Free things to do · Budapest · Hungary
7 free things to do in Budapest
Budapest without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Brian Adamson, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Budapest without paying an entry fee: Buda Castle, Széchenyi Chain Bridge, Szimpla Kert and the ruin bars and Heroes' Square and City Park are all free. Pay in forints and decline offers to charge your card in your home currency at ATMs and card terminals; the conversion rate is poor.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 7
- Low-cost extras
- 5
- Cost level
- Affordable
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February
Free sights and experiences
Palace · Castle District
1.Buda Castle
Walk up through the Castle Garden Bazaar (Várkert Bazár) from the river, or take bus 16 from Deák Ferenc tér over the Chain Bridge.
- Time needed
- Half a day with a museum
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Free
- Architecture
Landmark · Danube
2.Széchenyi Chain Bridge
Walk across from Pest at dusk towards the floodlit castle, then ride bus 16 up to the top of Castle Hill.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Photo spot
- Views
Experience · Erzsébetváros
3.Szimpla Kert and the ruin bars
Visit once in the afternoon to see the rooms properly, then come back late to see it full.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- After dark
- Free
- Iconic
- Food
Park · City Park
4.Heroes' Square and City Park
Ride the M1 underground, opened in 1896 and continental Europe's oldest metro line, from Vörösmarty tér to Hősök tere to get here.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Architecture
- Iconic
Historic site · District V
5.Shoes on the Danube Bank
Visit at a quieter time of day and treat it as a memorial rather than a photo stop.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
Market · Ferencváros
6.Great Market Hall
Go on a weekday morning, when the upstairs food counters are calmer and the produce stalls are fully stocked.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Kids
Park · Margaret Island
7.Margaret Island
Rent a bike or a pedal cart near the southern entrance and catch one of the musical fountain shows.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Active
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Castle District | Buda Castle | Half a day with a museum |
| Danube | Széchenyi Chain Bridge | 20 minutes |
| Erzsébetváros | Szimpla Kert and the ruin bars | 1–2 hours |
| City Park | Heroes' Square and City Park | Half a day |
| District V | Shoes on the Danube Bank | 15 minutes |
| Ferencváros | Great Market Hall | 1 hour |
| Margaret Island | Margaret Island | 2–3 hours |
Worth a small ticket
Viewpoint · Castle District
Fisherman's Bastion
Come at sunrise for empty terraces and soft light on the Parliament, or after dark when both are floodlit.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Couples
- After dark
Religious site · Lipótváros
St Stephen's Basilica
Climb to the dome walkway for a 360-degree view, then sit on the square in front, which is lively in the evenings.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Views
- History
- Iconic
Religious site · Castle District
Matthias Church
Look up from Szentháromság tér at the patterned roof, then check the programme for evening organ and choral concerts.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Art
Historic site · District XXII
Memento Park
Allow about half a day including the bus ride from Kelenföld, and go on a dry day, as almost everything is outdoors.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Experience · Buda Hills
Children's Railway and Zugliget Chairlift
Ride the train to the János-hegy stop, walk up to the lookout tower, then take the chairlift down to Zugliget for a bus back to the centre.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
- Views
More ways to save
- Pay in forints and decline offers to charge your card in your home currency at ATMs and card terminals; the conversion rate is poor.
- Use bank-branch ATMs rather than standalone cash machines in tourist areas, which charge high fees.
- Weekday set lunches (napi menü) are the best-value way to eat a full Hungarian meal.
- Bath tickets cost more at weekends, so go on a weekday morning.
- Check bills for a service charge before tipping, and avoid paying in euros where prices are quoted in forints.
- Exchange booths on Váci utca advertising 'no commission' often give poor rates; compare before changing cash.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Budapest expensive to visit?
Budapest is affordable for most visitors, but 7 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Budapest?
Buda Castle: Walk up through the Castle Garden Bazaar (Várkert Bazár) from the river, or take bus 16 from Deák Ferenc tér over the Chain Bridge.