Budapest holidays

The Hungarian Parliament with the river Danube, Budapest

Szechenyi outdoor thermal baths, Budapest

Couple exploring the sights of Budapest through a telescope

Popular holidays

Historical sights, lively nightlife and a scenic river through the middle – Budapest city breaks have got the lot.

A city of two halves

Hungary’s capital is split into two – both in name and geography. The Danube River cuts right through the city, with Buda to the west and Pest to the east. The former’s topped off by a hilltop castle and a fortress, both of which offer up some of the best panoramas around. Meanwhile, Pest is home to the grand-and-Gothic parliament building and the quirky Jewish Quarter – where you’ll find Budapest’s best-known ruin bars.

History around every corner

History plays a big part in Budapest’s charm, with reminders of the past everywhere you turn – from the iconic Heroes Square and the enlightening House of Terror museum, to the touching Shoes on the Danube memorial. And, not forgetting the city’s open-air ruin bars in the Jewish Quarter’s abandoned buildings. Szimplakert is the most famous of the lot. Here, you can grab a seat in a cut-open car or bathtub, surrounded by graffiti-covered walls and junkyard-chic furniture.

The City of Spas

Budapest’s blessed with a collection of thermal springs, hence why it’s dubbed the City of Spas. The mineral-rich waters supply the popular bathhouses, which are dotted around the city, from the Art Deco Gellert Baths to the canary-coloured Szechenyi. The latter’s tucked away on the edge of a leafy park, which is pulled right up to Heroes Square.

Popular hotels in Budapest

Top things to see and do in Budapest

Shopping

Bargain buys

Head for the Central Market Hall to snap up souvenirs and hunt for handicrafts. It’s the biggest indoor market in Budapest, and the ground floor’s filled with fresh fruit, veg, meat and cheeses. Pop upstairs, and there’s a treasure trove of keepsakes to take home, from paprika gift sets to handmade handbags.

Mid-range buys

Head to Vaci Street for all the familiar high street faces, like Zara and H&M. The street runs from Vorosmarty Square – where the main Christmas market takes place – down to Central Market Hall, and it’s the city’s prime shopping street.

Designer buys

Andrassy Avenue’s wide-eyed, tree-lined stretch is reminiscent of the Champs-Élysées. Its Renaissance palaces and historic villas – many of which are now embassies – have helped it gain UNESCO recognition – and it’s the first port of call for lots of luxury brands. The likes of Burberry, Gucci and Louis Vuitton are all lined up along here.

Nightlife

Laid-back evenings

For quieter evenings, head to one of the city’s many wine bars. Hungary has 22 wine-growing regions, and many of these bars offer tastings of the reds and whites that are produced around the country.

Lively evenings

Budapest’s best known for its ruin bars, which have transformed many of the city’s abandoned buildings into quirky watering holes. Decor-wise, expect the likes of graffiti, scrap metal and fairy lights.. They tend to stay open ‘til the small hours, and live music and DJ sets are pretty common occurrences.

Food & drink

Goulash

Hungary’s national dish has plenty of regional variations, but the staple ingredients remain the same. Slow-cooked beef, carrots, onions and a hint of paprika are the key players. They’re all mixed together to make a soup-slash-stew dish that’s either plated up or served in a deep bread bowl.

Palinka

Unsurprisingly, this fruit brandy really packs a punch – its alcohol content’s somewhere between 37% and 86%. The main fruit’s usually of the sweet variety, like plums, apricots or cherries, and it’s usually taken as a shot by tourists and slowly sipped by the locals.

Chicken paprikas

There are no prizes for guessing the chief ingredients in this dish. Tender chicken pieces are served with a sizeable helping of paprika, sour cream and spatzle – pasta-like dumplings.

Somloi galuska

This dessert’s made in various ways, as the original recipe’s a closely guarded secret. But, the key ingredients remain consistent– three types of sponge, rum syrup, whipped cream and chocolate sauce.

Palacsinta

These thin crepe-like pancakes can be stuffed with either sweet or savoury fillings. Gundel’s a popular choice for the sweet fans – it’s a mix of ground walnuts, raisins and rum, and the outside’s coated in dark chocolate. And, if you prefer your pancakes savoury, there’s hortobagyi – a mix of fried onion, sour cream and paprika sauce.