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
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Budapest Explore Budapest from Central Market Hall to Heroes’ Square

Striking architecture, indulgent lángos and leafy boulevards.

$86.27 per person

3 hours

  • (30)

Ultimate Budapest food experience
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Budapest Ultimate Budapest food experience

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

$139.37 per person

3 hours

  • (30)

Half day in Budapest with a local
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Budapest Half day in Budapest with a local

Grand castles, bohemian neighborhoods and Jewish Quarter bakeries.

$108.69 per person

4 hours

  • (104)

Experience Budapest’s ruin bars
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Budapest Experience Budapest’s ruin bars

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

$95.12 per person

3 hours

  • (30)

Discover Budapest's Jewish and Ottoman cultures
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Budapest Discover Budapest's Jewish and Ottoman cultures

Grandiose architecture, Turkish baths and freshly baked babka.

$86.27 per person

3 hours

  • (38)

A night in Budapest with a local
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Budapest A night in Budapest with a local

Sunset drinks, quirky ruin bars and abandoned warehouses

$125.8 per person

4 hours

  • (71)

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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.

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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

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Latest reviews from our guests

    Balazs was an amazing Tourguide. His patience and knowledge of history were tremendous. He answered every question we had and was detailed in every way. We set out to see several things and saw much much more along the way. Request Balasz for a great tour.

    16 August 2026

    Michael G

    Great tour with a tremendously knowledgeable and friendly guide

    16 August 2026

    Michael G

    Balazs was very knowledgeable about the history and culture. I would definitely recommend him to our guests!

    14 August 2026

    Renee K

    We took the Budapest Private Tour with a local, Custom Highlights and Gems hosted by Balazs. We had been to Budapest twice before and wanted to experience the beautiful art and architecture, lovely cafes, interesting monuments, exciting neighborhood and unusual historic sites. It was a perfect tour.

    28 July 2026

    Laura F

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