Budapest by Night: a handy guidebook for exploring the city's nightlife
Budapest is one of Central Europe's most vibrant nightlife cities. Not only because of its large number of entertainment venues, but also because of the beauty of strolling through its illuminated streets when the sun goes down.
Chain bridge | ©hermenpaca
When preparing a trip to the capital of Hungary, we should not only focus on its great monumental and historical heritage. Among the main attractions of Budapest is the life that bustles in its streets and that does not cease when night falls. In fact, as the sun sets, the city takes on a new atmosphere that makes it even more beautiful.
To organise your night-time activities in Budapest you should bear in mind that, although it has the same timetable as Spain, the sunset time is much earlier. Thus, in winter you can see the sunset at 16:00, while in summer it is around 20:45. For this reason, knowing what to do after dark is essential to make the most of your time.
1. Take a night tour of the city as an aperitif.
A good way to start getting to know Budapest's nightlife is to take a guided walking tour of the streets after the sun has set. During the tour you will be able to see some of the city's most important monuments illuminated, something that completely changes the aesthetics of the city.
Normally, these tours also spend part of their time walking along the riverbank. From this area you can admire some of the most impressive views of Budapest, from its bridges to the Buda Castle on the hill.
2. Bathe in the Széchenyi hot springs without worrying about the cold outside.
Although there are several spas in Budapest, all of which are of high quality, the crown jewel in this area is undoubtedly the Széchenyi Spa, for which we recommend you book your tickets in advance as it tends to be very busy at certain times of the year. There you can enjoy the facilities until well after dark.
Located in the beautiful City Park, the inner part of the spa is housed in an impressive Baroque building built in 1913. With its more than 15 pools of different sizes, saunas, Turkish baths and its features, it is considered to be the largest in Europe. If you go in winter, the sensation of taking a hot bath in the snow is priceless.
Join a Sparty
While you will be able to bathe at night in the Széchenyi Spa for most of the year, there are some dates when you can attend a big party on the premises.
The so-called Sparty are big celebrations that take place in the spa pools. During them you can listen to music, dance or have a drink while you are bathing in a thermal pool. Normally, these parties take place on Saturdays, but I recommend that you confirm this before making the plan.
3. Have a beer (or something else) in a ruin bar
One of the best things to do at night in Budapest is to go to one of its many ruin bars. If you've been on a tour of the Jewish Quarter (or you've gone on your own) you've probably seen one.
The main peculiarity of this type of pub is that they are located in old buildings that were practically in ruins, a fact that has given them their name. If you go to Budapest, you must visit one of these pubs, to the extent that you can even book a guided tour of the ruin bars, which includes a drink.
4. Take a night cruise on the Danube River
There is nothing more romantic than taking a boat ride in Budapest's night illumination. Booking a night cruise on the Danube allows you to relax and, at the same time, enjoy a unique panorama.
The routes of the different night cruises usually run through the city centre. During the cruise you will be able to see the illuminated Freedom Bridge and the Chain Bridge, as well as the monuments on Gellért Hill, the Parliament and Buda Castle.
5. Stroll through the illuminated streets of Budapest
It is almost impossible to name all the places in Budapest that are worth visiting at night. Some of them are worth a visit for their own illumination, such as St. Stephen's Basilica or the Opera House, while others are worth a visit for the views they offer of the rest of the city.
To start with, the Parliament area (next to the Shoe Monument) offers a great view of the building itself as well as the opposite bank, with the Buda Castle crowning the city. We'll continue along the illuminated Chain Bridge and few places in Budapest offer a better view of the city than Fisherman's Bastion, which you may have visited during the day with a tour of Buda Castle and its neighbourhood.
6. Enter the Buda Labyrinth when the lights go out
The characteristics of this place make it worthy to be on the list of what to do in Budapest at night. If you're a thrill-seeker, you can't miss visiting the Buda Maze in the dark (or nearly so).
Much of the hill on which the Buda Castle is located is pockmarked with tunnels and grottoes caused by erosion from groundwater. If you can adjust your schedule, I recommend that you make this visit after 18:00. This is when the lights in the labyrinth are switched off and only a small oil lamp illuminates the labyrinth. The shadows cast, the darkness in the background and the sounds of the tunnels create a totally unique atmosphere.
Search for the footprint of Vlad Dracul (Dracula)
Inside the labyrinth you may find a surprise. Next to some rubble (possibly the remains of a statue) there is a poster with the image of Vlad Tepes, the historical figure who inspired the creation of Dracula. Above the image you can read the words: Dracula's Chamber. The reason for this is that the tunnels were used for a time as a prison and, in the 15th century, held one of its most famous prisoners, Vlad Tepes himself.
7. Enjoy the city from a rooftop terrace.
For those who don't want to end the day too early, especially when the weather is nice, there are several rooftop terraces where you can enjoy a drink while you look out over the illuminated city. Here are three of them, but I suggest you venture out to discover some more during your stay:
- Intermezzo Rooftop Terrace: the eight-storey rooftop terrace of the Hotel President Intermezzo was until a few years ago a heliport. Today it houses a bar and a restaurant (in winter there is also a small ice rink). In the bar you can have a quiet drink while looking out over the nearby Parliament.
- High Note Roof Bar: for many, this is the most romantic rooftop in the whole city. Its location, of course, couldn't be better, right next to St. Stephen's Basilica. You will be able to sit on its comfortable sofas while you have a drink and watch the sunset.
- Leo: This summer bar is located in the Buda Castle district. With a tropical décor (including parrot-shaped glasses), this place has a great view of the Chain Bridge.
8. Climb Budapest's Statue of Liberty
No, you don't have to go to New York to see the famous statue. Budapest has its own statue known by that name, which was built to celebrate the liberation of the country after World War II. Although the Soviet style in which it is built is not to everyone's taste, walking up to where it stands is one of the best things you can do in the evening.
This statue is located on a part of Gellért Hill, next to the Citadel. Getting to the statue is not easy, as it takes about 45 minutes from Erzsébet Square. Part of the way up is through a forest where you will find the statue of St. Gellért, which is also worth a visit. While you're there, it might be the perfect time to head over to Fisherman's Bastion to make the most of the walk.
9. Ride the Budapest Ferris Wheel
One of the activities you can do at night in Budapest is to ride the Ferris wheel in Erzsébet Square, which has been named the Budapest Eye(after the one in London), and from its heights you can see some great views without having to go all the way to Buda. From its heights you will be able to see some great views without having to go to Buda.
The Ferris wheel, which opens at around 10:00 in the morning, runs until at least 23:00 on weekdays and until 1:00 on weekends. The truth is that going up is not too cheap, as it costs around €9. However, once you're at the top you realise it's worth it.
10. Choose your type of music and go to a concert.
Fortunately for music lovers, in Budapest you can find concerts of all kinds of styles. You just have to look for the place where most concerts take place and choose the one you like the most, either in specialised bars or in the city's Opera House itself. Although there are many places, here are three recommendations in case they suit your tastes:
- Budapest Jazz Club: this is one of the few places in the city where you can see live jazz performances. In addition to the concerts, you can also have dinner there. The time of the performances depends on the day, as you can find them at 19:00, 20:00 or even 22:00. The venue is located at Hollán Ernő utca 7,
- Pótkulcs: this little hidden gem hides a multicultural atmosphere that is rare in the city. The venue hosts performances by violinists, Hungarian folk music and Roma musicians. Note that they start early, although the evening usually lasts well into the night.
- Budapest Opera House: Ballet, classical music and, of course, opera are performed inside this fantastic building. As an institution, it is home to the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, considered one of the best orchestras in Europe.
Getting around Budapest at night
Although most of the time you will be walking around Budapest, there may come a time when you will need to use public transport, especially at night when you are returning to your hotel.
Fortunately, the Hungarian capital has a good transport system consisting of metro, tram and bus.
- Metro: unfortunately, the metro's timetable at night will only allow you to use it until 23:00 or after 04:30.
- Trams: On the plus side, the city has more than 40 tram lines, many of which run through the city centre. However, the timetable is the same as that of the metro: from 04:30 to 23:00.
- Buses: in addition to the normal lines, which have the same timetable as the previous transport, there are also night buses that operate from 23:00 to 5:00.
- Taxis: Taxis are not expensive in Budapest, so they can be a good alternative for getting around at night. However, you should check that they are legal by looking for a yellow number plate. It is best to call them by phone to order them, which also reduces the fare by about 5%.
Is Budapest safe at night?
In general, Budapest is considered a safe city at night. As in all capital cities, there are some areas that are not too recommendable, but it is difficult to go to any of them due to the lack of tourist attractions.
It is generally recommended, however, to be careful with pickpockets in the most crowded areas, as well as with the tricksters who usually place themselves at the top of the Gellért hill.
On the other hand, there have been some reports of young Hungarian girls who trick tourists into entering a certain pub where, in the end, they are presented with an exorbitant bill. Although it is not common, the recommendation is to go only to guaranteed places.