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Is it enough to spend three days in Budapest? The quick answer: no. While it mainly depends on your interests, I left the city wishing that I had planned to stay there at least five days.
In this post, I’ll share the road trip we did to Budapest. Starting from Macedonia, passing through Serbia and then Budapest.
You’ll find how we spent four days and three nights there and the events that led it to become a three-day trip instead. I’ll also be sharing the hotel we stayed at, the restaurant that stood out the most to me, and at the end of the post, I’ve made a detailed three-day itinerary in Budapest you can use for your trip.
Our Road Trip to Budapest
Day 1: Arrival from Serbia to Hungary
What you’re seeing is not a parking lot; instead, it’s a photo I took while waiting in the car at the border of Serbia and Hungary. We waited seven hours inside the car wishing that we chose to enter a different border, but it was too late.
Why was the line at the border too long? The immigration officers were checking each and every car more than thoroughly and hence the traffic. We left Belgrade at 10am expecting to arrive at 2pm, but we arrived in Budapest at 7pm in the evening.
So all we did on day one was to join a mini-burger festival and explore the vicinity near our hotel.
Our Accommodation (with Video)
We stayed at Roombach Hotel Budapest Center. It cost us EUR 220 (MKD 13,602) for four nights and three days with breakfast included. The parking fee costs EUR 19 per night.
The place is three minutes away from the trams at Deák Ferenc tér Square. And those trams can connect you to other train or bus stations to get to the main tourist destinations in Budapest.
If you are looking for a hotel that’s clean, budget-friendly, and accessible, then I’d highly recommend Roombach Hotel. I value hotel-room hygiene above all the factors, and Roombach did a good job on that for me.
Day 2: Walking Tour Day
In the morning, we joined a free walking tour. Our guide named Robert shared all the details of some of the best places to visit in Budapest. It started from 11am and finished at around 2pm, the tour was very educational and eye-opening so I highly recommend it.
Some of the places we went to include St. Stephen’s Basilica, the Hungarian Parliament, the Freedom Square, Andrassy Avenue, and the Shoes on the Danube Bank.
Lunch at Retek Bisztro
After the tour, we had lunch at Retek Bisztro. This is actually the best place I’ve eaten at in Budapest. The quality of their dish is spot on. The photos speak for themselves.
They gave us free shots and desserts to try as well! They do charge 1874 Ft service fee (around EUR 5), but it’s super worth it.
Retek Bisztro’s boasts a 4.8 out of 1,734 Google Reviews. That, plus the photos should be enough to convince you to try the place. Remember, I don’t do affiliates, and I highly recommend this place based on research and experience.
Late Afternoon to Evening: Buda Castle
There are guides that can help you go around Castle Hill but we decided to visit this on our own. You can get there by walking, bus, or via the funicular. We chose the last one and enjoyed it very much. A round-trip ticket costs HUF 1800 (EUR 4-5).
Day 3: Walking Tour Day Part 2
On the last day of our three-day itinerary in Budapest, we decided to visit your not-so-typical tourist destinations in Budapest; they include: Budapest Zoo, House of Music, and Central Market Hall.
For Budapest Zoo, you’ll need to put aside two to three hours to leisurely roam around the entire place. The animals seemed very well-kept and well-fed, and the zoo is kept quite clean. Depending on the time of the day, there are also shows and specific zones where you could pet specific animals, the language is in Hungarian though.
The House of Music just opened in January 2022. It’s an institution that welcomes both locals and foreigners to celebrate everything about music. It holds exhibitions, concerts, family programs, and educational events every week.
Finally, we visited Central Market Hall to check out potential souvenirs we could buy. The market is abundant in fruits, vegetables, meat such as salami and sausages, herbs, and a number of souvenirs.
Day 4: Check Out and Drive to Slovenia
That pretty much wraps up our days in Budapest. We lost one day due to the tight security at the border, but it’s all good, because even before we left the city, we’ve already decided to come back in the near future.
Detailed Three-Day Itinerary in Budapest
If you’re planning to spend three days in Budapest, consider using this itinerary with St. Stephen’s Basilica as the main starting point.
Three-Day Itinerary in Budapest: Day 1
[AM] Join a walking tour that covers the Pest side (in order)
- St. Stephen’s Basilica
- Andrassy Ave
- Liberty Square
- Hungarian Parliament
- Shoes on the Danube
- Ferris Wheel of Budapest
[PM] Take the Jewish District Walk (in order)
- Elizabeth Square
- Dohány Street Synagogue (Tree of Life Memorial)
- Raoul Wallenberg Memorial
- Rumbach Street Synagogue
- Madach square
- Kazinczy Street Synagogue
- Szimpla Garden Ruin Bar
Three-Day Itinerary in Budapest: Day 2
[AM] Visit Castle Hill on Buda (in order)
- Buda Castle
- Fisherman’s Bastion
- Matthias Church
- Labyrinth of Buda Castle
- The House of Houdini
**Optional:
- Hungarian National Gallery (in Buda Castle)
- Budapest Historical Museum (in Buda Castle)
[PM] Relax at Szechenyi Thermal Bath
Three-Day Itinerary in Budapest: Day 3
[AM] Explore Margaret Island. Some of the places you can see include (in order):
- Bodor Musical Well
- Japanese Garden
- Water Tower
- Palatinus Strand Baths
- Alfred Hajos National Aquatics Complex
- Fountain at Margaret Island
[PM] Shop Souvenirs
- Central Market Hall
- Taste of World
- Memories of Hungary at Vaci Utca
Wrapping Up
If you plan to spend three days in Budapest this year, I hope my review on the hotel, the restaurant, and of the city was able to give you an idea what to expect. I also hope that you’d find the three-day itinerary in Budapest useful! And if you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments section below!
FAQ
Budapest is famous for various things but locals and tourists I’ve talked to have always mentioned the Szechenyi Thermal Bath and the Danube River (the second longest river in Europe).
It depends on your interest, but I think you should not miss going to the Castle Hill on Buda (where Buda Castle, Matthias Church, and Fisherman’s Bastion is), the Hungarian Parliament, and the Shoes on the Danube.
No. In my opinion, you need at least five days to visit all of Budapest without rushing.
Depends on your interests and personality (how selective you are in terms of accommodations and transport), but I’d say more or less EUR 500 that includes accommodations, joining free walking tours, transport fees, and entrance tickets for three days.
1 comment
I’ve only seen a few videos about Budapest and it seems lovely city to visit the place. Thank you for sharing this lovely guide!