parliament building and St Stephen’s Basilica with kids

With regards to tickets, definitely buy your Parliament tour ticket ahead of time. They might cancel it if Parliament is in session, but your money will be refunded if that happens. That said, I would probably consider scheduling it at the beginning of your stay rather than the end, just in case. You actually have to take a guided tour, and that is what your ticket buys when you purchase it. I believe it takes about 45 minutes. You can find all the information you need on this website. I would suggest booking this as far ahead of time as possible, as tickets do sell out here quickly. https://www.parlament.hu/en/web/visitors/important-information

As far as St. Stephen's, I bought my ticket as I was walking towards the Basilica, so there's no need to book that in advance. The only reason I booked it as I was walking is I could see there was a little bit of a line at the ticket booth, and I didn't feel like waiting. It was much easier just to book it on my phone. I don't think you need a guided tour here, although I would suggest bringing a guidebook or guide or even a printout from a website that will tell you where the major attractions are. For example, I'm sure your kids will want to see St. Stephen's Holy Right (his right forearm), which is on display.

https://jegymester.hu/event-host/900/parlament.
Buy your Parliament tickets the same day your date goes on sale. They sell out fast. Its a guided tour with headsets.

https://bazilikabudapest.hu/en/jegyarak/
Basilica tickets never sell out except on the days that they do. Buy ASAP.

You need Opera Tour tickets too, and of course opera performance tickets (that sell out fast) or Operett tickets (sell fast too) https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/updated-budapest-performance-venue-list.

For events in June. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/updated-budapest-events-for-january-june-2026

Thanks so much everyone. We might skip the tour of the opera house in the interest of time as we will see one in Vienna too.

But the one in Budapest is more beautiful. Its a 45minute tour. Ends with a brief show.

Vienna, eat your heart out: https://youtu.be/0nsi8S31cvk?si=ZLL9z9D7gUSh5QrE

• https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/opera-house-budapest-vs-vienna
• https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g274887-d276812-r969079107-Hungarian_State_Opera_House_Magyar_Allami_Operahaz-Budapest_Central_Hungary.html

You know I do this half in jest.

Oh, tours the kids will enjoy.

• Hospital in the Rock. https://www.sziklakorhaz.eu/en Sort of neat wandering through an underground building
• Labyrinth Yes, a bit hokey, but for kids maybe perfect: https://labirintus.eu/
• Boating on the lake possibly: https://csonakazoto.hu/en/en_home/
• City Park Balloon ride: https://balloonfly.hu/
• Budapest Ferris Wheel: https://oriaskerek.com/en/
• Science house for kids: https://www.csopa.hu/en/home/ (okay, maybe a bit young)
• Aquarium: https://tropicarium.hu/
• Music: https://mupa.hu/programok/csaladi-es-ifjusagi-programok/aktualis-programok (maybe something age appropriate)
• Light art museum: https://lam.xyz/
• Cinima Mystica (pretty neat actually): https://cinemamystica.net/
• House of Houdini (the tour might bore the kids, but the magic show at the end is worth it): https://www.houseofhoudinibudapest.com/
  
• The Zoo. Its a fantastic Zoo and mom and dad will love the architecure https://zoobudapest.com/en/home/
• Put the kid in a WWI Biplane and send him off!!! Okay, this is really for dad. Its amazing http://www.goldtimer.hu/po2.html AND https://youtu.be/rq8B-nisG9c?si=EVegOxJ2NGN0QJKn
• Authentic Eastern European TukTuk tour: https://budapesttuktuk.com/en/
• Palatinus Baths is the bath house that that caters best to kids (most are restricted for under 14 years of age)
  https://www.palatinusstrand.hu/elerheto-szolgaltatasok
• kürtőskalács https://alizswonderland.com/a-locals-guide-to-the-best-chimney-cakes-in-budapest-hungary/
• Railway Museum I love this place you can climb on the old steam engines. Terrible website but worth the visit: https://vasuttortenetipark.hu/en/home/
• Old trams and old busses. The public transportation company runs them in the summer, but even the normal stock is pretty "historic" on some routes: https://bkk.hu/en/travel-information/special-and-heritage-transport-services/heritage-transport-services/heritage-transport-services-in-budapest/
• Budapest Puppet Theater: https://budapestbabszinhaz.hu/
• Natural History Museum: https://www.nhmus.hu/
• Childrens Railway: https://gyermekvasut.hu/en/
• E-SCOOTER TOURS https://emaginetours.com/
• ZUGLIGET CABLE CHAIR https://www.bkv.hu/hu/content/zugligeti_libego
• BOBPÁLYA BUDAPEST https://bobpalya.hu/
• BEAR FARM https://medveotthon.hu/
• AEROPARK MUSEUM https://aeropark.hu/en/museum/

magyarjd

Thanks this is super helpful.