Budapest Things to Do

After a long, cold winter, Budapest bursts back to life in spring; trees bloom in parks and promenades, cruise boats ply the river, and visitor attractions reopen their doors. Airfares and hotel prices are still reasonable and restaurants quiet, while temperatures are at a pleasant 61°F (16°C).

Orient yourself with a walking tour of Budapest, Hungary’s capital and a city cleft in half by the mighty River Danube. Start in Pest, the left-bank city of wide boulevards and Jugendstil architecture.

With its reputation as a party city, Budapest celebrates Szilveszter, Hungary‘s New Year, with a bang. Street parties take place across the city and the explosion of fireworks marks midnight over the Danube River. Public transport operates until 1pm, but stores close at around 4pm and reopen only on January 2.

Budapest has long been a proud cultural staple of Europe, and these days, you would be pressed not to find at least some arts and music events to attend around the city. Unfortunately, not all of these events are free, and for those traveling on a budget, it would be a pity to miss out on what Budapest has to offer.

Like many other cities in the region, the capital of Hungary is decidedly lacking in air-conditioning (for shame!). The following suggestions may help visitors beat the heat or simply enjoy the outdoors in an urban environment.

As is well known, the Hungarian capital city is the convergence of two formerly separate cities on the east and west banks of the River Danube. To get at the georgraphical and figurative heart of both banks (Buda and Pest) simultaneously, the obvious choice is Margaret Island (Margit-sziget).