Home Itineraries Budapest in two days
Budapest in two days
Two days go a long way if you put them in the right order. Day one is for getting your bearings: walk, go up to Buda and catch the river as the light goes. Day two is for the thermal baths and the city after dark. Do the tiring things first and the relaxing ones after.
Day 1: the city from above, then the river
Morning, on foot
Start on foot. The walking tour in Spanish is the easiest way to get your bearings on day one: by the end you know which bank is Buda, which is Pest, and what you want to go back to. There is no set price: you leave a contribution for the guide at the end, and the platform shows the recommended amount when you book.
If you would rather not walk that much, swap the morning walk and the afternoon castle tour for All in Budapest: one long half day that covers it all in one go. It is built for a first day.
Fit here
- Walking tour in Spanish2.5 hoursBooked on GuruWalk
- All in Budapest3.5 hoursTalk directly to the tour guide
Afternoon, up the hill
After lunch, go up. The castle tour takes you up to the heights of Buda, with views over the river. In afternoon light you see at a glance how the Danube splits the city in two.
You request it on WhatsApp, talking directly to the tour guide, who takes the request and confirms it; the tour is run by EZRaider Budapest with its own staff, and the departure time is confirmed in the reply.
Fits here
- Buda Castle2 hoursTalk directly to the tour guide
Sunset, on the water
End the day on the river. The Danube cruise is the classic that is actually worth it, but timing changes everything: the last departure in daylight is nothing like the first one after dark. Sunset is around a quarter to nine in June and just before four in December, so check sunset for your date and pick the departure that has you on the water right then.
Fits here
- Danube river cruise1 hourBooked on GetYourGuide
Day 2: the baths and the city lit up
Morning, the baths
Day two starts at the Széchenyi Baths in City Park (Városliget), on the Pest side. There are three outdoor pools (the thermal one is at 38 °C) and it opens every day of the year. Go early with a ticket bought on its website: when the bath is full, online tickets get priority.
Two things that spare you an awkward moment at the door: since 1 August 2025 nobody under 14 gets in, not even in the outdoor pools, and the ticket desks do not take euros. If you are travelling with children, first check which baths accept children and which do not.
Fits here
- Széchenyi BathsBooked on GetYourGuide
Midday, the avenue
Heroes' Square is a short walk away, at the entrance to the same park. The Heroes' Square tour rides along the wide avenue up to the monument, with no walking and no rush. It fits right after the baths, when your legs are asking for very little.
Fits here
- Heroes' Square and City Park2 hoursTalk directly to the tour guide
Afternoon, something indoors
The afternoon is for a visit indoors. Tickets for the Parliament tour often sell out weeks ahead, especially in summer: if you want it, buy it before you travel. If there are none left, the Central Market Hall is an easy alternative, as long as you go Monday to Saturday: it is closed on Sundays and public holidays, and on Saturdays it shuts at 3 pm.
Fits here
- Parliament entry ticketBooked on GetYourGuide
Evening, the city lit up
Finish with the cruise if you did not make it on day one: the city lit up from the water, with fewer people than at sunset. On a short trip, one cruise is enough.
Fits here
- Danube river cruise1 hourBooked on GetYourGuide
Practical tips
What to buy before you travel. The Parliament ticket and the Széchenyi ticket. The first sells out; the second gets priority when the bath is full. Everything else can be decided once you are there.
Forints and a card. Hungary uses the forint. Széchenyi does not take euros: the machines at the entrance take cards only, and cash is accepted only at the ticket desks of the steam entrance, the one next to the metro.
Swimming cap. At Széchenyi a swimming cap is compulsory in the pools marked with a pictogram, and nothing else on your head counts as one. Pack it.
The tours are requested, not paid here. The EZRaider tours (Buda Castle, Parliament and Margaret Island, Heroes' Square and City Park, and All in Budapest) are requested through Tours Guide Budapest: the tour guide checks the time and availability with the operator and gets back to you. Nothing is paid on this site and no card details are entered anywhere.
From the airport. If you still do not know how you will get into town, look at the transfer page before you land: it is the first thing you book, and the least clearly explained.