Budapest is where you will be amazed by its unique and impressive architecture. The city has a rich history so the places you can visit never ends. Budapest also has different and fun night-out options. You will find the best art, history, nightlife, and even a thermal bath here! But the important question is can you find them on a budget?
Here is our guide for you to explore Budapest on a budget!
Food & Drinks
Budapest is the perfect place to have budget-friendly meals. You just have to know where you should look! Especially Budapest has become the favorite to keep the relatively budget-friendly prices, unlike the other touristic spots.
But what is different about Budapest? Of course, the traditional dishes! Budapest is the center of every Hungarian food, and the best side about them is you will never get hungry again! Yeah, this sounds a little extra, but the food in Hungary really keeps you full for a long time in the day. So, that means you will spend less money!
Middle eastern food like falafel or kebap can also be easily found in Budapest, and these are the other perfect options for a budget-friendly vacation. The average prices are 4 EUR for a portion.
The other side you should be careful about is avoiding tourist traps! The popular locations like Castle Hill will automatically make you spend more money 🙁 We also have to say be careful about the restaurant around the river. The other sit-down restaurants will not serve expensive meals. Their average prices are around 15 EUR.
For avoiding tourist traps, you need a deep research about Budapest or a local 🙂 Locals will help you to find the best places to eat and the traditional food. As Citory, we create a marketplace where travelers can find a local who will level up their experience and show them how locals see the city. If you are searching local and personalized travel experience, “Get Early Access” and join us.
The key element for a budget-friendly vacation is street food! If you want to break your healthy diet, here is the ultimate food you can find in Budapest. The lángos! Lángos is made from fried dough. It is full of cheese and sour cream. The other delicious street food is kolbice. Kolbice is similar to the hot dog, but you should try it!
Let’s talk about the dream location for foodies in Budapest. Great Market Hall becomes heaven for the ones who want to try the local food and find the high-quality ingredients for a meal at low prices. Finding good ingredients makes your expenses less because, of course, one of the other ways to spend less money is cooking for yourself!
There are many places we can recommend for a budget-friendly experience in Budapest, but let’s give you the best ones. You should visit Szimpla Kert for drinking good beer, Metropolitan Café for a lovely ambiance and delicious food, and New York Café for the perfect coffee.
Accommodation
Budapest is a relatively cheap city compared to other European cities. But, if you want to make your Budapest trip more budget-friendly, the first thing you should do is visit Budapest in the spring or fall. You may want to avoid visiting Budapest in summer because the F1 Grand Prix and Sziget Festival really change the prices for everything. Also, who wants to miss the amazing view of trees and nature during the spring and fall?
Budapest offers many options to stay in, and the city is rich in hotels and hostels. Of course, the prices can easily change according to the distance from the center of the town, but there are good hotels near the center in the VIII, IX, and XI districts. Good hostels also can be found in the same districts, but you should be careful about the “party hostels” for a safer experience in Budapest.
By utilizing websites that connect you with locals in the area and provide you with their insights on the city, you can save the cost of your travel. You might be able to find a host for a fair price or even for free!
Transportation
Firstly, do not use a tour bus! Tour buses are real tourist traps in Budapest, and they are expensive. Rather than spend your money on tour buses, you should enjoy the perfect view of Castle Hill and the Hungarian Parliament using tram line number 2.
Another perfect item for a budget-friendly vacation is, of course, the city cards! Get the Budapest Card for a cave tour, free transit, free tickets to 20 museums, and discounts for restaurants. The prices of the Budapest Card are:
US$25 for 24 hours
US$37 for 48 hours
US$49 for 72 hours
If you are a European Economic Area citizen, you can also get free or discounted options for transportation. People under 26 and between 62-70 can use the discount advantage.
And, here comes most of us favorite! Discover the city by walking 🙂 Budapest provides travelers free walking tours between 10.30-2.30, and they are definitely the best and worth giving a shot at.
Cultural Activities
The House of Terror
The House of Terror is a historical museum at Andrássy út (Andrassy Avenue). The museum serves as a memorial to those who perished there while being arrested, interrogated, and tortured during the fascist and communist governments of the 20th century. Additionally, there are exhibitions reflecting the era.
Shoes on the Danube
Shoes on the Danube are also another holocaust memorial. In honor of the Hungarian Jews who perished during World War II, it consists of sixty pairs of iron shoes nailed to the floor on the west side of the Danube. The people who perished were forced to take off their shoes. They were tied to each other in groups of three, and the person in the middle was murdered. Then, they were thrown into the Danube, and the two other people died in the river. That is terrifying, and the artists wanted to ensure that the victims were not forgotten with tens of pairs of iron shoes they made.
Fisherman’s Bastion
Fisherman’s Bastion is located near Buda Castle in the 1st region of Budapest. It became one of Budapest’s most visited tourist attractions due to its neo-Romanesque viewing and panoramic terraces. The best time to visit the Fisherman’s Bastion is at sunset because you will be amazed by the view. Another aspect of the place that makes it the perfect spot to visit is it’s free!
Cave Church
The Cave Church has both exciting architecture and history. Until 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell and the church was reopened, the entire building remained enclosed behind a concrete wall. It is an underground church and serves its visitors a magnificent ambiance.
The Parliament Building
The Parliament Building is one of Europe’s oldest legislative buildings and one of Hungary’s most known landmarks and is a popular tourist attraction. It is a huge building, and every visitor is amazed by its architecture. The Parliament Building is the biggest building in Hungary and the highest building in Budapest. It is located near the Danube, in Lajos Kossuth. The prices are around 7 EUR.
Fun To-Do
Jewish Quarter & Street Art
Jewish Quarter is where you can find synagogues, holocaust memorials, restaurants, and shops together. In the neighborhood, there is a different harmony. ( and, of course, ruin bars! ) The artists also convert this neighborhood into a more unique place with their art. You can see a myriad of beautiful street art while walking around the Jewish Quarter.
Thermal Baths
Budapest is the center of thermal baths, but like every other popular tourist activity, they can not be budget-friendly 🙁 So, XI District is here to solve your problem. The Dandár Baths in this area are cheaper than the other popular ones. You can even find baths at half of the general prices. The prices are, on average, 8 EUR.
Gellért Hill
Hiking at Gellért Hill will give you the best panoramic view in Budapest. This is the 235-meter high hill you will not be exhausted from hiking. It gets its name from the Italian bishop of Szeged, Gerardo, also known as St. Gellért in Hungary, who is said to have died by being thrown over a hill. At the top of Gellért Hill, you can find places for snacking and a hotel to visit.
Hungarian State Opera House
The Hungarian State Opera House is the second largest opera house in Budapest. It is a neo-Renaissance building and has a unique ambiance. If you want to see a performance here, the tickets are around 25 EUR. Also, there are tours for the Hungarian State Opera House that do not include performances, and the tickets for tours are about 6-7 EUR.
Margaret Island
Here is Central Park of Budapest, but let’s make it an island! It is located in the middle of the Danube and creates the perfect spot to run away from city life and have a peaceful experience. It will cost you 1.50 EUR to get to this beautiful place. The island also has a 5 km running trail, Japanese Gardens, and a wildlife park.