Budapest, as a city, is an extremely affordable destination. However, as we started our research into what to see and do on a Budapest city break, we quickly realized how easily a budget Budapest trip could go bust. Almost every tourist attraction charges an entry fee – some upwards of nearly $20 USD. We set our daily Budapest budget at $75 total per day for our 11 day stay, so we had to get a little creative to discover things to do in Budapest on a budget.
The first thing we had to do to ensure our Budapest travel budget stayed intact was cross off a few of the pricey activities. Paying $23 each to tour the Parliament Building just didn’t fit into our budget for Budapest. We also eliminated entrance into Matthias Church ($6) and the Great Synagogue ($15.50) – and, since we’re not museum people, we crossed all of those off our list, too. (However, if these are top Budapest attractions on your must-see Budapest list, we suggest considering the Budapest Card to see if it will save you money!) Once we whittled our list down to what we actually wanted to see and do, we researched affordable alternatives to the mainstream tourist offerings.
Things to do in Budapest on a Budget
See the sights on foot
While entry into the sights can be pricey, viewing the beautiful architecture from the outside is one of the completely free things to do in Budapest. We mapped out the buildings and neighborhoods we wanted to see and then grouped them together into manageable walks. (See below for details and tips on 5 Budapest Self-Guided Walks.)
For a lengthy yet enjoyable walk with views and changing perspectives, zigzag across the four bridges (Margaret, Chain, Elizabeth and Liberty) that span the Danube in the heart of Budapest. Taking in the sights on foot is a good way to see the city and adds zero euros to a Budapest trip cost.
Thermal Baths
Partaking in the thermal baths of Budapest have become an iconic activity for visitors, but the experience can add to the overall Budapest travel cost. The two most popular baths – Szechenyi and Gellert – charge about $21 USD to visit their baths. However, a trip to Lukacs Thermal Baths provides a low budget Budapest bath experience, with an offer for a short 2-hour visit for just $10 USD.
Budapest 3-Day Itinerary
Opera House
As budget travelers, we rarely consider attending cultural events like an Opera. However, we heard that tickets to the Opera in Budapest can be downright cheap – and it’s the truth. Our upper balcony seats cost $2 USD (yep, that’s right: just 2 bucks!). And, since it wasn’t sold out, we got upgraded to the main floor (sixth row!) at no extra cost. Considering that a 45 minute tour of the Opera House costs $15 USD, we found this to be the budget Hungary deal of the trip.
Danube River Cruise
Several tour companies offer boat cruises on the Danube River, but they tend to be a bit more than we are prepared to pay (although, not all are overpriced, per se). Since we were willing to forego the narration, we hopped on the city commuter boat that only charges $2.50 USD for the 45 minute ride – which barely impacted our overall Budapest travel cost.
For a roundtrip experience, we boarded at Margaret Bridge on the Pest side, rode south to Liberty Bridge, disembarking again on the Pest side and rode the historic #2 tram ($1.25/ticket) back to the city center.
Note: There are two types of ferry boats: one is fully enclosed, the other one has an open air upper deck, which provides the better experience.
Parks
Looking for free things in Budapest? There are three parks that are easily accessible from the center of Budapest: City Park, Margaret’s Island and Gellert Hill. Each park has a plethora of trails, sights and green space for walking, lounging or picnicking.
Speaking of picnicking, it’s a great way to save on your Hungary budget! There are plenty of cheap restaurants in Budapest, but a trip to the grocery store or the Market Hall Budapest can cut down your Budapest cost per day.
Monuments, Statues and Squares
Budapest is dotted with monuments, statues and squares. We could hardly walk the city streets without running into thought-provoking monuments, playful statues or small, bench-lined city escapes. The most moving monument for us was the Holocaust Monument along the Danube River (north of Chain Bridge on the Pest side). Bronze shoes mark the spot where, in 1944, the Arrow Cross shot Jews to death and let their bodies fall into the river to be washed away.
Budapest on a Budget Tips
Food and Drinks
Food options are almost endless, ranging from expensive and touristy to cheap eats in Budapest. Twice we had sit-down meals of traditional Hungarian food and were surprised to find the cost of eating out in Budapest was affordable. Entrees (main meals) were about $7 USD (as usual, the more touristy the place, the higher the price). However, for the best cheap eats in Budapest, we opted for take-away from the grab-and-go windows. Kebabs were our meal of choice, never costing more than $2.50, but we also indulged in burritos and pizza (large slices for about 75 cents).
For a taste of something sweet, the local bakeries outside of the city center were the way to go. Traditional cakes, by the slice, were about $1 each and baked fresh using handed down recipes. Budapest food prices at the The Great Market Hall were not as inexpensive as other places around town, but still affordable.
Beer and wine always add a bit to the budget, but we are willing to pay for it. The price of beer in Budapest is about $2 a glass (for local, mass produced) – and wine by the glass costs about the same. Craft beer costs at least double – but is well worth the upcharge in our opinion and we made room in our daily budget for Budapest to imbibe. Our favorite places for the good stuff were: Jonas, Kandallo and Only Good Beer.
All around Budapest there are spectacular vistas, walkways with benches and green parks – and eating and drinking in these spaces is completely acceptable. Save on Budapest expenses and grab food-to-go and beer from the grocery store for cheap and fun dining experiences.
DEDICATED POST ON Craft Beer Budapest: 9 Bars Serving Local Hungarian Beer
5 Budapest Self-Guided Walking Tours
Spending money in Budapest on tours isn’t necessary. Explore the city on your own self-guided walking tours to save on the cost of travel in Budapest.
Walk 1: Parliament to Chain Bridge
Sights: Parliament Building, Liberty Square (Szabadsag ter), St. Istvan’s Basilica, Zrinyi Street and Chain Bridge.
Tips: The café in the middle of Liberty Square is surprisingly affordable. Visitng St. Istvan’s is one the free things to do in Budapest (they do accept donations), but it costs to go up the tower.
Click here for a map to Budapest sights from Parliament to Chain Bridge.
Walk 2: Castle Hill
Sights: Matthias Church, Fisherman’s Bastion, Mary Magdalene Church, Royal Palace.
Tips: Skip the funicular ($5 USD one way) and hike up; it is a fairly short walk. Don’t pay the fee for Fisherman’s Bastion; there are plenty of viewpoints from Fisherman’s Bastion that are free – like directly across from Matthias Church. At the arched entrance into the Royal Palace courtyard, on the right, is a small and informative display of the history of the castle – and it’s free.
Click here for a map to the sights on Castle Hill in Budapest.
Walk 3: Jewish Quarter
Sights: The Great Market Hall, The Great Synagogue, Rumbach Synagogue, Kazinczy Synagogue and monuments.
Tips: Entrance fees are charged at all of the synagogues, but free to look at from the outside…and quite beautiful.
Click here for a map to Budapest Jewish Quarter sights.
Walk 4: Oktogon to the Danube River
Sights: Opera House, Erzsebet Ter, Deak Ferenc Utca, Vigado Ter.
Tips: It is free to enter – and gander – at the gold flecked Opera House lobby, but tickets in the cheap seats are an awesome value for the money!
Click here for a map to sights from Oktogon to the Danube River.
Walk 5: Budapest at night.
Sights: St. Istvan’s Basilica, Chain Bridge, Royal Palace, Matthias Church, Fisherman’s Bastion and Parliamet.
Tips: After the sun goes down, the iconic monuments of Budapest are bathed in spotlights. Walking along the river in a loop from Margaret Bridge to Chain Bridge (and crossing both bridges) provides fabulous views – and doesn’t add a single dime to your Budapest cost of travel!
Click here for a map from Margaret Bridge to Chain Bridge.
Our Top Tips for Budapest on a Budget
Budapest Currency: Hungarian Forint (HUF) | Currency Converter
Budapest Low Budget Tips
- The public transportation in Budapest keeps the city well-connected. Click here for information and cost of BKV modes of transportation; or catch a ride on the Big Bus Budapest, which makes stops at all the top tourist sights!
- If you are planning to visit the top Budapest sights and using public transportation, a Budapest Card provides Budapest discounts to the top sights.
Where to Stay in Budapest
We, once again, relied on our go-to option of Airbnb.com to secure accommodations – and we weren’t disappointed. Located in District Six, we were well within walking distance to the sights. Our high-ceilinged, bright apartment had one large room with a separate kitchen and bath – and only cost $34 a night. (Use this link to join Airbnb and save money on your first stay!)
The best place to stay in Budapest is in the heart of the city within walking distance to sights – and there are many cheap apartments in Budpest city centre. We have found that staying in apartments is often less expensive than hotel rooms – with the added benefit of a kitchen and, usually, more space. Budapest holiday apartments can also be searched on FlipKey (which is part of TripAdvisor) or on VRBO – Vacation Rentals By Owner.
However, for those who prefer staying in traditional accommodations, there are many Budapest hotels to choose from in – or close to – the city center. Check out these top-rated hotels (based on guest reviews!) for your upcoming trip: Hotel Moments Budapest, Callas House and Aria Hotel Budapest. Or, find a deal on a hotel room by bidding on Priceline.
Budget travelers can search for Budapest Hostels – like Georges, Metropolis Hostel and Flow Hostel. For a true bargain – and a unique experience – search for hosts on Couchsurfing, where travelers stay with locals for free.
Getting There
Budapest can be reached by plane, train, bus or European River Cruise. We arrived by train (Ljubljana to Budapest) and departed via plane.
Our preferred method of getting anywhere is by flying (we are JetSetting Fools, after all!) and when we do need to purchase plane tickets, we start our search for the best deals on airline tickets on Skyscanner or Flight Hub.
To get from city to city when flights are not possible, we usually rely on public transportation and take trains or buses. In Europe, we use Rail Europe to find train tickets and our preferred bus company is FlixBus – as it is economical, clean and comfortable with on-board wifi, seat-back entertainment, refreshments and a toilet. We aren’t keen on driving abroad, but renting a car can often save time and money (especially when traveling with more than two people) – and it allows for greater discovery.
Before You Go
- Budapest is a walkable city…but only if you have the right shoes! Don’t forget to pack a pair of lightweight and comfortable walking shoes for your trip. I (Sarah) have traveled with these shoes by Columbia, Skechers and Reef. Kris prefers wearing these shoes by Merrell and Sanuk.
- We’re certain you’ll be snapping tons of photos during your trip. Rather than relying on your mobile phone to capture the sights, upgrade to an actual camera for higher quality photos (that can later be beautifully compiled into a travel photo book). We travel with a Canon Rebel (which takes amazing photos, but can be a bit clunky) and a Canon PowerShot ELPH (which takes beautiful pictures, is slim and lightweight – and the new models are wifi enabled so you can share your trip pics to social media in real time!).
- It’s easy to get turned around in any foreign city! Make sure to have a good city map and/or guidebook before arriving.
- We think travel insurance is essential! If you haven’t already obtained travel insurance for your trip, travel protected with World Nomads.
Start planning your trip to Budapest! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing! Want more travel planning tips? Head over to our Travel Planning page for more information and tips on traveling – and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides page!
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