Must Dos in Budapest

1. Stroll along Danube Promenade: It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and should be at the very top of your To-See list.

A “ruin pub” in BudapestGetty Images

2. Find a Ruin Pub: Sometime in the early 2000s, abandoned buildings and unusual outdoor spaces turned into secret pubs and bars. While they might not be very secret anymore, many of them are still charmingly chaotic and thus the perfect place for a friendly and cheap night out.

3. Take the tram: Line 2 has breath-taking views of the Danube and goes right past many of the city’s main sights.

Goulash soupGetty Images/iStockphoto

4. Learn some Hungarian phrases: Okay, this language is as tough as it gets, but mastering a few words will win you brownie points with the locals and impress your travel buddies. Our phrasebook below is a good starting point. Top tip: Try to at least learn the pronunciation of the places you want to go.

5. Try gulyás: Goulash is soup made with meat and vegetables, the ultimate Hungarian comfort food.

6. Eat at Great Market Hall: Foodies unite! The country’s oldest and biggest indoor market will satisfy all your food cravings. Open every day apart from Sundays.

7. Most #Instagrammable place: The neo-gothic architecture of the third largest parliament building in the world is beautiful during the day, but simply jaw-dropping at night. The best view is from Fishermen’s bastion across the river – if you have a tripod with you, this is the time to use it.

View from Gellért hillGetty Images

8. Best place for scenic views: Gellért hill. A short hike (or taxi ride) up the hill and you’ll be rewarded with stunning city and river views.

9. Take a bath – Budapest is sometimes called the “World’s Spa Capital” and it would be quite a waste if you went without treating yourself between matchdays, right? There are dozens of thermal baths, both outdoor and indoor.

10. Take a walk on Margaret Island – This island of peace is located in the centre of Budapest and offers a relaxing escape with its beautiful walkways, flower gardens, ancient trees and famous musical fountain.

If you would like to discover more of the wonders in and around Budapest, check out the local tourist information centre.

Off the beaten path

⚽ For football fans

Time to get nostalgic: Hungary’s “match of the century” dates back to 1953, when the national team famously beat England 6-3 at Wembley. The “Mighty Magyars” were the first team from continental Europe to achieve this and the legacy of the win still lives on: a massive mural at Rumbach Sebestyén utca 8. serves as a reminder of that historic win.

Velence LakeGetty Images/iStockphoto

🍃 Day trip

If you have an extra day to spare and would like some peace and quiet, make your way to Velence Lake, the quieter counterpart to Lake Balaton. It’s only a 30–45 min train ride from Budapest centre and is a lot less touristy. Water temperature in the summer can rise up to 26C, making it one of the warmest lakes on the continent.

Phrasebook