How to spend 3 days in Budapest: complete itinerary. Yes, Budapest really is a beautiful city that is worth visiting, it is full of magic and has wonderful places to visit. Even if you are short on time, it is perfectly possible to visit a large part of the city in a weekend or in 3 days, so I am sharing with you my 3-day Budapest itinerary.
Transportation in the city
Metro: In Budapest the metro is probably the most used means of transportation. Each ticket costs 350Ft, but there are also packs of 10 tickets (3000Ft) or 1-day passes (1650Ft), 4-day passes (4150Ft) or 7-day passes (4950Ft).
Tram: Budapest’s famous yellow trams run more than 40 different lines, line 2 being the best known for running along the banks of the Danube. The passes mentioned for the metro are also valid for the trams and also for buses.
Itinerary
Day 1
On the first day I arrived at the Budapest-Déli train station (I came by train from Vienna) already in the early afternoon, so I left my bags at the accommodation (an Airbnb that I highly recommend for the friendliness of the host, visit here) and started exploring the Pest side of the city.
St. Stephen's Basilica
This is the tallest building in Budapest, at 96m. It is right in the center of the city, so the place will always be quite busy.
Interactive Fountain
A place we discovered by chance on our way to the Parliament. I challenge you to find out how it works and how you can get inside the fountain 😉
Budapest Parliament
Budapest’s most iconic building totally blew me away. It is possible to take a guided tour of the interior, but there are very specific days and times considering the language in which the visit takes place and places are limited, so I recommend researching in advance (more info here).
Bank of the Danube River
The late afternoon was spent walking along the river bank, overlooking the wonderful buildings on the Buda side of the city. I also passed by the Shoes on the Danube Memorial.
Dinner Cruise on the Danube River
After some time walking along the riverbank, I arrived at the embarkation pier where a 4-course dinner cruise on the Danube River with Legenda Cruises was waiting for me (see the full post about this experience here).
After dinner I ended up going straight to the accommodation to rest, since I woke up quite early the next day However, if you have time, take the evening to visit one of Budapest’s famous Ruin Bars.
Day 2
Fisherman's Bastion
On the second day I headed very early to the Fisherman’s Bastion since this was the place I was most excited to photograph and I preferred to visit it before the big crowds arrived. I arrived just before 9am due to some transportation difficulties (google maps recommended the metro, but some stations were actually closed), so I was no longer in time to visit the terraces and towers without paying 
. I opted to stay only in the free zones and even then it was the most beautiful place I visited.
Matthias Church
Right next to the Bastion you can find this beautiful church.
Buda Castle
Still on the Buda side of the city is the Buda Castle or Royal Palace. Within the surrounding area you can explore the castle gardens, visit the Matthias Fountain, the Monument to Prince Eugene of Savoy, among many other statues and monuments.
After visiting the castle I ended up going back to the Pest side for lunch, since I did not take any food with me and in Buda there was not much to offer. But the afternoon started again on the Buda side.
Citadella
The Citadella is the highest point in Budapest with a wonderful view to the Pest side and to the Danube. There are two different climbs: from the Liberty Bridge and from the Elizabeth Bridge (it is also possible to go by public transport, but the route is worth doing on foot). Along the way there are several viewpoints where you can rest and enjoy the view. I went up the stairs by the Elizabeth Bridge and down the Géllert hill, ending up by the Liberty Bridge.
Liberty Bridge
The most beautiful bridge for crossing between the two sides of the city. I crossed the bridge on foot, but it is also possible to do the route in one of the typical yellow trams.
Since this was quite a full day, before going to the next and last spot, I needed some extra energy. Nothing better than the famous chimney cake with ice cream on a very warm day. It was delicious!
Széchenyi Thermal Baths
A great place to relax after a day exploring the city. I stayed right up until closing and it was a great experience. The spa has 3 outdoor pools and 15 indoor pools The prices depend on the day and time, so I’ll leave all the information here. The entrance ticket is valid for the whole day.
Day 3
On the third day the bus back to Vienna (where I caught the plane home) was at the end of the morning, so I only had time to go for breakfast at a very different cafe than usual.
Zoo Café
In the Zoo Café you can come into contact with different animals, such as cats, chameleons, rabbits, turtles, snakes and others, which are rotating through the different tables. To visit this cafe it is necessary to make a prior reservation (they only accept reservations one week in advance), and the arrival and departure time has to be respected. There is also a set of rules for interacting with the animals, so that they are always comfortable.
After that it was time to return to Vienna, but if you have more time in the city I recommend visiting the famous New York Café, the Ferris wheel and the Great Market Hall to buy some souvenirs.
Or you can find other activities to do in Budapest HERE.
Tip: If you have an extra day or more, consider also visiting Vienna, which is only 2h30/3h away from Budapest! Check out my VIENNA GUIDE for more information.
This is how my trip to Budapest ended, it was short but definitely worth it, and I really hope to go back!
I hope this article “How to spend 3 days in Budapest: complete itinerary” helped you to plan your trip to Budapest! Leave your opinion in the comments and follow me on social networks so you don’t miss my next trips. Use #travelplannerholic to get noticed.
With Love,
Catarina Vieira
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