Hungary · On a budget · 2 days · 12 stops
Budapest on a budget: 2 days, mostly free
The best views of Budapest come without an entry fee. On day one you climb Gellért Hill in the morning, cross Castle Hill and the Chain Bridge into Pest and eat in a small market hall. On day two you go from the Great Market Hall through the Jewish Quarter and up Andrássy Avenue to City Park – nearly all of it on foot.
In short
- Length
- 2 days, 12 stops
- Highlights
- Gellért Hill, Jewish Quarter and Gozsdu Courtyard, Fisherman's Bastion, Buda Castle, Széchenyi Chain Bridge
- 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
Gellért Hill, Castle District and Lipótváros
Gellért Hill
Paths lead uphill from Elisabeth Bridge, about 30 min. At the top you see every bridge at once – free of charge.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Gellért HillWalk down through Tabán park and up into the Castle District, about 35 min.
Fisherman's Bastion
The lower terraces are free to walk; only the upper walkway charges during the day. The view from below is plenty.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Fisherman's Bastionabout 15 min on foot
Buda Castle
The palace courtyards and terraces are public. Stop by the Matthias Fountain, a large hunting scene set into the façade.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Buda Castleabout 5 min on foot
Széchenyi Chain Bridge
Walk down Castle Hill and across the bridge. The funicular is handy but costs extra.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Széchenyi Chain Bridgeabout 15 min on foot
Hold Street Market Hall
Office workers from around here eat lunch up on the gallery – cheaper than the restaurants by the Danube. Check opening hours before you go.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Hold Street Market Hallabout 5 min on foot
Liberty Square
A green square with benches and a playground. Its monuments say a lot about the country's arguments over its own history.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Liberty Squareabout 5 min on foot
Kossuth Square and the Shoes on the Danube Bank
Parliament from the outside is free and impressive from every side. On the embankment south of it stands the memorial of iron shoes.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Kossuth Square and the Shoes on the Danube Bank
Day 2
Market hall, Jewish Quarter and Andrássy Avenue
Great Market Hall
Looking around costs nothing. Upstairs, simple snack stalls do a late breakfast. Closed on Sundays.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Great Market Hallabout 20 min on foot
Jewish Quarter and Gozsdu Courtyard
Through the passage and the streets around it: big murals on the fire walls, small synagogues and courtyards.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Jewish Quarter and Gozsdu Courtyardabout 10 min on foot
Hungarian State Opera
Take your time with the façade on Andrássy Avenue from outside. You will find lunch in the side streets.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Hungarian State OperaWalk up Andrássy Avenue, about 30 min, or take metro M1 from Opera to Hősök tere, about 5 min.
Heroes' Square
The wide square with statues of Hungary's rulers lies wide open, with no fence and no ticket.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Heroes' Squareabout 5 min on foot
Vajdahunyad Castle and City Park
You can walk into the castle courtyard for free. Around it lies the park with its lake – a calm spot for the afternoon.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Vajdahunyad Castle and City Park
Good to know
BKK day pass
There are day and multi-day passes for the metro, trams and buses. If you take more than a few rides a day, they pay off.
Up and down for free
Skip the funicular and take the steps from the palace down to Clark Ádám Square. Bus 16 goes up to Castle Hill on a normal ticket.
Worth paying for
A Parliament tour and an afternoon in a thermal bath are worth the money. For both, book online and compare.
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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Budapest on a budget: frequently asked questions
Is Budapest expensive?
Compared with many Western European cities, not really. You save most by eating in market halls and doing the viewpoints on foot.
What is free in Budapest?
Gellért Hill, the lower terraces of Fisherman's Bastion, the palace courtyards, the bridges, Liberty Square, the riverside memorial, Heroes' Square and City Park.
Is the Budapest Card worth it?
Only if you visit lots of museums and baths. For this plan, which sticks to free places, a public transport day pass is enough.
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.
- 5 days5 days in Budapest with Szentendre and GödöllőThree city days with museums and baths, plus Szentendre on the Danube and Sisi's palace at Gödöllő.
- 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.
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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