Yes, travelling to Budapest with friends is a great idea! This lively city with a long history is full of opportunities for leisure and fun; it’s also not too far away by air if you’re looking for a short break.
You can enjoy a wide variety of activities here, from discovering its main monuments and strolling its charming “fairy-tale” streets to cruising on the Danube, relaxing in one of the many thermal baths and living it up incountless bars and clubs.
- Activities to enjoy when travelling to Budapest with friends
- Tips and advice for a trip to Budapest with friends
- Where to stay in Budapest
Activities to enjoy when travelling to Budapest with friends
Below is a selection of great activities to help you make the most of your trip to Budapest with friends.
Group swim at a spa
Budapest has many excellent thermal baths (vincular a URL correspondiente?) and the city has made the most of the medicinal effects of its underground mineral waters for over 2,000 years. The most spectacular spa is Széchenyi, which dates from the beginning of the 20th century; it has three large and beautiful outdoor pools and 15 indoor pools. Gellert Thermal Baths is also attractive; built in the Modernist style, it’s famous for having appeared in films and adverts.
Boat trip on the Danube
A boat trip on the Danube (vincular a URL correspondiente?) is one of the most enjoyable and best ways to discover Budapest with friends. There are lots of options to choose between, from simple mini cruises lasting one or two hours, to dining aboard a boat or even throwing a private party. It all depends on what you prefer…and how much you’re willing to spend! Important: make sure to book in advance if you’re travelling in high season.
Visit Margaret Island
Margaret Island, one of the largest and best-loved parks in Budapest, lies in the middle of the Danube and is two and half kilometres long by five hundred metres wide. It’s the perfect place to explore on foot, on the tourist train, by bicycle or in an electric golf-style buggy. You’ll enjoy some of the most pleasurable moments of your trip to the Hungarian capital here – and the chance to take your most picturesque photos.
A tour for beer-lovers
Like the rest of Central Europe, Hungary is a beer drinking nation, and a tour of Budapest’s best pubs (vincular a URL correspondiente?) is definitely one of the top activities to enjoy with friends in the city. They are usually fairly large and, apart from sampling the wide selection of beer, you can also try classic examples of typical Hungarian dishes. Our recommendations include Csakajósör Kft (Kertész ut. 42), Fehér Nyúl (Soroksári ut. 110-112) and Beer Brothers (Kossuth Lajos ut. 20).
morning at the Central Market (Nagyvásárcsarnok)
This market opened at the end of the 19th century and is one of the main food centres in Hungary; the Central Market (vincular a URL correspondiente?) is also known as the Great Market Hall. People flock here for everything they could possibly need – from buying and sampling delicious goulash to the latest cuts of meat from Uruguay, tasty Italian cheeses and even top-class Iberian ham. The market covers 22,000 m2 and is one of the most-visited places in the country.
Afternoon drinking in a ruin bar
Over the past few decades, highly original bars and nightclubs have popped up in the city’s many abandoned buildings, the result of its tumultuous history. These bars are known as ‘ruin bars’ and, as their name suggests, their ruinous look is a key part of their atmosphere. They’re the perfect place to appreciate the good vibes shared between Budapest’s younger and middle-aged residents. Szimpla Kert, Púder Bar and Csendes Vintage Bar & Café are some of the most popular spots.
Cafés: Central Café/Gerbeaud
Budapest is home to some of the most spectacular cafés in Europe (vincular a URL correspondiente?). Many have long histories and are fine examples of different architectural and decorative styles; they’re popular meeting places for locals and visitors alike. Apart from having coffee, hot chocolate and other hot drinks, you can also enjoy pastries and baked goods, as well as Hungarian and international food. Good examples include New York Café, spectacular Párisi Udvar Hotel Budapest, Gerbeaud Café and Café Párisi.
Afternoon to evening in a fashionable bar
This is one of the most original activities to enjoy with friends in Budapest. And best of all, it can be done at any time of year and in any weather, thanks to the original heated igloos that surround each table. We’re talking about Bar 360, a terrace with unbeatable views of the city on emblematic and exclusive Andrássy Avenue – in recent years it’s become one of the most fashionable spots in the Hungarian capital. It’s a place to see and be seen!
Tips and advice for a trip to Budapest with friends
The first thing to do before planning a trip to Budapest with friends is to choose the best time of year to go. We strongly recommend the end of spring or beginning of autumn, when the climate is mild and there aren’t as many huge groups of tourists wandering around the city. If you decide to go in winter, bear in mind that December and January are extremely cold, but if you wrap up, this shouldn’t be a problem. Another thing to remember is that daylight hours are short during the winter months.
When it comes to food, particularly if you’re a large group, we recommend planning your lunches and dinners in advance and booking whenever possible. That way you won’t have to wait to be seated and can eat at a reasonable time.
When travelling around the city, a good option if you’re holidaying as a group is to hire a car and driver, perhaps for the whole day. However, the most straightforward (and most environmentally-friendly) way to get around is by public transport. The bus, metro, tram, train and funicular railway network in Budapest is reasonably priced and takes you to all the important sites and the city outskirts. Don’t forget to validate your tickets for each journey before you travel.
If you haven’t been before, when you first arrive in Budapest it’s a good idea to book a guided tour with one of the many companies that operate in the city. It’s the best way to get a sense of life here, learn to find your location on the map and discover interesting facts that aren’t immediately obvious.
How long do you need to visit the city? People typically come for a short break over a weekend. It’s enough time to see the main heritage sites of Budapest and to soak up the great atmosphere. The perfect trip would last at least three or four full days.
Where to stay in Budapest
If you’re travelling with friends, the Hotel Barceló Budapest is a great accommodation option in the city. This modern hotel has 179 rooms and suites and first opened in 2017 in the Terézváros district, right in the historic centre of the Hungarian capital. Design, technology and innovative facilities are key features of the hotel – the top floor Skybar is a particularly enticing attraction, and here you can enjoy cocktails, drinks and wonderful views of the city in a lively atmosphere. The hotel’s à la carte restaurant serves a variety of both Hungarian and international food, including Spanish dishes. And if you’re a fitness fan, you’ll love the well-equipped gym that opens 24 hours a day.
