How To Spend 3 Days In Budapest For Couples Who Enjoy Food and Wine

Ahhhh, Budapest! The place of breathtaking architecture, food that feels like your grandmother caresses your taste buds, and wine? DON’T GET US STARTED, ITS GOOD.

We’ve divided our plan into morning, afternoon, and evening segments, including where to eat and drink (most importantly, obviously) and some romantic sites we enjoy! We guarantee that if you stick to our program, you will not miss any of the highlights of your three days in Budapest! We lived in the city and are familiar with all of the ins and outs, as well as the less-touristy areas!

DAY 1: Széchenyi Thermal Baths, City Park, Hungarian Parliament

Morning

You’ll want to get started early because you have a busy day ahead! If you enjoy Mediterranean cuisine, you must go to Dobrumba for an early brunch. It’s one of the best places to eat in Budapest, and Caleb and I have considered flying back for the lamb sausage dish and Challah toast. NOT LYING.

If you don’t like the Mediterranean, go to Cork Breakfast and Wine for a nice, romantic breakfast filled with unique and excellent dishes.

Then take a bus or a cheap Uber/Bolt (the fastest) to Széchenyi Thermal Baths. This is one of Budapest’s most popular, largest, and most beautiful baths, and it’s a perfect place to spend a relaxing morning after a day of travel.

Don’t miss the whirlpool at the outdoor bathing area. We had much too much fun spinning about. 😅

PRACTICAL TIP: Try to arrive by 10 a.m. so you have at least 2 hours to soak in the water while still having time for afternoon fun!

Afternoon

After you’ve finished soaking, spend about an hour wandering about the city park (where the baths are located). Visit Vajdahunyad Castle, one of Budapest’s most romantic spots, as well as Heroes Square. If you have extra time, you can rent a boat near the castle or go ice skating in the winter. Both are enjoyable, and the setting is very romantic!

Practical Tip: Allow about 1-2 hours for this.

From there, we recommend taking a 10-minute Uber/Bolt to Falu Delikat, a true hidden treasure in Budapest, for charcuterie (named Falu’Tal on the menu) and a glass of wine. There isn’t much English there, so simply tell them what you want and point to the wine you want (there are only a few options), and you’re good to go!

If it’s a weekend (they don’t serve charcuterie on weekends), go to Wine Not. A wine bar serving fantastic local wines and charcuterie dishes. It’s a wine bar, thus there are more wine options by the glass.

After that, take a short walk to the jaw-dropping Hungarian Parliament Building for a late afternoon tour. It was voted the best tourist destination in the world!

After you’ve finished exploring, stop by the Shoes on the Danube monument just outside. It is a memorial to the Hungarian Jews who were murdered on the banks of the Danube River. It’s difficult to see, but extremely emotional and a must-see.

Evening

Your evening is best spent enjoying wonderful Hungarian cuisine! We recommend Cafe Kor since it is our favorite traditional Hungarian restaurant in town. It has a peaceful, local, and romantic atmosphere, with a large menu and reasonable costs. Learn more about Cafe Kor and what to order here.

After that, head to one of the city’s greatest wine bars and indulge in some CHEAP and amazing Hungarian wine. Warning: tasting this wine may change your taste for white wine forever. 🍷

DAY 2: Fisherman’s Bastion, Buda Castle, Margaret Island, St Stephen’s Basilica, Wine Tasting

Morning

Today, you’ll spend the majority of your time on the “Buda” side of the city!

Wake up early for sunrise and head to Fisherman’s Bastion. I realize you’re on vacation, but the sunrise at Fisherman’s Bastion is incredibly beautiful and romantic. You must do it!

Make sure to cross the GORG Széchenyi Chain Bridge.

If you don’t want to get up at sunrise, the view is still spectacular later in the morning. You won’t have all the gorgeous colors, but you will have a lot more people!

Make sure to check out the stunning St Matthias Church. You can pay to go inside (if it is open), but we didn’t think it was worth it. If you’ve seen a lot of European churches/cathedrals, you’re unlikely to be impressed.

Practical Tip: You can pay extra to reach other portions of the Bastion, but we believe the free views are sufficient, as discussed in our Fisherman’s Bastion tour. You’ll also want to leave around 10 a.m. to have enough time for the rest of the day.

Then, stroll for 15 minutes to Buda Castle and spend an hour or more visiting the gardens and adjacent charming streets.

Now, you have two breakfast options:

Visit Ruszwurm Confectionary, Budapest’s oldest bakery, which is conveniently located near the castle. Try their amazing Krispy Kreme cakes and strudel.

OR

Take an 8-minute Uber/Bolt to the stunning Nor/ma Grand Bakery. This is a Scandinavian bakery and one of our favorites in the city! You must try the cardamom bun.

I am drooling just thinking about it, and it is on the way to Margaret Island!

Afternoon

Get to Margaret Island and spend the afternoon exploring. Be sure to visit:

• The little zoo (with free admission) includes some adorable creatures!
• The water tower (which features public restrooms for only one Euro!)
• The beautiful musical well and Japanese garden
• The Budapest Sign

You may also rent some amusing-looking small bikes and automobiles and drive around. You can do this toward the beginning of the island. Simply Google “Bringo Rental,” and you’ll find it!

If you want the most real experience ever, walk 20 minutes to Tokaj Wine Bar (as long as they open after 3 p.m.). The wine here isn’t outstanding, but it’s CHEAP (like $2), and there are hardly any English or visitors. Simply point to the wine you choose (they have an English menu) and get some classic fat-on bread for lunch.

If that isn’t your thing, take the tram immediately outside Margit Bridge to the city center for a late lunch at Pörc & Prézli Étterem.

Then, visit St Stephen’s Basilica, which is one of the most gorgeous European churches we’ve ever seen! We were fortunate to witness a wedding here.

Practical Tip: The ticket office around the corner only opens until 5, so plan your afternoon appropriately.

If you didn’t lock your love on the chain bridge, you might do so at the Tree of Love in the heart of Erzsébet Square!

Evening

If you finish early, you *could* go to Rudas Bath. It’s a little out of the road (but a quick ridesharing) but has the most INCREDIBLE hot bath on the roof with breathtaking views. It’s very romantic, and you could even rent the entire place for the two of you if you’re feeling fancy.

But you *HAVE* to do a wine tasting at Wine the Gap!

Mickey, the owner, is an exceptionally nice and experienced wine judge who will tell you a lot about Hungarian wine while allowing you to sample a wide range. The tour includes a generous serving of local sausage, cheese, bread, and a gorgeous golden pork-fat spread that tastes like liquid gold combined with bacon.

The value for money is unrivaled, providing an authentic local experience. It was one of our best investments in the city, as well as one of our favorite wine-tasting experiences in Europe! And we’ve done so much!

DAY 3: New York Cafe, Gellert Hill, Cooking Class, River Cruise

Morning

You should begin your day by visiting what is regarded as one of the most beautiful cafes in the world: New York Cafe. You’ve probably seen this cafe all over Instagram and elsewhere when researching your trip!

We have to be honest: Caleb and I went and found it incredibly pricey and touristic (you’ll see people rushing about taking photos all morning), but it’s beautiful.

We recommend arriving at the opening (8 a.m.) to avoid big lineups and simply grab a coffee to see it. (We tried their specialty 24k gold cappuccino, but it was not worth the price.)

THEN, stroll 25 minutes to Artisan Bakery, one of our favorite spots in town, for a quick breakfast and coffee on the fly. You must try the cardamom custard bun and the pistachio cheesecake, which I dream about every day.

It’s a vacation. You can have cheesecake for breakfast.

Then, take a 10-minute ride share to Liberty Bridge, walk across it, and spend about an hour wandering around the magnificent Gellert Hill.

Check out the Gellert statue, which is their replica of the Statue of Liberty. It originated during the communist era, but has since been rebranded to signify freedom!

We believe you can skip the cave church. We didn’t think it was worth the entrance fee, and the inside of the structure is quite small.

Afternoon

At 1 pm, we’ll meet at the Central Market Hall for an amazing local cooking workshop with Foodapest for lunch!

Joseph, the proprietor, assisted us in purchasing fresh ingredients and tasting local flavors. The highlight was his family’s blackberry palinka!

Joseph and his brother conduct the tour as a family company. After shopping, we drove to a nearby apartment to prepare a traditional lunch with Joseph and another couple. The evening featured Hungarian delicacies, flowing local wine, and a fun, informal culinary lesson.

We enjoyed Chicken Paprikash dumplings, met new people, and departed with a new dish to try at home and good memories. This experience is ideal if you want a completely planned, stress-free afternoon. It is one of our favorite culinary experiences in Budapest!

Evening

We tried four boat tours in Budapest to determine the best one for you. We highly recommend the Legenda cruise at sunset, so do it after your cooking class!

This romantic river trip includes one glass of wine or beer, with additional beverages available for purchase on board. The boat’s glass walls provide breathtaking views from within, and you can also enjoy the open-air upper deck to see the buildings all illuminated up!

This quiet and romantic trip is the ideal opportunity to sample Hungarian wine while viewing Budapest from the Danube!

After that, head to Hungarikum Bistro (reservations required!) for not just a truly wonderful Hungarian meal, but also an EXPERIENCE. We won’t ruin it, but it’s a fun place.

To terminate your three days, you have the following options:

1. Visit a ruined bar. They’re fascinating, but we found them to be overrun with young teenagers and cheap, low-quality drinks.

2. Visit Warm Up Cocktail Bar for some of the greatest cocktails we’ve ever tried! They don’t have a menu; instead, you tell them what you like and dislike, and they create custom cocktails.

3. Visit Pianna Vyshnia pub for a lively atmosphere (typically with a DJ) and enjoy some unique Ukrainian Cherry Liquor in a creative setting!

Conclusion:

We consider ourselves “mid-budget” travelers and prefer to save money on rooms (as long as they are clean and in a good location), and we enjoy staying at the 7Seasons Hotel. It features affordable, huge accommodations, courteous personnel, and an amazing, central location.

Walking, tram, or bus are the best methods to travel around Budapest, and I’ve included tips for navigating the city in this itinerary!

Well, foodies, that concludes our epic 3-day Budapest itinerary with everything you need to see, eat, and do! If you have any questions, please leave a comment and we will get back to you as soon as possible!