20 Quick and Cool Things to Do in Budapest
Updated 11/12/2024
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If a trip to Budapest is in your future, lucky you! It is a vibrant and beautiful city with so much to see and do.
If you aren’t planning a visit, maybe seeing all the city offers will push it to the top of your bucket list.
Steve and I arrived in Budapest in March of 2020, at the start of the pandemic. We lived there for twenty-eight months and fell in love with the city.
What Should Everyone See in Budapest?
Of course, you will want to see the neo-Gothic confection that is the Hungarian Parliament Building, Vajdahunyad Castle, Buda Castle, and the magical Fisherman’s Bastion.
You might also relax in the thermal baths or learn more about Hungary’s turbulent 20th-century history at Terror House or the Holocaust Memorial Center.
In addition to those, there are many things to see and do. Read on to learn about twenty things you can do in a short amount of time.
The Two Sides of Budapest
Budapest is divided in two by the Danube River. The side west of the river is Buda, and the side east of the river is Pest. The city is further divided into 23 districts. Here is a map of the districts.
On the Buda Side – District I – Castle District
1. The Budapest Castle Hill Funicular
Buda Castle sits on a hill overlooking the Danube River. A fun way to get up the hill is on the Buda Castle Funicular (Budavári Sikló). It is a 150-year-old funicular railway that will take you from Clark Adam Square (Clark Ádám tér) at the end of the Buda side of the Chain Bridge to Buda Castle and back down. You can purchase a one-way or a round-trip ticket at the entrance to the funicular.
2. A Statue of King Saint Stephen
Fisherman’s Bastion is north of Buda Castle. Here you can see this elegant statue of King Saint Stephen (Szent István király), the first king of Hungary. He is also known as Stephen I and is credited with bringing Christianity to Hungary.
You can see the statue near the Matthias Church (Mátyás templom) at Szentháromság tér 2.
3. The Red Hedgehog House
The Red Hedgehog House (Vörös Sün Ház) is thought to be the oldest building in Budapest (circa 1260). It has been an inn, a theater, and a cabernet/brothel during its long life. The hedgehog, however, didn’t take up residence until the early 19th century.
Unfortunately, the Red Hedgehog is permanently closed, but you can still go on the hunt for its namesake at Hess András tér 3.
4. Listening Ears
If you walk along the Danube River on the Buda side below Buda Castle, you can see this contraption:
These Air Defense Early Warning Listening Ears were used to hear approaching bombers during World War I. You can read about the listening ears concept in this article about aircraft detection before radar.
5. Another Statue of King Saint Stephen
This statue is located on Gellert Hill overlooking the Danube River at the foot of the Liberty Bridge, which makes for a great photo opportunity. It is about a 30-minute walk from Buda Castle to this statue.
On the Buda Side – District II – Rose Hill and Watertown
District II is a large district north of Districts I and XII.
6. The Tomb of Gül Baba
One day, Steve and I decided to explore a prestigious and wealthy area of Budapest called Rose Hill (Rózsadomb). We must have been in the wrong section because we didn’t see much, but on the way back to the Danube River, we stumbled upon the Tomb of Gül Baba.
Gül Baba was a 16th-century Ottoman Dervish. He is honored for his piety and talent as a poet.
Gül Baba’s tomb is the northernmost Islamic pilgrimage site in the world. While the tomb may not be of much interest to non-Muslims, when we were there, the patio and terraced garden were peaceful and well kept.
You will find the tomb at Mecset u. 14. You can also approach the grounds via Gül Baba utca, the steepest street in Budapest.
On the Buda Side – District XII – Highlands
District XII is a little bit away from the rest of the Budapest attractions, but in my opinion, well worth the trip. It includes Janos Hill, the highest point in Budapest.
7. The Zugliget Chairlift
You can reach Janos Hill (János-hegy) via a 15-minute-long chairlift ride. The Zugliget Chairlift (Zugligeti Libegő) entrance is in the Zugliget neighborhood at Zugligeti út 97. You can buy tickets from machines at the entrance.
Once you reach the top, you will be near Elizabeth Tower and the Children’s Railway (more on both below). There are also several hiking trails in the hills.
8. The Children’s Railway
The Children’s Railway (Gyermekvasút) is a railway run almost entirely by children. Only the driver and the supervisors are adults. The students are between 10 and 14 years old and must be excellent students to be chosen for this honor.
I was surprised to learn that there are many still functioning children’s railways in Russia and other ex-Soviet states and some Eastern European countries. They are remnants of the U.S.S.R., where they were used to train children in the transportation industry and instill the political ideology.
You can buy your tickets on the train, but it is best to have exact change. We did not, so the train had to go to the next station, where we were able to buy tickets.
It was difficult to find the railroad from the area at the top of the chairlift. Look for signs saying Gyermekvasút or ask a friendly local.
9. The Elizabeth Lookout Tower
The delightful multi-tiered Elizabeth Lookout Tower (Erzsébet-kilátó) sits atop Janos Hill. The tower was built in 1910 and rebuilt in the early 2000s. It was named in honor of the much-beloved Queen Elisabeth of Hungary (1837-1898) because she enjoyed spending time in the area. You can read about her tragic life here.
Once you get off the chairlift on Janos Hill, you can see the tower to your right. It is a short uphill walk to reach it.
On the Pest Side – District V – Downtown
District V sits along the Danube River on the Pest side opposite District I. The Hungarian Parliament Building is in this district.
10. Bullet Hole Markers
If you head inland from the Hungarian Parliament Building, you can see the Ministry of Agriculture Building with an unusual memorial. It is one of many memorials throughout the city that commemorate the failed Hungarian Revolution of 1956.
This memorial commemorates one of the events of that Revolution. On October 25th, peaceful protesters gathered in Kossuth Square (Kossuth Tér). Hungarian and Soviet troops opened fire on protesters, and many fled among the columns of the Ministry of Agriculture Building.
The event is known as Bloody Thursday. Dozens of markers show where bullets fired at the protesters hit the walls. The exact number of dead is not known, with estimates from 22 to 1,000.
The Ministry of Agriculture is at Kossuth Lajos tér 11.
11. U.S. Presidents in Liberty Square
District V also includes Liberty Square (Szabadság tér), a public area with statues dedicated to freedom and liberty. You may be surprised to find statues of two U.S. presidents: Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush.
The Reagan statue was erected in 2011 to recognize his efforts to help end the Cold War and Russia’s control over the country.
The Bush statue was unveiled in 2020 to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the fall of communist rule in Central and Eastern Europe. Bush visited Budapest in 1989 to support Hungary’s transition to democracy. Here is a video of Bush’s speech to the Hungarian people.
The U.S. Embassy sits on the eastern side of Liberty Square. The embassy is surrounded by a high fence and is heavily guarded. I think it looks like a minimum-security prison and is quite a contrast to the welcoming look of the numerous embassies that line Andrassy Avenue.
12. Two Porcelain Statues in Jozsef Nador Square
Jozsef Nador Square (József Nádor tér) was reconstructed in 2018. As part of this project, two large porcelain statues were added. The first is the Tree of Life by the Herend Porcelain Manufacturer. The second is the Hercules Fountain by the Zsolnay Porcelain Manufacturer. A statue of the square’s namesake stands between the two.
Every time I saw these statues, I was amazed that these statues remained undamaged.
Jozsef Nador was a member of the House of Habsburg, which ruled the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918. He served as Palatine (a high-level official attached to an imperial or royal court in Europe) to Hungary and is sometimes referred to as the most “Hungarian of the Habsburgs” because of his support of economic reforms, public works, and construction projects that benefitted Hungary.
Jozsef Nador Square is several blocks south of Liberty Square.
13. Elizabeth Square
Elizabeth Square (Erzsébet tér) is easy to find because it’s the home of the Budapest Eye. There are statues, green spaces, a small skateboard park, and a playground. There are also several bars and restaurants and a large reflecting pool along one side.
Elizabeth Square is two blocks east of Jozsef Nador Square.
On the Pest Side – District VI – Terézváros
District VI begins east of Elizabeth Square and ends at City Park. Its main street is the famed Andrassy Avenue. All of these quick stops can be done on a stroll up (or down) Andrassy.
14. The Millennium Underground Railway
The Millennium Underground Railway (Kisföldalatti) is also known as Metro Line 1. It is the second-oldest subway on the European Continent and has operated continually since it opened in 1896.
It is a short straight run with only 11 stops. It runs under Andrássy Avenue. If you take a ride on this line, be sure to go up and check out the elegant avenue.
If you are near Elizabeth Square, you can find an entrance to Metro Line 1 at Deák Ferenc Square. Or you can jump on at one of the other stops. Here is some information about Line 1 and a handy map.
15. Művész Kávéház
If you are exploring along Andrassy Avenue and need a break, consider a stop at the Művész Kávéház. The name translates to Artist Café. Be warned, though, the tables are tiny.
The cafe is at Andrássy út 29.
There are many elegant old-world coffee houses in Budapest, as you can see from this article.
16. The Iron Curtain Monument
The Iron Curtain Monument is in front of the Terror House museum. It serves as a poignant reminder of the restrictions suffered by many Europeans under Soviet rule.
The museum, the monument, and a segment of the Berlin Wall are at Andrássy út 60.
17. A Segment of the Berlin Wall
You can also see a segment of the Berlin Wall in front of the Terror House Museum.
On the Pest Side – District VIII – Palace District
18. The Szabo Ervin Library
The Szabó Ervin Library (Fővárosi Szabó Ervin Könyvtár) isn’t your average library. As a visitor, you can pay a small fee to enjoy the neo-baroque décor. As you move through the rooms, you will walk among students who are more focused on their work than the elegance around them.
The building, called The Wenckheim Palace, was a part-time home for Count Frigyes Wenckheim and his family. Upon his death in 1927, his family sold the palace to the government, which made it part of the public library system.
The library is at Szabó Ervin tér 1.
On the Pest Side – District XIV -Zugló
At the Northern end of Andrassy Avenue, you will come upon Heroes’ Square and City Park. The park is home to the Vajdahunyad Castle. The zoo is nearby. In addition to marveling at the facades of the castle, here are two fun things to do:
19. A Statue of Anonymous
Anonymous was the unknown chronicler at the court of King Bela III (1148-1196). He is believed to have written the history of the early Hungarians. Writers often stroke his pen for inspiration.
You can see this statue in City Park (Városliget) near Vajdahunyad Castle. There is a smaller one in the Hungarian National Gallery, the art museum in Buda Castle.
20. Playground in City Park
If you are traveling with children, you can become their hero by taking them to the 140,000 sq. ft. (13,000 sq.m.) playground in City Park. The park opened in the fall of 2019 and features 50 pieces of equipment for children of all ages and abilities. It makes you want to be a kid again.
The Main Playground is in the southeastern part of City Park, near the intersection of Dózsa György Road and Ajtósi Dürer Row.
- Building numbers come after the street name.
- The postal code consists of 4 digits. The middle two identify the district. So postal code 1094 is in district 9.
- Street signs are easy to find, and most have the district number on them. They are on the buildings near the street corners.
Even More to See and Do in Budapest
“The Beauty of Budapest in 50 Photos” will give you a taste of the incredible architecture of the city.
Check out “The Funky Side of Budapest” to get an idea of some of the lighthearted things you can experience in the city.
WWII buffs may be interested in “10 Must-See Holocaust Memorials in Budapest.”
If time permits, don’t miss a trip to “Budapest’s Marvelous Margaret Island” for recreation or relaxation.
Dig even deeper into the charm of Budapest in “Unique Architectural Ornaments in Budapest.”
Until Next Time
I hope this post has inspired you to visit Budapest and enjoy some of its lesser-known sights.
If you’ve been to Budapest, Steve and I would love to hear about your experiences. If you have any suggestions for other quick and cool things to do in Budapest, please share in the comments section below.
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Happy traveling,
Linda
Before You Go
If you enjoyed this post, please consider subscribing to Wind and Whim. You’ll get an email notification each time we publish a new post and get our short and sweet monthly newsletter in your inbox, too! If I’ve given you valuable information and you want to show your appreciation, you can buy me a coffee.