I was always intimidated by the idea of traveling in Eastern Europe. Still, these countries offer wonderful food and culture that rivals Paris and London, with the bonus of being gentle on the wallet.
Budapest, Hungary, is a city of beauty and resilience and is well worth a visit. Best of all, the flight from London is less than three hours. This means Budapest is a great addition to a European trip you might already have planned.
Here’s how to make the most of its riches even if you only have a weekend.
Geography & Safety
For the geographically challenged, here is a tutorial. If you start in France and go east, you will arrive at Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia and Hungary in that order (depending on how straight a line you are following).
While there is a small piece of Hungary that shares a border with Ukraine, that area is not near Budapest. However, it is always recommended to check the U.S. State Department’s website for travel advisories.
A Walking Tour to Start Your Weekend in Budapest
I found the perfect way to get oriented to the city was via a walking tour. A good option is Trip to Budapest, which offers six different free walking tours of the city. The only cost is what you choose to give your guide as a gratuity at the end of the tour.
I registered in advance and met the guide in a park with a giant Ferris wheel. My guide was a trained local professional who had lived in Budapest his entire life. The history of Hungary is complicated and not always happy, but the people are friendly, and the city has a unique, sometimes gritty beauty.
Take a Soak at Széchenyi Thermal Baths
There are hot springs that run under the city of Budapest. These natural springs are the source of their famed thermal baths. One of my most memorable experiences in Budapest was experiencing my first communal bath.
The Széchenyi Thermal Baths are the largest in the city and are located in City Park. (City Park was built in 1896 and is the biggest park in the city.)
Their huge outdoor pool is a combination of chlorinated water and natural hot spring water. One winter morning, with the temperature in the low 50s, I bathed with the locals and other visitors. Nothing beats laughing and clinging to your loved ones while being swept along in the warm, gentle whirlpool-like currents.
Inside the massive building, there are hot tubs of natural spring water that the Hungarians believe have healing properties. I have no idea if that’s true or not, but it sure was fun.
Insider tip: Research and buy tickets online in advance or risk waiting in long lines at the ticket counter.
Since Hungary is an inexpensive country, I was able to buy a special spa package. This gave me access to their dozens of different baths for four hours, a luxurious private room that was nicer than some of my hotel rooms, chocolates and drinks, a 45-minute massage for both people in my party, robes and towels to use, and swim caps and flip flops to keep.
It’s rare to find a massage bundled with a private room, robes and hours of bath access anywhere, let alone at this price.
Visit the Markets
You’ll need fuel for your explorations, so make sure to visit a market or two. Most of the year, you can head indoors to the Great Market Hall, which is full of Hungarian food items and souvenirs.
In the winter, the outdoor Christmas markets are not to be missed. While the German Christmas markets may be the more famous version, I loved the Budapest markets just as much.
The largest Christmas market is at Vörösmarty Square in front of St. Stephen’s Basilica. Wander through several to see the trinkets, to people-watch and to eat your fill of Goulash and Langosh (fried dough topped with sour cream, cheese, and meat).
City Park also hosts an outdoor market in the winter that offers ice skating. You can’t go wrong whether you choose to participate or just watch.
A Dinner Cruise Down the Danube
Before my visit, half a dozen people told us that we just had to see the city and the Danube lit up at night. There’s no better way to make this happen than to take a dinner cruise.
Silverline Cruises offers daytime sightseeing cruises, cocktail cruises, or the full three-hour dinner cruise that I experienced. Most options include live entertainment.
While the Danube is always charming, seeing the river and the city lit up at night will leave you speechless.
If you think that 48 hours isn’t enough to explore a new place, think again. With convenient public transportation and lower prices than Western European capital cities, Budapest deserves a spot on your travel bucket list.
If You Go
Getting Around
Budapest’s public transportation network covers the city well, and visitors can find route information, day passes, and city card options through the Budapest tourist information office.
Thermal Baths
The Széchenyi Thermal Baths are Budapest’s largest and most iconic, with both indoor mineral pools and a massive chlorinated outdoor pool. Book tickets online in advance, since the ticket counter lines can run long. Spa packages that add a private room and massages for two are widely available; check current rates before booking, since pricing shifts by season.
Walking Tours
Trip to Budapest runs several free, tip-based walking tours covering the city’s history, architecture, and neighborhoods, led by licensed local guides. For a more curated route, other guided walking tour options are also available.
Danube Dinner Cruise
Silverline Cruises runs sightseeing, cocktail, and full dinner cruises along the Danube, most with live entertainment included. Seeing the Parliament Building and Chain Bridge lit up at night from the water is one of the best views in the city.
A Good Read
For anyone who wants the history behind the beauty, Victor Sebestyen’s Budapest: Portrait of a City Between East and West traces the city’s complicated past.
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Author Bio: Erica Chatman is a freelance travel and personal finance writer whose work often focuses on the art and culture she finds in each locale. While she used to reside full-time in North Florida, she now travels full-time, often spending a year in a new place. Her unusual lifestyle is documented on her blog, MrsHomeFree.com. Her previous work has been featured on BudgetTravel.com, WorldFootprints.com, and GoWorldTravel.com.
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I am proud of you. Wonderful article. Love Harriet