2 Days In Budapest – The Perfect Weekend Itinerary

Last Updated on 16th September 2025

This 2 days in Budapest itinerary contains affiliate links.

Planning a weekend trip to Budapest but not sure where to start? This ultimate 2 days in Budapest itinerary is for you!

Budapest is one of my favourite European cities for a cheap city break. It’s a great place to visit in both the winter and summer months (I’ve been lucky enough to experience Budapest in both seasons) and it’s home to some truly beautiful architecture and delicious food.

In my 2 day Budapest itinerary below, I’m sharing my perfect itinerary for a weekend in Budapest, including what to do, where to eat and what to see!

Please note that the pictures featured throughout this 2 day Budapest itinerary are from my first visit to the city in 2017 when I didn’t realise the importance of taking good travel photos!

BUDAPEST TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
Flights: Skyscanner / Kiwi.com / Expedia / Trip.com
Accommodation: Booking.com / Hostelworld
Transport: Trainline / Interrail Pass / Eurail Pass
eSIM: Airalo
Activities/tours: Get Your Guide / Viator / Klook
Travel insurance: SafetyWing
Reviews: TripAdvisor
My backpacking essentials: Amazon
Budapest City Card

Is 2 days enough to visit Budapest?

If you only have the weekend to spend in Budapest, then 2 days is the perfect amount of time to see the highlights of Budapest such as the Hungarian Parliament Building, Fisherman’s Bastion, Buda Castle and even one of Budapest’s best thermal spas!

Best tours for 2 days in Budapest itinerary

• Take an evening sightseeing cruise (with unlimited prosecco!)
• Go on a Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour with optional cruise and walking tour
• See the city’s highlights on an evening cruise (for less than £10!)
• Head on a bar crawl of Budapest’s best ruin bars with a local guide
• Enjoy an evening of wine, cheese and charcuterie tasting on a local food tour

Budapest 2 day itinerary map

If you’re visiting Budapest for a weekend, check out my 2 day Budapest itinerary map to help you plan your route!

2 days in Budapest itinerary summary

• Hungarian Parliament Building
• Shoes on the Danube
• Gellért Thermal Bath
• River cruise on the Danube
• Central Market Hall
• Fisherman’s Bastion
• Buda Castle
• St Stephen’s Basilica
• Chain Bridge

Day 1 – 2 days in Budapest itinerary

The first day of this 2 day Budapest itinerary includes lots of delicious food, plenty of sightseeing opportunities and the chance to explore many of the city’s most historic and important sights.

Breakfast at the New York Cafe

Begin your 2 days in Budapest with breakfast at the New York Cafe. Since my visit to the famous cafe back in 2017, I’ve heard mixed reviews about it, but I personally loved everything about our visit!

The food was really delicious (albeit a tad expensive for Budapest standards) and the interior of the cafe is absolutely stunning! It’s often cited as the “most beautiful cafe in the world” and I can definitely see why; it really is breathtaking!

Budapest Jewish Quarter/ Dohány Street Synagogue

Once you’ve enjoyed a delicious breakfast, head into Budapest’s Jewish Quarter to explore some of the city’s vibrant history.

The best way to ensure that you see and learn as much as possible in the Jewish Quarter of Budapest is by taking a guided walking tour.

This Jewish heritage guided tour with Synagogue entrance ticket includes a visit to the Dohany Street Synagogue, the Jewish Museum, the Holocaust Cemetery, and the Raoul Wallenberg Memorial Park. It’s a great way to learn about the history of the neighbourhood, while seeing some of the city’s top sights!

Alternatively, you can miss the guided tour and book skip-the-line tickets to the Great Synagogue (Dohany Street Synagogue) instead so that you can explore the magnificent grounds of one of the city’s most notable buildings.

St. Stephen’s Basilica – 2 days in Budapest

From the Dohany Street Synagogue, it’s just a short 15-minute walk to St. Stephen’s Basilica, which is another one of the most beautiful buildings in Budapest.

It costs 2,000 HUF (approximately £4.45) to go inside and explore the basilica, or you can pay 3,200 HUF (approximately £7) to climb to the top of the dome to enjoy wonderful views of the city.

Shoes on the Danube Bank

Another 15-minute walk takes you along the River Danube to one of Budapest’s most harrowing and important sites; the Shoes on the Danube Bank.

This memorial consists of 60 pairs of shoes sculpted out of iron and is a dedication to the thousands of Jewish people who were brutally murdered by the Arrow Cross during World War II.

It’s a very sombre part of the city, but it’s a place that’s incredibly important to see while spending 2 days in Budapest as it serves as a memorial for all the people that tragically lost their lives.

The Hungarian Parliament Building

When I first saw the Hungarian Parliament Building while spending 2 days in Budapest, I couldn’t believe just how incredibly beautiful it was! It’s probably still one of my favourite buildings in the world as it’s hard to comprehend just how huge and spectacular it is!

It’s the largest building in the country and it’s also the seat of the National Assembly of Hungary, as well as a popular tourist attraction.

You can take a guided tour of the Hungarian Parliament Building to see the crown jewels and the Hungarian Holy Crown, as well as the session room of the parliament.

Boat across the river

After touring the impressive Hungarian Parliament Building, you can take a boat across the Danube River to the Buda side of the city (Budapest is split into two parts by the River Danube; Buda and Pest!).

You can get a local boat to take you directly across the river for a couple of euros or you can take advantage of the many sightseeing cruises along the Danube. I’ve recommended an excellent evening cruise on day 2 below, but this Daytime Sightseeing Cruise is another great option so can see the city’s top sights from the river during the day.

Castle Hill – 2 days in Budapest

Once you’re on the Buda side of the river, you can walk to the top of Castle Hill to explore the astonishing sights and take in the remarkable views of the city.

Fisherman’s Bastion

Fisherman’s Bastion is one of the most notable attractions in Budapest and is 100% worth visiting during your 2 days in Budapest.

The present day lookout towers offer unbelievable views of the city, but the entire area of Fisherman’s Bastion is worth exploring because it’s such a beautiful and photogenic part of the city.

Matthias Church

Matthias Church also resides at the top of Castle Hill, just next to Fisherman’s Bastion and this beautiful 13th century church should definitely be on your itinerary for 2 days in Budapest as it’s one of the most beautiful churches in the country!

Széchenyi Chain Bridge

Once you’ve spent an hour or two exploring Castle Hill and its many sights, head back down to the city and make your way across the famous Széchenyi Chain Bridge.

The bridge spans the River Danube and connects the Buda and Pest sides of the city. If you’re visiting Budapest in winter, it might already be dark by the time you head to the bridge, which is arguably even more beautiful at night!

Dinner at Tom George Osteria

Back over on the Pest side of the city, you can head for dinner at one of my favourite restaurants in Budapest; Tom George Osteria.

Tom George Osteria primarily specialises in Italian food. We had the most delicious pizzas and cocktails here when we spent 2 days in Budapest, but they also have other things such as homemade pasta, steak, seafood and salads on the extensive menu.

Day 2 – Budapest itinerary for 2 days

The second day of your 48 hours in Budapest includes a visit to one of the city’s most esteemed thermal baths, as well as more delicious food and epic sights!

Start your day at the Central Market Hall

Begin day 2 of your Budapest itinerary at the city’s beloved Central Market Hall where you can take a 1.5-hour guided tour to sample local delicacies and learn all about the history of the market!

The Market Hall dates back to 1897 and there are three huge floors full of local produce to explore! It’s a great way to start the day!

Gellért Thermal Baths

Once you’ve sampled some of the local delicacies, head over the river to Buda to spend a few hours at the Gellért Thermal Baths.

Budapest is famed for its numerous thermal baths and while Széchenyi Thermal Baths might be the most popular option in the city, I personally prefer Gellért.

The thermal baths are an excellent activity to enjoy in Budapest in winter as they provide a relaxing respite from the cold outside. They’re also fun to visit in the summer months if you’re looking to enjoy a relaxing 2 days in Budapest.

A day ticket (with locker usage) costs 9,400 HUF (approximately £21) from Monday to Thursday and 10,900 HUF (approximately £24.50) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There are also additional spa services such as massages, facials and pedicures that you can take advantage of for an additional cost.

Gellért Hill/Citadella

After spending a few hours relaxing in the thermal baths and swimming pool at the Gellért Thermal Bath, you can walk the short distance to the top of Gellért Hill to take in the views of Budapest from the Citadella.

The Citadella is a fortification located at the highest point of Budapest, so it provides some of the best views in the city. It’s a bit of a walk to the top, but once you’re there, you’re treated to a remarkable vantage point of Budapest!

Buda Castle – 2 days in Budapest itinerary

Buda Castle is another top spot that should be included on your 2 day Budapest itinerary as it’s another beautiful sight in the city.

The castle is home to numerous attractions, including the Budapest History Museum, the Hungarian National Gallery and many more! You can enjoy free entrance to most of the museums and exhibitions located within the castle complex with the Budapest Card!

Dinner at Comme Chez Soi

Once your thirst for knowledge has been satisfied, head back over the river to pay a visit to one of my favourite restaurants in the world; Comme Chez Soi!

The dinner we ate at Comme Chez Soi during our 2 days in Budapest is one of the most memorable meals we’ve ever had! The staff were incredibly accommodating and friendly and the food was absolutely divine!

Matt had the breaded veal fillet and I had the garlic pork medallion and then we shared the chocolate sponge cake for dessert and honestly, this is one of the best meals of my life! They also have dozens of other delicious dishes on the menu, such as pasta, pizza, red wine beef stew, salmon fillet, mussels, French onion soup and much more!

It’s not the cheapest place to eat in Budapest, with most meat/seafood dishes costing around £17, but pizza and pasta dishes are more reasonably priced at around £8. Even though it’s not the most affordable restaurant in Budapest, I promise that it’s 100% worth the money!

Evening sightseeing cruise on the Danube River

To conclude your 2 days in Budapest, I would highly recommend taking an Evening Sightseeing Cruise (with unlimited prosecco!) along the Danube River.

Seeing Budapest at night as you cruise along the river is one of the most memorable things you can do in the city and at less than £22 per person, it’s pretty affordable as well!

Where to stay in Budapest

When we first visited Budapest, we stayed at a truly gorgeous hotel right in the city centre that has since closed down, but there are still hundreds of beautiful hotels in Budapest to choose from!

• Budget: easyHotel Budapest Oktogon
• Mid-range: Hotel Zenit Budapest Palace
• Luxury: Prestige Hotel Budapest

Is Budapest an expensive city?

Compared to many capital cities in Europe, Budapest is relatively cheap! You can get delicious food and drink for less than €10 in many spots and there are plenty of free and cheap activities to enjoy in the city, as well as super affordable accommodation options, so you don’t have to spend a fortune to visit Budapest!

Which is better – Prague or Budapest?

This is a really tricky question for me to answer because I love both cities so much! I think I personally love Prague a bit more than Budapest, but it’s super difficult to say as they’re both super cheap, full of so much gorgeous architecture and an abundance of history, as well as so many bars and restaurants!

2 days in Budapest itinerary – conclusion

I hope you’ve found this 2 days in Budapest itinerary useful for planning your own trip!

Spending a weekend in Budapest is definitely something that I recommend if you’re looking for an affordable European city break!

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Pin for later – Budapest weekend itinerary

Have you ever spent a weekend in Budapest? Has this itinerary inspired you to book 2 days in Budapest? Let me know in the comments or on Instagram at @imjustagirl_16.