Matthias Church
Roman Catholic church in Budapest, Hungary.
The tiled roof is best seen from the square before you go inside.
Morning · 45 minDay 1
Buda's hill and the bridge at dusk
Sándor Palace
Building in Budapest and official residence of the President of Hungary.
Morning · 1 hr 30 min
Buda Castle
Castle and palace complex of the Hungarian kings in Budapest.
Afternoon · 1 hr 30 min
Széchenyi Chain Bridge
The oldest bridge in Budapest.
Plan to arrive at dusk; the bridge and the castle light up as the day fades.
Evening · 45 minStart early: Matthias Church and Sándor Palace share the same hilltop, so the morning moves on foot. Cross the Széchenyi Chain Bridge once the lights are on.
Day 2
Grand buildings, then a heavy evening
Hungarian Parliament Building
Neo-Gothic government building and landmark in Budapest, Hungary.
Morning · 45 min
St. Stephen's Basilica
Roman Catholic basilica in Budapest, Hungary.
Morning · 45 min
Hungarian State Opera House
Neo-Renaissance opera house in Budapest.
Afternoon · 1 hr.JPG?width=800)
House of Terror Museum
Museum about about terror regimes in Budapest, Hungary.
Give it the full two hours. The subject is heavy, so it works best as the last thing of a long day.
Evening · 2 hrThe evening at the House of Terror Museum is intense, so save it for when the group has energy to take it in. The day's earlier stops are all short visits.
Day 3
The city's heart and the market at close
Vörösmarty tér
Square in Budapest, Hungary.
Morning · 45 min
Dohány Street Synagogue
Synagogue in Budapest, Hungary.
Morning · 45 min
Hungarian National Museum
National museum for the history, art and archaeology of Hungary.
Afternoon · 2 hr.jpg?width=800)
Great Market Hall
Market hall in Budapest, Hungary.
Hot food is served upstairs and the hall is busiest just before closing. Go with an appetite.
Evening · 1 hr 30 minThe Great Market Hall is liveliest in its final hour, when the food stalls are busy. Arrive hungry and take the evening slowly among the stalls.
Day 4
One park, a castle and warm water
Heroes' Square
Major square in district 14 of Budapest, Hungary.
Morning · 45 min
Vajdahunyad Castle
Castle.
Morning · 1 hr 30 min
City Park
Public park in Budapest, Hungary.
Afternoon · 1 hr 15 min
Széchenyi thermal bath
Public bath.
Bring a swimsuit and a towel. Lockers are available, and this is where the day ends.
Evening · 45 minKeep a swimsuit and towel at the top of the day bag. The bath is the last stop and sits a short walk from the park.
Good to know
How much time does Buda Castle hill need?
The first day covers Matthias Church, Sándor Palace and Buda Castle in one morning and afternoon. The three sit close together on the hilltop, so little time is lost in transit and the walk down to the river is easy.
What should I bring to Széchenyi thermal bath?
A swimsuit and a towel. The bath sits at the edge of City Park, which is where day four ends, so keep both near the top of the day bag from the morning.
When is the best time to cross the Chain Bridge?
At dusk. Day one ends there in the evening, when the bridge and the castle hill are lit and the river is at its quietest.
Is the House of Terror Museum worth visiting?
It deals with Hungary's 20th-century regimes and asks a lot of its visitors. It fits well as the last stop of a full day, with nothing heavy planned after it.
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