If you’re only spending a weekend in Budapest, you’ll need to be smart with your time. There’s no point in squeezing the whole city into your tight schedule, because you’ll never really enjoy Budapest. But you can still fall in love with this city.
If you are visiting Budapest, arrive early!
If you’re just coming for the weekend, it’s a good idea to arrive the night before so you can start the morning here, rested and recharged. Because you’ll need energy, it’s a big city with lots to see and do!
Day 1
During the day, it’s worth focusing on the city’s cultural and historical sites and attractions, so that the evening can be all about fun. It is worth visiting the main tourist attractions such as the Parliament, Buda Castle, the Fisherman’s Bastion, Heroes’ Square. These are all part of the city’s history, yet you don’t have to go far from the city centre to visit them all.
The Városliget is also an iconic spot in Budapest, and there are plenty of great bistros in the area if you’re looking for a break or just a fresco on one of the terraces.
And while you’re enjoying a light drink, evening can come quickly, which can only mean one thing: it’s party time!
The city centre at night is an unmissable experience! The city’s best nightclubs and pubs are all here, guaranteed to make for an unforgettable night out. The most famous venues are Morrison’s 2, Instant, Doboz, the Ötkert and the Aquarium. However, you don’t have to go to all of them to have a great time at your first party night in Budapest, as most of the above venues have a variety of dance floors, where different genres predominate and where you can have up to 6 parties in one venue.
Of course, if you don’t want to dance, that’s fine – there are plenty of great pubs and bars in the centre of Budapest where you can have just as much fun. The most famous pubs in Budapest are Szimpla kert, Stifler 32, Füge Udvar, Fröccsterasz, Vicky Barcelona.
Day 2
If the night before was a long one, it’s definitely worth taking the next day a little slower. To start, it’s a good idea to visit one of Budapest’s coffee shops, such as My Little Melbourne Coffee and Brew Bar, Madal Café, Budapest Baristas, or Early Bird Coffee.
And once you’ve regained a bit of your strength, you can continue exploring the city in the most relaxing of places – a Budapest spa. The best spas in Budapest include the Széchenyi Spa and Swimming Pool, the Gellért Spa and Swimming Pool and the Rudas Spa and Swimming Pool. The beautiful surroundings and relaxing programme are guaranteed to give you a hangover-friendly time.
And what else is definitely worth squeezing into your Budapest visit is Margaret Island. The place that every August transforms into an island of freedom and one of Europe’s biggest festival venues.
A weekend like this is guaranteed to show you what a fantastic place Budapest is, but in most cases, once you visit, you’ll return.