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I was lucky enough to spend a few days in Budapest recently and completely fell in love with the city! if you’re looking for clean streets, dramatic architecture and incredible food, visiting Budapest is the perfect fit! With night flights either side, we spent two full days in the city of Budapest, Hungary. If you too are thinking of making the trip but are pushed for time, here are the top things you should see, experience and eat whilst spending 48 hours in Budapest.

What Are the Top Things to See in Budapest in 48 Hours?

I’ll drop our exact Budapest itinerary later on but these are the top things I would recommend seeing on a whistlestop tour of Hungary’s capital city. I’ve split this into Buda and Pest which straddle the two sides of the river Danube. I’ll go into the two areas in a more complete guide to Budapest coming soon!

Top Things to See in Buda on a Short Visit

Wander Fisherman’s Bastion

No list of top things to see in Budapest would be complete without mentioning Fisherman’s Bastion and whilst it may seem cliché it is definitely something you should check out whilst on the Buda side of the river!

The views from this spot are incredible and you’ll be able to see across the river to Pest and a number of top Budapest tourist sites from up there. This area is free to visit and whilst there is a small paid section at the top, the view from there isn’t too different from the free section.

Ride the Buda Castle Funicular

Whilst you’re in the area, a ride on the Buda Castle Hill Funicular is a MUST. You can get a return ticket from the river to the top next to Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion or get a one way ticket and walk the other way if you are feeling energetic. The funicular provides great views on the journey and its oldy-worldy feel is perfect for pictures!

Visit Buda Castle

The Buda Castle area is packed full of old and made-to-look-old buildings (see if you can spot the difference!) that are incredible to see. There are plenty of cafés and free areas to explore within Buda Castle with some buildings that are paid entry. The architecture alone makes this area of Budapest worth the visit.

Top Things to See in Pest in 48 Hours

Take in the Views from St Stephen’s Basilica

If you are looking for one of the best views of Budapest do not miss climbing the tower of St Stephen’s Basilica or Szent István Bazilika in Hungarian. You can buy a ticket just for the tower, just for the inside or for both, I would recommend getting a ticket for both as both the building and the views of Budapest are incredible.

From the tower, you’ll be able to see all of the top sights in Budapest making it worth the climb and the ticket cost! Inside the St Stephen’s Basilica, you’ll find incredible painted ceilings and architecture along with a preserved hand and even a rib on display. The grandeur and atmosphere of the interior is fascinating and we spent a good chunk of time wandering through here.

Walk the River for Quirky Statues and More Sombre Sights

Walking the river on the Pest side of the Danube you’ll find plenty of artistic statues big and small dotted along the banks showcasing all sides of humanity and characters. You’ll also find the touching tribute to the Hungarian Jews who were shot dead by members of the Arrow Cross party in 1944-1945. The shoes on the Danube bank are located just along the river from the Hungarian Parliament and are made of iron.

Check out Budapest’s Ruin Bars

Not to be missed when visiting Budapest, even for a whistle-stop tour, are the iconic ruin bars.

Budapest’s ruin bars are quite literally that, bars built into ruin buildings and formed from all sorts of unusual objects and lighting to decorate and serve as seating. You can visit the ruin bars day or night but there is definitely more of an atmosphere if you visit at night as the whole place will be lit up and crowded with tourists and locals alike.

Check Out Some Hungarian Food!

There are so many incredible dishes to discover in Budapest and Hungary you’ll have plenty of choice whatever your tastes, just make sure to wander some of the side streets to find something a bit more tasty!

What to Eat in Budapest in 48 Hours

If you have 48 hours in Budapest you won’t have time to try everything this city offers but you can definitely give it a go and we did! From sweet treats to warming comfort food, you’ll find plenty of choice in the Hungarian capital.

Hungarian Chimney Cakes

My dreams are stilled with chimney cakes and I got more than a little excited when I realised I could buy them in the UK at a Hungarian shop near me! These delicious funnel-shaped cakes known as Kürtöskalács are completely customisable and a must-try when visiting Budapest.

A word of advice, stay away from the chimney cake shops around Fisherman’s Bastion as they are extremely expensive and pre-made. Instead, try one of the many chimney cake shops around Budapest where you can choose from a huge array of flavours for a fraction of the cost and get to sit down to see them made in front of you. I loved the cinnamon-covered chimney cakes and can fully recommend the rasberry and chocolate chimney cakes I had from the chimney cake shop next to Budapest zoo and the Szechenyi Baths. We also tried kitkat flavour, white chocolate and cream-filled and loved them all!

Goulash

If you’ve never travelled to Hungary before, Goulash is an extremely tasty dish that is especially perfect for colder days like when we visited. Goulash is a meaty stew with vegetables and is available at plenty of traditional Hungarian restaurants in Budapest, we found a fantastic spot in the Jewish quarter to try it along with duck and plum with potatoes.

Chicken Paprikash

Another tasty Hungarian dish we tried when staying in Budapest was chicken paprikash and I absolutely loved it. The dish includes tender chicken with a creamy, paprika-infused sauce (you’ll see a lot of paprika in Budapest!). This is then served with a type of noodle or Hungarian dumplings.

Hungarian Sponge Cake or Somlói Galuska

if you are a dessert-lover like me, you’ll also want to try the Hungarian sponge cake. Almost like a trifle style in form, this dish is filled with sponge, cream and sauce and is the perfect way to end a meal.

I’ll be sharing my complete guide to visiting Budapest soon including where to stay, how to travel and more so be sure to check back soon!