We might be biased because we used to live here, but Caleb and I believe Budapest is one of the most gorgeous cities in Europe. It has hearty food that feels like your grandmother is cuddling your taste buds, incredible wine, beautiful architecture, and a breathtaking river. Did we mention wine?
All the sweetness might make vacation planning difficult! We struggled with what to prioritize when we first went, so we’ve put up a beginner’s guide to arranging a trip to Budapest! A simple review is that you should spend at least two days in Budapest, with the finest months being April, May, September, and October!
In this guide, we’ll delve deeper into what you need to know to decide how many days to stay in Budapest and when to visit for a wonderful central European vacation! Let’s plunge in!
Essential Information:
📍 Location: Northern Hungary, Central Europe.
✈️ Transportation options include flying into Ferenc Liszt International Airport or taking the train.
☀️ Best months to visit: April-May or September-October.
🚗 Getting around: Walking or public transportation.
⏰ Recommended stay: at least 2 days, but longer is preferable!
💰 Weekend budget: $300-$500 for two persons, excluding flights/trains, is a great mid-range option.
💴 Tipping: we recommend 10-12% at restaurants; many places already include it on the bill.
📞 Phone and Internet: We recommend purchasing Google Fi service, which provides data in almost any place globally. We love it!
Let’s Choose When to Visit:
The TLDR:
If you’re like us, you have the attention span of a worm (do worms have attention spans? Life’s great secrets), all you need to know is that we believe the ideal months to visit Budapest are April and May, or September and October.
The weather is the best, the prices are the lowest, and it’s less crowded. Of course, December is an option if you prefer Christmas markets, but as much as it pains our Budapest-loving hearts to say it, we believe it is one of the worst Christmas markets we’ve ever visited.
Do not throw a chimney cake at us.
Other Things You Should Consider:
When deciding how many days to spend in Budapest, consider the following hints and tidbits:
- Prices: The best deals are always available during the off-season, which is around January through May and September through October.
Summer and November/December are the most expensive months due to holidays and Christmas markets.
- Weather: If you want the greatest weather, plan your trip in May or September/early October. That is when we have experienced the most pleasant, warm-but-not-too-hot weather.
- Tourists: If you wish to visit Budapest without crowds, avoid June-August and December.
Said a tourist. The irony.
- Worst time to visit: We did not enjoy going in the summer or December. In the summer, we competed with selfie sticks and sticky, sweaty faces, while in the winter, we faced off against the Christmas market crowd.
Additionally, it was really cold at the time. Trust us, we lived there over the winter.
Monthly Weather to Keep in Mind
While we are not weather experts, here is what you can expect month-by-month from Weatherspark, which you may use as a tool to select the ideal months to visit Budapest:
- The average temperature in January is 32°F (0°C), with three days of rain.
- The average temperature in February is 34°F or 1°C, with three days of rain on average.
- The average temperature in March is 43°F (6°C), with 5 days of rain.
- The average temperature in April is 53°F or 11°C, with 6 days of rain on average.
- The average temperature in May is 62°F (16°C), with 9 days of rain.
- The average temperature in June is 68°F (20°C), with an average of 8 days of rain.
- The average temperature in July is 71°F or 22°C, with 8 days of rain on average.
- The average temperature in August is 70°F or 21°C, with 7 days of rain.
- The average temperature in September is 62°F (16°C), with 6 days of rain.
- The average temperature in October is 52°F or 11°C, with 6 days of rain on average.
- The average temperature in November is 41°F or 5°C, with 5 days of rain on average.
- The average temperature in December is 33°F (0°C), with four days of rain.
Choosing How Many Days to Spend?
Given that we lived there, we believe you could spend limitless days in Budapest. However, you will need at least two days in Budapest to visit all of the major tourist attractions. But, to be honest, these are going to be quite busy, and you’ll need a vacation from your vacation.
We *strongly* (as if we could shake you through the screen) advise you to fight the impulse to complete everything as soon as possible and instead spend more time: at LEAST 3 days, but preferably 4-5 or more, to enjoy all that makes it a top destination for couples!
Please, for the love of all things chimney cake, do not spend only one day!
Ideas For Selecting Your Ideal Trip Length:
Within 2 Days, You Could:
If you have two days, you will have enough time to visit the main sites on Budapest’s Buda side – the Chain Bridge, Buda Castle, and Fisherman’s Bastion – in one day. You may then spend one day zipping around St Stephen Basilica and the Hungarian Parliament building. These items are demonstrated in the video at the top of this post.
It would give you enough time to sample some Hungarian cuisine and AMAZING wine (trust me, it will alter your life). However, your days will be hectic!
If You Have 3 Days, You Can:
If you had three days, you could do the above at a lot more leisurely, delightful pace, and even sleep in a little bit because you wouldn’t be rushing around.
You’d have time to do a Hungarian wine tasting at our favorite wine bar in Europe (no lie), as well as our favorite riverboat one night. We tested three of them, and this one is by far our favorite. Did we mention the free wine?
If You Have 4-5 Days, You Can:
Now things start to get extremely exciting! You could combine all of the above with this spectacular Budapest cooking lesson (with complimentary wine!) to truly immerse yourself in local culture and flavors. It’s also a wonderful way to recreate your vacation at home!
You may eat more amazing Hungarian food and explore other great dining options in the city. You could visit more of District 9 (our favorite, more local, and hip district, where your wine tasting was held).
You might also visit some of the stunning Hungarian bathhouses for a thermal bath! Make sure to go to the famed Szechenyi bath! Romantic!
If You Had One Week, You Could:
Do everything on the list, plus take some time to get lost, explore, and find stuff to do. Or, do everything slowly and deliberately.
When we did this, we discovered the prettiest tiny deli with a wonderful Charcuterie called Falu Delikat, which you should visit if you enjoy wine, cheese, and sausage.
We also recommend a day trip to Lake Balaton Szentendre or Eger, as the first and last options are excellent for wine enthusiasts. White and red wines, respectively!
Consider These Things When Planning Your Itinerary:
Your Budget:
While Budapest is a relatively inexpensive vacation destination, especially in comparison to other European countries, it is still not free! The longer you stay, the more you’ll pay.
Unfortunately, we discovered that inflation is extremely high in Budapest, and it is no longer as cheap as it was when we visited a few years ago. Others noticed this, particularly during the holiday season.
Where Are You Staying in Budapest?
If you choose to stay in the city center, you will be able to see more rapidly because you can walk almost anywhere. However, if you choose to save money and stay outside of the city center, you will have to figure in longer walks or metro/bus/train rides, which may require more days to see everything!
Your Arrival And Departure:
The recommendations primarily cover complete days. Spending a few days in Budapest, arriving at night and departing in the morning, differs substantially from the opposite.
How Are You Getting Around?
While Budapest is extremely walkable, you should consider the transit time between these sites if you use public transportation or ridesharing.
Time Of Year:
If you visit Budapest during the summer, there will be more tourists, so you will have to go a little slower, so you might want to stay an extra day or two. It will also be quite hot, so you may wish to proceed slower and spend longer days seeking some AC while strolling in the blazing heat!
If you travel in the winter, you may want to proceed at a slower pace so you can find warmth in between walks! Hello, Forralt Bor! (Hungarian for Mulled Wine.)
Conclusion:
Well, that concludes our guide to the essentials of organizing a vacation to Budapest! If you have any questions, please leave a comment and we will get back to you!
However, choosing the ideal time and length is nothing if you choose the wrong district to stay! We’re here to help with our guide to the 3 greatest districts to stay in Budapest for first-timers!
[…] our two-month Christmas market adventure, which took Caleb and me to over 50 markets throughout Europe! There are flame eaters and mulled wine on fire! […]