Budapest 3 nights

I highly recommend the Legenda boat cruise but in the evening, when it's dark, not at sunset. The illuminated buildings, especially the Parliament building, are stunning when it's dark. This is an hour-long cruise. Make your reservations at least a few days in advance. The tour of the Parliament building is very interesting and well worth it. Need to make reservations in advance for this, too.

Other interesting things we did: House of Terror - extremely interesting and you learn a lot, but it's also chilling.
Walking tour of Budapest.
St. Stephen's Cathedral - gorgeous
Art Museum at Buda Castle - awesome art

Rick's top sightseeing suggestions for Budapest are on this very website: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/hungary/budapest. Click on "At a Glance". You'll need to be very choosy, because you'll have only two full days in Budapest, which is a very short visit.

So, you have 2 1/2 days including your jet-lagged arrival day. I think suggestions will depend on your priorities, because that’s not a lot of time. Monday might be a good day for the M1 to Hero’s Square and City Park (walking some of,the way back down Andrassy), or head to Margaret Island - outside walking to keep you awake. Or a walking tour

Tuesday might be selected from the Great Market Hall, Doheny Synagogue, St. Stephan’s, an opera house tour, House of Terror, Parliament, Shoes on the Danube.

Wednesday you could head to Buda for the Castle complex, Mattias Church, Fisherman’s Bastion, Hospital in the Rock.

Somewhere in there you could alternatively spend a couple of hours at one of the baths, visit an art museum or two, see some lovely art nouveau.

Food and wine and relaxing are a whole different topic - and just as interesting for me is wandering streets looking at the amazing architecture. I also look for music in the evenings, but that’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

Clearly you can’t do it all, so what you are interested in is where you should start.

Okay, let’s see what we can build. But I have a lot of questions.

Before Departure
Download the BudapestGo App.
Download the CityTaxi App. (may not need it but good to have in case)
Make Dinner and Show and Tour reservations.
Get onward train tickets

Hotel
TexasTravelMom is correct, you have 2.5 days starting with jet lag so you will need to use your time to the best. I suspect you are looking at the Marriott and the Intercontinental because of something that I wrote. If one were to say show me a photo that is pure iconic Budapest, it would be the view across the river from in front of one of those two hotels. With little time, I think that’s important. But you are making a few sacrifices. First cost. Twice the price elsewhere in the beauty of the city. Second the ambiance. Both hotels are wonderful, beautiful 1990’s looking commercial hotels (but the intercontinental is a 5 star) and finally you will be in an area that now exists for the tourism and only the tourism. But heck, its gorgeous tourism, so why not. Both of those hotels, all the rooms are river view, some better views than others, but all river views. If you want to do a little cheaper there is the Three Star D8 Hotel located behind the Intercontinental. That means a 2 minute walk to the river and no river view room. And its also a modern hotel which is unfortunate in Budapest but for half the price of the Intercontinental.

Upon Arrival
When you get off the plane, get your luggage and walk into the arrivals hall. On your left is the BKK Ticket Office. Buy a 72 hour Budapest TravelCard for about $18. Unless you are 65 or older. Then its free. https://bkk.hu/en/tickets-and-passes/prices/72-hour-budapest-travelcard/ Then walk outside and the taxi kiosk and stand is on your left. Don’t worry about local currency.

Background
I will help you all I can, but I need to know some things to make it useful.
What time does the flight arrive?
Are you up to some walking or prefer sticking to trams?
Special interests? Jewish Budapest, Architecture (for ambiance or you truly study?), Antiques, Old Books and Art Prints, Art in general, Wine, Beer, Food (any type in particular), are you a 3, 4 or 5 star traveler?, WWII History, Empire History, Commie History, laid back traveler or, go, go, go traveler?, bed time (9pm, 11pm, 1am)? Museums?
Do look at the list that acraven provided a link to. Anything light your fire?

The Plan
Tuesday, 5 May River Front Day
Kmkwoo I think is correct, Legenda is a good river cruise boat company. The dinner cruise is at 19:45 and that’s a good laid-back way for a first night in town. Best of all the boat dock is near our hotel. No wasted effort getting around.
Then depending on what time your flight arrived we use the rest of the time sightseeing on the Pest and Buda river front.

Wednesday, 6 May Markets and Jewish Budapest, plus depends on your interests. Gypsy Music Dinner

Thursday, 7 May, Andrassy ut and the Buda Castel District, plus depends on your interests. Theater Night

Friday, 8 May: Departure
Having realized you didn’t spend near enough time in Budapest you have thrown away those morning train tickets and you have replaced them with a train that leaves after 17:00 so that you will have the better part of one more day in Budapest. You still arrive in Vienna before 8pm right after sunset.

And I see this is your first post. Okay, now do one under Austria and ask Emily and the others for help in Vienna.

Y’all (A southern way of saying YOU, in this case, Y’all are the BEST).
Thanks for your suggestions. This is going to be fantastic.

To answer- we have not booked flights yet but ones were looking at arrive around lunch.

- Hotel, leaning towards hotel as many have two rooms with pull out couch to accommodate 3 adults. And kitchenettes. Easy- Mr. E, i looked into your list of hotels in previous post, many are not available. I am not married to the river hotels, want location location. And something with a family room- from my dates available i will private msg you a list of which ones work from your suggestion and possibly you could pick your favorite. Thanks for the message and videos, promise to watch.

Legenda evening cruise-Yes
E-bike tour-Yes (there is a two hour one that covers so many sites we might not get to, and a good history lesson. 1 hour too short, 3 hr no way i would want to stop and go deep dive>. Haha
Buda Castle tour-Yes. (Inside or out? Can get tickets)
Gypsy dinner-YES great suggestion.. who shall we use?
Soak in a Bath-YES
Shop Andrasy Ave- would rather stay near there and stroll on our way to and from. We have access to anything in Houston, possible authentic smaller local shops are our favorite.

Bike tour covers Parliament- but quick- should we also get inside?

- I believe we will have the morning and leave Budapest in afternoon, so we can see some sights then.

We do want time before dinner to come back to hotel and freshen up, pivot from schedule if we see something we want to linger at (central market). For example- plan to have lunch at market and maybe shop a bit.

Honestly- who would travel without asking for advice from this forum- the best!!

I am an Aggie from Houston and San Antonio.

To answer- we have not booked flights yet but ones were looking at
arrive around lunch. Figure 1 hour from landing to hotel. 1:15 if
you check a bag.

• Hotel, leaning towards hotel as many have two rooms with pull out couch to accommodate 3 adults. And kitchenettes.

Look at Medosz Hotel Budapest and look at K46 Residence. Both great locations.

Legenda evening cruise-Yes …

But given your time, do it on day one and do a dinner cruise.

E-bike tour-Yes (there is a two hour one that covers so many sites we
might not get to, and a good history lesson. 1 hour too short, 3 hr no
way i would want to stop and go deep dive>. Haha

E-Bikes you do for the fun of the E-Bike. There isn’t hardly a tourist destination in town that isn’t accessible to by tram just as easily and at your own pace.

Buda Castle tour-Yes. (Inside or out? Can get tickets)

They do some tours of the basements but inside is museums. The Castle Museum I like a lot. Very little is original as the castel was bombed nearly flat in WWII. https://c8.alamy.com/comp/P52H8Y/partial-view-of-the-former-royal-castle-of-budapest-heavily-damaged-by-artillery-fire-and-air-raids-during-wwii-hungary-P52H8Y.jpg

Gypsy dinner-YES great suggestion.. who shall we use?

I like https://maps.app.goo.gl/nqpudWLrTBVeNf1S7

Soak in a Bath-YES

https://maps.app.goo.gl/o51KeEcMw9q9rMhC6 for opulence or https://maps.app.goo.gl/dFCrz9Akjbnty3yf7 for local.

Shop Andrasy Ave- would rather stay near there and stroll on our way
to and from.

Very few go to “shop Andrassy ut”. That’s not the purpose. It is architecturally the most beautiful street in the city. It is also where you find the Opera and the House of Terror and the Operett Theater and embassies in former old mansions and apartment blocks that are beyond beautiful. Also good for food. Lots of good food. By the way, I grew up in Spring Branch. Better food here.

https://d3w13n53foase7.cloudfront.net/medium_hungarian-state-opera-house-the-temple-of-culture-sag1_image.jpg
https://lo.ingatlancdn.com/corporate-project/716/HD_644681ca835477.32232215.jpg?1682342347
https://pestbuda.hu/gallery/2020_11/Bulyovszky_A%20Bulyovszky-villa%20f%C5%91homlokzata%2C%20Both%20Bal%C3%A1zs%20felv%C3%A9tele.jpg

Bike tour covers Parliament- but quick- should we also get inside?

Sure, if you can get a ticket. They are timed tours so its not about showing up and going in. You do the bike tour for the fun of the bike, but the tram is as fast and more “local”.

We do want time before dinner to come back to hotel and freshen up,
pivot from schedule if we see something we want to linger at (central
market). For example- plan to have lunch at market and maybe shop a
bit.

I wouldn’t do lunch at the market.

We spent 4 nights in Budapest in Aug 2025, then moved onto Vienna (5 nights) and Prague (5 nights). Our trip reports might be useful reference.

• Budapest (parts 1-2): https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-hungary-aug-2025
• Vienna (parts 1-4): https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-austria-bavaria-aug-sep-2025
• Prague (parts 4-6): https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-czechia-aug-2025