Castle Hill, Parliament and the grand boulevards, with time to soak in the city's historic thermal baths.
Budapest is best understood one bank at a time. The journey spends a day on Buda's Castle Hill, a day among the landmarks of Pest and a slower day split between the thermal baths, City Park and the old Jewish Quarter.
Coffee houses, market halls and Danube views fill the gaps, and higher tiers add the Danube Bend, an evening at the Opera and Hungarian wine.
Day by day
Day 1Arrival in Budapest
Transfer to your hotel and an evening walk along the Danube promenade, with the Chain Bridge and Castle Hill lit up across the river.
Day 2Buda Castle District
Ride the funicular up Castle Hill to Matthias Church, Fisherman's Bastion and the Royal Palace, then walk up to the Gellért Hill viewpoint.
Day 3Grand Pest
A guided visit to the Hungarian Parliament, the Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial and St Stephen's Basilica, then Andrássy Avenue to Heroes' Square.
Day 4Baths & the Jewish Quarter
A morning at the Széchenyi Baths in City Park; in the afternoon, the Dohány Street Synagogue and the lively streets of the old Jewish Quarter.
Day 5Departure
Browse the Central Market Hall, then transfer to the airport.
Practical information
Bring swimwear and flip-flops for the baths. Hungary is in the EU and Schengen but uses the forint, not the euro; cards are widely accepted. Non-EU visitors should check current requirements, including EES and ETIAS.