Exploring Europe, Chapter 01: Budapest, Hungary

I've explored 50+ places across Europe, including cities, towns and villages, and have spent more than 70 days travelling across the continent over the last two years.

So I thought I'd start putting together everything I've learnt along the way to help Indians plan their trip to Europe.

This is the first chapter of my Exploring Europe series, where I'll cover the places I've visited, what to see, where to stay, how to get around, what to eat, what to avoid, and all the little things I wish I knew before visiting.

I'll be covering many more places in separate chapters, so comment below which city, town, or place you'd want me to cover next. If I've visited it, I'll definitely keep it in mind for the next article.

And I'm starting with one of my favourites from my recent Euro trip.

Budapest!

And if you're planning a Euro trip, bookmark this article. You might not need all this information today, but when you actually start planning Budapest, you'll have everything in one place to come back to.

Why Budapest?

Budapest is quite different from cities like Paris. Paris has this whole "city of love" image around it, but Budapest feels much more universal to me.

It's lively, colourful, and has a very positive vibe throughout the city. If you're travelling with friends, especially if you're younger or looking for a city with a good nightlife scene, Budapest is definitely a city you should consider!

But that doesn't mean it's only for bachelors or groups of friends. Couples and families will also find plenty to do here, from beautiful architecture and riverside walks to castles, churches, cruises, and some incredible views.

It's also part of the classic Central European triangle:

Vienna → Budapest → Prague

For an Indian traveller planning a Euro trip, this can be a very convenient combination. You can fly into Vienna, take the train to Budapest, continue to Prague, and then either fly out from Prague or return towards Vienna depending on your itinerary.

When should you visit Budapest?⛅️

Personally, I think September and October are among the best months to visit Budapest.

May to July can be quite warm and crowded, while August also sees a lot of Europeans travelling because of the vacation period.

September gives you a nice balance. The weather is still pleasant, the city is lively, and you don't have the peak summer heat. You can still visit later in the year if you're comfortable with colder weather, however, Budapest as a city isn't as cold as Paris, Prague, or Amsterdam.

How to get to Budapest🚄

Budapest has good flight connectivity from India, but one route I would definitely consider is flying to Vienna and then taking a train to Budapest. This is in line with covering Vienna, Budapest & Prague as part of the classic Central Europe trip triangle.

Vienna has excellent connectivity from India, including through Middle Eastern carriers such as Emirates, Qatar, and Etihad.

And once you're in Vienna, Budapest is only around two hours away by train. If you're travelling from Vienna, you'll mostly come across ÖBB and Railjet services. ÖBB is Austria's national railway company, while Railjet is its long-distance train service.

Railjet trains are comfortable, and one thing I really liked was the food served on their trains. They also have an app where you can order food while you're on the train, and the prices are surprisingly reasonable compared to what you'd normally expect on European trains.

You don't necessarily need a Eurail rail pass for this. If you're only taking a few trains, buying individual tickets can make more sense.

You can compare and book trains through platforms such as Omio or Trainline. These aren't affiliate recommendations. They're simply options I've used/come across while planning my Euro trip.

Budapest also has multiple major railway stations, including Keleti and Nyugati, so check which station is more convenient for your hotel before booking your train.

Understand Budapest before booking your hotel🗺️

This is probably one of the most important things to understand before you book your stay in any city in Europe.

The Danube River runs through Budapest and historically divides the city into two major parts:

Buda and Pest.

The Pest side is the livelier side. You'll find a lot of bars, clubs, restaurants, and important attractions here, including the Hungarian Parliament and several major churches and monuments.

If you're visiting Budapest for the first time, I'd personally stay on the Pest side. The Buda side is quieter and feels more residential. It's also hillier, so you'll encounter more uphill and downhill walking.

But there's one major reason why people choose to stay on the Buda side.

The view!

If you stay near the Danube facing the Hungarian Parliament, you can wake up or sleep to one of the most beautiful views in Budapest.

The Parliament looks incredible from this side, especially after sunset when it's lit up, and its reflection falls on the Danube. So the choice is pretty simple.

Pest if you want to be closer to the action.

Buda if you want peace and that Parliament view.

Where should you stay?🏨

Stay is obviously a very personal choice. Budapest has everything from budget hotels to luxury properties, along with apartments and Airbnbs.

You'll find the usual Accor options such as ibis, Novotel and Mercure, so if you already have hotel loyalty with one of these chains, they're worth checking.

You can also look at apartments on Airbnb or <Booking.com>. One big advantage of an apartment is having access to a kitchen. Food can become surprisingly expensive when you're travelling in Europe and eating out three times a day. Having a supermarket nearby and being able to cook something occasionally can save quite a bit of money.

If you're looking for luxury, Budapest also has the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace, right next to the Danube and Chain Bridge. It's a beautiful property and one of the city's iconic luxury hotels.

Whatever you choose, do one basic sanity check before booking:

How easy is it to get from this hotel to the places I actually want to visit?

European cities may look big on a map, but many of them are tiny compared to cities like Delhi or Mumbai.

And Budapest has excellent public transport. So you don't need to stay right next to every attraction. But I would avoid going too far into the outskirts just to save a little money, because you'll end up spending that time travelling back and forth.

If you're staying on the Pest side, I'd recommend looking at hotels roughly within the highlighted area in the image below. Most of the main attractions, restaurants, bars, and nightlife are easily accessible from here.

On the Buda side, I'd look for hotels near the Danube facing the Parliament.

Currency and money💵

One thing that can surprise Indian travellers is that Hungary doesn't use the euro. The local currency is the Hungarian forint, or HUF.

The good news is that the Hungarian forint is much weaker than the Indian rupee in terms of the exchange rate. ₹1 is roughly 3 HUF, so when you convert prices, the numbers can look quite large.

But the catch is that this doesn't mean Budapest is proportionately cheaper for Indians. The local prices and purchasing power are different, so you can't judge affordability just by looking at the exchange rate. In practice, Budapest is cheaper than cities like Paris, but it can still get fairly expensive.

Euros aren't as widely accepted here as you might expect from a European destination, so don't rely entirely on euros!

Cards work at most places, so I'd recommend using a credit card with zero forex or a low forex fee and making sure international transactions are enabled before you leave India.

For a Zero Forex Card, you can apply for the Scapia credit card: https://apply.scapia.cards/landing_page?referral_code=rt8ljb

Still, carry some cash. A few smaller shops, markets and souvenir stores may insist on cash.

If you need cash in Budapest, I'd strongly prefer a bank-operated ATM over a random third-party ATM. The latter can add additional fees and offer poor exchange rates.

Getting around Budapest🚉

This is one area where Budapest makes life very easy. You've got the metro, trams and buses, and the network is good enough that you don't really need taxis/cabs for most sightseeing.

For occasional travel, a single ticket costs 500 HUF (INR 149), while a 30-minute time-based ticket costs 600 HUF (INR 179). A 24-hour Budapest travelcard costs 2,750 HUF (INR 822), and a 72-hour travelcard costs 5,750 HUF (INR 1719.74).

If you're going to be using public transport multiple times a day, I'd personally look at the 24-hour or 72-hour travelcard rather than buying individual tickets repeatedly.

One important thing about Budapest public transport: if you're using a paper single ticket, you need to validate it before starting your journey. You'll find these validation machines inside trams and buses, and at metro station entrances. Just insert your paper ticket into the machine, and it will stamp/validate it.

But if you're using a 24-hour/72-hour travelcard or a pass, you don't need to validate the paper ticket. Just keep it with you in case an inspector checks it.

And don't assume that because there are no physical barriers at every station, you can just walk in and travel for free. There are ticket inspections.

If you're caught travelling without a valid ticket, the on-the-spot penalty can currently be 12,000 HUF (INR 3589), increasing if paid later.

So just buy the ticket and follow the validation rules. It's not worth trying to save a few hundred bucks.

Also, for sightseeing, one of my favourite public transport experiences was simply taking Tram 2 along the Danube on the Pest side! Don't miss this!

You get some fantastic views of the Parliament and the Buda side without needing to book anything.

How many days do you need?⏲️

I'd say three days is ideal for a first trip to Budapest.

Three days gives you enough time to see the major attractions, experience the nightlife, spend time along the Danube, and explore both Buda and Pest without making the trip feel rushed.

If you have four or five days, even better. But you don't need a week just to say you've "done" Budapest.

ATTRACTIONS!🧲

Start with a Free Walking Tour🚶‍

One of the first things I'd recommend doing after reaching Budapest is taking a free walking tour.

I usually use <FREETOUR.com>, where you can find free walking tours in cities across the world.

The concept is pretty simple. You book the tour for free, join a local guide, and spend around 2 to 3 hours walking around the city, usually covering the main attractions and the city centre. The guide also gives you some context about the history of the city, the monuments you're seeing, and plenty of local tips.

I find this particularly useful when you're visiting a city for the first time. European cities have beautiful buildings, statues, and monuments everywhere, but without knowing the history behind them, you can easily just walk past them.

A good walking tour gives you that context.

And the "free" part doesn't mean the guide works for free. There is no fixed upfront price, and you tip the guide at the end based on how much you enjoyed the experience. <FREETOUR.com> itself says the typical amount can vary depending on the experience and your budget.

So yes, pay the guide something if you enjoyed the tour. You're essentially paying for their time, knowledge, and effort.

The Hungarian Parliament🇭🇺

If there's one monument that defines Budapest for me, it's the Hungarian Parliament.

It's on the Pest side, right along the Danube, and it's genuinely spectacular. You can see it during the day, but make sure you see it after sunset as well. Once it's lit up, the entire building looks completely different.

And this is where the Buda side becomes special. From across the Danube, you get the Parliament, the river, and its reflection all together.

Personally, I think the view of the illuminated Parliament is even more impressive than the Eiffel Tower. That's just my opinion, of course. 😜

Take an evening Danube cruise🛳️

If you want the best possible view of the Parliament at night, take a Danube cruise after sunset.

There are plenty of options, from basic cruises with a welcome drink to more elaborate dinner and premium cruises. You can find them on platforms such as GetYourGuide and Klook, or simply check the operators along the river.

For me, seeing the illuminated Parliament and its reflection on the Danube from the middle of the river was one of the highlights of Budapest!

Don't skip this!

Walk along the Pest riverside🌊

Even without booking a cruise, spend some time walking along the Danube on the Pest side.

The riverside is beautifully lit, lively, and full of people in the evening.

You'll also come across the Shoes on the Danube Bank, a memorial with deep historical significance related to the Jewish community and the Holocaust.

A walking tour is a good way to understand the history behind it.

From the Pest side, you can also see Buda Castle, Fisherman's Bastion, and the rest of the Buda skyline lit up across the river.

It's a great place to simply sit around and absorb the city.

Chain Bridge🌉

The Széchenyi Chain Bridge connects Buda and Pest and is one of Budapest's most recognisable landmarks.

It's different from the typical bridges you'll see in other European cities and is worth walking across both during the day and after dark.

From the bridge, you get views of the Parliament, the Danube and Buda Castle.

The Four Seasons Gresham Palace is right next to the Pest end of the bridge, so you can easily combine the two.

There are also riverside bars and clubs around this area, so it's worth checking what's happening when you're there. Some have outdoor setups and occasional live performances, which can create a completely different vibe.

Fisherman's Bastion & Matthias Church⛪️

Head to the Buda side around sunset and make your way towards Fisherman's Bastion. There's a bit of an uphill walk to reach it, but the views are worth it.

The area is famous for sunset views over Budapest and, more importantly, the view of the Hungarian Parliament lighting up across the Danube.

Right next to it is Matthias Church, another beautiful Budapest landmark. There are also restaurants around the area, so you can grab dinner with a view.

St. Stephen's Basilica⛪️

Another place I'd definitely recommend is St. Stephen's Basilica.

The entire area around the Basilica is very vibrant. The Basilica itself is one of the tallest buildings in Budapest, at 96 metres, and that number is significant in the city because Budapest was founded in 896 AD.

There's also a beautiful street leading from the Danube towards the Basilica. It starts near the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace and is lined with restaurants, cafés, and dessert places.

So you can easily combine the Basilica with a walk through this area, stop somewhere for food or dessert, and just spend some time exploring.

Citadella🔝

Another worthwhile experience on the Buda side is Citadella, up on Gellért Hill.

It's a short but fairly steep walk, so if you're visiting during hot weather, keep that in mind. The reward is the view. From the top, you get a fantastic panoramic view of Budapest and the Danube.

There's also the famous Statue of Liberty of Budapest, which is obviously very different from the Statue of Liberty in New York and has its own historical significance.

Széchenyi Thermal Bath🛁

Budapest is famous for its thermal baths, and Széchenyi Thermal Bath is probably the most famous one. It's also one of those places that you'll see all over Instagram when you search for Budapest.

It's worth knowing that it's not exactly cheap. Current 2026 prices start at about INR 4,000/person! I'd personally avoid going at the busiest time if you want a more relaxed experience.

Go early if you want fewer people, or check whether one of the evening party events is running if you're looking for a completely different experience.

It's particularly popular with groups and bachelor trips, and the atmosphere can get quite lively.

Ruin bars and Budapest nightlife🍷

If you're looking for nightlife, Budapest is famous for its ruin bars.

These are bars built into old, somewhat dilapidated buildings and courtyards, with quirky interiors, lights, art, and a very different atmosphere from a conventional pub.

The most famous one is Szimpla Kert. I'd recommend going even if you don't drink. You can just walk in, look around, buy a soft drink if you want and just experience the place. There's no need to make it a drinking expedition.

The Jewish Quarter is where you'll find many such bars, and the area stays lively late into the night.

Central Market Hall💹

If you want to see a more traditional side of Budapest, visit the Central Market Hall on the Pest side. It's a large indoor market with food, souvenirs, spices, vegetables, meat, embroidery, and plenty of Hungarian products.

It's also a good place to pick up things like paprika and souvenirs.

The Buda Castle🏰

Buda Castle is another major attraction on the Buda side. You can explore parts of the surrounding Castle District without necessarily buying a ticket for an interior attraction.

If you're someone who enjoys palaces, museums, and historical interiors, you can buy tickets for the relevant attractions.

If you're more interested in walking around, enjoying the views and seeing the architecture, you can still have a good experience without spending hours inside.

Váci utca🛣️

Váci utca is one of the main pedestrian shopping streets in central Budapest.

It's lively, especially around the city centre, and you'll find restaurants, cafés, souvenir shops and international brands such as Zara. It's not necessarily somewhere I'd spend half a day, but it's an easy place to walk through while exploring central Pest.

A very different McDonald's

This is a random one, but I found it interesting. Near Budapest Nyugati station, there's a McDonald's that's famous for its architecture.

It's much more elaborate than your usual McDonald's, with a grand interior and a very different feel from the standard fast-food outlet. Even if you're not interested in eating there, you can just walk in and have a look.

What should you eat in Budapest?🍜

There are a few Hungarian dishes you can try. Goulash is probably the most famous.

Lángos is another one. For an Indian, the easiest comparison I'd make is that it's somewhat like a bhatura, usually topped with things like sour cream and cheese. You can also get different vegetarian and non-vegetarian toppings.

Then there's chimney cake, which you'll see everywhere.

Personally, I didn't really like it. It's quite dough-heavy and usually comes with things like ice cream or chocolate. But it's popular, so try it once and decide for yourself.

Hungary is also very famous for paprika. You'll find paprika-flavoured chips, paprika products, and different varieties being sold all over the city. If you like paprika, definitely try some.

Food tips for Indians🇮🇳

One thing I've learnt from travelling around Europe is that food can sometimes become a bigger problem than you expect if you're coming from India.

European food can be less spicy, more bread and cheese-heavy, and much more meat-focused than what many Indians are used to.

So I usually keep a few ready-to-eat Indian options with me. Things like poha, upma, or MTR-style packets can be useful once in a while, especially if you're staying in an Airbnb or apartment.

But I wouldn't carry enough food to survive the entire trip.

A better option is to use supermarkets. If you're staying in an Airbnb, you can buy vegetables, groceries, and other ingredients locally and cook something yourself. It can also save quite a bit of money.

And if you want to eat outside, don't restrict yourself to European food.

Asian restaurants are a good option. In Budapest, I tried Pad Thai Wok Bar, which had good Asian food and vegetarian/tofu options.

Mexican food is another easy option. Tacos, quesadillas and burritos tend to work well if you're looking for stronger flavours.

Lebanese restaurants are another good bet for things like falafel, wraps and hummus.

Lastly, the good news is that you can also find several Indian restaurants! So, you do have your comfort food as a fallback option.

Margaret Island🏝️

If you have some extra time, Margaret Island is another option. It's in the Danube and has parks, restaurants, and open spaces where you can just relax.

I wouldn't prioritise it over the major attractions if you're only in Budapest for three days, but if you have an extra evening, it's a nice change of pace.

Óbuda🪭

One thing many first-time visitors may not know is that Budapest wasn't always just Buda and Pest. There's also Óbuda, the oldest of the three historical parts that eventually became Budapest.

It's further away from the main tourist centre and isn't something I'd squeeze into a three-day itinerary. But if you have more time, you can explore it and get some different views and a quieter side of the city.

Are there day trips from Budapest?

Yes, there are some day-trip options from Budapest, and you'll find them on platforms like GetYourGuide/Klook.

But personally, I didn't take one. For a first three-day visit, I think Budapest itself has enough to keep you occupied. There are other European cities where day trips make more sense. I'd rather spend those three days actually exploring Budapest.

One of my favourite random things about Budapest

This is completely unnecessary information, but I loved it. Look down while you're walking around Budapest.

The metal drain covers on the streets are surprisingly beautiful. They're well-designed, sturdy, and often have interesting patterns.

You probably wouldn't expect a drain cover to be something you'd remember from a European trip. But here we are.

A quick note on Schengen visas🇪🇺

If you're travelling to Budapest from India, you'll need a short-stay Type C Schengen visa if you're not otherwise exempt.

The important thing is to apply through the correct Schengen country based on your itinerary and main destination. If you're travelling to multiple countries, don't simply apply through whichever embassy has the easiest appointment or processing system.

For a detailed visa application, the exact requirements depend on your profile, itinerary, and the country you're applying through.

I've personally gone through the Schengen visa process multiple times, currently holding a 2-year multi-entry visa, and now help travellers with their applications as well.

I offer personalised visa assistance. If you need help with your Schengen visa, you can DM me your query or book a consultation below**:** https://topmate.io/captain_visas

You can also reach me directly on WhatsApp:

WhatsApp: https://tinyurl.com/6zmzbecb

That's Chapter 01 🎊 I hope you liked it!

Comment below which city, town, or place you'd like me to cover next. If I've visited it, I'll definitely keep it in mind for the next chapter.

And if you're planning a Euro trip, bookmark📕 this article so you can come back to it when you start planning.

If you found this useful, follow my account (@think_in_points), like, and share it with someone planning a Europe trip!