Budapest is one of those cities with a bit of everything, from epic monuments and swanky thermal baths to scams and tourist traps aplenty.

Do it right and it may become one of your favourite cities in the world. Fall victim to its all-too-common mistakes though and you may well be left dismissing the whooole place as “overhyped”.

… But that won’t happen, because you’re here! Read the tips below, and you’ll soon to be on your way to giddily faceplanting in goulash.

So, from navigating the city’s quirks to avoiding its most common tourist scams, this post is going to tell you everything you need to know before visiting Budapest for the first time. I hope you find it helpful!

1. First: Budapest or Budapesht?

Before we get into the full list of tips, let’s address the elephant in the room – how do you pronounce the name of the city? 

Well, unfortunately your most insufferable ‘friend that travels’ is correct. If we are pronouncing Budapest in the proper way that it’s said in Hungarian, the answer would be Budapesht with a sh sound. This is the way most locals will pronounce it and also the way I would say it if I was in the city and talking about the city with someone local. 

If I’m talking to someone outside of the country though, I would say Budapest (without a sh sound) and for me, that’s just because I’m usually speaking in English and the way we’ve anglicized the city name is BudapesSSst, much like how I would talk about travel tips for Paris, not Paree and Munich rather than München.

So yes that’s my reasoning, but feel free to chime in in the comments if you disagree and have a strong case for Budapesht instead. I honestly feel kinda torn on this one.

2. Understand the pros and cons of staying in different parts of the city

Now in regards to accommodation, it’s helpful to understand the geography of the city before you decide where to stay.

So here’s a quick crash course! The city of Budapest is made up of 23 districts spread across two very distinct halves – Buda, on the western bank of the Danube, and Pest on the eastern bank. Once upon a time, these were separate cities, until they merged to form one in 1873, along with the city of Óbuda that doesn’t get mentioned as much because it’s farther away from the tourist center… but is therefore also home to much more affordable accommodation. 

In any case, most tourists will choose to stay in either Buda or Pest, and the decision is important because the two are very different.

Buda is known as the quieter, more regal, more elegant residential side, filled with epic views and epic hills. 

Pest is known as the livelier, more exciting side with tons of restaurants, bars, and sights.

Based on this, for first timers, I think Pest makes more sense as a base because it’s closer to points of interest, though if you’d prefer a quieter base then I can highly recommend Buda,  which has some stunning views and hotels and is generally just calmer and less chaotic.

I stayed at the Hilton Budapest for instance during half of my last visit (thanks to a special deal!) and fell in love with the unreal views.

At the end of the day, so long as you find accommodation near good public transport links, you’ll never be too far away from the main sights. If you want to stay close to the main attractions though, Districts 1, 5, 6, and 8 are probably good choices. I’d avoid District 7 though unless you’re a huge partier because this is the main nightlife area and it can get super chaotic and noisy.

3. Beware that many affordable options are renovated aparmtents

In terms of accommodation types, you’ll find a lot of the more affordable options in Budapest are actually renovated apartments – this goes for hostels and also apartment rentals. I actually stayed in one with an amazing view on the second half of my latest trip so I say this from experience. 

These are usually really nicely done up on the inside and photograph well, but just beware that they’re often in older buildings so sometimes the main entryways or stairwells might leave a bit to be desired. 

A lot of first timers can find this quite shocking upon arrival if their expectations are just based on photos of the interiors, so keep that in mind.

There are many hotel options too but just a random tip here, do make sure you scroll through all the photos on the hotel website because when I was planning, a lot of them had really weird glass showers that have you openly naked in the middle of the room… which is bad news if you’re averse to showering right in front of your travel companions. 

4. Know the pros and cons of visiting in each season

Regarding when to visit, I’ve been lucky enough to visit in the Summer, Fall and Winter. If I want to give you an annoying answer, all really do have their own perks. 

I will say though, the summer is really when the city comes alive and for a first time visit, that would be my personal choice… though Spring and Fall might maximize your chance at avoiding crowds.

NOTE: Winter is another high season in the city because of Christmas markets but I have to be honest, the Christmas markets in Budapest are just okay. They really don’t hold a candle to the more traditional Christmas markets in Germany or Austria, so I would actually advise against going during the festive season because the crowds and prices are crazy and the return you get for them isn’t really that great. 

I do have a free map of Christmas markets in Budapest if you want to see more, but my honest opinion is that it’s not worth coming to the city just to see Christmas markets. There are many other more compelling reasons to visit. 

5. Try to visit mid-week

If you have flexibility, especially if you’re visiting from outside of Europe, then another recommendation I have is to visit on weekdays if you can.

Budapest is probably one of THE most popular weekend breaks in Europe, so places are super packed over the weekend throughout the year, especially with bachelor and bachelorette parties. So if that’s not the vibe you want, then weekdays will spare you from that quite a bit. 

Though be mindful that Monday is the closure day for many restaurants and museums, so be sure to look into opening hours for your must-dos before you book a Monday trip.

6. Get used to paying in Hungarian Forint

In terms of currency and payments, they use the Hungarian Forint (for-eent), abbreviated to HUF, so I definitely recommend finding a meaningful currency shortcut so you can roughly do the math quickly in your head when you’re looking at the price of things. 

During my visit, 2000 HUF was about 5 euros, so keeping that in mind really helped me gauge what the cost of things was.

7. Know that Budapest is very card-friendly

And if you’re wondering how much cash to actually bring to Budapest… the honest truth is I barely used cash during my recent trip trip. Most places happily take card, so I would prioritize having a travel friendly card over taking a bunch of cash. I’ve used Wise for the past few years and have no complaints. 

If you do use cash though, do beware of the Euronet ATMs as well as currency exchanges at the airport as they charge very unfavourable rates. Anytime you’re given an option to pay in Forint vs Euro, even when paying by card, do so in the local currency Forint to avoid paying more than you need to.

8. Beware that Budapest isn’t as affordable as it used to be

On the topic of money, a lot of people visit Budapest because they see it as a budget-friendly destination.

Unfortunately, these depictions of the city being ultra affordable are quite outdated, and with the rise of mass tourism has also come the rise of prices, especially in touristy neighbourhoods for touristy activities, so don’t just blindly spend assuming it’s all super cheap.

It’s easy to do this when you’re unfamiliar with the currency, but do make sure you do the math because a lot of the time, things are pricier than you’d expect. 

That said, there are some areas where your money does go farther. For instance, I’ve found that hotels are generally good value for money here – you can stay at some very nice places for less than many other European capitals.

9. Beware of 3rd party websites masquerading as “official”

Finally, while doing research online, do be very careful about which websites you take information from and which websites you book on.

While doing research for my most recent trip, I noticed a LOT of websites pretending to be official with names like “attraction-tickets-official.com” when in reality they’re actually 3rd party sites… where information might not always be up to date or they might have higher prices for certain things compared to booking directly.

So, take note that this is the official tourism page for Budapest in English.

Another example of this: the official Sczecheny Baths site here vs a 3rd party.

10. Airport Express bus 100E is the best way to get from the airport to the city (but there are other options)

Alright, now let’s talk about transport and getting around Budapest!

If you’re flying, do note that Budapest airport is actually pretty far from the city centre, just over 20 km or 12.5 miles… so don’t expect a quick journey to your accommodation. 

From the airport, the cheapest way for most people is to get the Airport Express Bus 100E, which costs only 2200 HUF one way and gets you to the center in about 40 minutes. You can pay by just tapping your card once you board, which is super convenient and hassle free for new arrivals. 

The quickest way though is, of course, getting a taxi. And it might be comparable in cost for larger groups. This is super easy from Budapest airport – just follow the signs for TAXI as you leave, and look out for the official Fotaxi stand upon exiting the airport.

Here, you basically step up to the front, tell them where you’re going, and they print a receipt out with a taxi number, license plate and estimated fare. The entire process is really simple and designed so that you don’t get scammed, just make sure you’re sticking to the official taxis and not any that say “freelance”.

In between these options is a shared shuttle that you can take as well, which will bring you to your hotel from the airport but you’ll typically be carpooling with travellers staying at other hotels. So you save a bit of money but it won’t usually be a direct journey. 

I’ve heard mixed reviews about this option on the way TO the airport as some reviews say they didn’t show up on time, but service from the airport is pretty consistently between 20-25 minutes per shuttle. I’ll link some options for you below, but I do think it’s probably worth it to pay the extra just to get to your hotel directly. 

• Here’s a shared shuttle bus you can book between the airport and your hotel (either direction)
• Here’s a private transfer for up to two people from the airport to your hotel
• And here’s a private transfer for up to two people from your hotel to the airport

11. The centre is walkable, but you’ll likely need public transport or ride shares at some point

In terms of getting around the city once you arrive, Budapest’s city centre is decently walkable, though walking isn’t always as dreamy as in some other European capitals due to fewer pedestrianized streets, often narrow sidewalks, and plenty of car traffic.  

Adding onto that, some sights are fairly spread apart and many, especially on the Buda side, are up large hills so I wouldn’t count on just walking the entire time.

Luckily, the public transport system in Budapest is really good and affordable as well. You can easily get tickets at ticket machines, and they’re available in English so they’re super straightforward to use. 

if you’d prefer a digital option though, the app you want to download is called the BKK BudapestGo app. You can use this to look up timetables and purchase tickets.

12. Get a transport pass rather than single tickets

In terms of tickets, I can definitely recommend getting a transport pass rather than buying single tickets, depending on how long you’re in town, because these allow for unlimited travel on local modes of transport including the metro, trams and buses for a set period you buy for. 

These are very affordable – starting at 2500 HUF for a 24 hour Travelcard and 5950 HUF for a 7 day pass, so it’s usually worth it if you plan to use public transport a lot. I personally find it worth it just because you don’t need to worry about validating tickets every time. 

But single tickets are also very affordable at 450 HUF each, with packets of 10 as well, that drop it to 400 HUF each, so that’s possibly worth it if you don’t plan to use too much public transport. 

If you do buy single tickets though, do make sure you always validate them through the ticket machines. While the city operates mainly on an honesty system so you don’t need to show tickets until inspectors come on board, they do check, even on trams, so don’t skip this validation step or you’ll probably still get fined.

13. Hop on board the Line 1 Metro if you can

And this is a niche tip but if you get an opportunity to, make sure you hop on the Line 1 Metro. This is actually a UNESCO World Heritage site that dates back to 1896, making it one of the world’s oldest Metro systems and the stations are absolutely beautiful!

Plus, this is the line that connects the main squares of Vororsmarty Ter and Hösok Ter (better known as Heroes Square)… so you’ll probably end up needing to take it at some point.

14. Ride shares can be the best pick for longer distances

While the public transport in Budapest is honestly really great, there are definitely some areas where it might make sense to take a taxi to save time, especially if you’re over on the Buda side. Luckily, ride shares are very affordable especially if you are travelling with a few people.

Bolt is the main app used to call taxis, and they operate just like regular taxis would. I like that you know the rough fare in advance so this helps prevent you getting scammed. I did notice some Ubers as well.

15. Make bookings whenever possible

With transport out of the way, let’s chat about food and drink trips for Budapest.

First – make bookings. Don’t try to be spontaneous. I really couldn’t believe how difficult it was to find a table in a restaurant in Budapest, even later in the evening. 

Granted, my visits were all weekend trips so it may be easier on weekdays but I wouldn’t risk it, particularly for Hungarian places that have good reviews and ratings. These were all completely packed even at 10pm.

I will say though that most of the Hungarian restaurants in the city center on the Pest side seem to be geared towards tourists, with even the really well reviewed places kind of having the typical red flags like giant photos of their food, menus in a bunch of languages, etc., so if you’re looking for a super authentic locals-only Hungarian place in a touristy area, you might struggle. I even asked the host of the apartment I stayed in near Elizabeth Square and he had zero recommendations, though he did gift me a Hungarian cookbook at the end of my stay so I can make my own…. so that was nice!

All that said, maybe I just had bad luck so feel free to comment with any recommendations. 

16. Make sure to try local Hungarian dishes

Hungarian food is hearty and comforting – and a real must-try when in Budapest.

The most popular Hungarian dishes to try here include…

• Lángos, which is a deep fried dough with toppings like cheese and sour cream 
• Kürtőskalács, better known as Chimney cake, which are sweet cylindrical cakes made with yeasty dough 
• Chicken paprikash, a paprika based chicken stew 
• Goulash, a rich meat and vegetable stew 

17. Prepare yourself for inflated prices when buying Hungarian classics

Though I would happily endorse the idea of you munching around the city with reckless abandon, do beware that prices for ‘typical Hungarian’ items can be incredibly inflated in touristy areas – especially street foods like lángos and chimney cake.

I’m hesitant to put a good price on here because it seems like prices just go up and up constantly for these once very affordable treats but I would say generally, your chimney cake should not be more than 2000 HUF or you’re seriously overpaying. Lángos is more difficult – only a few years ago it was common to get one for less than 1000 HUF but that’s much tougher to find now. 

Rather than fixate on price though, and what it could have cost you once upon a time, I’d say paying inflated prices is mostly fine if it tastes good and you don’t mind paying a premium for location, the more important thing though is to try your best to find places that are making them fresh for the best experience. A lot of touristy places will have them sitting around for hours and it’s just not the same… and definitely not worth paying a ton of money for!

So here are some rules of thumb: with Lángos, you want to see the balls of dough being fried and with chimney cakes, you want to see that they’re making it freshly on-site.

18. Find cheap eats in bakeries

If you’re looking for a quick and cheap bite though, there are bakeries all around (including in many large metro stations) that have delicious baked treats – both sweet and savoury for very affordable prices. So, I can definitely recommend that as a cheap eat on the go. 

19. Be careful wth viral places from social media

As with many destinations though, I would caution against dining exclusively at places that have gone viral on social media. Often this will mean giant line ups and higher prices, as well as a priority on aesthetics more than the actual food or service.

Some of the common suspects in Budapest I’d put into this category include the admittedly stunning New York Café and Twenty Six Garden Restaurant. 

All that said, if you are just wanting a beautiful vibe, definitely go for it, just try to make bookings whenever possible and go in knowing full well you’re paying extra for the prettiness. 

20. Diversify your food itinerary by looking at local food blogger recommendations

If you’re up for trying other types of cuisine while you’re in town, do look into local food blogger recommendations to diversify a bit. This way you’ll be able to enjoy the local food scene a bit more rather than just visiting the usual tourist spots. I found WAFU Ramen this way and loved it!

21. Avoid eating at the Central Market Hall

Yes, it’s a beautiful building and worth stopping by for a look but the food prices at this place are truly unhinged, and I can’t imagine anything here that you can’t find elsewhere for a better price and better quality.

I ate here years ago on my first trip and it was okay tasting, but based on recent reviews, it seems like many of the stalls have jacked up their prices a crazy amount and it’s really not worth it at all. 

22. Be sure to crunch the numbers on attraction passes as they often aren’t worth it

Now let’s move onto attraction tips for Budapest.

First – while I usually recommend getting a city card or pass when you plan to sightsee a lot, I would say beware of the Budapest card and make sure to crunch the numbers. To me, this pass feels very expensive for what it offers.

According to the official Budapest tourism page, there are three options as of 2025 for tourist cards in Budapest:

1. the Tourist Pass, which includes entry to attractions but no public transport
2. the Budapest Card, which includes entry to attractions as well as public transport
3. and the Budapest e-XPLORER pass, which includes entry to attractions and hop on hop off buses and cruises, but no public transport

Prices for the cheapest one, the Tourist Pass, which has no public transport included is 34 euros for 24 hours. 

Given that attraction tickets in Budapest are actually quite reasonable, the Hungarian National Museum is only about 9 euros, for instance, it’s unlikely you’ll actually make up the value of this pass unless you do many paid attractions one right after the other… especially since the attractions included aren’t always the most popular ones.

For example, the thermal baths they advertise as included are actually the ones at St Lukacs and not the more popular ones like Széchenyi or Gellért.

But as usual, the only way to know for sure is to do the math. If you didn’t know, I do have a special free spreadsheet designed for doing exactly this so you can find that in my VIP library.

23. Be prepared for crowds (and go to main sights early)

As for the main sights and attractions, I do have to say that Budapest is SUCH a popular destination especially among group tours and river cruises, so really, when the crowds come, they come in thick.

After three visits, I’ve found the best strategy is really doing the busiest most popular spots in the early morning or later in the evening and spending afternoons doing some of the less popular stuff, like museums which don’t get as many people because usually these group tours only stop in the city for a short time. 

A place I would definitely do early is Fisherman’s Bastion, which is stunning at sunrise. It gets very busy from 10am onwards here so I’d prioritize this and Buda Castle overall for the early morning, though it’s pretty magical at night as well.

24. Definitely do a river cruise

If you’re short on time, I truly think one of the best value things you can do in the city is a river cruise.

Budapest’s most beautiful structures are mainly scattered around the banks of the Danube and seeing them from the water is next level, especially at night. There’s a million and one cruises you can book including ones with bottomless drinks so definitely shop around to find the best deal. 

25. Check out the Hungarian National Museum

Now, I know that museums aren’t usually people’s priority when they come to Budapest… but I do think the Hungarian National Museum is really worth visiting because it covers a lot of important history and context that brings what you see to life.

The focus here is on historic relics and they do a great job of summarizing the history of Hungary in a cohesive timeline, plus there are just some beautiful rooms and spaces to see.

NOTE: Do not confuse this with the Hungarian National Gallery which is on the Buda side of the city. This is also a beautiful museum, but the focus is definitely more on Hungarian art, so pick what you’re interested in. My vote goes to the National Museum… that said, this gallery does have some amazing views.

26. Know that Castle Hill is massive, with tons to see

As for all the attractions up and around Castle Hill, if you’re interested in the history of the city and specifically of the castle, they are definitely worth doing.

The Budapest History Museum, for instance, has a combo ticket including St Stephens’ Hall and it’s surprisingly large, spanning multiple floors in a maze-like layout. It’s honestly not the most clearly organized but it does cover a lot of interesting information about the city’s history. Probably only worth seeing if you’re a big history buff – otherwise just walking around the castle complex enjoying the views is sufficient. 

Do note that Castle Hill is huge though and includes more than just the main hotspots around the Funicular (which is super overpriced by the way). There are some lovely views especially around sunset on the western side of the hill and more to see in the north where there are WAY fewer people, so be sure to explore a little beyond the main touristy core. 

And this advice holds true for the entire city as well. There are lots of cool things to do in Budapest beyond the main tourist sights, one of my favourite things was actually the Pinball Museum a few years ago, and going to Margaret Island this past trip was a nice break from the crowds, so be sure to do some extra research. 

27. Make sure you see the Hungarian Parliament Building at least once

If you do nothing else while you’re in Budapest, make sure you see the Hungarian Parliament Building both during the day and at night.

This is one of my favourite buildings in the entire world and it’s so stunning. The inside is also lovely, but only accessible through a VERY expensive guided tour. I think it’s 13000 HUF for non-EEA residents, which is about 32 EUR for a 45 minute tour.

If you love architecture, it may be worth doing, but the exterior is very nice to admire with or without going inside.

28. Understand the pros and cons of visiting the city’s top thermal baths

Another thing that Budapest is famous for is, of course, its thermal baths.

It should come as no surprise that the most aesthetically beautiful baths are also the most expensive and most touristy… there is sadly no secret locals-only bath place that is beautiful and uncrowded, so if you want this to be part of your itinerary, you need to be realistic and accept that there will be many other tourists marinating in hot water with you.

I personally haven’t done any of the baths because that visual of simmering with strangers just isn’t my thing BUT I have researched them thoroughly trying to convince myself to try it for content, and I will say if you want to do some baths while in the city, keep in mind that there are many other options besides just the most famous Széchenyi Thermal Baths, which are beautiful but the most crowded by far.

I’ve heard these ones are best done earlier in the day because it becomes a somewhat gross party zone in the evenings, but other popular options include Rudas and Gellért.

Just make sure to look into all the different options to find the right fit!

29. Get your ‘ruin bar’ strategy down

And finally, in regards to nightlife, which many consider to be an attraction in itself, one of the most iconic “must-dos” in Budapest is to visit ruin bars, which are bars built into old abandoned buildings that initially emerged as a gritty alternative nightlife space starting in the early 2000s… filled with cheap booze, mismatched furniture, and all kinds of art.

There aren’t a ton of ruin bars left these days and, of course, many locals now consider them to be tourist traps rather than bohemian utopias. Aesthetically though, I do think they’re still really unique and worth seeing, especially Seemplah Kairt Szimpla Kert which is the biggest and most famous one.

I will say though to avoid coming here on a weekend evening because it is absolutely wall to wall with people, the line ups are outrageous and you barely get to appreciate the unique interiors. I know going to a bar at 5 or 6pm sounds lame but then you get to actually explore, and you have thousands of other bars and clubs to choose from afterwards where you can actually breathe. 

And if you want to add more to your itinerary beyond just tourist attractions, a great resource is a website called welovebudapest.com/en – they have articles in English about events and things so it’s good to consult before your visit. 

30. Beware the Szervizdij

In regards to dining and drinking out, many restaurants and bars, especially in touristy areas, now charge an extra service fee called Szervizdij on top of the bill.

This is completely legal so long as it’s displayed clearly on the menu and unlike some other countries like the UK, it’s not a discretionary charge and you can’t ask them to remove it, so keep a look out for that. 

Some places will intentionally put pressure on you to pay more on top of this service charge as a tip, but you are under no obligation to do so. If there is no service charge then a standard tip might be to round up about 10-15% but this is completely up to you. 

On a related note, don’t expect service to be overly friendly. That’s just not the norm, so don’t take it personally. 

31. Beware of common scams

Unfortunately, due to Budapest’s popularity among partyers as well as bachelor and bachelorette parties, there are some extra scams to be aware of that tend to target these groups.

One in particular is when an attractive stranger comes up to you and asks you to go get a drink, then when you sit down and you’re distracted, they’ll pour you some stupidly expensive drinks and you won’t be able to leave until the bill is paid. 

There are also many, many street sellers in busier districts like the 6th and 7th, known for their bars, and they’ll offer you all sorts of things from drugs to phones. Not a good idea to buy from them for many reasons… but most of all – what they sell tends to be fake.

BONUS: Try to learn some Hungarian basics

In regards to learning Hungarian, honestly, you can get by with English in most situations as people who work in tourism tend to speak it extremely well. But knowing a tiny bit does go a long way in showing effort, and it always seems to be appreciated, so I’d recommend learning the basics. Luckily, they’re fairly simple.

To say hi, it’s Szia (see-ah).

And to say thank you, you’d say Köszönöm (keu-soh-num).

Hungarian is a notoriously difficult language, but beyond these basics, I think a few other words are helpful to know as well to help you navigate and understand where you are.

Utca, for instance, means street or avenue. Tér and tere mean square.

And do keep in mind that there are some names that are different in Hungarian to how we know them in English, for instance, my mind was blown when I realized the airport, Liszt Ferenc Airport is actually Franz Liszt Airport. It seems so obvious now in hindsight.

The same happened when in some museums they kept referencing a Ferenc József and it took me a while to realize they meant Franz Joseph, the famous Emperor. Random note but yes, just something to keep in mind. 

I hope this list of Budapest Travel Tips was helpful!

Let me know in the comments if you have any more to add.