Hungary · 5 days · 5 days · 19 stops
5 days in Budapest with Szentendre and Gödöllő
Five days let you take Budapest at a slower pace: a whole day on Castle Hill with the National Gallery and the caves, one for Lipótváros and the Jewish Quarter, one along Andrássy Avenue to City Park. In between you leave town on the HÉV suburban railway – to Szentendre with its Serbian churches and to Gödöllő, Empress Elisabeth's palace. The Rudas Baths round off the last evening.
In short
- Length
- 5 days, 19 stops
- Highlights
- Fisherman's Bastion, Hungarian Parliament, Szentendre main square, Haus des Terrors, Gödöllő Palace
- Where to stay
- Inner City (Belváros), Jewish Quarter (Erzsébetváros)
- Getting around
- Metro, trams and buses are dense and cheap.
- Best time to go
- April to June and September to October are pleasant.
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Plan created with AI support – please check opening hours, prices and routes before you go. YesTrip editorial team · Updated: .
Day 1
A full day on Castle Hill
Fisherman's Bastion
The arcades are still empty in the morning. Take your time over the view of the Danube – it is a long day up here.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Fisherman's Bastionright next door
Matthias Church
Every wall inside is painted, in patterns and colours you rarely see. Check opening hours before you go.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Matthias Churchabout 10 min on foot
Hungarian National Gallery
Inside the palace: Hungarian painting from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Break for lunch in the café or the Castle District.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Hungarian National Galleryabout 15 min on foot
Hospital in the Rock
Beneath Castle Hill: an emergency hospital from the Second World War, later a nuclear bunker. Guided tours only.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Hospital in the Rock
Day 2
Lipótváros and the Jewish Quarter
Hungarian Parliament
The first tour of the day is usually the quietest. Book a timed ticket online in advance.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Hungarian Parliamentabout 5 min on foot
Liberty Square
A large square between banks and embassies, with a Soviet war memorial and a disputed monument to the 1944 occupation.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Liberty Squareabout 5 min on foot
Hold Street Market Hall
Just round the corner: several stalls on the gallery of this small market hall serve lunch. Check opening hours before you go.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Hold Street Market Hallabout 20 min on foot
Dohány Street Synagogue
A guided visit covers the interior, the Jewish Museum and the garden with the metal tree. Closed on the Sabbath.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Dohány Street Synagogue
Day 3
Day trip to Szentendre
HÉV line H5 from Batthyány tér to the end of the line in Szentendre, about 40 min. The line crosses the city boundary – ask when buying whether your Budapest ticket covers the whole trip.
Batthyány Square
On the Buda bank, facing Parliament across the river. The HÉV to Szentendre leaves from here.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Batthyány SquareHÉV train H5 to Szentendre, about 40 min, then about 10 min on foot into the old town.
Szentendre main square
Colourful town houses, a plague cross and the small Serbian Annunciation Church. Narrow lanes climb the hill from here.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Szentendre main squareright next door
Serbian Orthodox Cathedral
The seat of the Serbian Orthodox bishop in Hungary, with a tall icon screen. Check opening hours before you go.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Serbian Orthodox Cathedralright next door
Margit Kovács Museum
Figures and reliefs by the ceramic artist Margit Kovács, often scenes of village life. Then lunch and a walk along the Danube.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Margit Kovács Museum
Day 4
Andrássy Avenue and City Park
Haus des Terrors
In the former secret police headquarters: an exhibition on the dictatorships from 1944 to 1989. Allow two hours.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Haus des TerrorsMetro M1 from Vörösmarty utca to Hősök tere, about 5 min.
Heroes' Square
A quick stop on the big square, then straight into the museum next door.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Heroes' Squareright next door
Museum der Bildenden Künste
European painting, including a large collection of Spanish masters, and an Egyptian hall. There is a café inside.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Museum der Bildenden Künsteabout 10 min on foot
Széchenyi Baths
After the museum, walk through City Park to the baths. The outdoor pools steam in the late afternoon, best of all in winter.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Széchenyi Baths
Day 5
Day trip to Gödöllő Palace
HÉV line H8 from Örs vezér tere (end of metro line M2) to Gödöllő, Szabadság tér, about 45 min. Check here too that your ticket is valid outside the city, and check the palace's opening hours before you go.
Örs vezér tere
The eastern terminus of metro line M2. Change here for the HÉV to Gödöllő.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Örs vezér tereHÉV train H8 to Gödöllő, Szabadság tér, about 45 min. The palace is right across the road.
Gödöllő Palace
A Baroque palace that was Empress Elisabeth's favourite home. Her rooms are furnished, with a large park behind.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Gödöllő PalaceHÉV H8 back to Örs vezér tere, then metro and tram to the Rudas Baths, about 1 hr 15 min in all.
Rudas Baths
A Budapest farewell: the 16th-century Turkish bath under its dome, with a rooftop pool looking over the Danube.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Rudas Baths
Good to know
HÉV and the city limit
The HÉV suburban trains to Szentendre and Gödöllő run beyond the city boundary. Check when buying whether your day or weekly pass covers the whole route.
Two baths, two moods
Széchenyi is bright and big with outdoor pools, Rudas dark and old under a dome. On some days Rudas has separate sessions for women and men – check before you go.
Museum closing days
Many Budapest museums have a weekly closing day. Plan your museum days around it and check opening hours before you go.
For the best time to go, public transport and where to stay, see the 3-day plan for Budapest.
Your plan
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5 days in Budapest: frequently asked questions
Are 5 days in Budapest too many?
Not if you add two day trips. Three days cover the city itself well, and Szentendre and Gödöllő show you the country around it.
Which day trip from Budapest is most worth it?
Szentendre is the easiest: a short ride, a small old town, museums and the riverside. Gödöllő is best if you are interested in Empress Elisabeth.
More plans for Budapest
- One dayOne day in Budapest: Buda and Pest on footCastle Hill in the morning, across the Chain Bridge at noon, Parliament and the Basilica in Pest in the afternoon.
- WeekendA weekend in Budapest: Friday to SundayFriday on the Danube and in a ruin bar, Saturday in Pest with a thermal bath, Sunday on Castle Hill before heading home.
- 3 days3 days in Budapest – a ready-made itineraryCastle Hill in Buda, Parliament and ruin bars in Pest, and a thermal bath to finish.
- With kidsBudapest with kids: 2 easy daysOne day on car-free Margaret Island, one in City Park with the zoo, a big playground and the House of Music.
- On a budgetBudapest on a budget: 2 days, mostly freeViews from Gellért Hill, walks through the Castle District and along Andrássy Avenue, lunch in the market halls.
Plan created with AI support – please check opening hours, prices and routes before you go. Coordinates checked with Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap (Photon). Photo: Kilyann Le Hen, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. More in Sources & licences. YesTrip is a trip planner, not a travel agency – nothing is booked.
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