Budapest Half Day Itinerary

Budapest Half Day Itinerary

Budapest is a thriving city full of attractions. But with only a half day, you can still see the highlights of the city. Join us on this half day itinerary of Budapest.

It’s no secret that if you want to properly explore the expansive city of Budapest, you’ll probably need at least 3 days. However, if you’re only passing for a half day, you can still manage to tick off some of the city’s highlights.

Half Day Itinerary, Budapest

Keep in mind that if you wish to enter the interior any of these sights, you’ll realistically have to choose just 1 or 2 to stick within the half day timeframe.

Half Day Itinerary, Budapest

Here’s your perfect Budapest self-guided walking tour half-day itinerary!

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St Stephen’s Basilica

St Stephen’s Basilica Exterior, Budapest

Starting from the Pest side of town (Budapest is split between two sides – Buda, and Pest), this marvellous church is one of Budapest’s most recognisable churches.

St Stephen’s Basilica Interior, Budapest

Although striking from the outside, it’s the interior of St Stephen’s Basilica that’s really something quite special.

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Hungarian Parliament Building

Hungarian Parliament Building, Budapest

More than just a place where the Parliament gathers to make decisions about the country, the Hungarian Parliament is an iconic Hungarian landmark due to its epic gothic architecture and sheer size.

Ralph at the Hungarian Parliament Building, Budapest

Gothic architecture of the Hungarian Parliament Building, Budapest

Tours are available if you want to go inside and learn more about this building, but otherwise, walking around it from the outside will still leave you impressed.

Hungarian Parliament Building, Budapest

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Shoes on the Danube Bank

Shoes on the Danube Bank, Budapest

Designed as a memorial to honour Jews who were killed during World War II, the Shoes on the Danube Bank were unveiled in 2005. As you pass through, you can take this moment to remember the tragic loss of lives that occurred here years ago.

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Szechenyi Chain Bridge

Fred at Szechenyi Chain Bridge, Budapest

Budapest’s most well-known bridge offers sweeping views of the Danube River, but walking the Szechenyi Chain Bridge itself is a special experience. You’ll need to cross this bridge to get to the Buda side of town.

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Buda Castle

Buda Castle, Budapest

Funicular to Buda Castle, Budapest

Now that you’ve crossed over to the Buda side, head on over to Buda Castle. You can choose to take a paid funicular up to the castle, or go on a mini-hike.

Views of Budapest from Buda Castle

We would recommend the hike, as it really doesn’t take that long and is easy enough for most people.

Buda Castle, Budapest

After you’re done being impressed by the castle, check out the 360 degree views around you – it’s definitely a view worth remembering!

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Matthias Church

Matthias Church, Budapest

Just a few minutes’ walk from Buda Castle, Matthias Church is an ornately decorated church, famous for its ivory colour and orange accents. This is another one of Budapest’s many beautiful monuments.

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Fisherman’s Bastion

Fisherman’s Bastion, Budapest

Fisherman’s Bastion, Budapest

Possibly the highlight of our time in Budapest, Fisherman’s Bastion is the site for Budapest’s most renowned views.

Fisherman’s Bastion, Budapest

View from Fisherman’s Bastion, Budapest

Apart from its castle-like structure, the Fisherman’s Bastion is a great place to witness the Hungarian Parliament Building, the Chain Bridge and all of Budapest from afar. The view is quite astonishing from up there.

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Szechenyi Thermal Baths

Budapest is well-known for two thermal baths in particular, the Gellert Baths and the Szechenyi Thermal Baths. We visited both, and we have to say that we think Szechenyi Thermal Baths is far superior in terms of value-for-money, aesthetic appeal, cleanliness and location.

Fred at the Szechenyi Thermal Baths

If you’re looking for a thermal spa experience in Budapest, this is it. However, we would recommend going at night for this half-day to maximise daylight at the other attractions. If you have more time, though, the thermal baths are more beautiful in the day time.

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Got more time? You can also add these to your itinerary:

Heroes’ Square

Heroes’ Square, Budapest

A short walk away from the Szechenyi Thermal Baths is Heroes’ Square, a symbolic statue complex featuring important figures in Hungary’s history of leaders.

Vajdahunyad Castle

Vajdahunyad Castle, Budapest

Although not technically a ‘castle’ (the castle was built in 1896 as part of a Millennial Exhibition), this monument became so popular with visitors that it’s carved out its own little slice of history in the city. Vajdahunyad Castle is a fascinating part of Budapest city.

Citadel/Gellert Hill

Gellert Hill at Dusk, Budapest

Citadel, Budapest

The Citadel, which is located on top of Gellert Hill, is quite possibly the best place to take in a view of Budapest city. The highlight of a visit here is seeing all of Budapest’s famous bridges in one panorama.

View from the Citadel, Budapest

The only reason we didn’t include this in our half-day itinerary is that it’s quite far away from everything else on the itinerary. But if you have more time, this is definitely a must-see attraction.

View from the Citadel, Budapest

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Remember to stay safe in Budapest at all times – although the city was beautiful, we did experience a sketchy side to it. Also, be wary of the BKK on Budapest’s metro system. They’re not the nicest, so if you want to use Budapest’s public transport, make sure to read all of the rules (especially regarding ticket validation). However, in general, we would recommend just walking your way through these attractions, just to be safe.

Also read: Which city should you choose – Vienna, Prague, Budapest or Bratislava?

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Did you manage to tick off all the attractions? Did you feel rushed? Let us know how much you enjoyed Budapest in the comments below!