Budapest itinerary
7 days, hour by hour · HungaryJune–September
- 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 June–September. The first three days:
- Day 1 Buda Castle
- Day 2 Parliament & Széchenyi
- Day 3 Jewish Quarter & ruin pubs
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
Landmark
Fisherman's Bastion
Fairy-tale turrets and views 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 in the city (since 1827). Try the krémes (cream pastry); there are only 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, serving 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, but expensive.
- Hospital in the RockA WWII hospital and nuclear bunker beneath the castle. Visits are by guided tour only.
Day 2 · 09:00–17:30
Parliament & Széchenyi
Culture
Hungarian Parliament Building
A 45-minute tour (including the Holy Crown). Book tickets online days ahead and don't forget your passport.
≈ 10,000 HUF per person- 45 min · travel, break, free time
Culture
St. Stephen's Basilica
Home to 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 (rice or liver sausage), kolbász (sausage), eaten standing up.
≈ 4,000 HUF per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Heroes' Square
Take Metro 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, in a yellow palace with a 38°C outdoor pool and chess tables. Bring your own slippers and towel; it's cheaper on weekdays.
≈ 13,200 HUF per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Gellért Thermal BathAn Art Nouveau bath, as an alternative to Széchenyi.
- Vajdahunyad Vár Restoranı VárosligetA restaurant in the castle park.
Day 3 · 10:00–23:00
Jewish Quarter & ruin pubs
Culture
Dohány Street Synagogue
The largest synagogue in Europe, 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-framed market hall from 1897. Look for paprika and salami, with lángos on the upper floor. Closed on Sundays.
FreeNature
Liberty Bridge & Gellért Hill
The green bridge, then a 30-minute climb up Gellért Hill for a Citadella panorama at sunset.
Free- 3 h · travel, break, free time
Food
Szimpla Kert
The original ruin bar (2002), with a bicycle café and a plant garden. Entry is free and a beer costs 1,000 HUF.
≈ 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 where the 1848 revolution unfolded; an alternative to the market.
Day 4 · 10:00–17:00Day trip
Szentendre
Landmark
Szentendre Fő tér
Take the HÉV train (40 minutes from Batthyány tér) to 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, serving goulash and paprikás csirke (paprika chicken).
≈ 7,000 HUF per personNature
Szentendre Tuna Kıyısı
A riverside walk. In summer you can return by boat (Mahart), taking 1.5 hours.
Free- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Culture
Skanzen Open Air Museum
A museum of Hungarian village houses, 10 minutes by bus (April to October).
≈ 4,000 HUF per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Álom Lángos SzentendreThe town's famous lángos, from a small stand.
- Visegrád CastleA castle on the Danube Bend, reached by bus; an alternative to Skanzen.
Day 5 · 09:00–17:45
Margaret Island & Andrássy
Nature
Margaret Island
A park island in the Danube. Rent a bike or pedal cart, and see the musical fountain, Japanese garden and 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. Heavy going 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 most beautiful café in the world'. Expect queues and high prices; an alternative to Menza.
- MiniversumMiniature Hungarian model trains; an alternative to the House of Terror (with children).
Day 6 · 09:30–21:30
Óbuda, Lukács & boat
Culture
Aquincum Museum
Ruins of a Roman city in Óbuda, reached by HÉV.
≈ 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 Parlamento Manzarası
The best view of Parliament, from across the river.
Free- 5 h 30 min · travel, break, free time
Nature
Danube Sightseeing Cruise
A one-hour evening boat trip with the lights on. Parliament and the Castle glow like gold.
≈ 4,500 HUF per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Pesti DisznóModern Hungarian cooking with plenty of pork, in Pest.
- Óbuda Fő térOld Óbuda's square, with its statues of figures under umbrellas; an alternative to Aquincum.
Day 7 · 09:30–13:15
Váci: a gentle farewell
Shopping
Váci Street
A pedestrian shopping street. Pick up paprika and Tokaji wine as souvenirs.
FreeFood
Vörösmarty Square Gerbeaud
A pastry shop from 1858. Have Dobos torta and coffee as your farewell.
≈ 4,000 HUF per personLandmark
Danube Promenade Little Princess
The Little Princess statue, and tram line 2 running along the riverbank.
Free- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Deák Ferenc tér 100E Havalimanı Otobüsü
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 2 has views of both riverbanks. The 100E airport bus costs 2,200 HUF. Metro 1 is a historic line.
- Summer temperatures are 28-32°C. The Sziget Festival is held in August (on an island in Óbuda). The baths' outdoor pools are a good option, boat evenings are cool, and there are fireworks on 20 August.
- Baths cost 12-15,000 HUF (cheaper on weekdays), Parliament 10,000 and the synagogue 12,000. Renting towels and slippers is expensive, so bring your own.
- Goulash (it's a soup!), pörkölt (stew), lángos, kürtőskalács, Dobos torta. Tip 10-12%, but check whether a 'szervizdíj' (service charge) has already been added to the bill.
- Pay in cash in forints. Places that accept EUR give poor rates. Beware the 'no commission' trap at exchange offices, and at ATMs choose your own bank's rate.
- The ruin pubs 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.
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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 June–September. There is a separate plan for October–May: opening hours, the sea and the weather change the route.