Lady’s Beautiful Guide to 3 Days in Budapest

There’s nothing better than visiting a city with a local. From secret spots to hot spots, they’re in the know. Which is why I’m excited to be in Budapest with a local friend who’s lived here his whole life. I have 3 days in Budapest and he and his girlfriend are showing me and a friend the perfect itinerary.

Budapest

Budapest is right on the Danube, with the hills of Buda on one side and the expanse of Pest on the other. Bridges span the water, a hulking castle watches over the city, and spas dot the landscape. It’s beautiful.

This is my third trip to Budapest, but my last visit was in 2003. I’m excited to be here and see how the city has changed since my previous stays.

I’m also looking forward to getting a local’s view on the city, seeing the sightseeing highlights, and eating all the good food.

Where to Stay in Budapest

We’re staying with our friend on this trip, but as a native he recommends two places to stay in Budapest: Brody House and the Four Seasons.

Brody House is his top pick for a boutique hotel in Budapest. It has design-led rooms and an intimate feel, and he loves its style.

The Four Seasons is his favorite luxury hotel in Budapest. He takes us inside to look around during the trip, and I can see why he recommends it.

The building is an early 20th-century gem located right on the Danube. It’s been beautifully restored and every detail from the wall tiles to the restaurants shows it.

3 Days in Budapest

We’re calling the hills of Buda home for our 3 days in Budapest. As soon as we take in the views of the city, we can tell we’re going to have no problem filling every minute of our time.

From the spectacular architecture of the Hungarian Parliament Building to the pointed church spires on Castle Hill, we want to see everything.

How to Get around Budapest

Our friend has a car, so he’s driving us around while we’re visiting.

But Budapest has an extensive public transport system that includes trams, buses, and a metro, so it’s easy to get around if you don’t have wheels. Taxis are also an option, and there are boat tours as well.

There are bike and scooter rental schemes if you’re feeling adventurous, and walking is a great way to see the city’s beautiful historic architecture up close.

3 Days in Budapest: Day 1

Our 3 days in Budapest start the way any good trip begins: with food. Our friend takes us to brunch at Cinnamon, a stylish cafe that serves all the classic brunch favorites and some creative dishes of its own.

We settle into a table by the window and order everything from waffles with salmon, avocado, and poached eggs to traditional eggs Benedict. One poached egg is solid in the middle, but other than that it all goes down a treat.

When brunch is over, our friend takes us to see a cafe in Budapest that’s remained unchanged for decades. Located near the Danube, Bambi Eszpresszo’s interior is straight out of communist Hungary.

Red chairs and 1960s decor transport us back to a bygone era and remind us how far the city has come since then.

Castle Hill in Budapest

After seeing Bambi, we continue our 3 days in Budapest with sightseeing. There are a lot of amazing things to do in Budapest, and I can’t wait to experience the highlights.

We start by driving over to the banks of the Danube and walking up to Buda Castle through the gardens below it.

Stairs lead the way, and the views of the bridges get better with every step (there’s also a funicular, but we prefer to earn the views).

Once at the top, we spend the afternoon exploring Castle Hill, a long limestone plateau above the Danube. The Buda Castle complex itself is rich in historic architecture and offers more great views over Pest.

Not far from the castle are the famous Matthias Church and Fisherman’s Bastion, two more Budapest landmarks.

The former is a Gothic church with colorful roof tiles, and the latter is a viewpoint with a series of Neo-Romanesque lookout towers.

We take them in, then head to one of the many cafes in the area for a drink before walking along the quieter paths at the back of the hill.

It’s surprising how few people come here, but it’s worth it to see views of Buda and get a break from the crowds.

We spend the rest of our time on Castle Hill walking through the historic streets. We take in the tower of the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene and the cobbled alleys with colorful buildings and little shops.

Restaurants in Budapest

Afterwards, we continue our 3 days in Budapest by walking back down to the Danube to check out Felix. Set in a restored historic building, this riverfront restaurant has a glamorous interior and big outdoor seating area.

In the evening, we head into Pest for dinner at Leila’s. This Lebanese restaurant is one of our friend’s favorites.

We order a table full of mezze, devouring everything from labneh to spinach pie. The food is excellent, and I can see why he thinks it’s a winner.

3 Days in Budapest: Day 2

The next morning our 3 days in Budapest continue with a classic experience: a trip to the spa. No visit to the Hungarian capital is complete without going to one of the city’s famous baths, and we can’t wait to get our fix.

Lukacs Thermal Bath in Budapest

There are a lot of good spas in Budapest (I loved the Gellert Spa on my last trip), but we want to find one that has mixed bathing for women and men.

A number of them offer it on different days of the week, so our friend does some research and decides on the Lukacs Thermal Bath in Budapest.

Right on the river, this Budapest spa is set in a historic building painted bright yellow. It has rows of little private changing cabins where we swap our street clothes for our swimsuits before heading to the pools.

We start indoors, where we do a traditional circuit through three increasingly hot pools. We go to the sauna and steam room afterwards, then repeat the process.

At the end we take a dip in one of the outdoor pools. It has all kinds of jets, whirlpools, and fountains, so we make the rounds to try them all.

We could stay all day soaking and relaxing on the indoor lounge chairs, but after two-and-a-half hours we decide it’s time to move on if we want to see everything we have planned for the day.

Buda Hills

Our 3 days in Budapest continue with a trip to the hills in Buda. Not many visitors make it up this way, so it’s a great local experience.

We have lunch at Ezustponty Vendeglo, where there’s been a restaurant on site since 1876. We sit outside at a sunny table with a red-and-white checkered tablecloth and order traditional fare like goulash and schnitzel.

Afterwards our 3 days in Budapest take us on a drive up to Normafa Park, a huge green space with walking paths and some of the best views of Budapest.

We take a walk through the woods, ending up at Elizabeth Lookout. This round tower offers views of the city for those willing to climb to the top. It’s worth the workout, and the panoramas are stunning.

On the way back down the hill, we stop for traditional Hungarian pastries at a cafe in a free-standing historic building.

Szamos Szepkilatas Cukraszda has a mouth-watering selection of sweet treats. We settle in for thick slices of Esterhazy torta walnut cake and kremes cream pastry in its traditional rooms.

Szamos has other branches in the city center, but it’s a great local experience to be at this one.

Bars in Budapest

In the evening, we head into the city for drinks at a bar our friend says serves the best cocktails in Budapest. Hotsy Totsy is in a busy area in Pest, but it’s tucked away underground on an unassuming side street.

With its rounded brick ceiling, the space feels like a converted cellar. The decor is all modern, and there’s a barber shop in the back where our friend gets his hair cut.

We settle in at the bar and the bartenders ask what spirits and flavors we like. There’s no menu here, but they do the classics and all kinds of cocktails of their own invention.

We sip on everything from basil-and-rose gin cocktails to Pisco Sours. After the first taste, Hotsy Totsy becomes my favorite bar in Budapest.

3 Days in Budapest: Day 3

The next morning our 3 days in Budapest continue with breakfast at Bartok, a cafe near the Freedom Bridge in Buda. We sit outside watching the vintage trams go by as we sip coffees and eat smoked salmon with eggs and horseradish.

Heroes’ Square and Vajdahunyad Castle

After breakfast we head into Pest to visit Heroes’ Square. This Budapest landmark was created at the end of the 19th century to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of the founding of the Hungarian state.

Its statues pay homage to Magyar chieftains and former kings, and it’s surrounded by Neoclassical buildings. One is home to the Museum of Fine Arts, a place I remember loving on my last trip to Budapest.

Next to Heroes’ Square is Vajdahunyad Castle, a 19th-century complex housing examples of architecture from various periods of Hungary’s past. We walk through, taking in everything from the Romanesque to the Renaissance.

We stroll around the surrounding park afterwards, then look at the beautiful facade of the Szechenyi Thermal Bath in Budapest before heading back to Heroes’ Square.

Synagogue and Basilica

For lunch we drive to Dobrumba, a hip restaurant in the 7th district serving food from the Middle East, Mediterranean, and Caucasus.

I tuck into a salad of broccoli with black lentils and labneh while my friends go for pomegranate chicken liver and shakshuka.

From the restaurant our 3 days in Budapest continue as we take in the Dohany Street Synagogue, which is the largest synagogue in Europe. Not far away, we look at St. Stephen’s Basilica, one of the most famous churches in Budapest.

Afterwards we have drinks at a cafe called Platz next to the basilica, then get ready to say good-bye.

What to Do in Budapest in 3 Days

It’s been an amazing 3 days in Budapest and I’ve enjoyed all the sightseeing, food, drinks, and views.

And there’s so much more to the city than what I’ve seen, too. I can’t wait to come back again, and I hope I can discover more with the help of a local.

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