Budapest 3 days City Guide – Day 1 of 3

Para ler este post em Português

Budapest was a city that I truly feel in love with immediately and I think it is an underrated city in Europe. I hope this 3 days city guide helps you to enjoy the most of this city.

I am going to share with you my travel guide to visit 3 cities in 7 days. I flew from London to Budapest, took a train from Budapest to Bratislava, another train from Bratislava to Vienna and then a return flight to London. I will publish a post for each day, so it doesn’t get too long.

How to reach the city centre from the airport:

Taxi – the only company authorized by the airport is called Főtaxi and the price is around 5100 to 5700 Ft to the city centre.

Train – There is a direct train from Terminal 1 to the City Centre, but for Terminal 2A and 2B you need to catch a bus to Terminal 1.

Bus – The bus 200E connects the terminals in the airport to the tube station Kőbánya-Kispest (M3 line) which is around 20 minutes to the city centre.

Where to stay:

I booked my accommodation via Airbnb (click on the link to have a discount) and I stayed in the District VII, Erzsébetváros. The studio was within walking distance to “Blaha Lujza tér” tube station. The area is central with good restaurants and supermarkets.

Budapest City Guide

I arrived at around 5 PM so I thought of making use of the rest of the day by spending it at Széchenyi thermal bath where I paid 4600 Ft for half a day. Note: If you buy Budapest Card, you get 10% off.

I just can’t recommend it enough it was a really good choice to relax after the flight. And yes, you can see Hungarian men playing chess in the water with friends, apparently that’s how they like to spend their time.

Opening times are as follows:

• Outdoor swimming pools: 6 am to 10 pm
• Steam department: 6 am to 10 pm
• Thermal department: 6 am to 7 pm
• Pump hall: 9 am to 5 pm

Nearest tube station: Széchenyi furdõ (M1 line)

First day

Your day can start in the Pest side, around Roosevelt tér (Roosevelt Square) which is in front of Chain Bridge, one of the most beautiful and ancient bridges in the city.

• Nearest tube station: Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út‎(M1)
  On the other side of the bridge, there is a square called “Clark Ádám tér” where you can find a funicular train to go up to the Buda Castle. The journey is fast and you will have a beautiful view of the city.
  Alternative: Take the bus 16 that departs from “Deák Ferenc tér” (M1, M2, M3) that crosses the “Chain Bridge” and goes through to the Buda tunnel before starting going to the Buda Castle. This bus stops in front of “Fisherman’s Bastion” – BUS STOP is “Szentháromság tér”.

“Fisherman’s Bastion”, it’s a beautiful group of seven towers which is a tribute to the seven tribes that founded the Hungarian nation. From here you have a beautiful view of Pest side of Danube River.

• Price: 700 Ft (10% discount with Budapest Card)

One of the most well-known churches in the city, Mathias’s Church, was built in XII. A visit inside allows you to observe many sculptures and pieces of art.

• Opening Times: 1PM to 5PM
• Price: 1000 Ft (10% discount with Budapest Card)
• Where: In front of “Fisherman’s Bastion”

Buda Castle. There are a lot of attractions and museums dated from XVIII that you can visit.

• Hungarian National Museum (free with Budapest Card)
• Hungarian Natural History Museum (free with Budapest Card)
• Labyrinth of Buda Castle
• Liberty Statue (in Citadella, Gellért Hill is the highest point of Budapest)
  

Heroes Square, the biggest square in town, with a beautiful monument of 36 meters and many statues of Hungarian leaders and heroes around. The square is in the middle of two museums: Museum of Fine Arts and Palace of Art.

• Nearest tube station: Mexikoi ut (M1)

This square is located at the beginning of the City Park, a big green area in the middle of Budapest, with a big lake and many attractions such as: Zoo, fun park.

Vidámpark, Vajdahunyad/ Városliget Castle and Széchenyi Thermal Bath.

• Nearest tube station: Széchenyi fürdő (M1)

Terror Museum – it’s worth a visit to understand Hungarian history especially when it was occupied by Nazis. You get to reflect a lot in this museum and it makes you feel sad for what happened during the Nazi period.

• Nearest tube station: Vorosmarty Utca (M1)
• Price: 1800HUF
• Opening Times: 10AM – 6PM

 

Check out my day 2 in Budapest: Budapest 3 days City Guide – Day 2 of 3

Check out my day 3 in Budapest: Budapest 3 days City Guide – Day 3 of 3

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