
• Andante on 011 Budapest, Bem rakpart 2.
• Dropshop at 1072 Budapest, Dob utca 20.

Spend your second day exploring the Castle District. This area of Budapest is characterised by the steep hill on which the majestic Castle stands. All the ancient and medieval architecture of the city is concentrated around it.

Start the day on Margaret Island

Between Buda and Pest, on the Danube itself, you will find one of the largest and most beautiful garden areas in the city: Margaret Island. Start the morning of your second day in the city with a relaxing walk through this beautiful area.

And don't forget to visit the Margarita Island Zoo, where you will find a collection of atypical animals.

My recommendation is to explore Isla Margarita by bicycle. Rental costs about €3 for two hours, but you can also take the tourist train for about €2 or rent an electric car for four people for about €13.

• Price: free if you walk.
• Duration: 2 hours will be enough to explore it fully.

Take a lunch break

Cross the Margaret Island Bridge to Budapest's Buda area (the name given to the west bank of the Danube River) for a leisurely stroll along the riverbank and an early lunch. Some suggestions of good establishments are:

• Kacsa Étterem: a traditional Hungarian restaurant overlooking the Danube River.
• Hanoi Restaurant: specialises in Vietnamese food and also offers wonderful views of the river.
• Cinnamon: the best alternative if you are in the mood for a light meal or simple snack.
• Vigadó Étterem és Söröző: Traditional Hungarian food with an outdoor seating area by the street.
• Corvin Gastropub: overlooking the Danube River, also Szilágyi Dezső Square and small chapel.

Take the funicular up to Budapest Castle

A few minutes' walk along the banks of the Danube is the funicular that will take you up to the Buda Castle complex.

The funicular stop is right at the foot of the iconic Chain Bridge, so if you want to see it on foot, this is the perfect time. This bridge offers the best pictures of the Parliament Building.

Access to the gardens and Buda Castle is free but if you want to visit some of the museums you will have to pay an entrance fee.

• Opening hours: daily from 7.30 am to 10 pm.
• Price: approximately €3 per trip. The castle's museums are the Budapest History Museum, the Hungarian National Gallery and the National Library, all three of which are fee-paying.
• For more info... Visit the official website.

See the Church of St. Matthias

Explore the most beautiful and famous neo-Gothic church in Budapest. This is where the royal coronations of Hungarian royalty took place for centuries, so it's well worth a tour to admire its beautiful interiors.

The exterior of St Matthias is equally charming as a result of the many architectural details and beautifully coloured roofs.

• Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm; Saturday mornings only and Sunday evenings only.
• Admission fee: approximately €3.5 per adult ticket.
• Duration of the visit: 30-40 minutes is enough.

Discover the Castle Labyrinth

In the hills of Budapest Castle, thanks to the action of water, a series of caves were formed over time, which were later put to a number of interesting uses by the inhabitants.

Today it is a cultural attraction, so you can walk through some 1,200 metres of underground paths and admire everything from cave paintings to columns and statues. My favourite tour is at the end of the day, around 6pm, when the lights go out and the tour must be done with an oil lamp.

• Opening hours: from 10am to 7pm.
• Entrance fee: approximately 3€.
• Duration of the visit: 30 minutes is enough.

Watch the sunset at the Fisherman's Bastion

You can't leave Budapest and the Castle District without going up to Fisherman's Bastion. This space is a memorial viewpoint but its strategic location will give you a full panoramic view of the city.

Want to take postcard pictures? This is the perfect place! Arriving for sunset adds an even more special touch to the whole experience. To walk down the Castle Hill my recommendation is to do it on foot to see the beautiful streets you didn't get to explore on the way up.

• Opening hours: Always open.
• Entry fee: The viewpoint is free, you will have to pay if you want to access the towers.

Experience a cruise on the Danube.

During the night you can take a cruise with dinner and live music on the waters of the Danube, a two-in-one experience that allows you to enjoy Hungarian gastronomy while admiring the beautiful scenery of the buildings that line the viewpoint and which are spectacularly illuminated at night.

• Price: from €57.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours.
• More information: Danube Cruises in Budapest

On the third day we head to the north-west side of Budapest to explore some of the most beautiful Hungarian architecture and historical sites.

Visit St. Stephen's Basilica

Exploring St. Stephen's Basilica is the best way to start the morning of your third day in Budapest. Neoclassical in style, it is the largest religious temple not only in the city, but in all of Hungary.

It is estimated that an average of 8,500 people can be accommodated inside and its 96-metre high dome (the same height as the Parliament) is impressive to say the least. Want to see it? Well, there are two ways: visit it on your own during the day or leave it for the evening to attend an organ concert.

• Opening hours: from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday; Saturday mornings and Sunday evenings only.
• Admission fee: free, but visitors are asked to make a voluntary contribution for maintenance and care.
• Duration of visit: 40 to 50 minutes is usually sufficient.

Walk along Andrássy

Just around the corner and a few metres away from St. Stephen's is the beginning of what is considered to be the most beautiful and historically charged avenue in Budapest: Andrássy.

Here you will find a collection of beautiful buildings with cafes, shops and restaurants. During the Christmas season in Budapest, walking along it to see the decorations is a must.

Make your way to Heroes' Square

Andrássy ends at the foot of Heroes' Square. I recommend you take a few pictures of what is the most important public square in the city.

Pay special attention to the impressive statues and the beautiful neoclassical building housing the city's Museum of Fine Arts.

Head to Városliget Park for lunch

Városliget Park is the most important garden area in the city and is located just behind Heroes' Square. Take a moment to wander around the gardens, the lake and pause for lunch at one of the many restaurants in the area. Among the highlights are:

• Városliget Café: offering top quality Hungarian food.
• Robinson Étterem: specialising in Mediterranean food.

Get to know the Budapest Opera Building

This is the most impressive neo-Renaissance building in the city. If you are interested in classical architecture and interiors, this is a sight not to be missed.

It is located on Andrássy Avenue itself, so you will have to retrace your steps to see it. The best time to visit the Hungarian Opera building is in the afternoon when guided tours in English are available.

• Opening hours: Tours are available from 11am to 5pm or at the start time of the performances.
• Ticket price for the tours: approximately 9€.
• Duration of tour: approximately 40 to 50 minutes.

Visit the Chocolate Museum

From the Budapest Opera House to the Chocolate Museum is about a 15-minute walk as you explore one of the best areas of Budapest. It's a lovely little museum dedicated exclusively to chocolate, with quite a few works and fun facts around.

The museum is located on the second level of a beautiful two-storey building. My recommendation is to sit for a while in the cafe on the first floor and try a slice of delicious cake. Then take the tour.

• Opening hours: from 10am to 6pm.
• Entrance fee: approximately €3.
• Duration of visit: 30 minutes for the tour of the museum.

Take a tour of Budapest's Ruin Bars

Budapest' s Ruin Bars are a sensation; a showcase of the vibrant and alluring nightlife of the city's Jewish Quarter.

Since you can't leave the city without checking out these lively and youthful venues, I recommend spending the evening of your third day exploring the city's best Ruin Pubs.

If you've followed the itinerary to the letter, this is an area you haven't yet explored, so it's worth dedicating your last day to seeing a few places that are important mainly to the locals who make their living in the city.

In the morning explore the Central Market

The city's most important market is located in the south-eastern part of Budapest; in the PEST part of the city.

On the morning of your last day you can get up early to explore the hundreds of stalls selling food, utensils and accessories of all kinds. If you need to buy travel souvenirs, this is the right time to do it.

• Opening hours: from 6am to 6pm, except Mondays when they close at 5pm and Saturdays at 3pm.
• Admission fee: free of charge.
• Duration of the visit: as long as you like.

Take a lunch break

When you get tired of shopping and exploring the curiosities of the Central Market, go up to the first floor where you will find a vast area dedicated to food stalls. Here I recommend you take an early lunch break to eat some delicious food and continue your exploration.

Head to the Holocaust Memorial

After lunch, head further south to visit one of the city's most moving museums: the Holocaust Memorial. In addition to the striking exhibition, the striking and thoughtful architecture of its interiors make it one of the best Holocaust museums in the world. It is a must-see if you are interested in history, especially that of the Second World War.

To get there from your location at the Central Market you can take the BKK bus route 83 from the Üllői út stop and get off just three stops later at the Fővám tér M stop, the Museum is just a minute's walk across Ferenc Krt.

• Opening hours: from 10 am to 6 pm from Tuesday to Sunday.
• Admission fee: approximately €4
• Duration of the visit: 1 hour is usually enough.

Spend the rest of the day at the spas.

Budapest' s spas are one of the must-see attractions when visiting the city, as it is famous for having the most beautiful and traditional public baths and pools in all of Europe. My recommendation is to spend the rest of the afternoon and evening of your last day at one of these relaxing destinations.

Széchenyi SpaGoing to the Széchenyi Spa means visiting the largest, most beautiful and best equipped spa in Budapest. It is well worth a visit at any time of the year.

• Location: Városliget Park, northeast part of the city.
• Opening hours: from 6 am to 10 pm.
• Entrance fee: approximately €17 per person.

Gellert Spa The most famous of all the city's spas, the main pool is truly spectacular.

• Location: Hotel Geller in the southern part of the city, on the west side of the Danube.
• Opening hours: from 06h to 20h.
• Entrance fee: approximately €13.50 per person.

Rudas Spa Rated as the most beautiful bath of Turkish origin in Europe, it has restrictions on use. Until the beginning of the 20th century women were not allowed to enter, but nowadays they are allowed at specific times.

• Location: in the Buda area, west side of the river near the Elizabeth Bridge.
• Opening hours: from 6am to 8pm; Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays exclusively for men; Tuesdays exclusively for women and mixed on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Entrance fee: approximately €13.50 per person.