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

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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

Agnes

Budapest

Cultural enthusiast and foodie with insider knowledge of Budapest’s rich history and vibrant arts scene.

Maria

Budapest

Richard

Budapest

Art and culture enthusiast with a deep understanding of Budapest's vibrant social scene, and a passion for exploring the city's Pest Centre and bar culture.

Krisztian

Budapest

Friendly and experienced local guide with insider knowledge of Budapest's vibrant nightlife, art scene, and diverse food culture, perfect for those looking to explore the city's dynamic social scene.

Balazs

Budapest

History buff and foodie with insider tips on Budapest’s stunning architecture, lively pubs, and charming coffee houses.

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

Latest reviews from our guests

Krisztian was an amazing guide. Our time exploring Budapest was more like two friends having an in depth conversation on many subjects prompted by what we saw. Krisztian is definitely among the very best tour guides I have ever met.

Sep 2025

Ron k
Krisztian was an amazing guide. Our time exploring Budapest was more like two friends having an in depth conversation on many subjects prompted by what we saw. Krisztian is definitely among the very best tour guides I have ever met.

Sep 2025

Ron k
This was our first time in Budapest, so we hired a guide for our first full day, deciding to concentrate on the Pest side with a 6hr guided walk..a very good decision as it gave a good orientation of the city and invaluable local knowledge.

Dec 2019

Christopher G
This was our first visit to Budapest and although we had swatted up on info from the internet and from our purchased guide book (Marco Polo..concise,very portable and helpful with v good maps) we nevertheless thought it would be money well spent hiring a local host to guide us on our first full day...and so it proved to be. Given we were only in Budapest for a long weekend we did not want to waste time getting lost and walking past points of interest in blissful ignorance! We were also looking to get a good orientation of the city prior to exploring it further on our own...and we did. We concentrated on the Pest side of the city for our 6hrs local host guided walk. We had been in email contact with our host, Richard, prior to the trip and gave him an outline of our WANTS. We spent a most enjoyable 6hrs mostly walking, but also for the experience, riding on a tube and a tram, during which time we were given an excellent introduction to the many sites to see in Pest, many of which we would have missed if not for our host knowledge. Richard spoke excellent English and proved most knowledgeable and enthusiastic about his city and its history and throughout the walk was attentive to our needs, checking if the tour was meeting were expecting, which it more than was. The walk also offered numerous opportunities to talk about varied aspects of living in modern-day Budapest. We would recommend Richard as your local host without hesitation. Chris and Lesley.

Dec 2019

Christopher G