Budapest city breaks & holidays

After a day of sightseeing, sink into one of the city’s beautiful thermal baths, as popular with locals as they are with tourists, or knock back the local firewater in one of the city's famous ruin bars – abandoned buildings converted into arty drinking dens.

Nightlife is one of the city’s main draws – stay in the Jewish Quarter to be closest to all the action. Nightclubs and late-night live-music venues cater to the city’s large student population and young-at-heart tourists.

For something a little more refined, visit some of the city’s wine bars to sample excellent Hungarian tipples or delve into Budapest's classical music scene in any of its grand concert halls. Feast on Hungarian comfort food in a traditional vendéglő (restaurant) and hang out hipster-style in the after-dark coffee shops.

Winter in the city is generally dark and cold (the average peak temperature in December is 3C), with some attractions reducing their opening hours. However, the Christmas markets in December bring a lot of festive cheer: think ice skating, hot chestnuts, and snow-dusted scenery. Outside the festive season, winter is a quieter time to visit, perfect for beating the crowds and finding the cheapest package deals.

Buda Castle, formerly the Royal Palace or Royal Castle, is a beautiful city landmark and one of the most visited tourist attractions in Budapest. The hilltop palace has been destroyed and rebuilt at least six times, and it first became a royal residence in the mid-13th century.

On your visit, pop into the Castle Museum and the Hungarian National Gallery to start to understand more about Budapest’s dramatic past. The castle is also home to the National Széchenyi Library.

Széchenyi Thermal Bath

Soaking in one of Budapest’s thermal baths is a must-do. Bathhouses all over Budapest make the most of more than 100 hot springs under the city.

Built in 1913, Széchenyi Baths in City Park is one of the most popular spas, with 3 large outdoor pools in the courtyard of the Neo-Baroque palace, plus 15 indoor pools, saunas, and massage rooms. On Saturday evenings, join the wild pool parties – so-called ‘Sparties’ – for electronic music and unlimited booze.

Szimpla Kert

Opened in 2002, Szimpla Kert is the original and most well-known ruin bar in Budapest. The ruin-bar trendsetter is in a dilapidated building in the Jewish Quarter. With a courtyard, and many rooms, it now creates a cool, multi-bar venue.

Visit out of curiosity and stay for a few drinks, admiring the eclectic art and quite random memorabilia. There are bars for wine, cocktails and shisha, and food includes burgers, chicken wings, quesadillas, goulash and various platters. Every Sunday, 9am-2pm, it has a farmers market and live music.

Parliament House

With close to 700 rooms and 10 central courtyards, Parliament House is one of the largest buildings in the country and the third largest parliamentary building in the world. This impressive, iconic building, which overlooks the Danube, is the home of Hungary’s National Assembly.

You can take a guided tour through Parliament House’s stately rooms and see the famous Holy Crown in the Dome Hall.

St Stephen’s Basilica

The grand St Stephen’s Basilica has capacity for 8,500 people and a dome 96m (314ft) high. The scale of this enormous neoclassical cathedral is enough to wow, but it’s not only the basilica's size that makes its tour one of the top activities in Budapest – the cathedral also houses the mummified right hand of the church's patron saint and Hungary’s first king, St Stephen.

From Gellért Hill, you have great views of the sunset and Parliament House across the river. There’s not much nightlife, which may be exactly what you’re after if travelling with a young family.

For travellers on a budget

If you’re on a budget, District VII, the Jewish Quarter, is a top option. Home to the city’s famous ruin bars, including Szimpla Kert, this is the nightlife district, so getting back to your accommodation after a night on the town won’t take long.

For a cheap city break, try the up-and-coming District VIII, also known as the Palace Quarter. Here, you’ll find the biggest museum in the country, the National Museum as well as the historic Kerepesi Cemetery. It’s the final resting place of Lajos Batthyány, Hungary’s first prime minister as well as many other notable figures.

For food and drink

For fine-dining restaurants and elegant wine bars, stay in District V (downtown Budapest), which is on the Pest side of the Danube. You’ll be close to the Downtown Market (also known as Hold Street Market), where stalls in the farmers market sell street-food favourites, schnitzel and sausages.

District VII, the Jewish Quarter, also has many restaurants serving international fare and plenty of lively bars. There’s District IX, a big student hub. It’s rather eclectic when it comes to dining out, with the Central Market Hall and Budapest’s first Michelin-starred restaurant both located here.

For nightlife

District VII is brilliant if you want to make nightlife the focus of your trip. It’s ruin-bar central – dilapidated buildings turned into kooky bars – and home to the original and most famous ruin bar, Szimpla Kert, whose success led to numerous copycats.

For a more chilled vibe, District IX has several craft-beer bars, popular with the neighbourhood’s student crowd, and you’ll find even more swanky clubs and bars in downtown Budapest.

In City Park, you’ll find the legendary ‘Sparty’ at the Széchenyi Thermal Baths as well as Budapest Zoo, which holds a series of open-air concerts throughout July and August.

For culture

All of Budapest is crammed with places of cultural interest, so it’s hard to go wrong when choosing where to stay.

District I, the Castle District, is close to many of the main attractions, including Buda Castle. It’s right across the river from the Vigadó Concert Hall. The Hungarian State Opera is in District VI – as is the ominous House of Terror museum, in the former secret police headquarters.

To stay within walking distance of the National Museum, the country’s largest museum, pick a hotel alongside the mansions and palaces of District VIII, the Palace District.