What to visit in Hungary: must-see locations

Hungary has many places of interest within its territory. Wonderful landscapes, charming people villages, unique monuments in the world, thermal and curative water spas and as we said some very special people. We start our trip through Budapest, the romanticism filters in the capital, and we continue through Dunakanyar.

Budapest

Hungary’s capital, Budapest, is actually a merger of two parties, Buda and Pest. Buda is the oldest and most mountainous area, while Pest is the flattest and most modern area. 

Buda

The tour of the city usually begins with Buda, the oldest part and which welcomes the residence of numerous kings and emperors. At present, it has become the most expensive area of the city where there are residential neighborhoods. It is necessary to start from the hill of the Castle from where it is possible to appreciate the splendid beauty of the whole city and the clear division of the two parts: Buda and Pest, separated by the mystical Danube.

Entering the old port of Vienna, to the north, you can stroll through the streets around squares and streets to breathe the past history of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as in Táncsics Mihály utca, Tárnok utca, and Úri utca, which are very beautiful. In the center of this district, in Trinity Square (Szentháromság tér), stands the Church of San Matías, where several monarchs such as Sissi and Franz Joseph I were crowned.

Originally built in Romanesque style in the 13th century and rebuilt in Gothic style during the 14th and 15th centuries, the church served as a mosque under Ottoman rule before returning to the Catholic faith in 1686. Its current Neo-Gothic appearance dates from the 19th-century restoration. The roof is covered with vibrant Zsolnay ceramic tiles, while the interior features stunning murals; don’t miss the 70-minute classical concerts frequently held on Friday evenings at 7:00 PM.

In front of the church is the Fisherman’s Bastion (Halászbástya). Built at the end of the 19th century by Frigyes Schulek, this lookout looks like it was taken from a storybook. Its seven towers celebrate the seven Magyar tribes that founded Hungary in 896. While the lower terraces are free, a ticket for the upper panoramas costs approximately 1,700 HUF in 2026. It offers a spectacular view of the Danube, the Parliament, and St. Stephen’s Basilica, especially at night.

Nearby is the Hilton Budapest hotel, a modern building that integrates the ruins of a 13th-century Dominican abbey and a 16th-century Jesuit school into its structure. You can enjoy the summer terrace for a refreshing drink with a historic view.

Continuing south, you reach the Royal Palace (Buda Castle). Semi-destroyed during WWII, its reconstruction now houses major cultural institutions. These include the Budapest History Museum and the Hungarian National Gallery, which displays art from the 11th century to the present. Note that a new National Gallery building is currently planned for the City Park as part of the Liget Budapest project. The Ludwig Museum, formerly here, has moved to the Palace of Arts (Müpa) in the Pest side.

After visiting the Palace area, enjoy a traditional cream cake at the historic Café Ruszwurm, or visit the Citadel, a fortress rising 60 meters over the river. Nearby is the Liberty Statue, which commemorates the liberation of the city in 1945.

To reach the district, many take the historic Castle Hill Funicular (Budavári Sikló) from Clark Ádám Square. In 2026, a return ticket costs 5,500 HUF (single tickets are 4,500 HUF). For those continuing to Szabadság-hegy, you can enjoy a ride on the Children’s Railway (Gyermekvasút), formerly known as the Pioneer Railway, where almost all operations except for driving the train are managed by children aged 10 to 14.

You can cross back to Pest by public transport, but walking the Chain Bridge—designed by William Tierney Clark and built managed by Adam Clark—is highly recommended. The bridge leads to Zero Kilometre Stone at Adam Clark Square, and its illumination at night remains one of the city’s most fantastic sights.

Pest

This part of the city brings together the financial and commercial center of Budapest. It is a very active area because there are ministries, parliament, cinemas, shops, hotels and the main meeting places of the people. The center of Pest is pedestrian and is located between Váci street and Vörösmarty tér square. For navigating the city, it is best to use the BudapestGO app for digital tickets or use the contactless ‘Pay&GO’ validators on the M1 metro and the 100E airport shuttle. A single ticket currently costs 450 HUF, while a 24-hour travelcard is available for 2,500 HUF.

If you want to go shopping in the right place, you will find from typical Hungarian souvenir shops to elegant boutiques at high prices. In addition to the shops, Pest has many attractions.

To the north stands the Parliament, a beautifully constructed neo-Gothic building, especially at dusk, when the lights are reflected on the Danube.

Crossing the Margit híd, one arrives at Margaret Island. This island is a real natural backwater, considered a public pedestrian park, equipped with restaurants, hotels, cafes and the scent of thermal waters. You can take a bike ride, as well as other fun attractions. It’s ideal for a quiet day.

Returning to Andrássy Avenue in Pest you can enjoy one of the most beautiful routes in the city. It starts at St. Stephen’s Basilica, Budapest’s largest church, with a capacity of 8,000 people and ends at Heroes Square, where the Millennial Monument stands. This monument was built to commemorate the national leaders and heroes of the last 1,000 years. The architectural composition consists of a column of 36 m., sculptures and a large slab, the emblem of the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded by soldiers. Try to see the change of guard, it is very singular.

In this square is also the Museum of Fine Arts with a stupendous collection of Spanish paintings and other works by Flemish and Italian artists, highlighting the collection of European designs. The Art Gallery offers temporary exhibitions of national and international artists.

Behind this square is the preferred meeting place of the inhabitants of Budapest, the Municipal Park of Városliget, where there are museums, restaurants and the main attraction, the Castle of Vajdahunyad. This environment also has a beautiful lake where you can sail rowing boats (or ice skate in winter), in a permanent circus and amusement park to the delight of the little ones, in addition to the Széchenyi Baths, where you can play chess while soaking in the thermal water. Also on Andrássy Avenue is the Opera, an Italian neo-renaissance building, whose interior can be visited.

In the National Museum, you can admire the coronation mantle and other royal treasures. While the Holy Crown of Hungary is now housed in the Parliament building, the museum remains a fascinating stop for Hungarian history. The collection tells the story of the country through various eras, including the recovery of artifacts returned to the country in 1978.

The Jewish quarter is very beautiful. It still preserves the traces of history left on the buildings. In the center of this neighborhood is the Great Synagogue (the largest in Europe), the medieval Jewish Tabernacle, and the Jewish Museum, which tells the story of Jews in Hungary.

Other places of interest in Pest is the West station (Nyugati) built in 1877 by the Eiffel company and Vörösmarty Square, where street artists and young Hungarians come together. 

Both Buda and Pest can take thermal baths in a charming environment. Of special fame is the Gellért Hotel and Baths with excellent facilities in an Art Nouveau building. It has several pools, hot tubs, and thermal baths with temperatures ranging between 26 and 40 degrees. The complex features a famous indoor pool with columns and a glass roof that creates a unique atmosphere for bathers.

If you don’t want to take a bath you can enjoy the surroundings over a cup of coffee.

Other very appreciated spas include the Király, built in the sixteenth century with its characteristic Turkish dome, and the Széchenyi, which is one of the largest spa complexes in Europe. The Széchenyi is a grand neo-Baroque building where you can enjoy outdoor pools even in the freezing winter. 

Almost as well known as spas are the city’s cafes. The Gerbeaud was inaugurated in 1858 and is famous for its Dobos cakes which are its specialty. Ruszwurm has been baking delicious cakes since 1827 and New York Café offers one of the most lavish 19th-century salon experiences in the world.

The most famous restaurant is Gundel, opened more than a century ago, is a meeting place for politicians and artists. You can eat excellent Hungarian cuisine while enjoying popular performances.

If you want to enjoy a good show, be sure to see a concert by the city’s Philharmonic Orchestra, a performance by the Győr Ballet Company or the Margaret Island Open-air Stage. You can also enjoy the city’s nightlife in the famous ruin bars located throughout the Seventh District. In addition, you will have a great variety of discotheques and clubs to have a drink at night.

Dunakanyar

Known as the “Return of the Danube,” Dunakanyar is located forty kilometers north of Budapest. The landscape is a picturesque blend of the river winding through lush green hills and numerous historic towns like Szentendre, Visegrád, and Esztergom. While seasonal boat cruises offered by MAHART PassNave (operating roughly May–September) are a delightful way to see the bend, the regional trains from Budapest’s Nyugati station are the most reliable year-round option, with tickets to Esztergom costing approximately 1,120 HUF for a 65-minute journey. Tickets for the popular weekend boat services should be booked online or at the Vigadó Square docks at least 24 hours in advance.

Szentendre sits in the Visegrád foothills. Founded in the 18th century by Serbs fleeing Turkish rule, it is famous for its unique mix of Serbian and Greek Orthodox architecture. The best example is the Blagovestenska Church in the Main Square. Getting here is easy via the H5 HÉV suburban railway from Batthyány tér; if you have a Budapest travel card, you simply buy an extension ticket (approx. 310 HUF) at the station machines.

The town remains a magnet for artists. You can explore their legacy at the Czóbel Museum or the Szentendre Gallery. The Serbian Orthodox Cathedral (the “Red Church”) also hosts a significant collection of religious art. After browsing the galleries, many visitors stop at the Marzipan Museum or walk the narrow, cobblestoned lanes that lead to the riverbank.

A few kilometers north is Visegrád. Its most prominent landmark is the stone Citadel (Fellegvár) built by Béla IV in the 13th century to guard against Mongol raids. The fortress was once home to the Hungarian Crown Jewels. For three days around the second weekend of July 2026 (July 10–12), the International Palace Games take place here, featuring realistic medieval tournaments, archery, and participants in authentic period costumes.

Further along the bend lies Esztergom, the religious seat of Hungary. The center of any visit is the Esztergom Basilica, the largest church in the country. The 2026 visitor schedule for the Treasury (home to the Suki Chalice and the Calvary of King Matthias) and the Dome lookout is generally 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (closing earlier in winter). Note that the Christian Museum, housed in the Primate’s Palace, is undergoing extensive renovations through early 2026, with a grand reopening scheduled for July 1, 2026.

Gyõr served as the bastion of defense against Turkish invasions and is now Hungary’s third-largest industrial city. Its historic old town is effectively pedestrianized and remarkably well-preserved. Most tours begin with the 20th-century city hall before moving through charming alleys to Széchenyi tér, the former market square, and Káptalan Hill where the Cathedral stands.

While exploring the old town, look for the Vaskakas tavern in the vaulted cellars near the castle area, which remains a favorite spot for tasting authentic Hungarian specialties. Gyõr is conveniently located on the main rail line between Budapest and Vienna, making it a perfect stop for those traveling toward Austria.