Guide to mini vacation in Budapest

Budapest has everything – fantastic food, shopping, cultural experiences and the opportunity for pure relaxation. My heart fell flat for this beautiful Eastern European gem and this is definitely not the last time I visit the city. The city is great for a romantic holiday trip with the love of your life or a nice friend trip. The last thing was exactly what I did. We had almost 5 full days in Budapest, which was an appropriate length for both sightseeing, shopping and relaxation. But it is also a city you can easily visit on an extended weekend trip.

Transport

With direct flights from Copenhagen, it takes a little under 2 hours to get there. Liszt Ferenc Airport is approx. 20 km from the center of Budapest and the trip to Budapest itself takes place either with a minibus (Airport Shuttle) which can be booked from home or at the airport, or by public transport — first the 100E express bus directly to Deák Ferenc tér, or the 200E airport bus to the metro station Kőbánya-Kispest and from there the metro into the city.

The 100E express bus costs around 2500 Hungarian forint and runs directly to the city centre. If you choose the 200E bus and the metro instead, you need 2 separate tickets — one for the bus and one for the subway. A single ticket for the bus costs around 600 forint, and a metro ticket around 450 forint, so the combined journey comes to approximately 1050 forint. Tickets can be purchased at the airport arrivals hall, or digitally through the BudapestGO app. Remember to keep your tickets for the duration of each journey, as inspectors do check them.

Entry Requirements

Hungary is a member of the EU and Schengen Area, so EU and EEA citizens can enter with a valid national ID card or passport. Most other nationalities currently enter visa-free, but this is set to change.

ETIAS — the EU Travel Information and Authorisation System — will require visa-exempt travelers to obtain pre-travel authorisation before entering the Schengen Zone. The system is expected to launch in the final quarter of 2026. The fee is EUR 20, and applications will be submitted online at travel-europe.europa.eu/etias. If you are planning a trip before then, no authorisation is needed, but it is worth checking the launch status closer to your travel date.

Emergency number: Dial 112 for police, fire, or medical assistance — it is free, works from any phone, and operates across all EU countries.

Money and Payments

Hungary uses the Hungarian forint (HUF), and while card payments are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, and larger shops, it is worth carrying some cash for markets, smaller cafes, and tipping. ATMs are easy to find throughout the city — stick to bank-operated machines and decline any dynamic currency conversion offers, which typically offer poor exchange rates.

Currency exchange is available at banks, post offices, and dedicated exchange offices. Avoid the exchange booths near major tourist sites, where rates are often unfavourable. Checking the mid-market rate before you travel gives you a useful benchmark.

• Cards: Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere; American Express less reliably
• Cash: Useful for the Central Market Hall, thermal bath lockers, and smaller eateries
• ATMs: Widely available — use bank-branded machines and always pay in forints
• Service charge: Many restaurants add 10–12% automatically; check your bill before adding extra

Historical surroundings

Budapest is a fusion of the Buda districts on one side of the Danube River and plague on the other. Pest is the “modern” part where you find shopping streets and elegant cafes, where Buda is characterized by many historic buildings and memorials.

We had booked ourselves into the historicHotel GellértThere is on the Buda side. The hotel is long over its heyday, but despite a hotel that was characterized by being worn there was clean and neat and with an incredibly friendly staff. As a guest at the hotel, it also has the advantage of having one visit to the famous Gellért bath including in the price of its overnight stay.

Hotel Gellért is at the southern end compared to the other sights, but the size of the city makes it easy to move around on foot, but you can also easily take the subway around. Hotel Gellért is at the foot ofGellerthøjen, and while moving up, you can get a fantastic view from different views over the Danube and PEST page. It is recommended to visit the mound in the late afternoon/early evening to avoid the biggest myriad of tourists, and then it is a great place to see the sunset. Make some stops along the way up and enjoy the breathtaking views.

Note for 2025/2026 visitors: Hotel Gellért is currently closed for an extensive multi-year renovation and is not accepting guests. The complimentary bath access that came with a hotel stay is unavailable for the duration of the works. If you were planning to stay here, you’ll need to look at alternative accommodation on the Buda side for now.

Sights

The whole 9 bridges cross the Danube and one of the most spectacular is theGreen Freedom Bridge, which is opposed to Hotel Gellért. As you walk across the green metal bridge, you feel the shakes of the yellow trams that drive across. On the other hand liesThe large market hall, which is a very sought after visit for tourists. Inside you can buy everything the heart desires. The bottom floor is filled with stands that sell the fruit, meat, vegetables, cheese, cheese, etc. Perfect for shopping, especially if you live in an apartment, or want to buy for a lunch you will enjoy in a park later. On the upper floor there are all sorts of different stalls with art of use, clothing, jewelry and some so -called tourist traps, but the ideal place if you want to buy some local gifts home.

The fishing bastionis clearly a place you must not skip. The white winding facility along the edge of the castle is as taken out of an adventure, and you have a fantastic view of Parliament and Skt. The Stefan Basilica on the PEST page.

On the PEST side one findsSkt. The Stefan BasilicaWhere there is free admission, as well as the architecturally beautiful parliament when leavingParliamentAnd towards the center along the Danube River, you pass one of the most heartbreaking monuments I’ve seen for a long time.The shoe monumentConsists of a wide range of different bronze shoes tightened along the shores of the Danube, and symbolize the many executions that took place during World War II where the Nazis shot and threw the bodies of several thousand Hungarian Jews into the Danube river.

If you are visiting Budapest with children or staying for you for a longer period of time then a visit toBudapest Zooclearly recommended. Budapest Zoo is located in the city park which is a green area of ​​1.2 km²And is a good place to go with children or if the city gets too hot.

Luxury and pampering for body and soul

Budapest’s many bathing facilities and spa hotels make the city the world’s largest spa city. The baths are scattered throughout the city and they are definitely worth a visit. During our visit we visitedGellért-BathandThe Széchenyi baths. Unfortunately, Gellért-Bathet’s outdoor area had not opened, but inside it was very nice and since we arrived early in the morning there were not yet many, which made it nice with space in the different hot water baths. The Gellért bath has significantly fewer baths than the Széchenyi baths, but on the other hand I think the dressing conditions were much better and hygienic in the Gellért bath.

The Széchenyi baths are the largest and most popular of Budapest’s thermal baths. It is characterized by the yellow buildings and has 15 indoor baths and 3 outdoors. Otherwise, if the weather permits, you can lie in the sun loungers around the different outdoor pools and enjoy the sun.

Entry prices at both baths have increased in recent years — Széchenyi now charges upwards of 10,000 forint for a standard day ticket, with cabin and locker upgrades costing extra. Gellért Bath has also raised its rates, so it is worth checking the official websites before you go to pick the right ticket tier. Booking online in advance can save you a little money and guarantees entry during busy periods.

In addition to offering relaxation for body and soul, Budapest also offers some of the most amazing culinary experiences. The city can boast of several Michelin restaurants and with much lower prices than at home, most people should be able to get a place in the budget for a visit – but remember to book a table from home, some are also possible to order from direct down there. At most restaurants and cafes, 12% service is automatically put on top of the amount, then you are free to sit and figure out what to give in gratuity.

I have compiled a list of places that are definitely worth a visit! – Welcome

• Costes downtown –is part of the Costes brand and was awarded a Michelin star in 2017. Here you can have breakfast, lunch and dinner. Cortes Downtown can advantageously be visited for lunch where they offer a business menu which is a 3 course menu for approx. 200 Kr.
  5 Vigyázó Ferenc Street, Budapest 1051
• Liberté– became our favorite breakfast, where Eggs Benedict, Belgian waffles and Advokado sandwich were enjoyed with a cold lemonade or hot chai latte. The café located in the northern part of the city can be visited for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  8 Aulich Street, Budapest 1054
• Borbíróság– Is a fantastic little wine bar that has a small exquisite menu card. Great service and food which is a Michelin restaurant value.
  Csarnok tér 5, Budapest 1093
• Pampas– Sometimes you just need a good steak, which this Argentine steakhouse met 100%. The place has an incredibly cozy atmosphere and a wine list that is almost a novel value.
  6 Vámház Kart, Budapest 1053
• Trattoria Tuscany– An Italian gem that is right next to the Danube, quite close to the Peace Bridge. The pasta is heavenly and the wine exquisite. You have to be out well in advance if you want to be sure to get a table, but otherwise you can order a pizza like take-away.