Ultimate guide to spending 48 hours in Budapest

Budapest was previously 3 different cities – Buda, Obuda and Pest – and these three former cities mingle together like ingredients of a delicious Hungarian goulash to create a city teeming with culture, fun and beauty. But, are you gearing up for our Best of Balkans trip or finishing a London or Berlin to Budapest by Train and only have 48 hours to explore this incredible city? Don’t worry, I’ve got your back with a Budapest itinerary jam packed with enough to eat, drink, see and even a relaxing couple of hours at a thermal bath thrown in. 

Day 1

Maximise your time with an early wake up and dive headfirst into Hungarian culture with a visit to Buda Castle. To get up to the castle it’s either a fifteen-minute walk uphill or alternatively a short funicular ride up. Make a beeline to the crown jewel of the Castle Hill – the Fisherman’s Bastion. Named after the fishermen that resided below, the Fisherman’s Bastion was built to celebrate 1,000 years of the Hungarian state. It looks perfectly medieval with seven turrets twirling above you and little windows to perch for that perfect photo (you’ll thank me for the early wake up now!).

Also to tick off while you’re here is the Matthias Church with its unique dappled roof tiles and pointed Gothic arches and the Royal Palace, home to the National Gallery, History Museum and St Stephen’s Hall Museum. Walking around the castle district including the Fisherman’s Bastion is free but to enter buildings such as the Matthias Church or the Royal Palace is paid. 

After all that history it’s time for my favourite part of 48 hours in Budapest – food! Traditional Hungarian food is warming, hearty and comforting. Think dishes such as gulyás (goulash); a soup of meat and vegetables seasoned with plenty of Hungary’s favourite spice – paprika. Chicken paprikash is another crowd pleaser – chicken simmered in a divine paprika sauce often served with nokedli – small egg noodles. Don’t worry, there’s many vegan variations to explore too!

If you’re not in a complete food coma from all that deliciousness there’s still plenty more to explore! Zip over to Margit-sziget or Margaret Island. A small island in the middle of the Danube and a popular hang out in summer. Hire bikes and cycle around the island or let your lunch go down on a walk or a bask in the sun. For one week in August; however, it is overshadowed by its neighbour Óbudai-sziget which hosts the world famous Sziget festival which you can check out on our Sziget Road Trip. 

After this it’s time to get ready for an evening tackling the other side of the Danube – Pest. This side of the river has a reputation for being Buda’s cool younger sister, full of eclectic bars and trendy restaurants centred in the Jewish Quarter. Stroll down Gozsdu Court to read some menus, try the famous restaurant Mazel Tov, wander through Karavan for some street food stalls or try another Hungarian classic langos, fried bread dough topped with sour cream and cheese, at Retro Langos (it also has amazing gluten free and vegan options!). 

After dinner explore the Ruin Bars, a staple of Budapest nightlife. Aptly named as they gave old, abandoned buildings a new life as a bar. Complete with quirky decorations, winding corridors, different levels and nooks to discover, it is almost a rite of passage of the tourist in Budapest to sip a drink in one of these. Szimpla Kert is considered the first pioneer of its type, Füge Udvar is another one of my favourites and for more of a club vibe head to Doboz or Instant-Fogas. 

Day 2

After a huge first day we’re not slowing down as we kick off day 2 of an incredible 48 hours in Budapest. After breakfast at one of Budapest’s many cafes start with St Stephen’s Basilica. Named in honour of the first king of Hungary, this church is stunning and you can even see St Stephen’s actual right hand on display inside! 

Only a short stroll away is the Hungarian Parliament Building, a magnificent neo-gothic structure which sits astride the banks of the Danube. If you continue left down the promenade you will come across a sombre yet very important memorial. The Shoes on the Danube Bank are a memorial representing the people, many of them Jewish people, who were massacred by fascists during World War II. On all of Contiki’s trips to Budapest, such as the European Trail, the basilica, Houses of Parliament and Shoes on the Danube Bank are covered in a walking tour with one of our fantastic local guides.

After we’ve got our sightseeing done for the day it’s time to live like a local and visit a thermal bath. Head over to Szechenyi Thermal Bath, one of the biggest and most beautiful in Europe. You can lounge in the warm water, take a cold plunge or even get a massage. The baths run all year-round and there’s nothing quite like being warm in the water while snow is falling all around you. 

After another gorgeous day in Budapest this evening it’s time for the absolute ‘must-do’ in this city – a Budapest River Cruise. Locals and tourists alike agree that this is the best way to see the city as all the buildings are lit up. Many cruises, such as the one we do on our Eastern Europe Road Trip, top off this experience with a delicious buffet dinner filled with traditional Hungarian food, a chance to try Hungarian wine, commentary by an expert local guide and an open rooftop to the boat where you can marvel at this incredible city you’ve tackled in 48 hours with your Contiki family. 

Is 2 days enough for Budapest?

But the question on everyone’s lips – is 48 hours enough time for Budapest? It depends. If you want to explore some more foodie spots, ruin bars or day trips nearby, or you just like to take things at a slower pace, or even if you want to get the full week of the amazing Sziget Festival, then, I would recommend a few more days on either side of your trip. But, through 48 hours in Budapest you can still tick off the breathtaking bucket list sights, eat some delicious food, get your relaxation on at a thermal bath and top it all off with a cruise to see Budapest lit up in all its glory. There are worse ways to spend 48 hours that’s for sure!