Photo by Kate Kasiutich on Unsplash
“Of course it’s not all foie gras and fine wines. There are other pleasures, just as awesome. Maybe, maybe even more awesome.”
– Anthony Bourdain on what to expect in Budapest
He’s 100% right. There are tons of awesome things to experience in Budapest.
Backpackers, are you in - or traveling to - the capital of Hungary, and stuck trying to figure out or decide what to do while you’re there?
Well don’t waste more time! It’s your most valuable resource - yes, even more so than money. I’ve come up with a list of three, budget-friendly activities to experience in Budapest, Hungary that’ll make you regret not going there sooner - all while making sure you still keep your money in your pocket.
Are you ready to unlock the mysteries of backpacking Budapest on a budget? Here we go:
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. Footsteps and Fascinations: A Walking Tour of Budapest
I know what you’re thinking. “How cheap does he want us to get? I mean I understand that we want to save money, but he’s giving us the most pedestrian advice out there.”
Before you knock the idea of walking around Budapest, try it.
Budapest has so many beautiful sites to see and experience, such as the Danube River, the Buda Castle (which we’ll talk about in a bit), various thermal spas, churches and basilicas, the Parliament building, etc. Like many cities in Europe, Budapest is a feast for the eyes and senses and hiking around the city without actually paying for anything will do you wonders.
Keep in mind that Budapest is split up into two halves, divided by the Danube River. The first half is Buda, which is where Buda Castle stands atop the hills, alongside the Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church. It’s also where the Gellért and Rudas Baths are, as well as the Liberty Statue. This is where you’ll get incredible, panoramic views of the city from above - since you’re standing atop the hills. Meanwhile, the second half is Pest - hence the name, Buda-Pest -, which is where you’ve got Parliament, the Opera House, Budapest Zoo, Vajdahunyad Castle, Széchenyi Baths, and Heroes’ Square. Taking up the majority of Budapest, the latter half - Pest - is the more touristy side; it’s also where shopping gets done on Váci utca - the most famous street in the city. Furthermore, it has some of the best nightclubs, bars, and restaurants in the capital. It’s also less expensive. Yet both sides of the city are without a doubt worth experiencing. Don’t forget to bring your cameras while you’re at either one of these locations!
Oh, and you must experience walking across the bridges that cross the Danube as you head from Pest to Buda or vice versa. These bridges in and of themselves are some of the most gorgeous things you’ll see in the city. Examples include the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, Liberty Bridge, Margaret Bridge (my personal favorite), and Elisabeth Bridge.
2. Soak and Save: Budapest's Best Budget-Friendly Thermal Baths
Without a doubt one of my favorite parts of Budapest: the thermal baths. I went to the Széchenyi Baths, which are arguably the most popular in the city, and I loved it.
Photo by Victor Malyushev on Unsplash
It was super crowded, but not so much that you couldn’t swim in the pool, or that you didn’t have personal space.
I also remember repeatedly going into the extremely hot, dry sauna, and then immediately dipping inside the freezing cold water tub in the room right next to it, over and over again. That was awesome - and good for your health apparently.
The architecture of the entire bath looked like something out of Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel” - which was obviously named after the city. There were also some really cool indoor pools, and a sick steam sauna as well. The outdoor pool was also great, and actually had really good food - I remember ordering a sausage while I was there, and it was delicious.
You can also get a massage while you’re there, for a little bit more money. I remember doing so, and I loved it, though it’s a bit of a splurge, especially after the already pricey day pass of €44 to get into the baths.
You can also order and drink beer at the thermal beer spa located inside the baths.
There are other baths you can experience in Budapest, such as the Gellért Thermal Bath, the Rudas Thermal Bath, and the Lukacs Baths, to name just a few.
And I want to let you know that while none of these baths are cheap, they are 100% affordable if you plan accordingly. I went to them and still had money in my pocket afterwards; so can you.
3. Fortress of Frugality: Experience Buda Castle on a Backpacker's Budget
Photo by Nemanja Ćirić on Unsplash
One of the most beautiful and majestic sites to see and visit in all of the city.
If I’m not mistaken, I never went inside - regretfully -, and it’s something I plan to do in the future when visiting this city.
Buda Castle is a historical and architectural marvel, having first been built in 1265, and then reconstructed between 1749-1769, giving you the stunning, Baroque, Royal Castle that you see today.
Having belonged to the Hungarian Kings, the palace is today home to the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest Historical Museum.
The gardens, main courtyard and the surroundings of the Castle are free, so you can walk around as long as you want. That said, the three wings of the main building - which house the aforementioned galleries and institutions - require an entrance fee to visit them. Tickets to the Hungarian National Gallery range from 1200-5200 HFs - around $4.50 - $20 CAD, or $3.30 - $15 USD -, depending on what kind of ticket you book - i.e. with audio guides or guided tours or without -, and the Budapest Historical Museum tickets are 3800 HFs for adults, equating to about $15 CAD or $10.50 USD at the time of this writing.
If you’re into museums, I’d 100% recommend checking out the inside of the palace. And even if you’re not, then heading up to check out and take photos of the outside is a free, majestic, and luxurious experience for all backpackers and world travelers looking to see the world’s magic on a budget.
All right, this itinerary will get you started. Now go out there, and experience all that Budapest has to offer!
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And don’t worry - this isn’t the end of our Budapest budget-friendly guide. I’ll be back with more inexpensive Budapest travel hacks for you next week.
Till next time! Stay resilient out there.