This is the experience of visiting Budapest, what to see and do in 2 or 3 days

If you are looking for an interesting country to travel to in Europe, Hungary He is a great candidate.

And specifically its capital, Budapest, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful you can visit, and where you will still find very affordable prices.

In a country currently belonging to the European Union, the city of Budapest still maintains many traces of his time living within the block of the Soviet Union.

At that time I made my first trip to Budapest, and I must point out that on the new trip I recently made, I was surprised to find some areas that still show that gray and decadent atmosphere of that period in its history.

Curiosities of the history of Hungary

But I tell you that in Budapest the traces of the splendor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

On a historical level, for your trip it will be useful to know that Hungary As a country it was established in the year 896 by the descendants of the Magyars.

And that a very important milestone that you will see marked during your visit was when the king stephen converts the country to Catholicism in the year 1000.

El Kingdom of Hungary It existed for five centuries until 1541 when it was integrated into the Ottoman Empire during 150 years.

Later he was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire with autonomy since 1867.

After being defeated in the World War I, Hungary lost two thirds of its territory, and after fighting as part of the Axis in the Second World War, was under the Soviet bloc until 1989.

In this last era, a very important historical event was known as Revolución de 1956, the first that was experienced within the communist bloc.

Why Budapest is a World Heritage Site

In terms of your visibility you should also know that Budapest is listed as Heritage awarded by the UNESCO.

This recognition values ​​the architectural ensemble of Buda Castle and its medieval quarter, as well as the historic cityscape that configure the two banks of the Danube river, and the architectural complex of the Andrassi Avenue and its surroundings.

This is the experience of visiting Budapest, the best things to see and do

Based on the experience of our trip, we will detail below the essential things and activities What should you do in your trip to budapest, for which The ideal would be a stay of three full days.

Visit the Hungarian Parliament

If there is an impressive monument that would only justify making a Budapest getaway, that's the one from Hungarian Parliament.

It is a huge building of eclectic architecture in which the neo-Gothic predominates, which was located on the banks of the Danube river and it is the most emblematic image of the Hungarian capital.

In addition to appreciating its beauty from numerous places in the city such as the Buda Castle viewpoints, it is essential that you visit its interior where you will see impressive rooms.

• Here you have information for you visit of the Budapest Parliament and here you can sign up for one tour.

Climb to the viewpoints on Castle Hill

The city of Budapest is configured into two well-defined parts separated by the Danube river.

On the one hand, the northern area where the city center extends, and on the other the Buddha hill.

It is essential to go up to this place where, on the one hand, you have the Buda Castle viewpoints, old royal palace, and on the other hand you will have to walk through the old medieval castle quarter that takes you to the viewpoints of the place known as Fisherman's Bastion.

To upload our advice is that you use the funicular which takes you to the castle gardens, and here you can sign up for a Free Tour of Buda Castle.

Taking photos from the Fisherman's Bastion

El most emblematic place with the best views of the Pest area and Parliament, is known as Fisherman's Bastion.

It is a terrace of neogothic and neoromanesque style with seven towers which was built at the end of the 19th century.

These towers represent the seven Magyar tribes that formed the country of Hungary in the year 896.

This place has become essential for influencers who are looking for places instragameables in in the world.

Next to the bastion is the imposing church of San Matíasa eclectic architectural style which comes from its last restoration at the end of the 19th century.

Visit the Central Market Hall in Budapest

Whenever we travel to a big European city, we like to visit the Central Market, and more in the case of Budapest Well, it is one of the interesting corners that you should know.

You find it in front of the Liberty Bridge, on the opposite shore to that of the Gellért Hill.

It is a building from the end of the 19th century that is architecturally inspired by Eiffel.

During your walk through the market, you will be able to see an area of typical Hungarian gastronomic products, as well as another area of souvenirs and crafts, where you will find typical embroidery from the different Hungarian regions, hand-painted wood or dolls with typical costumes from popular bays.

There is also a varied fast food area, such as sweet crepes, sausages or gnocchi.

Take an evening cruise on the Danube

As I have mentioned, the Danube river It is the axis that separates the two parts of the city of Budapest, and the succession of monuments that can be seen on both shores have made this landscape considered Heritage.

Therefore, on your trip you should not miss a boat cruise on the Danube River, and the best thing without a doubt is to make a night cruise to see the illuminated monuments and, especially, the impressive Parliament.

You have several boat options, but our advice is that you take the night cruise that we did, as we were able to see, without a doubt the one that offers the greatest comfort and facilities for taking photos.

Yes, book your cruise well in advance before traveling to the Hungarian capital, since throughout the year these cruises are full almost every day.

Climb to the terrace of the dome of St. Stephen's Basilica

La Basilica of saint stephen It is another great monument that you should visit in Budapest.

The largest Catholic church in the city is a recently built building that dates back to 1851.

De classicist architectural style, named after the first Hungarian king San Esteban, and his figure is represented with a Carrara marble statue located under the canopy of the main altar.

In addition to walking around the interior, our advice is that you don't forget to go up to the panoramic viewpoint located around the dome of the Basilica, from where you have excellent views of the city that contrast with the famous ones from the castle hill.

The viewpoint has a height of 65 meters, and to climb it you have 304 steps, although you also have elevators since the renovation that was done in 2003.

Enjoy the hot springs of a spa

If there is something that has made the city ​​of budapest lies in its thermal water spas, and enjoying some of them has become another of the activities you can do on your trip.

The most famous is the Széchenyi spaConsidered the largest in Europe, which you find in the park that extends from the Heroes Square.

In this spa you can bathe in outdoor pools all year round.

Another option is the For Balneario Gellert, located at the foot of the hill with the same name and in front of the Liberty Bridge.

Here you will enjoy the thermal baths in a beautiful style building. Art Nouveau, and opposite, at the foot of the hill you can visit a cave chapel.

Go to a ruin bar in Budapest

If there is something that has been put very fashion in recent times in Budapest is to visit some of the well-known as ruined bars.

These are bars that have been installed in old ruined buildings, and that are now a very typical visit among tourists, especially among young people, where you find a very alternative decoration.

El original ruin bar is the Szimpla Kertmozi, a passage through a dilapidated building where various bars are located.

Other options are the Púder Bárszínház or Koleves.

Stroll along Andrássy Avenue

The large avenue that crosses the historic center of Budapest is also considered Heritage to form an architectural complex that also extends through the heroes square and City park.

In the northernmost part of the avenue you can classicist buildings, many of them embassy headquarters.

Visit the museums in Heroes' Square and Vajdahunyad Castle

In the aforementioned heroes square There are several museums such as the Museo de Bellas Artes or Ethnographic Museum with its avant-garde architecture.

At the entrance to the park you find the Vajdahunyad Castle Built in 1896 to commemorate the thousand years of the Hungarian state, and which has been the setting for many films, and also the largest skating rink in Europe.

Ride Metro Line 1

A characteristic of Budapest is its very efficient public transport network, which includes the metro.

As a curiosity, I will tell you that Budapest metro is the second oldest in the world after the one in London, and now it is highly recommended that you use the line M1 where you can see what that subway was like.

With stations in which the decoration with iron, ceramic and wood columns prevails, it is a metro line with three small cars, where I assure you that you will feel transported to the end of the 1896th century, when this station was inaugurated in May XNUMX. line.

If you are interested, you can visit the Railroad Museum what's in the center Deak Ferenc terc metro station, where you can see original wagons of the first line.

The other metro lines are logically more modern, and in particular, you will see that line M3 has recently been rehabilitated.

See the Shoe Monument

La city ​​of budapest has lived a long history linked to the presence of the Jews, and you will not be surprised if you find diverse monuments that they do not remember the dramatic stage experienced during the Second World War.

Specifically, it is essential to know the exciting place of Monument to Shoes which is located on the banks of the Danube in front of the main façade of Parliament.

This monument reminds us of the stage of extermination of the Jewish population of Budapest, when the aforementioned war and the Hungarian Nazi party were ending. Arrow Cross He staged a coup d'état and took control of the country.

Visit the old Jewish Quarter

If you are interested in learning more about that history, as well as the legacy of the Jews in Budapest, our advice is that you sign up for this Free Tour of the Jewish Quarter, just like we did.

During a visit of just over two hours you will depart from the Great Synagogue, where there are some monuments dedicated to the Jews, and you will see the most emblematic places.

For example, the section of old jewish ghetto wall which is preserved in the courtyard of a residential building, and which the only way to see it is during the guided tour.

Cross the Chain Bridge

The city of Budapest is also famous for its bridges, but if there is one emblematic, it is the Chain Bridge, the oldest of those that cross the Danube river.

It was inaugurated in 1849, with a design inspired by a London bridge, although it was later destroyed by the Germans at the end of the war. Second World War along with the other bridges that crossed the danube, so it had to be rebuilt.

I tell you that you will have to cross it to go to the funicular that takes you to the viewpoints of Buda Castle.

Take a sightseeing tour on tram 2

Finally, if you want to take a quick tourist tour seeing the main monuments and corners that extend along the Danube river, our advice is that you go up to the tram 2.

Enjoy a historic coffee

One of the characteristics of Budapest It is being able to see the lavish interior decoration of large buildings, and you have that opportunity if you go to the most famous of the city's historic cafes.

This is the Cafe New York, with more than 120 years of history, located in the New York Palace, a historic building that belonged to an insurance company.

Surely you will find a queue to enter as it is very visited by tourists, but at least it is worth accessing its interior and taking a walk through its lavish rooms.

Map with best places to visit in Budapest

With the experience of our recent trip, here is a map with the location of the main sites that you should visit on your visit to Budapest.