Budapest attractions

After Communism fell, the Budapest government made a bold decision to preserve public art from that troubled chapter of Hungary's past. The result—Memento Park—lets visitors look back at Communist-era Hungary through works of socialist realism. Highlights include statues, relics from the 1956 revolution, and even an East German car.

At 48 miles (77 kilometers) in length and seven miles (11 kilometers) at its widest point, Balaton is Central Europe’s largest freshwater lake and landlocked Hungary’s prime summer playground, with spectacular scenery and swim-friendly milky green waters. The lake is fringed by beach resorts, a national park, and wine-producing vineyards.

The splendor of the Habsburgs features prominently at Gödöllo Royal Palace (Gödölloi Királyi Kastély, a baroque home where Empress Elisabeth spent summers. Wander its formal gardens, explore a lavish interior, and marvel at art and antiquities. This premier Budapest day trip destination is located just northwest of the Hungarian capital.

Budapest’s famous thermal springs have created a landscape riddled with natural caves and tunnels. More than 200 caves have been identified beneath the Buda Hills and along the banks of the Danube River, but only three are open to the public. The Pálvölgyi cave system (Pálvölgyi Barlang), the largest of these, stretches for miles.

An impressive exhibition space established over a century ago, Budapest’s Kunsthalle displays an expansive collection of art from Hungary and around the world. From thought-provoking installations to sculptures and paintings, you can immerse yourself in a diverse range of artistic expression. It’s the perfect place to experience the rich culture and heritage of Budapest.

Housed in a former army barracks, the Museum of Military History (Hadtorteneti Muzeum isn't Budapest's most popular museum, but it's a must-see for history buffs exploring Castle Hill. Filled with military relics and memorabilia from the Ottoman era through the 20th-century, the museum tells the story of Hungary's wars over the centuries.

Thermal baths are a Hungarian tradition, and Budapest's mineral-rich waters have been revered for centuries. Today, travelers can embrace the practice at Lukács Thermal Bath (Szent Lukács Gyógyfürdo, a rebuilt 1880s spa and hotel with soaking pools, baths, saunas, and massage services.

The Aquincum Museum (Aquincumi Múzeum is not a typical gallery-filled history museum, since the institution offers indoor exhibits plus an outdoor archaeological park with vestiges of a Roman city. Find an amphitheater, mosaic floors, sculptures, and more. Though somewhat damaged by weather, the Aquincum remains a top historical site.

Located within Buda Castle, the Castle Museum has served as headquarters for the Budapest History Museum—with several locations across the city—since 1967. More than 2,000 years of the capital’s history are present across the museum's five permanent exhibitions spaces, through multimedia displays, restored rooms, and ancient artifacts.

Art enthusiasts don't need a trip to Vienna to wander the stately halls of a world-class museum—Budapest's Museum of Fine Arts (Szépművészeti Múzeum provides museumgoers a superior art experience, east of the Danube. Find a robust Spanish art collection, special programs, and temporary exhibits offering a wide-ranging look at European art.

Following the Danube River for about 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers, the flat and easygoing Danube Cycle Path (Donauradweg in German is one of Europe’s top leisure cycling routes. The most popular stretch runs between Passau (Germany and Budapest (Hungary via Vienna (Austria and Bratislava (Slovakia.

Formulated more than 200 years ago as a medicinal beverage, Zwack Unicum remains one of Hungary’s favorite liqueurs, and holds a special place in the country’s history. Sample and learn all about the famed digestif at the Zwack Museum and Visitors’ Centre.

Famed photojournalist and wartime photographer Robert Capa's namesake photography center is a cutting-edge arts’ space celebrating the image, image-making, and Hungarian photography. Find contemporary work, historic photos, and rotating visual arts exhibitions—all housed in a grand, art nouveau building steps from bustling Andrássy Avenue.

A branch of Budapest's Museum of Fine Arts, the Victor Vasarely Museum showcases the creations of its Hungarian-born namesake, from early drawings to later kinetic works. Art lovers can visit this charming Buda museum to admire the renovated, 18th-century building and view pieces widely considered seminal to the optic art movement.

Sprawling and eclectic, the Kiscelli Museum (Kiscelli Múzeum) focuses on art, culture, and the history of Budapest. The hidden gem in the Obuda district is inside a historic church and monastery and hosts rotating temporary exhibits featuring contemporary artists. Permanent collections run the gamut from an 18th-century apothecary to Baroque sculptures.

The most famous of Budapest’s so-called “ruin bars,” Szimpa Kert is the original, from which the whole alternative movement spawned. Ruin bars were set up in old buildings facing demolition, mainly in Budapest’s Jewish Quarter, turning one person’s trash into another's nightlife treasure. You can visit Szimpla Kert during the day or at night for a drink and a dance.

For a quirky experience or just a fun rainy-day activity, head over to the family-friendly 3D Gallery Budapest. Shed your inhibitions and step into the art, interacting with the optical illusions and snapping Instagram-worthy photos as you explore.

It's hard to miss the ceramic facade and green tiled roof of the Museum of Applied Arts (Iparmuvészeti Múzeum, a bastion of design in the heart of Budapest. The museum—originally founded in 1872—is a meticulously-restored art nouveau gem. Visit to browse its diverse collection of crafts, antiques, and contemporary Hungarian art.

For an interactive, family-friendly activity, head to the Budapest Pinball Museum, one of the largest exhibitions of its kind in Europe. For the price of admission, play more than 130 machines, from 19th-century bagatelles and 1970s favorites to the latest and greatest.

Strolling between the Chain Bridge and the Margaret Bridge on Budapest’s UNESCO-listed Danube Bank, you’ll encounter an unusual sight: 60 pairs of apparently discarded shoes. There’s a chilling story behind the Shoes on the Danube Bank. They’re made of iron and represent Budapesters and Jews who were lined up along the river and shot in World War II.

If you’ve ever wondered about the history of aviation, head over to Aeropark Budapest and explore the planes to your heart’s content. Known for its flight simulator and collection of vintage aircraft, the open-air museum demystifies the world of aviation, from the tarmac to the cockpit.

The best deals in Budapest might just be hidden in the city's Ecseri Flea Market (Ecseri Piac, a vendor-packed hub for fans of all things antique and vintage. You can explore the stalls and look out for the perfect souvenir. Find everything from Communist-era relics to Hungarian lacework and Bohemian glass, just outside the city center.

Learn all about palinka, a Hungarian fruit brandy made from orchard fruits, at the Zugfozde Palinka Museum (Zugfozde Pálinkamúzeum). Located in downtown Visegrád, the museum offers exhibits, videos, and artifacts on the history and production of the popular spirit, along with tours, tastings, and a gift shop.

For fans of all things sweet, few confectionary thrills compare to tasting delicious, high-quality chocolate at Budapest’s Chocolate Museum (Csokoládé Múzeum). Satisfy your sweet tooth by dipping marzipan into a chocolate fountain, try making chocolate yourself, and learn about the chocolate-making process on a guided tour.

Named in honor of the founder of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Széchenyi Square is a must-visit while in Budapest. It’s lined with architectural highlights such as the art nouveau Gresham Palace, which is now a Four Seasons Hotel. Be sure to visit the lobby and to admire artisan stained glass, mosaics, and ironworks.

Completed in 1885, Budapest’s neo-Baroque concert hall was built to celebrate the country’s 1,000-year anniversary. The luxurious interior was renovated during the Soviet era but has now been mostly returned to its original form. Today, the Danube Palace (Duna Palota) is known for its program of folk shows, orchestral concerts, and cultural events.

Built in the late-1800s as a theater and library, this opulent building on Corvin Tér today houses the Hungarian Heritage House (Budai Vigadó, a beacon of Hungarian folk culture. Though damaged in World War II, the building has been restored to its former glory and presents visitors with frequent performances rooted in Hungarian tradition.

Kecskemét is a quaint Hungarian city of about 100,000 residents, offering travelers the chance to enjoy traditional Magyar culture, secessionist architecture, and locally produced fruit brandy known as pálinka. Located just about an hour from Budapest by train, Kecskemét is easily reached for day trips full of urban adventure and museum hopping.