Budapest - top 20 sights to share

Clara, there is a bus from Deak ter that crosses the chain bridge and goes to the top of Castle Hill. Also, you can ride up on the funicular. The Szechenyi Baths should be number 1 on your list IMHO.

grundel restaurant for authentic food. train stations are not spectacular. the zoo.

I would say that the Danube river is one of the top sights. She can't miss a cruise, if she can handle it.

Clara,
We loved the nighttime cruise on the Danube. Also, just sitting in the cafes along the Danube looking across to the castle and chain bridge was nice. The Terror museum was interesting if she likes history, although it is in Hungarian with English print outs.

Memento or Statue Park was another should not miss. Outside the parliment by the water is an interesting holocaust memorial. Otherwise, you have the list. Danau is like in Germany, not pretty water, but a night cruise would be interesting.

I would not bother with the Church in a Cave (near Gellert). It is uphill and was not very interesting IMO. However, it was free if I remember correctly. The baths are a real highlight of a visit to Budapest.

Spent a week there 2 yrs ago. Parliament, Gr Synagogue, Hero's Sq, Vaci Utca, Chain Bridge, Fish Bast, Mathias Ch, St. Stephan's are all "must sees". Szechenyi Baths, of course, requires a swimsuit but quite an experience, so do it. House of Horrors....didn't care for it. The Great Market Hall, a couple blocks from the end of Vaci Utca is something to see and experience. If time permits, a trip to bus trip to Eger (wine country) is also worthwhile, as is a day trip up the Danube to Szendtendre or one of the other river towns. Take a ferry boat up and a train back to Budapest.

We followed BUdapesting's recommendations: 1. - House of Parliament 2. - St. Stephan's Basilica 3. - House of Opera 4. - Grand Synagogue 5. - Gellért's Hill 6. - Royal Palace 7. - Margaret Island 8. - Heroe's Square 9. - Andrássy Boulevard 10. - Central Market 11. - National Museum 12. - Váci street 13. - Chain Bridge 14. - Millennium City Center 15. - The Baths of Budapest 16. - Fishermen's Bastion 17. - The caves of Budapest 18. - Mathias Church 19. - The Eastern & Western Railway Station
20. - Vajdahunyad Castle

I suggest: Parliament, St. Stefans, Szechenyi Baths; and then, if she has an interest, the opera house including possibly attending a performance. Reaonably priced tickets may be purchased online.

great info

You left off 21) opera - if you like opera - really inexpensive, although see a familiar opera, since the subtitles are in hungarian 22) Marxim the commie-theme pizza restaurant

It's often hard to get tickets to see Parliament but it is well worth the trouble. You have to go early and stand in line - some days it is closed for state ceremonies, etc, so you have to go back another day. St. Stefan's - get tickets to an evening concert, arrive early and you'll have plenty of time to take photos before the program begins, then you can sit comfortably in the middle of the church and enjoy the music and the beauty. Tickets are not expensive. The Holocaust Museum is very well done.