Budapest

Budapest is the capital of Hungary. Visitors come for thermal baths, walks along the Danube and ruin bars set in old, partly restored buildings.

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Budapest is the capital of Hungary, split in two by the Danube. Buda sits on hills on the west bank, while Pest spreads across the flat east side, and bridges link the two. Visitors come for thermal baths fed by hot springs, the neo-Gothic Parliament on the Pest bank, and ruin bars set in old, partly restored buildings, many of them in the Jewish Quarter of Pest.

Three or four days is enough to try a bath, see Parliament and walk both banks at an easy pace. Buda is calmer, with the castle district on the hills above the river. Spring and autumn are the easiest seasons for walking, with milder weather and fewer crowds than summer. Winter is quieter, and the thermal baths stay open. The city also works as a stop on a longer trip through Hungary or Central Europe.

Budapest in five

Take the 100E bus from the airportThe 100E airport express runs from Liszt Ferenc Airport to Deák Ferenc tér in the center and needs its own ticket, not a standard single. Allow about 40 minutes.
Book the Parliament tour aheadVisits are guided only, in set languages and time slots, and English slots sell out in summer. Book on the official site before you arrive.
Validate paper ticketsBuy tickets in the BudapestGO app or at machines, and validate paper tickets when you board. Inspectors check often on trams and the metro.
Go to the baths earlySzéchenyi in City Park is busiest from late morning. Bring flip-flops and a towel or rent them there; Rudas in Buda is smaller and has a rooftop pool.
Pay in forints, not your currencyCards work almost everywhere. When a card machine offers to charge you in your home currency, choose forints to avoid a poor exchange rate.Money

Things to do in Budapest

See all attractions in Budapest

Sight · BudapestTimewheel

Shopping center · BudapestWestendChoose a weekday for a less crowded visit.

Historical landmark · BudapestKossuth Lajos SquareVisit in daylight and after dark to see the square in different light.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to BudapestPut the places you like in Budapest on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Liszt Ferenc (BUD), about 40 min by 100E bus
Getting there: Trains from Vienna, about 2.5–3 hours
Getting around: Metro, trams and buses; tickets in the BudapestGO app
Best base: District V or VII in Pest
Time needed: 3 days

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy8 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh4°Low-1°Cold, quiet
FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low1°Cold
MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh12°Low3°Cool, spring
AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh17°Low7°Mild
MayRain13 rainy daysHigh21°Low11°Warm, green
JunePartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh27°Low17°Warm
JulyPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh29°Low18°Hot
AugustClear7 rainy daysHigh30°Low19°Hot, busy
SeptemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Warm, calm
OctoberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Autumn color
NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh10°Low4°Cold, gray
DecemberPartly cloudy8 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low0°Christmas markets

Average daily high and low in Budapest, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Jun Budapest Pride · Aug Sziget Festival

Right now in Budapest

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 8°
Humidity: 78%
Wind: 8 km/h
Chance of rain: 100%

Budapest

09:46 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today10°8°100%Monday: Drizzle. High 10°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 100%.
Tue10°5°53%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 53%.
Wed11°4°0%Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 11°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu10°2°0%Thursday: Clear. High 10°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri11°1°0%Friday: Clear. High 11°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat8°-1°2%Saturday: Fog. High 8°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 2%.
Sun9°-1°19%Sunday: Fog. High 9°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 19%.

Updated 05:24 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 327.7 HUF

Amount

Converted to

HUF · Hungarian Forint

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Budapest

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Every year

JunBudapest PrideBudapest
AugSziget FestivalBudapest

Day trips by train

Before you go to Budapest

Budapest staysDistrict V, VII or Castle HillCheck availability

Parliament and thermal bathsTimed slots, bath tickets and toursBook timed entry

eSIM for the BudapestGO appTicket app needs data on arrivalRead the guide

Insurance for Danube tripsCover for pickpockets and cancellationsRead the guide

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Rules for Budapest, checked

Hungary is in the Schengen Area. Check entry requirements on the EU Travel to Europe site before you fly.Source
Non-EU visitors are fingerprinted and photographed at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check current EES guidance before you travel.
Buy and validate a BKK ticket before you board trams, buses and metro. Inspectors check tickets on board. Check current fares at bkk.hu.Source
Hungary uses the forint (HUF), not the euro. Check the current exchange rate with your bank or card provider before you change money.

Plan around Budapest

All of Hungary

Regions, rail, forint and entry

Read the guide Lake Balaton

The lake, 1.5 to 2 hours by train

Read the guide Vienna

Rail to the Austrian capital, 2.5 to 3 hours

Read the guide EES at Hungarian borders

What changes for non-EU arrivals

Read the guide Tourist taxes in Europe

City tax and fees on your hotel bill

Read the guide Is a Eurail pass worth it?

Point-to-point or pass for Budapest rail

Read the guide

Budapest FAQ

How many days do you need in Budapest?

Three days covers the Parliament, the Castle District, a thermal bath and an evening in the Jewish Quarter. Add a fourth for Szentendre or the Danube Bend.

Does Budapest use the euro?

No. Hungary uses the forint (HUF). Some places quote euros, but you usually get a better rate paying by card in forints.

Should I stay in Buda or Pest?

Pest for a first trip: it is flatter, has more restaurants and most sights are within walking distance. Buda suits a quieter stay, especially the Castle District.

Do I need to book the thermal baths?

Not usually, but buying online can skip the ticket line at Széchenyi in summer. Go early on weekdays for the calmest pools.

Is Budapest safe for tourists?

Budapest is generally safe, but pickpocketing happens on trams, the metro and around busy sights. Watch for taxi overcharging, use ride-hailing or marked cabs, and check bar bills before paying.