Budapest - sites and attractions

Any thoughts and comments about the following sites and attractions in
Budapest would be welcome and appreciated.

Depends entirely on your interests.

Each of the places you have listed has a website .... Google for accurate information. I will comment on Parliament: buy your tickets when they go on sale as it sells out fast. And for the Basilica, it's a church, dress appropriately for a European church.

Pinball Museum, Vaci Street are two things I could live with out, but I'm not you.

The Danube cruise is especially beautiful at night. Sailings at that time sell out first. It may not be safe to wait until you're in Budapest to buy that ticket, especially if you have just a few days there. Unfortunately, that sort of leaves you at the mercy of the weather gods. If you're OK with a daytime trip, it may be safe to wait (I am not promising).

You don't need to pay the fee for the Fisherman's Bastion. You can walk right up and see it, and you can see similar views for free, from nearby.

You haven't listed a place I consider among the city's most interesting: The House of Terror. I know the name makes it sound like a scammy tourist trap. It isn't. It's a serious history of repression in Hungary, worth a visit of several hours.

The funicular is a short ride and very expensive (party of 6--eek!). You can take a bus for much, much less unless you feel you simply must have the funicular experience.

Hi,

I was there for a week in November 2024 and it is a stunningly beautiful City. I echo the others: buy your tix to Parliament in advance, at least a week (it sells out fast). Same for the Legenda boat cruise, which is excellent at night time.
I did not make it to Vaci Street or the Pinball Museum so I don't have anything to add.
Saint Istavan's Basilica is gorgeous and definitely go to the top for some very pretty views: I was there at sunset. The marble interior is also stunningly beautiful.

Agree that you should add the House of Terrors and also the Opera House for a tour. Both are on Andrassy Utca. I went to the Szechenyi Baths twice and loved it: worth every cent, even on a cold 34 degree November day. "Bathing" outside on a cold day that time of year was a first for me and it has left indelible memories. I really enjoyed the Hungarian National Museum and wished I had more time to spend there - they actually had a (for me) spontaneous concert play with a pianist and small group of choral singers. It was really beautiful.

City Square, Vajdahunyad Castle and Heroes Square are definitely worth a visit, just to walk around and see the majesty of the place. Some of the sculptures were undergoing renovations and were blocked off by scaffolding. I also enjoyed the Great Market Hall and was able to pick up some great local salamis and cheeses there.

I've been fortunate to visit 15 different countries (mostly in Europe) and I can tell you that my Saturday morning trip to the Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion were the most crowded tourist areas in recent memory that I've visited. While the views overlooking the city/Danube were spectacular, there were long lines everywhere (!) on that cold November day and it made that visit less enjoyable that I had hoped. So, if you can make it up there on a weekday, (or perhaps late afternoon?) you might have a better, more enjoyable experience - still it was worth it. I decided to walk up and down, rather than use the funicular and also enjoyed the views - however, I'm a fairly fit guy closing in on 60 and the walk may not be for everyone.
I took long walks over all 3 of the bridges and the views are beautiful - it is a great city in which to walk/stroll.

Best of luck

No one has mentioned Hospital in the Rock. It was built in the 1940s as an air raid shelter, then transformed into a nuclear bunker in the 50s. The natural caves that house it are under the Buda Castle district. I enjoyed the guided visit, in addition to my RS Prague and Budapest tour last fall.

Facinating place https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospital_in_the_Rock.

And.

https://www.sziklakorhaz.eu/

I can tell you that my Saturday morning trip to the Matthias Church
and Fisherman's Bastion were the most crowded tourist areas in recent
memory that I've visited.

You are correct and the current government rebuilding the Empire up there makes it worse. I would think early morning would be best, but just a guess.