How to spend 4-days in Budapest? A 4-days Budapest Itinerary

Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is an upcoming city for tourists. More and more people are going to Budapest for a vacation or a city trip. Especially younger people are coming to the city. That is what I noticed, when I went to Budapest for a city trip last week. The city is hot and happening. I stayed for four days and enjoyed this beautiful city to the fullest. In this article I will share my 4-days Budapest Itinerary. Perhaps it can help you prepare your trip to Budapest. Enjoy!

4-days Budapest Itinerary: Day 1

The first day we flew from Amsterdam to Budapest and arrived around 3 p.m. in the city. These days, we stayed at the Mercure hotel which is located in the middle of the city center, so ideal! When you stepped outside the hotel, you were standing in the Vaci Street where you can find all the shops (on the Pest side of the city). We decided to walk around the neighbourhood a little bit and just explore the places which where nearby the hotel.

That is how we ended up in the Raday street. My father already went a few times to Budapest, so he already knew this street very well and he was very enthusiastic about the little eateries in this street. We were a bit hungry, so decided to take place on one of the many terraces and ate something. I went for a typical Hungarian dish, namely Hortobágyi palacsinta. These are little pancakes filled with paprika chicken. It was so delicious! I really loved it and it is definitely a recommendation when you want to try something typical Hungarian.

The rest of the first day was very calm. In the evening we decided to drink something at Café de Paris at the end of the Vaci street. We took a coffee and a cocktail. We were still so full of the pancakes which we ate a little late in the afternoon, so we did not really eat much that evening. The square at the end of the Vaci street is very cosy with some shops and eateries. Café de Paris was very nice to sit at, but honestly, a little bit more expensive than other cafés. However, we had a nice evening.

4-days Budapest Itinerary: Day 2

The next morning we got up early. We had a great breakfast at the hotel, where after we decided to walk to the other side of the bridge, namely the Boeda side of the city. At this side, there were some beautiful hills and we walked towards the Buda castle, which was not that far. The Buda castle was very nice and definitely worth a visit. You can go very high on the castle where you can have a panoramic view over the city.

After visiting the Buda castle, we walked back to the Gèllert hill which we walked upwards (a little intense, but it was okay. If you do not like hiking, you can also take a bus to the top of the hill). On the top of the hill there also was a panoramic view over the city and the beautiful Liberty statue. Furthermore, there were some stands where you could buy something to eat and souvenirs. Eventually, we went via the main road downwards.

After these visits we were very hungry, so we decided to go to the Raday street again to eat something. This time, I did not take something typical Hungarian: I ate a pasta Carbonara, yummie. For the day after, we would like to buy some tickets for the bus, so we could go a little bit further into the city. In the end, we bought some tickets which were available for two days, so the rest of our stay.

After we bought the tickets, we decided to go a little with the bus towards the Hero Square and the famous Széchenyi Thermal Bath. We could not step out of the bus when we got there, because this was the last ride for the bus, so we stayed in the bus and just looked around.

And then it was dinner time. At recommendation of several persons, we decided to go to restaurant Gerbeaud at the end of the Vaci street, at the same square as Café de Paris. We had a really nice dinner and the food was delicious, so we definitely did not regret going there. Definitely a recommendation!

After dinner, we made a little walk, drank some coffee and then we went to bed.

4-days Budapest Itinerary: Day 3

So the second day of our trip we went to the Boeda side of the city. The third day (Wednesday) we stayed at the Pest side. Since we had some bus tickets, we went exploring this side of the city by bus. Our first stop was the Jewish quarter. The most beautiful place in the quarter was the synagogue, which has an awesome architecture. We did not went into the synagogue, because it was very crowded, but we made some pictures and walked around the Jewish quarter.

And then we went by bus to our next stop, where we planned to go have some coffee and take a small break. On recommendation we decided to go to the Box Donut, which was very easy to find from the bus stop. This coffee shop is well-known for its donuts in the shape of a square. We took a cappuccino and picked a donut. My choice went to the Caramel donut, which was absolutely delicious. Not only was there caramel on top of the donut, but it was also filled with caramel cream. Delicious!

After our short break, we decided to go a little by bus and just look around the city from the bus. After a while, we stopped at the Chain Bridge. This bridge is the most famous of Budapest and very beautiful, but to be honest, the Liberty Bridge was more beautiful in my opinion. Also, we went to the Jewish shoes, which is a memorial for the Jewish people who died in World War II. They were ordered to take off their shoes and were shot at the edge of the water so that their bodies fell into the river and were carried away. It represents their shoes left behind on the bank. The Jewish shoes are located at the Danube quay, just a bit further as the Chain Bridge and close to the Parliament building. Speaking of that, we also took a look at this breath taking building. Definitely one of the most beautiful architecture of Budapest what I have seen those days. I loved this building.

After this visit, we went back to the main street (where our hotel was located) and decided to have some lunch. We had some lunch in the same street (Vaci street) at an Italian. I was not that hungry, so I decided to take some Bruschetta. I know, it is not Hungarian, but it was really delicious.

After lunch, we went to the market hall and walked around all the stands. There is a very cosy atmosphere in the hall and so many choices for food and souvenirs. Also, the building from the outside is very pretty. At this point, we did not buy anything. We decided to buy some souvenirs the next day.

Actually, our planning was to do a boat trip in the evening, because it was recommended to me that a boat trip is very nice to do when it gets a little darker. We were very excited for this trip, but unfortunately we had to cancel it because of the bad weather. All days we had beautiful weather, except for that evening. It was raining and that does not make a boat trip very fun. We were very disappointed, but decided to make the best out of the evening.

We ate something close to our hotel (in the Vaci street) in a very nice restaurant with very friendly people. I took turkey and it was delicious. Honestly, I think this was the best dinner I had these days. Not only because of the food, but also because of the staff. After dinner, we drank a cocktail and then it was the end of day three.

4-days Budapest Itinerary: Day 4

The next and last day was very calm, because we would be picked up at two p.m. at our hotel by a taxi. We decided to take the bus for the last time and to just drive a little bit around the city and look around the places we had not visit yet. We would have love to visit those places, but we did not have enough time unfortunately. Also, we went for the last time to the market hall to buy some souvenirs for ourselves and people at home.

At noon, we went to café Anna in the Vaci street to drink a coffee and to have some lunch (a big plate of typical, Hungarian dishes), where after we went back to the hotel: ready to be picked up.

And that was the end of our city trip. I have to say, four days is definitely not enough to explore this beautiful city and I really would like to go back one time do discover way more. I loved the dynamic atmosphere in the city and it just has some beautiful places. Definitely a city worth the visit!

Conclusion

In a whirlwind four-day adventure, Budapest, Hungary proved itself a rising star on the travel scene. From devouring savory Hortobágyi palacsinta and pasta Carbonara to scaling the heights of Buda Castle and Gèllert Hill for stunning city panoramas, Budapest left an indelible mark on my travel memory. The Jewish quarter’s architectural wonders, quirky Box Donut, and poignant memorial of the Jewish Shoes provided unique moments, and the Chain Bridge and Parliament building left me in awe. Culinary delights, bustling markets, and warm-hearted locals made Budapest an unforgettable experience. Although a planned evening boat trip was washed out, a local restaurant stepped up to the plate. Departing Budapest, I knew four days were just a teaser; this city’s dynamic charm and beauty beckon a return visit for deeper exploration and more culinary delights. So, if you’re heading to Budapest, brace yourself for a whirlwind of fun, culture, and adventure!

Author: Tamara