Things to do in Budapest

Things to do in Budapest

1. DoBudavár

   3D Past – Saint Michael Chapel

   Szent Mihály-kápolna

   15 min 3D movie about the history of Hungary in a 700 years old Gothic chapel.

   10:00–17:00·HUF 1500

2. DoBelváros

   Arany tíz Cultural Center

   Aranytiz Kultúrház

   Events theatrical performances, pop and classical music concerts, exhibitions, film, dance and visual arts presentations. The building was built in eclectic neo-Renaissance style in 1879-1880. Free Wi-Fi (password information at reception desk). Cafe Oro.

3. DoBelváros

   Astoria Fitness Center

   Services:Indoor cycling, aerobic, pilates, bodybuilding, cardio, massage, sauna, solarium, personal fitness trainers, gym coach, fitness buffet.

   Mon-Fri 06:30-24:00, Sat Sun 10:00-21:00·Daily ticket Ft1700

4. DoAngyalföld

   Attila József Theatre

   József Attila Színház

   Former Déryné Stage in a building which was built as a culture house, and used as a chamber theater of the Comedy theater

   Ft1500-3500

5. DoBelváros

   Basilica organ concerts

   Bazika orgona koncertek

   hosts organ concerts by Miklós Teleki, one of Hungary's most highly regarded organists. During his performance he is accompanied by renowned flutist Eleonora Krusic, and oratorio singer Kolos Kováts.

   11 Apr-30 Nov: Thu

6. DoErzsébetváros

   Belvárosi Theatre

   Belvárosi Színház

   is qualified for performances, chamber- concerts, shows, award and graduation ceremonies, press conferences, professional presentations, seminars, conferences, ordinary meetings, fashion shows, auctions, associate meetings and conferences.

   Operetta performances start at 20.30 o'clock

7. DoBelváros

   Boat trip to Margaret Island

   Margitszigeti Sétahajójárat

   You don't want to miss a boat trip on River Danube! Then you can enjoy both riverbanks and the bridges at the very same time. It is especially spectacular at night. This boat has guiding in 11 languages, and makes a non-stop round trip in about 1 hour. There is a cheaper boat line operated by BKV, which leave from Boráros tér, and makes a stop at other places too, such as Batthyány tér, Jászai Mari tér or Margitsziget. Of course you can take the boat the opposite direction too, however a round trip is not recommended, because the route is really long, and you'll have to buy two tickets. This line does not have any kind of tour guiding.

   May-Aug: four a daily; off season only weekends·crossing €2, RW ticket €4

8. DoSouth Buda

   Bottomless Lake

   Feneketlen-tó

   Its area of 1.1 ha and a depth of 4-5 meters. Play tennis, gym's, try fishing or just relaxing.

9. DoSouth Buda

   Bottomless Lake Park

   Feneketlen tavi park

   The park total area is ​​40,809 sqm. It was built between 1958 and 1960 according to plans by Mihaly Mőcsényi. In the mid part located the Bottomless Lake. Here you will find the Buda Park Stage, near to the lake, of which the former worked with various functions, but it is now only a ruin. The fountain of the lake to improve oxygenation of water. Several statues located in the park. The "Bear" statue by Laszlo Molnar (located at playground); Béla Bartók statue made by József Somogyi, 1981, (located under bells, at the side of Kosztolányi Dezső Square); there is a tennis hall and to the side of it are two monuments, Gyula Illyés and Zoltan Gulyas, first was a Hungarian, 20th century, poet and novelist, last was a 20th-century, YBL-prize winner, Hungarian architect; sitting boy statue, made by Magda Gabor (1997) adorns the fenced playground. The usual 'Park' tree species found in the majority in the park. Next to stage are silver maples at the tennis courts is an oak tree (almost hundred years old), near to waterside are a couple willow trees. Some specific species or sizeable trees also can be found here Cercis siliquastrum (Judas tree), Juniperus virginiana (Virginian juniper), Castanea sativa (chestnut), Liriodendron tulipifera (tulip tree), Broussonetia papyrifera (paper mulberry tree), Quercus robor"Fatigiata" (columnar oak), Caragana arborescens (Siberian peashrub)

   Open now · open 24 hours·Free

10. DoHegyvidék

    Buda Protected Landscape Area

    Budai Tájvédelmi körzet

    Walking tours, from minutes until days long, on 10,528 hectares. Main part are: Budaörs wasteland; Excursion zona (include János-hegy, the forest range of Budakeszi and the environs of Hárshegy); the Hármashatár-hegy (hill) and the Hidegkút basin; a highly protected hill the Remete-hegy with the Remete Gorge; the Szénás-hills or the European Diploma Holding Area; The area of Vöröspocsolyás-hát (Vöröspocsolyás-backbone), Nagykopasz (559m, the highest point in the Buda hills) and Meszes-hegy. Maps

    Open now · open 24 hours·Free

11. DoVíziváros

    Budai Vigadó – Hungarian Heritage House

    Hagyományok Háza

    Hungarian cultural center. It is a national institution founded in 2001 with the purpose of preserving and promoting Hungarian folk tradition. It is the home of the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble, one of Hungary’s most highly regarded folk ensembles. The group has been around since 1951 and aims to study and preserve Hungarian folk music, dance and costume culture and interpret it on stage for the public. They perform in the Budai Vigadó about 120 times a year.

    Mon–Fri 08:00-18:00

12. DoHegyvidék

    Budapest Congress Center

    Budapest Kongresszusi Központ

    The largest, most modern congress and meeting place in Hungary. Exhibits, festivals, concerts

13. DoÓbuda

    Budapest Garden

    Leisure park with various possibilities: bubble soccer, ninja court, trampoline, beach volleyball, artificial grass football field, skate park, street workout ground, soccer, darts, ping pong, badminton.

    Mon–Fri 10:00–23:00, Sat Sun 10:00–01:00·HUF 500–HUF 1800 per person. Street workout ground, darts and ping pong are free

14. DoTerézváros

    Budapest Operetta Theatre

    Budapesti Operett Színház

    The Operetta Theatre performs old-fashioned operettas for the nostalgic hearted and tries to be Madách's main rival in musicals.

    tickets Ft950-15000

15. DoErzsébetváros

    Central European Dance Theatre

    Bethlen Square Theatre, Közép-Európa Táncszínház, Bethlen Téri Színház

    The Bethlen Gallery holds photo exhibition. CEDT's company performs renowned contemporary dance theatre.

    Ft1,200; senior Ft700; student Ft800

16. DoJózsefváros

    Cinema Corvin

    Corvin Mozi

    Covered parking underground garage free for three hours with ticket.

    Box office: Mon-Fri from 13:30, Sat Sun from 09:30. Films Mon-Fri 14:00-22:00, Sat Sun 10:00-22:00·Tickets Ft1490, 3D films Ft1890. Discount on Wednesday: Ft1050, 3D Ft 1490

17. DoTerézváros

    Cinema Művész

    Művész Mozi

    This is probably the most popular “Art Mozi” theatre in Budapest. Many Hungarian movies are on show with English subtitles; ask for them at the desk.

    Open now · closes 11:30 pm·Ft920-1050

18. DoBelváros

    Cinema Puskin

    Puskin Mozi

    “Pushkin” is the most mainstream among the art house movie theatres in Budapest, an elegant, decorated multiplex offering quality, but generally easy-to-watch Hungarian and foreign films. Its café is recommended.

    Open now · closes 11 pm·Ft800-1050

19. DoErzsébetváros

    Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal Spa

    A symbol of history, culture, architecture and the tradition of hospitality opens its doors in all its original splendour. The Royal Spa has been beautifully restored to its original splendour and now offers the latest state-of-the-art spa facilities and treatments. The Royal Spa is one of the most expensive in Budapest. It is a spectacle of opulence and luxury in the amazing art deco setting. Included in the price is bath robe, towels, lockers, hydromassage, fruit juices and water. Although expensive it is a truly unforgettable experience.

    day pass €35

20. DoBelváros

    Cruising and eating

    If you would like see the attraction of Danube and eat something you can book tickets for lunch & cruise, dinner & cruise with live music. These cruising includes 3 drinks, warm buffet meals.

    Daily 09:00-19:00·Ft10,800

21. DoNorth Buda

    Csaszar-Komjadi Sports Swimming Pool

    Császár-Komjádi Béla Sportuszoda

    Császár spa was established in 1806. There are three outdoor pools.

    Daily 06:00-19:00·Adult/student Ft1800/1100

22. DoAquincum

    Csillaghegy Árpád Bath

    Csillaghegyi Árpád forrásfürdő

    This bath is the oldest of the capital. It has worked since 1850s. Children's pool, aromatherapy massage, infrasauna, value storage, massage helping for blood circulation.

    06:00–20:00·Adult: HUF 2400–HUF 2600; senior, student: HUF 1900–HUF 2000, children: HUF 1200

23. DoAngyalföld

    Dagály Spa

    Dagály Fürdő és Uszoda

    There is an outdoor 50-m lap pool open year round and a covered-in-winter 25-m lap pool. There are 2 large outdoor hot baths. One heated to 33°C and the other to 36°C. In summer, several huge pools are also available and plenty of open grass and trees for sunbathing or shade. The architecture is classic modern. One changes clothes in a small cubicle before passing through to the large unisex locker room. Be sure to bring some bath sandals to wear to the pool edge. The floors are not always clean. One sees lots of families here, elderly people and fitness swimmers. Staff do not speak English, but is helpful and patient.

    Daily 06:00–20:00·~€8. full day, €6 after 16:00. An attendant locks your clothes in a locker. Tip Ft100 on your way out

24. DoAngyalföld

    Danubius Grand Hotel/Thermal Hotel Margitsziget

    High-level and modern baths and spa also offers a great choice of medical treatment. There are two body-temperature soaking pools and a cold-water corridor with stones on the floor; one swimming pool; separate steam baths; common sauna. There's a drinking fountain with mineral water extremely rich in minerals--find on a way from baths to the gym. Changing: Towels are handed at reception--without fee or deposit. Also, there seems to be bathrobes available for rent--ask at the reception. For changing clothes, only lockers are available, without attendant--you have a key. There's no cabins (as families typically live in the same hotel). Every shower cabin have a curtain, and there's some liquid soap available. Visitors mix: Almost no locals; in New Year season (and 1-9 of May?) about 80% are Russians who are also residents of the hotel.

    until 21:30·Admission fee (Ft5,700 weekdays, Ft7,000 weekends) doesn't limit your time inside, and gives access to all spa facilities including a great gym (remember to bring your fitness suit). Solarium and medical treatments should be paid separately, remember before entering the changing rooms (Ft1,300 for 10 minutes)

25. DoÓbuda

    Esernyős

    Community space, cafe, lunch and breakfast, art gallery and tourist information.

    Mon–Fri 08:00–22:00, Sat 10:00–22:00, Sun 10:00–15:00·Lunch menu: HUF 1090

26. DoBudavár

    Europe Park

    Európa liget

    Small park opened in 1972 to commemorate the centenary of the capital and the congresses of 29 European capitals held on that occasion. At that time, the leaders of the capitals planted a tree with their own hands, which is typical of the flora of their own country and which also bears the climate of Hungary. The name of the donating city can be read on a limestone slab in front of the trees.

27. DoAngyalföld

    Experidance Company

    RaM Colosseum

    This popular company performs Hungarian popular dances in modern conception. Performances mostly in RaM Colosseum.

    At 15:00, or 19:00·~2800 Ft

28. DoNorth Buda

    Ferenc hill Birdwatching Area

    Ferenc-hegy

    On the mountain top and north slope can be seen a karst scrub forests. The mountain is great for bird watching: blackbird, blue tit, chaffinch, greenfinch, great fiery-headed woodpecker and goldcrests. In the south-western end of Ferenc hill is Ferenc-Mountain Cave, (visit only for researchers).

    Open now · open 24 hours·Free

29. DoVíziváros

    French Institute

    Francia Intézet, Institut Français

    French cultural center. There is a three-storey media library with more than 42,000 documents, six computer with internet access; also here French language courses; cultural events: art, music, film, publishing, theatre, design.

    Mon–Thu 08:00–19:00, Fri 09:00–18:00, Sat 08:00-17:00

30. DoSouth Buda

    Gabany Laslo Sporthall

    Gabányi László Sportcsarnok

    Capacity: 1000 person. There are 3 volleyball fields, 3 basketball fields, football, futsal, handball 9 badminton fields, 6 fields for speedbadminton

    Rent: Badminton: Ft2,500/hour/court, bat rent: Ft250. Table Tennis: Ft2,000/hour/table, racket hire Ft250pc. Artificial turf soccer field: Ft10,000/hr. Budo Centre: Ft8,000/hr. Tennis: Ft1800/hr, racket rental Ft500/piece

31. DoSouth Buda

    Gellért Baths

    Gellért fűrdő

    While the Kiraly baths may be a more authentic Turkish bath experience, the famous Gellért Bath can't be beaten in terms of style. This is among the finest Art Nouveau baths in Europe, part of Spa Hotel Gellért. Ask the information desk to clarify if you're not sure about how to proceed as the procedures, dignified by tradition, are not always straightforward. If you hire a towel (resembling a bedsheet) or a bathrobe, you will need the original receipt ticket for getting back your deposit. You'll need to get your receipt ticket back from the attendants inside when you return your item, otherwise you forfeit your deposit. Unfortunately, the managers are quite unforgiving in this matter and won't believe you if you try to collect your deposit without your item or a receipt. Changing: Individual lockers, single-person cabins, and family cabins are available. Indoors: since 2013 every part of the spa is common for men and women. Common area for men and women has a 50 m swimming pool and a soaking pool with massage bubbles, both with 36-38°C water. Wearing swimming caps is required, but not always enforced. There are common Turkish-style thermal baths for men and women, offering several different areas: two soaking pools (one with 36°C, another with 38°C), the showers, the dry sauna and Turkish steam bath, and the cold pool (designed to scare the living daylights out of you aftea happy warm soak). Outdoors: a large open-air complex of pools (open only in summer time).

    Mon-Fri 06:00-19:00, Sat Sun 06:00-17:00 (between Apr 30 and Sep 30)·The full entrance price to the swimming pool and the men's or women's thermal facilities is Ft3,500, which also includes a cabin rental, where you can change clothes and a towel (bed sheets style). On weekdays this ticket is Ft4,050 ticket and 30-minute massage can be reserved in advance. The massage: from Ft2,500 for Refreshing, 15 min. to Ft3,800 for Powder, 30 min. They also offer a very good Tai massage. 1h is Ft11,500 and 1½h is Ft15,500 (March 2010)

32. DoVíziváros

    Gellért Hill

    Gellért-hegy

    Gellért Hill is partly a protected parkland. See more in South Buda district guide.

33. DoSouth Buda

    Gellért Hill

    (Hungarian: Gellért-hegy;German: Blocksberg; Latin: Mons Sancti Gerhardi; Turkish: Gürz Elyas bayiri, in the Middle Ages: Kelen-hegy, Pesti-hegy )

    Gellért Hill was named after Saint Gerard who was thrown to death from the hill. Sights around the hill include: Hotel Gellért and the Gellért Baths (located in Gellért Square at the foot of the hill, next to Liberty Bridge); the Gellért Hill Cave in the hill, facing toward Hotel Gellért and the Danube River); the Citadella (Citadel, at the top of the hill) a perfect viewpoint, Gellért Hill Waterfall (on northest), Rock Chapel (southern descent). Since 1987, the area is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of "the Banks of the Danube". A large part of the hill consists of protected parkland, therefore part of the Danube-Ipoly National Park. There are some sculptures as Statue of Liberty; Statue of Stephen I of Hungary (outside Gellért Hill Cave). About the vegetation: there can be found different trees -- English oak, Tatarian Maple (mostly on West side of the Hill), Field Elm, Field Maple, South European flowering ash, dolomite-rock grassland, fig and wild rose bushes (remnants of the Ottoman era), yew tree, thuja, some cypress, hazel, hornbeam and acacia. The fauna: different types of birds: dawn bird, peregrine falcon, goldcrests mostly in migration time; different crows, blackbirds and sparrows can be seen anytime; Typical insects are: different butterflies, firebugs, Blue Xylocopinae. In spring and summer come out to sunny rocks the lizards. Some mammals like the Northern white-breasted hedgehog and squirrels are also quite common sights. The mountain provides an opportunity for the visitors pleasant forest walks. There is a flower garden on the top of the hill, where one can rest on benches - a nice relaxing place. On the south side of the mountain is a unique playground with five slides (tube slide, straight slide, twisting slide, wavy slide, wide slide for parents with small children) gives pleasure to children. Also on the south side is another playground with swings and sandboxes, directly above the Gellért tér, specific to small children. The Ge

    Open now · open 24 hours·Free

34. DoSouth Buda

    Haros Island, Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve Area

    Háros-szigeti Ártéri-erdő Természetvédelmi terület

    Area 56 ha. The most famous fauna is native, protected wild grape. Now is a peninsula, because in 1911, the northern part filled and connected to the shore of the river. This reserve is part of the Danube-Ipoly National Park

    Open now · open 24 hours·Free

35. DoVíziváros

    Horváth Park

    Horváth-kert

    Park named after its former owner, Zsigmond Szentgyörgyi Horváth.

36. DoBudavár

    House of Houdini

    Houdini-ház

    Houdini memorial house. There is a showroom and an exhibition with authentic Houdini memorabilia.

    10:00–19:00·Adult: HUF 2400, children: HUF 1800

37. DoSouth Buda

    Independent Park

    Függetlenségi park

    The area of it is 6470 m². It was built between 1962 according to plans by Mihaly Mőcsényi. Later a fountain and a monument built here by Vera Csorba. In 1994 inaugurated the monument of Independence. In the middle of the fountain, a work of György Vadász and Sandor Kiss. The yews (Taxaceae), the Sorbus, China trees (Koelreuteria paniculata) are beautiful decorations in the park

    Open now · open 24 hours·Free

38. DoSouth Buda

    Jubileum Park

    Jubileumi-park

    Perfect for strolling. Viewpoint with excellent photo opportunities

39. DoSouth Buda

    Karinthy Theatre

    Karinthy Színház

    Pioneering activities in one continuous play, independent rock theater, former cinema.

40. DoNorth Buda

    Király Baths

    Király fűrdő

    Old, authentic and pretty small; personnel speak limited English. As of March 2020 this historic Turkish bath is closed for an indefinite period of time.

    Closed as of March 2020.·Thermal morning ticket Ft 2,500. Combined daily admission (day ticket and 15-minute massage) Ft 5,800. Thermal day ticket, Ft 2,800 cabin

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Budapest (CC BY-SA 4.0).