Budapest 4 Day Itinerary for Wellness & Culture

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Planning your first-time trip to the Hungarian capital? Look no further! This Budapest 4-day itinerary is just what you need to make the best of your time in the queen of the Danube.

I’ve visited my share of beautiful European cities, but Budapest was love at first sight.

Budapest is pretty, cultivated, and fun, but also friendly, easy-going, and unaffected. And I immediately felt at home in this gorgeous yet unpretentious city.

I spent four days in Budapest in 2018. I’m revealing my exact Budapest travel itinerary, with all the best things to do and see, plus tips on where to eat, drink, shop, and stay for a relaxing and cultural trip.

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Budapest itinerary – 4 days

Day 1

Start your 4 days in Budapest exploring some of the most iconic monuments on the Pest side of the city:

State Opera House

Located in Budapest’s Champs-Élysées, the famous Andrassy Avenue, the Hungarian State Opera House is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city.

There are 3 tours in English every day, allowing you the opportunity to visit its rich interior. Or even better, book tickets for the opera and enjoy a magnificent performance.

Basilica of St Stephen

The stunning Basilica of St Stephen is the most important Catholic Church in Hungary. I was especially impressed with its beauty and huge size.

For an even more memorable experience, enjoy a concert at this impressive venue.

Book your ticket for an organ or string concert in St Stephen’s Basilica here.

Packed with cafes, restaurants, and wine bars, the square in front of the basilica is also a great place for people-watching and a favorite meeting point after dark.

Antifascist Monument

From the Basilica of St Stephen walk to Szabadsag Square, where since 2014 stands the highly controversial Antifascist Monument.

Dedicated to “all the victims of the German occupation” during the Second World War, the memorial was not well received due to allegedly trying to deny the responsibility of the Hungarian state and population in the Holocaust.

Right in front of the monument, protesters created an alternative memorial with letters, photos, and personal objects of the victims.

Hungarian Parliament Building

Facing the Danube, the Parliament is, without doubt, Budapest’s most beautiful and magnificent building. A symbol of the city, it is also the largest building in Hungary.

Besides admiring it from the outside, you can also join a tour of the building with an English-speaking guide.

Unfortunately, I didn’t plan properly and ended up not doing the tour, since there was an official ceremony taking place on that day. There are also no tours when the National Assembly is in session.

So make yourself a favor and book ahead here.

Danube Promenade

From the Parliament, walk along the Danube Promenade and enjoy the gorgeous views over Buda, on the other side of the river. This is especially pleasant at sunset when the city starts setting down.

Tip: Sit on the riverside and enjoy the switching on of the city lights.

Shoes on the Danube

Strolling along the riverside promenade you’ll eventually stumble into “Shoes on the Danube”, a poignant memorial to the victims shot into the Danube by Arrow Cross militiamen during World War II.

During the German occupation, the fascist Arrow Cross government killed thousands of people along the riverbank, most of whom were Jews. They were ordered to take off their shoes before the execution.

Night cruise on the Danube

End your first day in Budapest with a romantic night cruise on the Danube.

Marvel at the spectacular views of the city from the river, while listening to live Hungarian folk music and enjoying a sumptuous buffet dinner.

You can book your Danube night cruise here.

Day 2

Dedicate your second day in Budapest to the Buda side of the city. Buda and Pest were originally two distinct cities separated by the Danube. Only in the late XIX century did the two come together. But their very different personalities are visible to this day.

Castle District

The best way to explore the Castle district, home to some of Budapest’s main attractions and classified as a World Heritage Site, is by hopping on and off the Official Budapest Castle Bus.

The bus departs every 15 minutes at the western end of Chain Bridge. You can buy your ticket here or get a free ride with the Budapest Card.

Alternatively, take a walking tour with a local guide.

Royal Palace

The Royal Palace, or Buda Castle, is Budapest’s most visited site. Once a royal residence, the palace complex is now home to the Hungarian National Gallery, the Budapest History Museum, and the National Library.

The castle offers also some of the best views over Budapest and the Danube, all the way to Margaret Island.

Changing of the guard

The nearby Sándor Palace is the official residence and seat of the office of the Hungarian president.

Watch the changing of the guard ceremony, which takes place every hour, between 9 am and 5 pm, in front of the presidential palace.

Matthias Church

Located in the heart of the Castle district, the spectacular and unique Matthias Church is definitely among the mandatory things to see in Budapest.

Matthias Church was home to coronation ceremonies and royal weddings. Its rich history is closely linked with the history of Budapest itself.

Nowadays, its beautiful main tower is one of the landmarks of the city.

Fishermen’s Bastion

Right behind Matthias Church, the Fishermen’s Bastion looks straight out of a fairy tale and offers stunning views of Budapest.

The monument was built in the late XIX century on the place where once was the medieval Buda castle wall. This segment of the castle wall was guarded by fishermen, hence its name. The seven towers represent the 7 Hungarian tribes that founded the country.

Ruin bars

End your second day visiting one of Budapest’s unique ruin bars for a drink.

What exactly is a ruin bar? Well, the name is pretty self-explanatory: ruin bars use abandoned buildings and turn them into the hippest place to be after dark.

During the day, many ruin bars are also alternative cultural centers, offering cinema, theatre, concerts, exhibitions, and workshops.

The decoration and setting give these bars an underground feeling, although some of them have become very touristic over time.

We visited Szimpla Kert, the first and most famous ruin bar in Budapest, and absolutely recommend checking this place out.

You can also join a ruin bars pub crawl with a local guide and party with other international travelers.

Day 3

Jewish Quarter

The Jewish Quarter is one of the most vibrant and interesting districts in Budapest.

The area was always predominantly Jewish, and it was the ghetto where Jews were forced to live during the Nazi occupation of Hungary.

Today the Jewish culture remains very visible and alive. But the district is also famous for its ruin bars and nightlife, cool restaurants, and street art.

Some places worth visiting are the Liszt Music Academy, the Church of St Theresa, the Fröhlich Cukrászda café, and Gozsdu udvar, a passageway packed with restaurants and bars and the district’s most popular nightlife spot.

Book a Jewish Quarter walking tour here.

Great Synagogue

End your visit to the Jewish quarter at the Great Synagogue. Sometimes called the Jewish cathedral, due to its resemblances with Christian churches, the magnificent Dohány utca Synagogue is the second largest Jewish house of worship in the world.

I joined an English-guided tour of the synagogue and garden and can’t recommend it enough. I really learned a lot, not only about the history of Budapest’s Jewish community but also about the city itself. Certainly, one of the highlights of my trip!

Guided tours start every 30 minutes and are included in the entrance fee.

Andrassy Avenue

Considered Budapest’s Champs-Élysées, Andrassy Avenue is one of the most elegant and beautiful avenues in the city. It’s also one of Budapest’s three World Heritage Sites (the other two being the Banks of the Danube and the Buda Castle district).

Stroll along luxurious Andrassy Avenue and admire its beautiful mansions and villas, which today house embassies, high-end boutiques and theatres, as well as many restaurants and cafes.

Heroes Square

At the end of Andrassy Avenue, you’ll find Heroes’ Square, the largest and, in my opinion, the most beautiful square in Budapest.

Dominating the square is the Millennium Monument, built in 1896 to commemorate the 1000^th anniversary of Hungary.

On each side of Heroes’ Square are also two of the most important exhibition spaces in the city, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Palace of Art, respectively.

City Park

Heroes Square is also the main entrance to the City Park, a pleasant green area with a lake, a castle, and the famous Szechenyi Baths.

Szechenyi Baths

Sitting on more than 120 hot springs, Budapest is famous worldwide for its thermal baths. This means your list of what to do in Budapest in 4 days is not complete without a visit to one of its many spas.

We chose to spend some time at the Szechenyi Baths, the biggest and most popular spa in Budapest, and the largest medicinal bath in all of Europe.

Located in a palace inside the City Park, this huge complex has 15 indoor pools and three outdoor pools (although one outdoor pool was closed during our visit for spring maintenance), as well as saunas, steam rooms, massage cabinets, and a cafeteria.

The temperature of the water is different in each pool, with some of them going up to 38°C or even 40°C.

After a day of exploring the city, this is the perfect place to unwind and give your body some well-deserved relaxation.

Tip: Buy your ticket for the Szechenyi Baths online to skip the line and get a private cabin room.

Day 4

Save the last day of your Budapest itinerary for some shopping.

Váci utca

Start at Váci utca, Budapest’s main commercial street, in the heart of Pest. This lively pedestrian street is packed with chain stores, restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops. It’s also one of the most touristy parts of the city.

Great Market Hall

At the end of Váci utca, you’ll find Fovam Square and the Great Market Hall, Budapest’s largest and most beautiful traditional market, and a feast for the senses.

I’m not exaggerating when I say you can find almost anything here. On the ground floor, you have fresh vegetables and fruits, meat, cheese, salami, sausages, spices, the famous Hungarian paprika, and many other local delicacies. The basement houses a supermarket and an exposition of the most famous local products. Finally, on the upper level, there are clothes, souvenirs, crafts, and some stalls selling traditional Hungarian dishes.

Strolling through this colorful and vibrant market hall is an experience in itself, even if you don’t intend to buy anything.

Book a Great Market Hall food tour here.

Rákóczi tér Market

Finish your shopping tour at Rákóczi Square Market Hall, a smaller but very authentic market.

Also worth exploring is the area between the two markets, filled with traditional shops and secondhand bookstores, restaurants and trendy bars and cafés.

Have more time in Budapest?

Take a day trip outside the city

Check out the best day trips from Budapest here.

Or consider visiting some other awesome cities in Hungary.

Where to eat in Budapest

Grand Café Budapest

Located on Andrassy Avenue, close to Oktogon Square, the Grand Café is a great place to enjoy Budapest café culture and people-watching.

Sit on the sidewalk terrace and try a Hungarian Bruschetta for a taste of the local cuisine.

Café Csiga

This small café, right next door to Rákóczi tér Market, is the perfect place for a pause and a quick bite.

Café Csiga is frequented mostly by locals, who come here with their laptops and books to work or study.

We had some hummus and a couple of beers and enjoyed the relaxed and laid-back atmosphere.

Baltazar

This was one of the best meals I had in Budapest.

Hidden in an alley of the Castle District, Baltazar is a boutique hotel, restaurant, and wine bar serving outstanding food.

We stopped here for lunch and I had a delicious veggie burger.

Highly recommended!

Sir Lancelot

Step into the Middle Ages at Sir Lancelot, a medieval-themed restaurant where you’re allowed to eat with your hands and much more than you probably should.

This place makes for a lot of fun and a great dining experience. The atmosphere is really nice and well thought, and the belly dance and fire shows are great. There’s also live medieval music.

The food is very good, and the portions are huge.

First Strudel House of Pest

We found this place by chance and it was a real treat. This restaurant located in the city center specializes in the traditional Hungarian strudel, hand-made according to an original recipe.

I tried the chef’s offer – prawns with asparagus and toast – and my boyfriend the roasted duck leg. For dessert, apple strudel of course.

Everything was so exquisite and delicious that I’m sure I’ll come back if I ever find myself in Budapest again.

New York Café

The historical New York Café claims to be “the most beautiful café in the world” and it’s indeed gorgeous.

Once frequented by writers, journalists, and artists, the New York Café is part of the impressive New York Palace. Its interior is superb, and the live classical music gives it a fine atmosphere.

I had a little problem with the food here though. I usually like my pasta al dente but the tagliatelle was another level of undercooked – in fact, the interior of the pasta was not cooked at all. So I asked if they could cook it softer. After a while, they brought me another plate, which was exactly the same, and I ended up not eating.

Service, on the other hand, was very good and I didn’t pay for the pasta, only for the drinks.

All in all, I still recommend going here, if only for its beauty and atmosphere.

Where to stay in Budapest

Mamaison Hotel Andrassy

We stayed at Mamaison Hotel Andrassy for our 3 nights in Budapest and I can’t recommend this place enough!

This upscale boutique hotel really has everything you can wish for: a perfect location in Budapest’s most elegant avenue, beautiful, comfy, and spacious rooms, a delicious breakfast buffet, friendly staff that goes above and beyond, and that personal touch you only get in a boutique hotel.

What’s more, it offers great value for money.

Click here for more info and booking.

Or read my complete review of Mamaison Hotel Andrassy here.

With so many other things to do in Budapest, you can easily extend your stay in this amazing city. But if four days are all you have, this Budapest 4-day itinerary got you covered for a wellness and cultural getaway. If you’re visiting for only 2 or 3 days, you can also adapt it to your preferences and time.

Anyway, Budapest will not disappoint you and you’re bound to have a great time in one of the most beautiful and interesting European capitals.

More travel tips

Travel Insurance

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Cheap flights

Looking for the best airfare deals? Skyscanner is my favorite travel search engine for finding cheap flights around the world. They also offer price tracking and alerts to help you secure the best deals.

Accommodation

When it comes to accommodation, Booking.com is the best site out there. From hotels to apartments, resorts, villas, B&B, and guest houses, it offers the best prices for accommodation all over the world. I book the vast majority of my stays through them.

Yoga Retreats

Looking for a yoga retreat near home or in an exotic destination? BookYogaRetreats offers the best yoga retreats, holidays, and courses around the world for all budgets and levels of experience.

Tours

GetYourGuide is my favorite platform for local tours, unique experiences, and skip-the-line tickets to attractions all around the world.

Klook is another great resource for tours and activities, especially if you’re looking for things to do in Asia.

Car Rentals

Booking.com has a car rental search engine that compares the biggest brands in car hire and allows you to find the cheapest deals all around the world.

Have you been to Budapest? What would you add to this Budapest 4 day itinerary for wellness and culture? Share in the comments section below.

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