I’ll level with you; you need at least two days to scratch the surface of Hungary’s capital. But life isn’t always perfect and you can cover a lot of ground if you have only one day in Budapest.
Whether you are visiting Budapest on a Danube cruise or staying overnight, hit the ground running with my 1-day Budapest itinerary and walking tour. It will be a busy 24 hours but you’ll get to see the city’s photogenic Old Town, admire its architecture and visit some of Budapest’s most popular attractions.
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An Overview of Budapest
Budapest was created when Buda and Pest were united with a smaller third city, Óbuda, in 1873.
Buda is on the west bank of the mighty River Danube. This is Budapest’s Old Town, where you will be treated to the best city views.
Pest is the city’s lively 19th-century commercial centre on the river’s east bank. This is home to many of the city’s tourist sights, including the State Parliament building, and its (in)famous ruin bars.
1 Day Budapest Itinerary in a Nutshell
Your day in Budapest starts with a view you won’t forget on the Buda side of the river. It finishes by exploring the city’s dark past at the aptly named House of Terror in Pest. This is how it shapes up:
If you have more time to spare, check out my 2-day Budapest itinerary.
As with any city itinerary, adjust it to your tastes and energy levels.
For example; if you want to linger in the churches and synagogue – or have a leisurely lunch – you could skip the House of Terror and end the day at Dohány Street Synagogue. Another option is to sacrifice one of these stops for a tour of Budapest’s majestic opera house.
If you want to indulge in coffee and cake in a swanky setting, I recommend Gerbeaud Patisserie. Although it is hugely popular, I do not think Budapest’s New York Café is worth it.
I’ve also included a few things to do during your evening in Budapest.
Self-Guided Budapest Walking Tour
This itinerary slots nicely into a Budapest walking tour that starts at Fishermen’s Bastion in Buda and finishes at the House of Terror in Pest. It covers a distance of four miles (7 km). Wear your most comfortable shoes.
For a live map with directions, or to save it to your phone, click here or on the image.
Fishermen’s Bastion (Halászbástya)
Begin your day in Budapest with a view of Budapest that was made for sharing.
This Disneyesque undulating rampart of stairways, turrets and cloisters was built in the 19th Century. Although fishermen reputedly defended this part of the hill during the Middle Ages, Fishermen’s Bastion is purely decorative.
I recommend visiting as early as possible in your day when you won’t have to bump elbows with so many other visitors and the morning light shines a glorious spotlight on the city below.
Between the Fishermen’s Bastion and Mathias Church, there’s an equestrian statue of King Stephen, the founder of the Hungarian nation.
Matthias Church (Mátyás templom)
This is my favourite church in Budapest and one of the most beautiful in Europe. Although you can do worse than admire it from the outside, Matthias Church is well worth the entrance fee.
Although parts of this lavishly decorated place of worship are over 800 years old, it is essentially a neo-Gothic confection dating from 1896. It is named after King Matthias Corvinus who married Queen Beatrix here in 1474 (it’s also known as the Coronation Church).
Climb the stairs to the upper level for wonderful views of the church’s main altar and polychromic columns floor. There’s also a treasure trove of ecclesiastical bits and bobs.
Take a look at the Holy Trinity Statue near Matthias Church. This beautifully carved 18th-century column commemorates the people of Buda who died from two outbreaks of the Black Plague in 1691 and 1709.
Walk across Széchnyi Chain Bridge from Buda to Pest
This is Budapest’s most famous River Danube bridge. After a lengthy closure for restoration – I couldn’t use it on my last visit to Budapest – Széchenyi Chain Bridge has now reopened.
Gresham Palace
I love Art Nouveau architecture and this Budapest landmark building is a superb example.
The Gresham Palace was built between 1904 and 1906 as a complex of luxury residences, offices and ships and was extensively restored in 1999. It is now a Four Seasons hotel but you can peek at the lobby if you aren’t staying there.
Shoes on the Danube
Turn right after you leave the Gresham Palace and walk along the Danube Promenade.
Shoes on the Danube is a poignant memorial to the Jews who were murdered during Budapest’s Nazi occupation. It comprises sixty pairs of cast-iron shoes, arranged in a line along the riverbank. Many of these Jewish victims were instructed to take off their shoes before being shot.
Hungarian Parliament Building
The riverfront Hungarian Parliament Building is Budapest’s most audacious building, mixing Gothic Revival with Renaissance and Baroque flourishes. You can visit the building on one of the 45-minute tours. Book well in advance or try for same-day admission at the Visitor Centre.
Check times and book your ticket via the official website here.
Explore Liberty Square (Szabadság ter)
This pretty square was developed on the site of the barracks where scores of Hungarians were imprisoned and tortured under the Habsburg rulers. Exploring its buildings and monuments to freedom and liberty is one of the best things to do in Budapest if you are a history buff.
St. Stephen’s Basilica
St Stephen’s Basilica is a glorious 19th-century ensemble of multicoloured marble and gilt that houses the mummified hand of Hungary’s patron saint. The views from the basilica’s panoramic terrace are the best in Pest but the treasury is skippable.
Dohány Street Synagogue
I’ve stepped inside many synagogues but this one is my favourite.
Dohány Street Synagogue, or Budapest Great Synagogue, is Europe’s largest synagogue and was built in 1859 in a Moorish Revival style. After the guided tour included in your ticket, visit the Holocaust Tree of Life Memorial on the synagogue’s northern side.
Hungarian State Opera House
Your route from Dohány Street Synagogue to the House of Terror takes you past the Hungarian State Opera House (Magyar Allami Operahaz). This Renaissance-style structure is one of Budapest’s most beautiful buildings and opened in 1893 with a performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata.
If you want to see more of the building join one of the 45-minute tours.
House of Terror
I was on the fence about the House of Terror but was glad I visited. Housed in the former headquarters of the ÁVH secret police, this excellent, if chilling, museum is dedicated to the victims of the Fascist and Stalinist regimes of 20th-century Hungary.
Evening in Budapest
Finish your 24 hours in Budapest with one (or two) of these activities.
Soak away your cares at one of Budapest’s thermal baths
Bathing in one of the city’s thermal pools is a quintessentially Budapest thing. Széchenyi Baths and Gellért Baths are the two city pools most popular with visitors and are usually open until 7 pm or 8 pm.
I visited the Art Nouveau Gellért Baths on my first visit to Budapest and it was an unforgettable experience.
Take a sunset cruise on the River Danube
Watch the city’s skyline light up and you sip a glass of fizz on this one-hour Danube cruise. An audioguide is also included
>>> FIND OUT MORE & BOOK HERE
Join a wine, cheese and charcuterie evening
I had a fabulous evening wine tasting in Budapest, run by the excellent Taste Hungary. We were served eight generous pours of wine (three red, three white, one sparkling and a delicious Tokaji dessert wine) which were paired with local produce
>>> FIND OUT MORE & BOOK HERE
Hit Budapest’s Ruin Bars
Budapest’s (in)famous Ruin Bars sprung up within the courtyards of vacant pre-war buildings of the city’s Jewish Quarter. Although I’m more of a cheese-and-wine girl, pub crawls around these bars are hugely popular.
>>> FIND OUT MORE & BOOK HERE
How to Get Around
Although Budapest has an efficient network of buses, metro trains and trams, you shouldn’t need them to visit the places in this one-day itinerary. The only time I used the metro system was to get to and from Budapest’s Keleti train station.
Get the lowdown on public transport in Budapest here.
Where to Stay
Whether you want to stay in Buda or Pest, there are lots of hotels and apartments from which to choose.
If you want to be in the thick of things, pick the Pest side. I prefer Buda as it is quieter but most of the city’s attractions are on the opposite side of the river.
Here are my top choices:
Park Plaza Hotel
I would stay at this Radisson hotel again solely for the unforgettable view of the river and Parliament Building from my bedroom window. As well as its superb location, the room was spacious and the staff were super friendly.
>>> CHECK ROOM RATES & AVAILABILITY HERE
TG Hotel Suites Budapest
This large and stylish apartment is a stone’s throw from St. Stephen’s Basilica, on the doorstep of several restaurants and cafes. As a solo traveller, the building was very secure.
>>> CHECK ROOM RATES & AVAILABILITY HERE
My Final Tips for Spending One Day in Budapest
Firstly, pick a handful of attractions and stick with them. You are only in Budapest for a day and can’t do it all. I have been there twice, each time for three or four nights, and there is still much more I would like to see.
Secondly, this is not the time for faffing. If you have your heart set on experiences like Hungarian wine tasting, taking a Danube cruise or doing a ruin bar crawl, book them before leaving home.
I visited Budapest as part of an Interrail trip through Central and Eastern Europe. If you have found this guide useful and need help with planning where to go next, take a look at my other guides:
AUSTRIA: Walk in the footsteps of Mozart in Salzburg and plan a Christmas vacation in Vienna. See the highlights of Feldkirch, one of Austria’s hidden gems, and spend a day in Liechtenstein, visiting Vaduz.
CZECHIA (CZECH REPUBLIC): Take your pick of these Brno itineraries or discover what to do in Brno a day. If wine tasting is your thing, tour the vineyards of South Moravia.
SLOVAKIA: Find out why you should visit Bratislava and bag the best 1-day Bratislava itinerary. Explore Košice, Slovakia’s second city, and take a day trip to Bardejov, a UNESCO gem.
Happy travels!
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.