About Budapest
Budapest is the capital and most populous city of Hungary. It is Hungary's primate city with 1.7 million inhabitants and its greater metro area has a population of about 3.3 million, representing one-third of the country's population and producing more than 40% of the country's economic output. Budapest is the political, economic, and cultural center of the country, among the ten largest cities in the European Union and the second largest urban area in Central and Eastern Europe. Budapest stands on the River Danube and is strategically located at the center of the Pannonian Basin, lying on ancient trade routes linking the hills of Transdanubia with the Great Plain.
Cheap flights to Budapest
The lowest round-trip fare found by Destina Holidays travellers in the last 30 days was $543 from Toronto, travelling 27 Oct – 25 Nov. These are the cheapest fares from the most searched cities.
- NYC New York to Budapest27 Oct – 4 Nov · BUD from$747
- YYZ Toronto to Budapest27 Oct – 25 Nov · BUD from$543
- LAX Los Angeles to Budapest11 Nov – 25 Nov · BUD from$827
- WAS Washington to Budapest26 Oct – 10 Nov · BUD from$650
- BOS Boston to Budapest10 Nov – 20 Nov · BUD from$905
- MIA Miami to Budapest20 Apr – 29 Apr · BUD from$1,012
- ORD Chicago to Budapest6 Apr – 20 Apr · BUD from$830
- SFO San Francisco to Budapest9 Nov – 23 Nov · BUD from$915
Cheapest month to fly
Airlines travellers compared most often: Aer Lingus, Austrian Airlines, Air Canada, Swiss International Air Lines, KLM, Finnair.
Prices are per adult in US dollars, taken from searches between 20 Sep and 20 Oct 2026. Fares change often, so search your dates for live prices.
Search flights to BudapestPlaces to visit in Budapest
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Hungarian Parliament Building
LandmarkThe neo-Gothic parliament on the Danube bank is the city's most recognizable building. Guided tours visit the grand staircase, the domed hall and the Holy Crown of Hungary.
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Buda Castle
HistoricThe royal palace complex on Castle Hill houses the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum. The terraces give sweeping views over the river to Pest.
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Fisherman's Bastion
ViewpointFairy-tale white terraces and turrets beside Matthias Church on Castle Hill. It is one of the best spots to photograph the Parliament across the Danube.
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Szechenyi Thermal Bath
Entertainment · 2 mi from centreA large neo-baroque spa complex in City Park with outdoor and indoor pools fed by thermal springs. Soaking in the steaming outdoor pools is a classic Budapest experience in any season.
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St. Stephen's Basilica
ReligiousThe city's largest church, with a richly decorated interior and the relic of King Stephen's right hand. Climb to the dome balcony for a 360-degree view of Pest.
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Great Market Hall
MarketA grand covered market with a colorful tiled roof at the end of Vaci Street. Find paprika, salami and produce downstairs and food stalls and crafts on the upper floor.
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Andrassy Avenue
Neighborhood · 2 mi from centreAn elegant boulevard lined with mansions, the Hungarian State Opera and the House of Terror museum. It runs out to Heroes' Square and City Park.
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Gellert Hill
ViewpointA green hill rising above the Danube topped by the Citadella and the Liberty Statue. Walking paths lead up to excellent views of the bridges and both halves of the city.
Things to do in Budapest by type
100 tours, tickets and experiences across 10 categories. Pick a type to see what is available for your dates.
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City tours 39 experiences Alternative Budapest - Small Group Walking Tour -
Cruise & Water Tours 27 experiences 50-Minute Sightseeing Danube Cruise with Audio Guide -
Art & culture 17 experiences Brunch Cruise on the Danube River -
Gastronomy & nightlife 16 experiences An Evening of Wine, Food and History in Budapest’s Palace District -
Spa & Wellness 11 experiences Csillaghegyi Arpad Thermal Baths - Ticket -
Tickets & Attraction Passes 8 experiences Big Bus Budapest Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour -
Shows, sports and special events 6 experiences Danube River Cruise with Operetta and Folklore show -
Day Trips & Excursions 5 experiences Brunch Cruise on the Danube River -
Tour & activities 5 experiences Budapest Night Small Group Walking Tour & Legenda Danube River Cruise with Welcome Drink -
Zoo, Aquarium & Nature 2 experiences Lake Balaton Tour
- 1-3 hours 15
- 3-6 hours 13
- Flexible 10
- Up to 1 hour 6
- Over 6 hours 4
- Couples 26
- Senior 25
- Youth 22
- Families 21
- Families with kids 2
- Adult only 1
- Private 15
- Small group 8
- Shore excursions 1
- Skip the line 1
Top experiences in Budapest
Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays, from 100 available.
Buda Castle District and Matthias Church - Small Group Walking Tour
From $57 per adult
Budapest All In One Small Group Walking Tour with Strudel Stop
From $77 per adult
Budapest Grand City Tour and Parliament
From $76 per adult
Széchenyi Thermal Bath Admission and Danube River Dinner Cruise with Live Music
From $133 per adult
Danube Cruise with Welcome Drink
From $19 per adult
Dandár - Thermal Bath
From $24 per adult
Danube River Cruise with Live Music and Optional Dinner
From $48 per adult
Private Sightseeing Tour of Budapest
From $245 per adult
Big Bus Budapest Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour
From $45 per adult
Danube River Cruise with Budapest City Tour
From $54 per adult
Danube Bend Tour
From $84 per adult
City Sightseeing Budapest Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
From $45 per adult
Where to stay in Budapest
Popular hotels in Budapest, out of 448 properties you can book.
NH Budapest City
From $98 per night
Ibis Budapest Stadium
From $57 per night
Opera Garden & Apartments Hotel
From $94 per night
Mystery Hotel Budapest, Preferred Hotels & Resorts
From $160 per night
City Hotel Matyas
From $81 per night
Tribe Budapest Stadium
From $88 per night
Leonardo Hotel Budapest
From $108 per night
NH Collection Budapest City Center
From $100 per night
Residence Regnum
From $96 per night
Aria Hotel Budapest by Library Hotel Collection
From $378 per night
Hotel Museum Budapest
From $118 per night
Hotel Central Basilica
From $208 per night
Best time to visit Budapest
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Budapest is May to June and September, when average daytime highs are around 70–83°F and rain falls on about 9 days a month.
Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.
Budapest weather forecast
- Wed 21 Oct 70° 49° 59%
- Thu 22 Oct 60° 47° 94%
- Fri 23 Oct 57° 41° 5%
- Sat 24 Oct 57° 39° 12%
- Sun 25 Oct 61° 41° 26%
- Mon 26 Oct 51° 47° 52%
Know before you go
- Currency
- Hungarian forint (HUF)1 US dollar ≈ Ft324
- Language
- Hungarian
- Calling code
- +36
- Driving
- On the right
- Time zone
- Europe/BudapestUTC+2
Upcoming public holidays in Hungary
- 1956 Revolution Memorial DayNemzeti ünnep
- All Saints DayMindenszentek
- Christmas DayKarácsony
- St. Stephen's DayKarácsony másnapja
- New Year's DayÚjév
- 1848 Revolution Memorial DayNemzeti ünnep
Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.
Getting to Budapest
These are the airports closest to central Budapest. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.
- BUD Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport11 mi (18 km) from the city centre
Getting around Budapest
Orientation is not a big problem in Budapest. The river Danube splits the city into two areas: Buda and Pest. Aside from the very centre, the city's structure is quite logical. Landmarks in Buda as the Royal Castle or Citadella Castle also help you to find your way. Besides the Danube, the best reference points for orienting yourself are the bridges crossing the river. From north to south, they are:
On foot
Many of Budapest's highlights are easy to approach walking, and in the centre you find more pedestrian zones from year to year. Car drivers tend to respect pedestrians and often give advantage on a cross-walk even if there is no traffic light. Due to the lack of bike lanes, cyclists have to weave around pedestrian traffic; be prepared.
Public transport
You'll find several points of interest within walking distance, but Budapest is a sizeable city, so unless you drive your own car (or bicycle), you will inevitably use some form of public transport. The good news is that the urban area is well covered by four metro lines, blue urban buses, yellow trams and red trolley-buses, and the whole system is fairly easy to understand.
Tickets and passes
If you intend to travel a lot, and you probably will, travel cards are far less expensive than single tickets. As of June 2025 most useful tickets and travel cards for tourists include the following:
Budapest travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit Budapest?
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Budapest is May to June and September, when average daytime highs are around 70–83°F and rain falls on about 9 days a month.
What is the weather like in Budapest?
August is usually the warmest month in Budapest, with average highs of 86°F (30°C). December is the coolest, with average lows of 34°F (1°C). The wettest month is typically May, with about 79 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Budapest?
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) is the closest airport, about 11 miles (18 km) from the centre of Budapest.
How much are flights to Budapest?
The cheapest round-trip fare Destina Holidays travellers found to Budapest in the last 30 days was $543 from Toronto, travelling 27 Oct – 25 Nov. October is currently the cheapest month to fly, with fares from $543.
What currency is used in Budapest?
Budapest uses the Hungarian forint (HUF). At the latest exchange rate, 1 US dollar ≈ Ft324.
What time zone is Budapest in?
Budapest uses the Europe/Budapest time zone (currently UTC+2). Remember to check for daylight saving changes when planning connecting flights.
How do I get around Budapest?
Orientation is not a big problem in Budapest. The river Danube splits the city into two areas: Buda and Pest. Aside from the very centre, the city's structure is quite logical. Landmarks in Buda as the Royal Castle or Citadella Castle also help you to find your way.
What are the best places to visit in Budapest?
Top sights in Budapest include Hungarian Parliament Building, Buda Castle, Fisherman's Bastion and Szechenyi Thermal Bath. The neo-Gothic parliament on the Danube bank is the city's most recognizable building. Guided tours visit the grand staircase, the domed hall and the Holy Crown of Hungary.
What are the top things to do in Budapest?
Popular experiences you can book in Budapest include Buda Castle District and Matthias Church - Small Group Walking Tour, Budapest All In One Small Group Walking Tour with Strudel Stop and Budapest Grand City Tour and Parliament. Destina Holidays offers 100 tours and activities here.
What kinds of tours and activities can I book in Budapest?
The most popular types of experiences in Budapest are city tours (39), cruise & water tours (27), art & culture (17) and gastronomy & nightlife (16). Filter by type when you search to compare prices and availability for your dates.
Where should I stay in Budapest?
Popular areas for hotels in Budapest include Budapest. Well-reviewed options include NH Budapest City and Ibis Budapest Stadium.
How many hotels can I book in Budapest?
Destina Holidays currently lists 448 properties in and around Budapest, from budget stays to luxury hotels. Search your dates to see live prices and availability.
