Budapest tours and tickets
Budapest has a few tickets that need booking: Parliament sells English tours a week or more ahead, and the Széchenyi and Gellért baths fill on weekends. A Danube cruise, ruin bar night and the Great Market Hall need nothing in advance. Szentendre, Esztergom and Eger are easy by train, so day trips can wait until you know the weather.
Book these first
- Parliament tour
- a week or more ahead. Tours are timed and limited, and they fill up in peak season.
- Thermal bath tickets
- a few days ahead. Weekends and evenings are busy, and online tickets skip the queue.
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Monuments and landmarks
Hungarian Parliament
The neo-Gothic building on the Pest bank, with guided tours of the grand staircase, the Holy Crown and the domed hall. Tours last about 45 minutes and are timed, in English and other languages. EU citizens and others have different ticket types.
Which to pick. Buy the official ticket as soon as dates are fixed, and choose a morning tour. Sunday and holiday slots go first.
A week or more aheadVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorBuda Castle and Fisherman's Bastion
A walk up Castle Hill takes in the palace, the Matthias Church and the white terraces of the Bastion. The lookout terraces are mostly free, with a fee for the upper level at busy hours. Museums have their own tickets.
Which to pick. Go early to see the Bastion without crowds, then walk down. A guide is not needed for the views.
On the day is fineVisitor guideTours and tickets on ViatorSt Stephen's Basilica
The largest church in the city, with a panorama gallery on the dome. Entry to the church is by a donation or ticket, and the dome has its own time and ticket. Organ concerts are held in the nave.
Which to pick. Go to the panorama in the late afternoon. Combine it with an organ concert if you are staying nearby.
On the day is fineVisitor guideTours and tickets on ViatorDohány Street Synagogue
The largest synagogue in Europe, with a museum, a memorial garden and a cemetery. Entry is by ticket and guided visit, with timed slots that book up in the busy months. It closes on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.
Which to pick. Book a guided visit a few days ahead, and check the closing days. A guide adds a lot here.
A few days aheadTours and tickets on Viator
Experiences and nights out
Széchenyi thermal bath
A huge yellow complex in City Park with outdoor pools, indoor pools and saunas. Tickets come with a locker or a private cabin, and evening sessions are popular.
Which to pick. Buy an entry online for a weekday morning to skip the queue. Bring a towel and flip-flops.
A few days aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorGellért thermal bath
An art nouveau bathhouse inside a hotel on the Buda side, known for its mosaic hall and indoor pools. It is smaller than Széchenyi and has fewer outdoor pools.
Which to pick. Choose it for the architecture. Book a time slot on weekends, since entry is limited.
A few days aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorRuin bar tour
A guided evening in the old Jewish quarter that visits several ruin bars and explains how they started. Tours last about three hours and often include a few drinks.
Which to pick. Join if it is your first night. Otherwise, go alone to Szimpla or a quieter bar nearby.
A day or two aheadTours and tickets on ViatorDanube evening cruise
Boats run under the bridges at night with views of the lit Parliament and the castle. Some include a drink or dinner, and trips last about an hour.
Which to pick. Pick the sunset slot and sit on the upper deck. Dinner cruises are mainly a meal.
On the day is fineTours and tickets on Viator
Food tours and classes
Great Market Hall food tour
A guided walk through the market on Fővám Square, with stops for paprika, sausages, cheese and lángos. Tours last about three hours and end with a meal.
Which to pick. Do it on your first morning, when the stalls are busiest. Skip it if you plan to wander the hall alone.
2 to 4 days aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorHungarian cooking class
A half-day class that makes dishes such as goulash, chicken paprikash and strudel, often with a market stop first. Groups are small and meals are shared.
Which to pick. Choose a morning class that ends with lunch. It suits anyone who wants to cook the dishes at home.
1 to 2 weeks aheadTours and tickets on Viator
Day trips
Szentendre
A small riverside town of galleries, churches and cafés, about 40 minutes by suburban train. Tours add the open-air museum and the Danube Bend.
Which to pick. Go alone by train and wander. Add a tour only if you want the Danube Bend in the same day.
On the day is fineTours and tickets on ViatorEsztergom and Visegrád
The Danube Bend towns with Hungary's largest basilica and a hilltop castle. Boats and buses run in summer, and tours often combine both with a lunch.
Which to pick. Go by boat in summer for the river views. Pick Visegrád if you only have half a day.
A few days ahead for toursOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorEger
A baroque town with a castle and the Valley of the Beautiful Women, known for its red wine. It is about two hours by train, and tours include tastings in the cellars.
Which to pick. Go by train for a relaxed day, or take a tour with a driver if you want to taste wine.
A few days aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
City and museum passes in Budapest
- Budapest CardA card for public transport and free or discounted entry to many museums, baths and tours over a set number of days. It pays off with lots of transport and sights, but not with only one or two visits. Official page
Booking tours and tickets in Budapest
Do I need to book Parliament?
Yes. English tours are limited and sell out a week or more ahead in season. Buy the official ticket online and choose a morning slot.
Which thermal bath should I choose?
Széchenyi is the largest, with outdoor pools and a lively feel. Gellért has the better architecture and is smaller. Choose one and go on a weekday morning.
Can I buy tickets at the door for the baths?
Yes, but queues build on weekends and in winter. Buying online lets you pick a time and skip the line at the ticket office.
Is the Budapest Card worth it?
It suits people who will take trams and metro every day and visit several museums or baths. For two or three sights, single tickets are simpler.
Is a Danube cruise worth it?
Yes, in the evening, when Parliament and the castle are lit. The hour-long boat is enough. Book a dinner cruise only if you want the meal.
What can wait until I arrive?
The Basilica, Buda Castle, the market hall, a cruise and Szentendre can all be bought the same day. Book Parliament and the Synagogue first, then your baths.