First Time in Budapest

Not bad. A few issues. Here is my quick opinion (sorry short on time so I pounded the keyboard fast so sounds a bit hard, Not the intent thought. Think through it a bit, then if you want I can help you put together a solution with all the detail.

Day One
1. Breakfast at Great Market Hall
Wouldn’t be my first choice for breakfast. With a short trip, where you are staying will influence things a lot. I guess is you are in one of the hotels behind it, naaaaa, not even then.

2. Shop Great Market Hall for picnic lunch, souvenirs, paprika, etc.
Sure, I enjoy the market a lot. There is two kinds of paprika in town. There is the tourist stuff in the fancy dispenser that makes great gifts and there is the fresh stuff for cooking. So you get to choose. For the fresh stuff a grocery store will work, but if you want to go a little more gormet go to the Spicery. https://maps.app.goo.gl/qkotMJCw7kpTu8Qt9

3. Gellert Thermal Bath - look or gasp! swim?
Well, that will be a problem. Its closed for a couple of years for renovations. There are others to choose from.

4. Citadella (closed?) or up hill and back down to Gellert Hill Viewpoint
The viewpoint is open I think. Makes a better late-night stop than a daytime stop. You take a taxi up with a bottle of wine on your last night and say goodbye and regret not staying longer. https://maps.app.goo.gl/87rQgkLeJL5Q7F7Z7

5. Funnel Cakes from stands near Ferris Wheel of Budapest to go with...
I think what you are thinking of isn’t a funnel cake. Its called a Chimney Cake in English or in Hungarian it’s a Kürtőskalács which explains why we call it a Chimney Cake. Sure there are a few places by the Ferris Wheel, but there are places all over town, even in the subway stations.

6. Lunch in Elizabeth Park
Really not sure where you are thinking? Since you care going next to St. Stephens, I would save lunch for there. Lots of nice tourist places out front.

7. St. Stephen's Basilica - tour, climb to top

8. Dinner somewhere
There is so much good food, that to make a recommendation without knowing where you are staying might have you walking a mile when something as good was next door.

9. Danube evening cruise
Bingo! Great. You can even do the dinner cruise. Which ever you do make sure its after sunset.

Day Two
1. Jewish Quarter - breakfast, shopping, and souvenirs
Better yet, a tour of the Synagogues. Other than the Jewish history I wouldn’t spend too much time in the area. A mess with tourists. But the Jewish history is a must and its interesting.

2. Dóhany Street Synagogue
Okay, I spoke too fast above.

3. Lunch
Answer the question below, then I will make some suggestions.

4. Jewish Museum
Which one?

5. 40 minute walk via Szechenyi Chain Bridge to...
6. Fisherman's Bastion + Matthias Church
Both good if you make it in 40 minutes …. G-d bless you. You are better than me. But, yup. Great destination. I would take the bus up and walk back. Just so much easier.

7. Dinner
Same dinner note as above.

Day Three
1. Buda Castle
Well, you realize you will walk past Buda Castle to get to the Fishermans Bastion and the Chain Bridge yesterday?

2. Train to Vienna
Depends on if you are doing a MAV/OBB train or a RegioJet train. If it’s a MAV/OBB train …. Well I was about to say you were on the wrong side of town. But truth is you can get on the train in Buda (Kelenföld). I wouldn’t though. But again, it depends on where you are staying. If its RegioJet, you have to board in Buda (Kelenföld). But from Castle to train station isn’t a no-brainer.

And the exact dates will help too as some things are closed on certain days of the week and there might be something special going on in town. So dates and hotel
..... and arrival time (flight or train) and departure train.

1. Fisherman's Bastion + Matthias Church Both good if you make it in 40 minutes …. G-d bless you. You are better than me. But, yup. Great destination. I would take the bus up and walk back. Just so much easier.

I agree with Mr. E. That's a long walk and very steep. I would definitely take the bus up and walk back. For one thing, it will give you more time at Matthias Church, which is probably one of the loveliest churches I have ever been in. I found it hard to tear myself away from there, as it was just so beautiful.

I also agree about not eating at the Great Market Hall. It's fun to shop there and walk around, but there are so many cafes and restaurants with extraordinary food in Budapest that you would really be doing yourself a disservice to limit yourself there. Here's a link to my trip report that has several wonderful restaurants and cafes that I recommend. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/budapest-mini-trip-report-the-opera-the-scenery-the-food-the-catastrophe

@Mr É: First off, thanks! When I see someone post here and say "First time in XXX" (a place I've been many times) I usually think "Well... yeah, you COULD do that, but..." LOL

We were planning on just spending a week in Austria, but I found out that I could do an open jaw with Budapest and Prague even cheaper, so I jumped at the plane tickets without really planning what to do. We're staying at the UP Hotel which we picked because it's near the Jewish quarter, the opera, city center, etc. Rookie mistake or great idea, I don't know.

Anyway... We'll arrive late on a Wednesday, leave mid-day for Vienna on a Sunday. It's certainly a fly-by, but I've been told by friends not to worry because it's such a great city we'll be back again soon.

Thanks again for your advice.

@Mardee: Thanks for the insights! My wife and I spend a lot of time walking up and down mountains - we actually enjoy it! But with you and Mr É both voting against walking up to the Fisherman's Bastion/Matthias Church, I'll add in some transportation - on the uphill part as suggested. And that link you posted is great! I love this forum - it's the best travel experience resource ever.

LADTM
Wednesday late.

I guess you are arriving on a plane? If so then you take a taxi cause its late and the UPHotel, while a great choice, isn’t near the airport bus stop. If you are coming by train from Prague then it’s the 4/6 metro from Nyugati. Let me know and I can help with that.

If not too late, then you will check in and walk down Andrassy ut. Either food or wine. Let me know which or both. I know some good places not far from your hotel. Its my neighborhood.

Thursday
1. Breakfast at Cork Breakfast and Wine or at the Lions Locker or even at Stika (google them), then down Andrassy ut to the 47/49 Tram which you take past the Jewish quarter to the Great Market Hall.
2. The 2 Tram to Vorosmarty ter for coffee at Café Gerbeaud, just be “local” and see a true wonderful Austro-Hungarian coffee house.
3. Then the 2 Tram on to the Parliament and the Shoes on the Danube and for the views of the castle across the river.
4. Now walk through Szabadság tér to the Basilica for lunch and a tour of the Basilica and a climb to the tower.
5. Ill find you a Chimney Cake place along the way. No shortage of them.
6. Now back up Andrassy ut on foot and tour the Opera House (check for times, I am thinking between 2:30 and 4pm.
7. Then home to change. Or if its early you take the M1 that runs under Andrassy ut all the way to the end and see Heroes Square and walk back to your hotel past all the great mansions and magnificent old apartment blocks.
8. Dinner. Do it on the Danube cruise. Makes better use of time.

Friday, Saturday
Okay, before I suggest Friday or Saturday, how would you feel about a great Jewish District tour on Sunday before you leave town? https://jewishtourhungary.com/en/jewish-quarter-tour You would have to take a 2pm or later train if you do. Do it. Its worth it. Then lunch after before the trip to Vienna. Depart from Keleti Station if you do this.

Are you over 65? If not you will need a 15 day travelcard. Trust me, the 15 day is the cheapest option and works out to a couple of dollars a day. You can get it at the airport when you arrive. If you are over 65 its all free, nothing needed.

That sounds like a great day. We're arriving by plane the night before. Sadly we're actually leaving for Vienna on Saturday, not Sunday. So we'll leave the Jewish quarter for Friday. Oh, and I unfortunately will be able to ride transit for free, but my wife won't.

Friday
Okay lets do half Jewish and half Buda. So, you are going to walk a bit.

1. Walk to Stika for breakfast. Try the palinka spiked raspberry lemonade with your breakfast. Nice outside seating.
2. Then you walk to the Dohany utca Synagogue (Great Synagogue), do the tour, then to the Rumbach utca synagogue (outside only), then the last stop on the link is the stop for Bus 16 to the Buda Castle District. https://maps.app.goo.gl/VjVpZuWwMg1A1npA7
3. Do lunch at in the Castle District, Pierrot Café & Restaurant is pretty nice. https://maps.app.goo.gl/5UbdRB3FaFbZJ7bN6
4. Use your Eyewitness Guide to Budapest Top Ten guide to get you around on the castle hill.
5. Now you can walk down the front of the hill to the Chain Bridge and walk across the bridge and on to Deak Ferenc ter. From there you can get on the M1 metro home.
6. Dinner, Cork Breakfast and Wine, then wine at Kadarka Wine Bar.

Saturday
Andrassy ut morning then the train.

1. Do breakfast at the hotel. The café they have looks pretty okay.
2. Now a bunch of options here.
   A. Go to the Széchenyi Bath house for a few hours. M1 Metro Up and walk back to the hotel for your luggage. https://maps.app.goo.gl/wWpY1eNvsuisQSoK6
   B. Just go up to Heroes Square on the M1 and just look around, https://maps.app.goo.gl/gCzb3sjAcipV8YUs8 then walk back to the hotel for your luggage and enjoy the great architecture. https://maps.app.goo.gl/xdMNFhHpkScjn79n9
   C. Do it all https://maps.app.goo.gl/X29faCkJyFAgj9Cv5 to the bath house https://maps.app.goo.gl/N8rjMXSSWRLVKnyC6 to the opera house but probably too early for a tour, but you can enter and its a great end of Andrassy ut. https://maps.app.goo.gl/9Ab7LzJMcwMsMfBX8 to Ferdinands for lunch and the hotel to get your luggage
   D. All options: https://maps.app.goo.gl/CHtGv4cmv7QbUwqj7 to Keleti for your train.
   

It all depends on the time of your train. Man, you aren’t staying in town long, take a late train. Do the bath house, do the walk, eat lunch at Ferdinánd Monarchia Étterem if its still early, walk down to the Opera House. You can walk into the lobby and look around but the earliest tour is at 1:30pm meaning you will be done at 2:15 so the 3:40 train is possible. That train arrives at 6:20pm. Plenty early for Vienna. Heck the next train would work too.

Play it all by ear and do all that you can do comfortably.

Buy your train tickets from MAV, get a seat reservation. Go first class if its in the budget. put the tickets on the MAV phone app.

@Mr É: Wow. What can I say other than THANK YOU!!!

I've been doing this for years for RS people. Its really just a starting place for you because everyone enjoys different things.

You notice I didn't rag on you for the short trip. Thats because you said first trip meaning there will be a second. LOL.

Pay attention to the other posters for different points of view. I know a few of them personally so know they are still having to work for a living or would take the time to do what I do. But they have great insight. I am always learning from them.

If you need help once you get here, feel free to call.

Yeah, we'd love it to be longer, but first time doesn't mean only time! Our travel dance card is SO full this year, but we couldn't go without at least a taste of Budapest! (Not bragging: all our friends' kids decided to get married this year!) Thanks for giving us the menu or recipes or whatever the best metaphor is!

My first in 2002 was for only 3 nights. I was in another neighboring country and the place just didnt talk to me. Holidays were rare back then and rather than stay and waste our holiday we got on the first train out of town and ended up in Budapest.

• The place I suggested, Cork Breakfast and Wine is always a sure bet. Excellent menu and always done perfect. Service is amazing too. The story of the staff and ownership is interesting too. If you want to go to near Michelin Star quality then try N28 Wine and Kitchen (it’s actually a Michelin Bib restaurant as of last year, but the prices are still good). Another close to your hotel with a good local menu and very good prices considering where it is located is SZÉK Restaurant & Bar.
• My favorite breakfast is The Lions Locker. Ask for Arpi (father), Agi (daughter) or Marci (son) ... they will talk your ear off and the food is very, very good for breakfast.
• My favorite wine bar is Kadarka. Another a bit closer to your hotel is Champion Wine Vinarium & Gastro Boutique but it does more business selling bottles, so it is very, very, very quiet. But good service and great selection. Kadarka is more social is all.
• Hungarians love their wine. The reason you don’t see more exports is that the vineyards are so small that they don’t produce enough for exports. They are mostly mom and pop vineyards. For your next trip a tour of a few is always fun. Some have room and some of those can be beautiful. I know a young lady that does vineyard tours and is very good at it. There are quite a few within an hour of Budapest.
• Your wife’s metro pass can be purchased in the arrivals hall of the airport. Look to the left. The taxi is right outside the door on your left there is a kiosk where you tell them where you are going. 40 minutes later you will be at your hotel. About $30 to $35.
• You could take the bus if you feel adventurous. Outside the arrivals hall on the right, you will see Bus 100E. You can pay at the door of the bus with a credit card. It’s 2.500 ft or about $7 for your wife, you are free. It will take about 40 minutes to reach Deak Ferenc ter (last of 3 stops). At Deak Ferenc ter look around for stairs going down (up the sidewalk ahead of you). Go down, cross under the street and follow the signs to the M1 Metro line. Fun little metro cars cause its all that fits in the 130 year old metro tunnel. https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZaJptkqUaBy3TNhj8

Here are the events in May. Not that you have much free time but something may speak to you. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/updated-budapest-events-for-january-june-2026