Budapest itinerary
7 days, hour by hour · HungaryOctober–May
- Days
- 7
- Stops
- 34
- Per day
- ≈ 35,000 HUF
- First stop
- 08:00
Short answer
The TripWalkers Budapest itinerary runs 7 days and lays out 34 stops, hour by hour, for October–May. The first three days:
- Day 1 Buda Castle district
- Day 2 Parliament and Széchenyi
- Day 3 Jewish Quarter and ruin bars
Staying less? Start with the first days — TripWalkers uses the opening days of this plan for shorter trips too. Day 4 is a day trip out of the city. Food, entry fees and local transport come to about 35,000 HUF a day (excluding accommodation and flights).
Day 1 · 08:00–14:30
Buda Castle district
Landmark
Fisherman's Bastion
Fairytale turrets and a view over Parliament. The lower terraces are free; the upper tower costs 1,500 HUF (free before 08:00).
FreeCulture
Matthias Church
Colourful Zsolnay-tiled roof; a coronation church with a mosaic interior.
≈ 3,500 HUF per personLandmark
Buda Castle & Castle Hill Yürüyüşü
Palace courtyards and the Turul bird statue. The Hungarian National Gallery (4,400 HUF) is optional.
FreeFood
Ruszwurm Cukrászda
The oldest pastry shop, open since 1827; try the krémes (cream-filled puff pastry). It has 5 tables. Afterwards take the funicular and walk across the Chain Bridge to Pest.
≈ 2,500 HUF per person- 1 h · travel, break, free time
Food
Gerlóczy Kávéház
A Parisian-style café in Belváros; goulash and paprikás.
≈ 6,000 HUF per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Halászbástya RestaurantSet inside Fisherman's Bastion with views; expensive.
- Hospital in the RockA WWII hospital and nuclear bunker beneath the castle; a guided tour is compulsory.
Day 2 · 09:00–17:30
Parliament and Széchenyi
Culture
Hungarian Parliament Building
45-minute tour (Holy Crown). Book online days in advance and bring your passport.
≈ 10,000 HUF per person- 45 min · travel, break, free time
Culture
St. Stephen's Basilica
Holds the mummified right hand of St Stephen; the dome panorama costs 3,000 HUF.
≈ 2,000 HUF per personFood
Belvárosi Disznótoros
Hungarian butcher's food sold by weight: hurka (liver sausage), kolbász (sausage), eaten standing up.
≈ 4,000 HUF per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Heroes' Square
Take Metro line 1 (the oldest metro on the continent). See the Millennium Monument and the seven tribal chieftains.
FreeNature
Széchenyi Thermal Bath
Europe's largest thermal bath: a yellow palace, a 38°C outdoor pool and people playing chess. Bring your own slippers and towel; cheaper on weekdays.
≈ 13,200 HUF per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Gellért Thermal BathAn Art Nouveau bath; an alternative to Széchenyi.
- Vajdahunyad Vár Restoranı VárosligetA restaurant in the castle park.
Day 3 · 10:00–23:00
Jewish Quarter and ruin bars
Culture
Dohány Street Synagogue
Europe's largest synagogue, with the Weeping Willow memorial. Closed on Saturdays.
≈ 12,000 HUF per person- 45 min · travel, break, free time
Food
Karaván Street Food
A food-truck courtyard next to Szimpla; try lángos (fried dough with garlic and cheese) and kürtőskalács (chimney cake).
≈ 3,500 HUF per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Shopping
Great Market Hall
An iron market hall from 1897: paprika, salami and lángos upstairs. Closed on Sundays.
FreeNature
Liberty Bridge & Gellért Hill
The green bridge, then a 30-minute climb up Gellért Hill. At sunset, enjoy the panorama from the Citadella.
Free- 3 h · travel, break, free time
Food
Szimpla Kert
Open in winter too; farmers' market on Sunday mornings.
≈ 3,000 HUF per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Mazel TovA Middle Eastern garden restaurant in the Jewish Quarter; book ahead.
- Hungarian National MuseumThe steps associated with the 1848 revolution; an alternative to the market.
Day 4 · 10:00–17:00Day trip
Day trip to Szentendre
Landmark
Szentendre Fő tér
40 minutes by HÉV train (from Batthyány tér); a Baroque artists' town with Serbian churches.
FreeCulture
Blagoveštenska Church Szentendre
A Serbian Orthodox church on the square.
≈ 1,000 HUF per person- 45 min · travel, break, free time
Food
Aranysárkány Vendéglő
The town's classic restaurant; goulash and chicken paprikás.
≈ 7,000 HUF per personNature
Szentendre Danube Embankment
A riverside walk in winter; take the HÉV back.
Free- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Culture
Skanzen Open Air Museum
Skanzen has limited opening in winter; visit the town's galleries and the Margit Kovács Museum instead.
≈ 4,000 HUF per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Álom Lángos SzentendreThe town's famous lángos; a small stand.
- Visegrád CastleA castle on the Danube Bend; go by bus, instead of Skanzen.
Day 5 · 09:00–17:45
Margaret Island and Andrássy
Nature
Margaret Island
A park island in the Danube; rent a bike or a pedal cart, and see the musical fountain, the Japanese garden and the ruins.
Free- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Andrássy Avenue
A UNESCO-listed boulevard with the Opera, Liszt Square and luxury shops.
FreeFood
Menza Liszt Ferenc tér
A retro Hungarian restaurant on Liszt Square; try the goulash.
≈ 6,000 HUF per personCulture
House of Terror
The former Nazi and communist secret police headquarters; harrowing but important. Closed on Mondays.
≈ 4,000 HUF per personCulture
Hungarian State Opera
A tour of the Neo-Renaissance opera house (in English at 13:30 and 15:00), or evening tickets from 5,000 HUF.
≈ 5,000 HUF per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- New York CaféBilled as the world's most beautiful café; expect a queue and high prices. An alternative to Menza.
- MiniversumMiniature Hungarian railways; an alternative to the House of Terror (with children).
Day 6 · 09:30–17:00
Óbuda, Lukács and a cruise
Culture
Aquincum Museum
Ruins of a Roman city; take the HÉV to Óbuda.
≈ 2,500 HUF per personNature
Lukács Thermal Bath
The locals' bath; quieter and cheaper than Széchenyi.
≈ 5,000 HUF per personFood
Bambi Eszpresszó
A communist-era café unchanged since 1961; in Buda.
≈ 3,000 HUF per personLandmark
Batthyány tér Parliament View
The best view of Parliament, framed from across the river.
Free- 1 h · travel, break, free time
Nature
Danube Sightseeing Cruise
A 1-hour daytime boat ride; glass-covered in winter, with illuminated views after 17:00.
≈ 4,500 HUF per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Pesti DisznóModern Hungarian cooking centred on pork; in Pest.
- Óbuda Fő térThe old Óbuda square with its statues holding umbrellas; an alternative to Aquincum.
Day 7 · 09:30–13:15
Váci Street and farewell
Shopping
Váci Street
A pedestrian shopping street; buy paprika and Tokaji wine as souvenirs.
FreeFood
Vörösmarty Square Gerbeaud
A pastry shop dating from 1858; have Dobos torta and coffee as a farewell.
≈ 4,000 HUF per personLandmark
Danube Promenade Little Princess
The Little Princess statue and tram line 2 running along the river.
Free- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Deák Ferenc tér 100E Airport Bus
The direct 100E bus takes 40 minutes; farewell.
≈ 2,200 HUF per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Café Central BudapestA literary café from 1887; an alternative to Gerbeaud.
- Erzsébet tér Ferris WheelThe Budapest Eye Ferris wheel; an alternative to the river.
Good to know: 6 things that make a Budapest trip easier
- A Budapest Card or 24-hour ticket costs about 2,500 HUF; tram line 2 has views of the riverbank. The 100E airport bus costs 2,200 HUF. Metro line 1 is historic.
- Winter temperatures range from -2 to 5°C; the Vörösmarty Christmas market runs November to December. Baths with steaming outdoor pools are best in the snow! Széchenyi holds a Saturday 'sparty'.
- Baths cost 12,000-15,000 HUF (cheaper on weekdays), Parliament 10,000 and the synagogue 12,000. Renting a towel and slippers is expensive, so bring your own.
- Goulash (it's a soup!), pörkölt (meat stew), lángos, kürtőskalács, Dobos torta. Tip 10-12%; check whether a 'szervizdíj' (service charge) has already been added to the bill.
- Get forints in cash. Places that accept EUR give a poor exchange rate. Beware the 'no commission' trap at currency exchange offices. At ATMs, choose your own bank's rate.
- The ruin bars are around Kazinczy Street; the synagogue is closed on Saturdays and the Great Market Hall on Sundays.
Spending: ≈ 245,000 HUF per person for 7 days
- Food120,000 HUF
- Entry and tours90,000 HUF
- Local transport15,000 HUF
- Other20,000 HUF
Excludes accommodation and flights. 2026 price estimate, per person.
We did the planning. You just pick the dates.
TripWalkers rebuilds this route around your number of days, budget and pace — on a map, day by day, in your pocket.
Download on the App StoreFor iPhone · English and Turkish · Free to download
Your next trip
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Budapest?
This itinerary is built for 7 days. With 3 days, do the first 3 — TripWalkers uses the opening days of the plan for shorter trips too. The day trip is on day 4; skip it on a short stay.
How much does a day in Budapest cost?
In this plan, food, entry fees and local transport come to about 35,000 HUF per person per day. Accommodation and flights are not included. Figures are 2026 estimates.
What time should you start the day in Budapest?
The first stop is at 08:00. Most days start early so you arrive before the crowds, and evenings end with dinner.
Which season is this itinerary for?
This page covers October–May. There is a separate plan for June–September: opening hours, the sea and the weather change the route.