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Summer in Budapest The Best Things To Do in the City This Season

Summer in Budapest

The Best Things To Do in the City This Season

Budapest sits on a network of natural thermal springs that have been harnessed for bathing since Roman times, and visiting one of the city's extraordinary thermal bath complexes is the single most quintessentially Budapest experience any visitor can have. The Széchenyi Baths in the City Park, with their magnificent yellow Neo-Baroque palace and enormous outdoor pools, are the most famous and spectacular. The Gellért Baths, housed in a stunning Art Nouveau building on the Buda bank of the Danube, are among the most beautiful. In summer, the outdoor pools of both the Széchenyi and the Rudas Baths come alive with rooftop pool parties and evening events that combine the ancient tradition of thermal bathing with a thoroughly modern sense of fun.

2. Walk Across the Chain Bridge at Sunset

The Széchenyi Chain Bridge, the most famous and most photographed of Budapest's nine Danube bridges, is one of the great iconic landmarks of Central Europe. Walking across it at sunset, with the castle and the Fisherman's Bastion glowing golden on the Buda side and the lights of the Parliament and the Pest embankment reflecting in the river below, is one of the most beautiful and memorable urban experiences anywhere in Europe. The bridge is particularly atmospheric in summer when the evenings are long and warm and the river sparkles in the fading light. Allow time on both banks to fully appreciate the extraordinary panorama the bridge offers.

Budapest, Széchenyi Lánchíd, 1051 Hungary

3. Explore Castle Hill and Fisherman's Bastion

The Castle Hill district on the Buda bank of the Danube is one of the most historically rich and visually spectacular areas of any city in Europe, and a summer morning exploring its cobblestone streets, royal palace, medieval churches, and dramatic viewpoints is an unmissable Budapest experience. The Fisherman's Bastion, a neo-Romanesque terrace built in the early 20th century with seven towers representing the seven Magyar tribes, offers the most breathtaking and iconic views of the Budapest skyline and the Parliament building across the river. Arrive early to avoid the midday crowds and to enjoy the castle district in its most peaceful and atmospheric state.

Szentháromság tér, 1014 Budapest, Hungary

4. Visit the Hungarian Parliament Building

The Hungarian Parliament Building on the Pest bank of the Danube is one of the most magnificent and imposing public buildings in the world, a vast neo-Gothic palace stretching for 268 meters along the riverfront and topped by a central dome that dominates the Budapest skyline. Guided tours of the interior, including the Crown Jewels Hall and the extraordinary main staircase, are available throughout the summer and are strongly recommended. Booking tickets online in advance is essential as tours sell out quickly during peak season. The building is equally spectacular viewed from across the river or from a Danube cruise boat, particularly in the evening when it is fully illuminated.

Kossuth Lajos tér 1-3, 1055 Budapest, Hungary

5. Explore the Jewish Quarter and the Ruin Bars

Budapest's Jewish Quarter in the 7th district is one of the most fascinating and atmospheric neighborhoods in the city, home to the Great Synagogue on Dohány Street, the largest synagogue in Europe, as well as a remarkable collection of historic buildings, memorial sites, and the legendary ruin bars that have made Budapest famous throughout the world. The ruin bar phenomenon began in the early 2000s when creative entrepreneurs began transforming the quarter's derelict courtyards and abandoned buildings into eclectic, art-filled bars and clubs. Szimpla Kert is the original and most celebrated, but the surrounding streets are lined with dozens of equally fascinating and enjoyable venues, all at their most vibrant and welcoming during the long summer evenings.

Seeing Budapest from the Danube is one of the most beautiful and rewarding experiences the city has to offer, and a summer evening cruise along the river is particularly unforgettable. As the sun sets and the city's extraordinary collection of landmarks, the Parliament, the Chain Bridge, the Castle, the Matthias Church, and the Liberty Statue on Gellért Hill, all light up against the darkening sky, the view from the water is simply breathtaking. Both sightseeing and dinner cruises are available, departing from the Vigadó tér and Batthyány tér piers, and the dinner cruise option, enjoyed as the city illuminates itself for the night, makes for one of the most memorable evenings Budapest has to offer.

Budapest Parliament seen from a Danube boat cruise on sunset.

The Sziget Festival, held every August on Óbuda Island in the Danube just north of the city center, is one of the largest and most celebrated music and arts festivals in the world, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors from across Europe and beyond for a week of extraordinary performances, art installations, theatre, and communal celebration. The festival has a wonderfully inclusive and international atmosphere that perfectly reflects the spirit of Budapest at its most open and joyful, and it is one of the most exciting and memorable summer events anywhere on the continent. Tickets sell out well in advance and should be booked as early as possible.

8. Hike Up to the Citadella and Gellért Hill

Gellért Hill, the dramatic rocky outcrop rising steeply from the Buda bank of the Danube in the heart of the city, is one of Budapest's most rewarding and enjoyable summer destinations. The hike to the top, though steep in places, is well worth the effort, with the views from the Citadella fortress and the Liberty Statue at the summit offering a spectacular panorama over the entire city, the Danube, and the surrounding hills. The hill is covered in lush greenery and the shaded paths provide welcome relief from the summer heat. The Gellért Baths and the famous Gellért Hotel at the foot of the hill are a wonderful complement to a morning hike.

The City Park, or Városliget, on the eastern edge of central Budapest is a wonderful and multifaceted summer destination that combines natural green space with an extraordinary concentration of cultural and leisure attractions. The Széchenyi Baths are located here and Botanical Garden, the Vajdahunyad Castle, the Műcsarnok art gallery, and the Museum of Fine Arts. The park itself is a wonderful place for a summer afternoon stroll, picnic, or cycle, and the boating lake in front of Vajdahunyad Castle, which transforms into an ice rink in winter, is a popular and enjoyable summer attraction.

Budapest, Vajdahunyad stny., 1146 Hungary

The Great Market Hall, the magnificent neo-Gothic covered market on the Pest bank of the Danube at the end of Váci utca, is one of Budapest's most impressive and enjoyable attractions and an essential destination for any food-loving visitor to the city. The ground floor is dedicated to fresh Hungarian produce, including paprika, salami, pickles, cheese, and seasonal fruits and vegetables, while the upper gallery is lined with stalls selling traditional Hungarian crafts, embroidery, and souvenirs. The market is at its most atmospheric and lively in the morning, and combining a visit with a stroll along the Váci utca shopping street and the nearby Vámház körút boulevard makes for a wonderful summer morning in central Pest.

Vámház krt. 1-3, 1093 Budapest, Hungary

11. Explore the Andrássy Avenue and Heroes' Square

Andrássy Avenue is Budapest's grandest and most beautiful boulevard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site lined with magnificent neo-Renaissance palaces, embassies, boutique hotels, and excellent restaurants and cafes stretching from the city center all the way to the City Park. The Hungarian State Opera House, one of the most beautiful opera buildings in Europe, sits halfway along the avenue, and the Heroes' Square at the far end, with its magnificent Millennium Monument and the twin museums of Fine Arts and Műcsarnok flanking it, is one of the most impressive public spaces in Central Europe. A summer evening stroll along Andrássy Avenue, stopping for a coffee or a glass of wine at one of the outdoor terraces, is a thoroughly enjoyable Budapest experience.

12. Eat and Drink Your Way Through Budapest

Budapest has one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving food scenes in Central Europe, and summer is a wonderful time to explore it. Begin with a traditional Hungarian breakfast of fresh bread, salami, and paprika-laced eggs at a neighborhood café. For lunch, seek out a classic étterem for goulash, chicken paprikash, or stuffed peppers. In the evening, explore the restaurants of the 7th district or the riverside terraces of the 5th, where the combination of excellent food, good Hungarian wine, and the warm summer air creates a dining experience that is deeply satisfying. The rooftop bars and ruin pub terraces extend the evening well into the night with craft cocktails and cold Dreher beer under the stars.

Budapest is a city that deserves more than a quick visit, and securing a comfortable and well-located hotel is one of the best things you can do for your trip. We recommend heading to 

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