Top Things To Do In Budapest

Tailoring each experience to your wishes by locals who love their city

Tourists enjoying the picturesque views of Budapest from a lookout point

Top things to do in Budapest

From exploring cool neighborhoods to eating with the locals to seeing iconic sites, these are some of our favorite experiences

Explore Budapest from Central Market Hall to Heroes’ Square
Suggested product owner City Unscripted Original

Budapest Explore Budapest from Central Market Hall to Heroes’ Square

Striking architecture, indulgent lángos and leafy boulevards.

$85.54 per person

3 hours

  • (30)

Ultimate Budapest food experience
Suggested product owner City Unscripted Original

Budapest Ultimate Budapest food experience

Colorful markets, impossibly light chocolate mousse cakes and goulash galore.

$138.19 per person

3 hours

  • (30)

Half day in Budapest with a local
Suggested product owner City Unscripted Original

Budapest Half day in Budapest with a local

Grand castles, bohemian neighborhoods and Jewish Quarter bakeries.

$107.77 per person

4 hours

  • (94)

Experience Budapest’s ruin bars
Suggested product owner City Unscripted Original

Budapest Experience Budapest’s ruin bars

A bohemian district with quirky bars, pop ups and vinyl record shops

$94.32 per person

3 hours

  • (30)

Discover Budapest's Jewish and Ottoman cultures
Suggested product owner City Unscripted Original

Budapest Discover Budapest's Jewish and Ottoman cultures

Grandiose architecture, Turkish baths and freshly baked babka.

$85.54 per person

3 hours

  • (38)

A night in Budapest with a local
Suggested product owner City Unscripted Original

Budapest A night in Budapest with a local

Sunset drinks, quirky ruin bars and abandoned warehouses

$124.74 per person

4 hours

  • (71)

See all
Tourists enjoying the picturesque views of Budapest from a lookout point

Wondering what to do in Budapest?

With breathtaking Baroque buildings risen up during the Hungarian capital’s 19th-century “golden age” and elegant boulevards that have inspired the nickname “the Paris of the East”, Budapest is beauty personified. The things to do in Budapest reveal a city that’s an architectural treasure trove in the truest sense. Whether you choose to admire Roman and Renaissance buildings, stroll along the banks of the sparkling Danube, “take the waters” in the city’s abundance of centuries-old hot springs, or experience this living museum’s contemporary attractions (its famous nightlife, boho boroughs, and fantastic food), the things to do in Budapest are a sheer delight.

Meet some of our Budapest local hosts

Local guide showing tourists around Budapest on a historical tour of the city

Tangible history

Budapest may be absolutely beautiful, but much of the city’s charm lies in its grit, forged under years of communist rule. Pieces of the city’s turbulent past are starkly visible throughout its streets, adding another layer of complexity and some unexpected things to do in Budapest. This is a place where opulent century-old mansions and cobbled medieval streets exist peacefully alongside “ruin bars” (clubs and drinking holes housed inside the crumbling courtyards of dilapidated pre-war buildings), WWII buildings riddled with bullet holes, and memories of Hungary’s chilling terror regimes.

Tourists browsing a typical food market in Budapest

Hungry for Hungary

There's more to Hungarian food than goulash (although it’s a must-try), and Budapest is the perfect place to try the very best of the country’s cuisine. Many things to do in Budapest revolve around food, so you certainly won’t struggle to find some incredible bites. Try traditional dishes like spreadable bone marrow, dip made with sheep’s milk cheese, and an indulgent dessert of three different flavors of sponge cake. But of all the foodie things to do in Budapest, sampling lángos, the street food staple of fried dough, shredded cheese, and sour cream, might be the most delicious of all.

Tourists enjoying the sunset on a bridge over Danube river in Budapest

Budapest by night

When the sun sets, the list of things to do in Budapest gets even longer. The city is known for having some of the best nightlife in all of Europe – no small feat, but Budapest delivers. From ramshackle ruin bars (an iconic institution) to the sleekest, most sophisticated nightclubs, all types of revelers are rewarded. Whether you fancy a drink at a rooftop bar high up in an Art Nouveau masterpiece, a wild party at a buzzing nightclub, or a drink and pastry at a coffee house that only closes at midnight, the Hungarian capital city is brimming with memorable things to do.

Budapest travel tips and inspiration from our Travel Magazine

Find essential city info, travel tips and the best things to do in Budapest and around the world recommended by our local hosts

VIEW MORE

Latest reviews from our guests

    Julia, a marvelous entertaining guide, shared the heart & soul of Budapest with us. She shared hidden city treasures which divulged contemporary, historical and cultural insights. Loved every minute of the 4 hour walking tour.

    10 June 2026

    Mark C

    We really enjoyed this tour. Very personalized, informative and enjoyable! Highly recommend! Wonderful guide.

    7 June 2026

    Tia G

    Great tour, definitely a 5 star recommendation. Visit all relevant tourist attractions. Definitely I recommend this tour.

    29 May 2026

    Fernando I

    Richard did a great job of explaining the history behind the beautiful buildings we saw.

    23 May 2026

    Steve S

See more reviews

Explore other popular cities

See all destinations

Experiences for all types of travelers

^
curious

Experiences
for all types
of travelers

Group of tourists walking along a pedestrian bridge on a night tour of Budapest

Best Budapest Night Tours

Tourist toasting with a local guide at a ruin bar in Budapest

Private Tour Guides In Budapest

Walking tours in Budapest

Walking tours in Budapest

Budapest private tours

Budapest private tours

Budapest Food Tour

Budapest Food Tour

City Unscripted Destinations