Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is able to give tourists an unforgettable experience. Its many sights can be explored for a long time. If you are traveling on a tourist program, you will be accompanied by an experienced guide. But if you are a free tourist, then you will probably ask yourself: what to see in Budapest in 3 days on your own?

How to get from the airport to the center

First of all, from the airport you need to get to the city center. The most economical way is to use public transport. There is a stop near the exit from terminal 2B. From here you can take bus 200E to the subway. The station is called Kobanya-Kispest. Buses operate from 4 am to 11 pm. The journey will take about half an hour. It is also easy to get a taxi right at the airport. The minimum cost is from 8 euros. It is better to book a car with a company of 3-4 people and share the fare for the trip for everyone. If you make an order in advance, via the Internet, the taxi driver will be waiting for you right in the arrivals hall with a sign. This is especially convenient for those who arrive at night.

Book a private transfer from the airport to your hotel in Budapest for 2 094 RUB

First day

Budapest consists of two parts, separated by the Danube River. The older part is called Buda, it lies on the hills. Inspection of its sights will allow you to get acquainted with the history of the country. Pest is on a plain. There are more modern buildings, shops, here during the day – and in some places even at night – life is in full swing at night. When planning excursions, it is worth starting from Buda and ending with Pest.

While in the capital of Hungary, you will hear several names for this place. Locals say: “Fortress Hill”, “Castle Hill”, “Buda Hill”. It would be worth climbing here, even if you were in Budapest for only 1 day. Here you can see the city from a bird's eye view and get to know its main attractions. The Chain Bridge, thrown over the Danube, leads here. From the side of Pest, the bridge goes to Roosevelt Square, and from the side of Buda – to Adam Clark Square. Having climbed the Buda Hill, first of all, it is worth seeing the Holy Trinity Square. This area was formed in the Middle Ages. The Plague Column also stands here – in the countries of Western Europe it was customary to erect monuments to the victims of the plague. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Austria-Hungary experienced several severe epidemics that significantly reduced the population.

Temple, Bastion and Royal Palace

Pay attention to the Matthias temple. So it is called by the locals, referring to King Matthias Corvinus. In fact, the temple is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and it is about 700 years old. Many times over the years, the beautiful temple was destroyed and then rebuilt again, and at the same time rebuilt a little. When the city was in the power of the Turks, there was the main mosque of Budapest. Of course, during these years the temple lost its interior decoration. Only at the end of the 19th century, after the liberation from the Turkish yoke, the church was restored again, and it acquired its former Gothic appearance. Its high bell tower and roof, covered with multi-colored, carpet-like tiles, are visible from afar.

The restoration of the Hungarians was timed to coincide with the national holiday – the millennium of finding the Motherland. Another attraction in the neighborhood is the Fisherman's Bastion. Until the beginning of the 20th century, there was a market where they sold fish. Then a bastion was built of white stone – it became the backdrop for the temple of the Virgin Mary. It was the fishermen who were supposed to defend it, in case a war broke out. The bastion is crowned with seven towers, symbolizing the 7 Hungarian tribes. Near the bastion there is a monument to St. Stephen – the first king of the Hungarians. He is depicted sitting on a horse.

And finally, the Royal Palace. Enter it through the Ornamental Gate, admire the beautiful drawing. Near the entrance to the palace you will see a column on which the Turul bird sits. According to legend, the mother of the first ruler of the country gave birth to a son precisely from this bird. Since then, it has become a symbol of the ruling dynasty. Then the bird appeared in a dream to the leader of the Hungarian tribes and indicated to him that it was time to move to the local lands. Therefore, the image of the mythical bird is still dear to the Hungarians.

Also at the entrance is a monument to the legendary Eugene of Savoy, who liberated the Hungarian lands from the Turks. Savoysky became famous for the fact that, thanks to his intelligence and desperate courage, he went from an ordinary soldier to a generalissimo. His main historical merit is considered to be the liberation of Hungary. For this he received his high rank and the Hungarian lands. The prince sits on a horse, below are the defeated Turks. The monument dates back to 1900.

Where the palace is now located, back in the 13th century. the first royal residence appeared. In the 15th century, with the participation of the best architects and artists of Europe, a palace was erected. Later, Italian architects gave it Renaissance features. Everything here was arranged very richly – gilding and fine carving were used in the decoration. In 16 the palace was destroyed by the Turks, it was rebuilt in the 19th century. But during the Second World War, as a result of bombing and artillery shelling, the palace again turned into ruins. It was restored in the second half of the 20th century. If you have free time, you can explore the royal premises all day.

Let's stand at the fountain of King Matthias

One of the real treasures of the palace is the fountain of King Matthias. This is an extraordinary exposition, it is worth approaching it if only to take wonderful photos. The fountain seems to protrude from the wall. Above is the king himself, below are hunters and dogs, and on the right is a lovely girl with a deer. As the legend says, the beautiful Ilonka fell in love with a young hunter, not suspecting that the king himself came out of the thicket to her. Realizing the hopelessness of her feelings, the girl quietly faded away.

The figure of the chronicler who preserved this legend for posterity is to the left of the main sculptures. In the warm season, water jets murmur here, it seems that hunting dogs drink from the fountain. And if, leaving the palace, you walk along the fortress wall – usually not crowded here – you will see a wonderful panorama of Budapest, and the blue Danube will roll its waters below.

Tips: Pay attention to the Adam Clark Square at the foot of the Buda Hill. Here you can:

Surely after sightseeing, you will want to have a bite to eat. In one of the many stalls you can taste delicious fresh pastries. If you want to sit in a restaurant, you can recommend “historical points” – Ruszwurm coffee house, Alabbrdos and Gundel restaurants. Here everything seems to breathe the past centuries, and you will feel as if you have traveled back in time.

Second day

The second day should be devoted to exploring the center of Budapest.

Skip the line: Széchenyi baths for the whole day – €18
Budapest: Hop-on hop-off bus Classic, Premium or Deluxe – €16.20 Skip-the- line full
day at the Gellért Spa – €19
2-hour Danube cruise with live music – 21 €
Danube Cruise with Candlelight Dinner – 60 €
From Budapest to Szentendre: Full Day Cruise – 12 €
Organ Concert at St Stephen's Basilica – 20 €
Budapest Card Tourist Card – 22 €

Heroes Square

Here is one of the main squares of the city – Heroes Square. This place has been of great importance for the Hungarians since time immemorial. Once upon a time there was a field where state councils gathered, and warriors came together here to go on a crusade. And only at the end of the 19th century did the square itself and the first sculptures appear on it. The opening of the ensemble was timed to coincide with the 1000th anniversary of Hungarian statehood. The central column is crowned with the figure of Archangel Gabriel.

According to legend, it was thanks to him that King Stephen converted to Christianity. Two semicircular colonnades, created in the late 19th – early 20th century, are dedicated to the heroes of the country. Between the columns are monuments to the Hungarian princes. Near the square is the Mucharnock exhibition center. This art gallery opened its doors in 1895.

Right behind the square, Varosliget Park begins – it is loved by both locals and tourists. But the most interesting object in the park is Vajdahunyad Castle. It was built in 1908 and now houses the Agricultural Museum. The castle is so beautiful and so organically combines the best features of Hungarian architecture that tourists are sure to take pictures against its background. And then they tell at home that Count Dracula lived in the same castle (or maybe in this one).

Also next to the Heroes' Square are the Széchenyi baths. Built at the beginning of the 20th century, they are still considered one of the largest bathing complexes in Europe. Swimming pools work here, you can visit a doctor and, on his recommendation, undergo balneological procedures. Tips: You can get to Heroes Square by metro – yellow line M1. On buses No. 105, 20 E, 30A, 230. On trolleybuses No. 72, 75, 79.

Andrássy Avenue

The Varosliget Park connects Andrássy Avenue, which is called the “Hungarian Champs Elysees”, with Ferenc Deák Square. This beautiful alley is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The avenue got its name in honor of Count Andrássy, the Minister-President of the Hungarian government. Subsequently, it was renamed several times, but eventually retained its original name. They built the avenue for 40 years. It may give the impression that it is surrounded by houses that came from ancient times, but in fact this is not so, just a pseudo-historical style was used.

There are shops, restaurants, cafes, and, of course, hotels. Walking along the avenue, you can feel that the asphalt trembles slightly under your feet. It's not an earthquake, it's just that there's a subway line going underground. It belongs to the oldest in Hungary and throughout Europe, and is not deep. Do not miss the opportunity to go down to the subway and see it as a kind of attraction. Also on Andrássy Avenue is the Postal Museum, where over 20 thousand exhibits are exhibited. It works from Tuesday to Sunday, and the entrance ticket costs 600 forints.

Opera theatre

The Opera House, one of the main centers of culture in Budapest, also overlooks the avenue. It was built in 1884. Prior to that, there was a single National Theater in Hungary, where opera and drama performances alternated. The building was built in the Neo-Renaissance style, and inside is a real work of art. There are many sculptures and paintings, as well as wall paintings – tourists will be interested to see all this.

Famous singers and musicians performed on the stage of the State Opera House. Giacomo Puccini staged his operas here several times. Ballet troupes also perform here. The theater is able to accommodate over 1,200 spectators, and the acoustics here are second only to two theaters in the world – the Paris Opera House and the world-famous La Scala (Milan). At the entrance to the building there are monuments to two Ferencians – Liszt and Erkel.

house of terror

Another attraction on Andrássy Avenue is the House of Terror. It makes an unusual and strong impression on tourists. The letters “terror” are carved into the black metal cornice. Opposite the entrance is a curtain of thick iron chains. Nearby is a block of concrete, which symbolizes the Berlin Wall. The House of Terror itself is a memory of two political regimes from which Hungary suffered a lot in the 20th century. Here, the communist and Nazi regimes were leveled, and a museum was created so that people would forever remember the losses that the country suffered.

The museum was opened in 2002, on the eve of the Day of Victims of the Communist Regime (February 25). During World War II, this house was the headquarters of the Nazi Arrow Cross Party. And then – the State Security Department, that is, the KGB of the country. Tickets are not cheap – 7 euros. But there are always enough visitors: here you can get very strong emotions. The exposition includes a Soviet tank. Such people suppressed the popular uprising in Hungary in 1956.

The museum has a lot of exhibits: photographs of those who were tortured by the Nazi and communist regimes, personal files. The investigators' offices are decorated in such a way that it seems that interrogation will begin in them now. Here the elevator slowly descends into the basement – at this time, the tourists listen to the story of what kind of torture was used in these dungeons.

And then they see the cells where the prisoners were kept. Including those where the floor is flooded with ice water, and those cells where you had to stand for 20-30 hours without being able to sit down. Lights are burning, symbolizing the souls of the innocent victims. There is also a room in the museum, the floor of which is made in the form of a map of the USSR – with notes: in which camps the Hungarians were imprisoned. The museum does not spare the feelings of visitors. “This should not happen again” – such a thought is born after visiting each of his halls.

Tip: You can end the second day with a boat trip on the Danube. Local residents use the water mode of transport along with the bus and trolleybus. It is most convenient to buy a daily pass – it costs about 6 euros. Thus, you can get off at stops, go sightseeing or walk around the islands, and then get back on the first boat that comes up. They are single-deck and double-deck, open and closed.

You can choose depending on whether you want to photograph places that you pass by, or you are going to take shelter from the rain. As a rule, buffets work here and you can have a good bite to eat. It is even more convenient to purchase a Budapest tourist card. It includes a travel card that includes all types of transport, free visits to 7 main museums, excursions and discounts. The card can be bought for 24, 48 and 72 hours.

The third day

So, you have only one day left in the capital of Hungary. You can spend it in different ways. If you still want to go sightseeing and wonder what you haven't seen yet? – let's name a few objects in Budapest that may interest you.

Hungarian parliament building

This is a real architectural masterpiece and a hallmark of the capital. The building stands on the right bank of the Danube. It was built in the Neo-Gothic style, richly decorated with architectural delights, and its pointed towers seem to reach for the sky. This is one of the main attractions of the capital.

St Stephen's Basilica

This is the largest Catholic church in Budapest. But come here, of course, not only Catholics, but simply tourists. The temple reaches a height of almost 100 m. The huge structure was erected over several decades, and was consecrated only in 1905. Believers can venerate the relics of the holy King Stephen in the temple.

Great synagogue

One of the largest in Europe. The synagogue is located in the Jewish quarters of modern Budapest. It really makes a stunning impression, and can accommodate almost 3 thousand people. The Jewish Museum is open in the courtyard of the synagogue. The synagogue was plundered during World War II and rebuilt by the end of the 20th century.

Shoes on the Danube

You can only respect the Hungarians. Remembering the tragic events in the history of the country, they are doing everything so that this does not happen again. During World War II, thousands of Hungarian Jews were shot or burned in gas ovens. There is a touching monument on the Danube embankment – there are many shoes here. Men's, women's, children‘s shoes – having lost their owners. The names of the dead are also immortalized here.

Mount Gelert

You can go to Mount Gelert. This is a hill named after Saint Gelert, the patron saint of the city of Budapest. Here, of interest are: the historical citadel of the 19th century, the huge statue of Liberty (it does not look at all like the American one), the “Philosophical Garden”. You will see sculptures of Jesus Christ, Buddha, Akhenaten and many others here.

The sculptural composition “Buda meets Pest”, depicting a king and a beautiful girl, a functioning church in a mountain cave. You can't go up to the top by public transport. But at the foot there are stops. You can get here by the M4 metro (green line). By buses No. 7, 8E, 108E, 110, 112. Tip: be careful, there are a lot of local crooks, such as domestic “thimble-makers”. Do not accept their offers to play.

Brunswick Castle

You can take a taxi and go to Brunsvik Castle which is 30 km from Budapest. The castle itself and the surrounding park are beautiful. But, most importantly, it is closely associated with the name of Beethoven, who often visited here. In Brunswick there is a memorial museum of the great composer.

Belvaros

But perhaps the last day in the capital of Hungary you want to devote to rest and buying souvenirs for loved ones. Then it is best to go to Belváros, which means “a city within a city.” Here – a kind of tourist Mecca – a lot of souvenir shops, large and small restaurants serving national dishes. What is the best thing to bring from Hungary as gifts? From the products – ground red pepper in beautifully designed bags and a variety of wines – Hungaria, Terley, Asu, Samorodni. It also makes sense to buy Hungarian smoked sausages.

An excellent purchase will be embroideries made by local craftswomen, woven products, dishes – from ceramics to crystal and porcelain. And also – wooden dolls and figurines of cartoon characters made of marzipan. But if you want to see the sights in Belvaroche, pay attention to the Church of St. Michael. The building, built in the Baroque style, the bell tower with a clock rises high above the surrounding houses. Classical music concerts are regularly held here.

Baths

And finally, the baths. This is also a kind of visiting card of Budapest. A visit to the baths will allow you to relax and unwind, provide yourself with a good mood. You can choose according to your taste. We have already talked about the Szechenyi baths above – this is a huge and very popular complex. But besides him, there are others.

Luxurious Gelert baths, where there are even artificial waves, Rudash – owned only by men four days a week, Kiraly – decorated with Turkish flavor, Lukacs and Veli Bey. You can choose one of the baths, which is closer to your hotel.

Tips: if you have another day, visit the baths in the morning, so you can swim almost alone. This pleasure costs about 10-16 euros. Perhaps you will go to Budapest without much enthusiasm. Well, what is there – not Paris, not Rome … But, having arrived in the capital of Hungary, you will make many amazing discoveries for yourself, discover the richest history and culture of this country, admire its beauty, and fall in love with Budapest forever. It simply cannot be otherwise.