Last Updated on March 20, 2021
Last November, when weekend travel was still a happy possibility, JC and I made a trip over to Budapest in Hungary. We had heard a lot of positive things about Budapest and were eager to see what all the fuss was for ourselves. From the Szechenyi thermal baths to the indoor street food market at Central Market Hall, read below for how to spend 48 hours in the city of Budapest.
‘Buda’ – ‘Pest’ – a Tale of Two Cities
Budapest has in fact only been a city for the last few hundred years. In 1873 the cities of Buda and Pest, which were separated by the Danube river, were united under the name of Budapest. When we visited Budapest we stayed on the Pest side. Many of the touristic sites such as the Szechenyi thermal baths and Parliament are on the Pest side, while the Buda side is more residential. There are touristic sites on the Buda side such as the Fisherman’s Bastion; however, we chose to spend our time on the Pest side of the Danube.
How to Spend 48 Hours in Budapest -Day 1
10 am – Go to the Great Market Hall
The most popular indoor market in Budapest is undoubtedly the Great Market Hall, also known as the Central Market Hall. With three levels, on the first (or ground) floor you can buy small souvenirs, as well as juices and grocery items. Upstairs, you can buy Lángos, which is deep fried bread that can be served either plain or with a variety of toppings, such as sour cream, cheese, veggies, meat, etc. Definitely not the healthiest fare, one lángos is more than enough to share between two people. I thought it tasted like American fried dough. Seating is limited near the lángos stands, so be prepared to fight for a seat or eat while standing. The market is open Monday – Saturday, but be sure to check here for updated opening hours.
12pm – Hit up the Szechenyi Thermal Baths for all-day relaxation
Undoubtedly, JC and I’s top bucket list item in Budapest was to spend the day at the Szechenyi thermal baths. We had seen numerous photos and videos of the beautiful yellow baroque building of Szechenyi and knew that we had to pay a visit while in Budapest. We especially wanted to go to the baths in the colder weather, as two of the outdoor pools have hot water. It also tends to be more crowded in the summer.
Cost of Entrance to Szechenyi
We bought our day passes ahead of time online here. We bought two tickets along with a private cabin to change and leave our clothes. Cost was 22 EUR a ticket or 44 EUR total for two people. This is much cheaper than spas we have gone to in Italy.
How to Get to Szechenyi
To get to Szechenyi from the Central Market Hall you need to take a 25 minute bus ride. Take the 72M bus from the Kálvin tér M transit station.
Bring your own towels or rent them onsite
Entrance was from 9 am to 6 pm, and we could stay as late as 10 pm if we wished. We brought our own flip flops, but rented towels. I would recommend bringing your own towels. Bring an extra towel per person, because your towel will get wet and you will be freezing! Unfortunately, there are not many places to hang your towel to dry and you cannot exchange it for a new towel. If you don’t bring two towels, I would suggest renting a robe. This way you can keep yourself warm and dry in between the geothermal baths.
Don’t count on healthy food at Szechenyi
There is one snack bar at Szechenyi and one dining hall. We had coffee and apples at the snack bar, but I would not recommend eating a full meal there. The cafeteria food looked mainly like fried fast food — not the healthy fare you would expect at a spa.
Don’t expect a luxury spa experience at Szechenyi
We had a great time at Szechenyi; however, be advised that this is not a luxury spa experience. If you are looking for an intimate experience, this is not it. Szechenyi is a public bath, and it is exactly that. It is well-priced and therefore accessible to all people. It gets very crowded, even in the winter, and the facilities are old and not so well-maintained. If you are looking for a more exclusive spa experience, we would recommend the Italian spa chain QC Terme. We have visited QC Terme in Milan, Bormio and Courmayeur.
Read More: Skiing in Courmayeur, Italy | Best Weekend Trips from Milan
4 pm – Get a Massage While at Szechenyi
Wanting to continue with the wellness theme of the day, we booked Thai massages at the Siam Center at Szechenyi. The massages were well-priced (17,800 HUF ~= 54 EUR for two 30 minute massages). They gave us clothes to change into and we were able to have our massages at the same time, albeit in separate rooms.
How to Spend 48 Hours in Budapest – Day 2
10 am – Head to Szimpla Farmers’ Market for Brunch
We went to Szimpla Farmers’ Market on Sunday morning for breakfast. They serve all-you-can-eat brunch every Sunday; however, we opted instead to just buy some bread and cheese to munch on in the Farmer’s Market. It is an eclectic spot complete with live music on Sundays and various vendors selling food and non-food products. Szimpla is the original ‘ruin bar’ in Budapest. Ruin bars are formerly abandoned buildings that instead of being demolished or converted into more high brow establishments were kept as is and turned into a community space, bar and market.
12 pm – Visit the Hungarian Parliament
Easily the most beautiful building in Budapest is the Parliament building, overlooking the Danube river which runs through Budapest. You can visit the inside of the Parliament. Or, you can do as we did and simply admire the beautiful building from outside. Ticket prices and more information regarding visiting hours can be found here.
1 pm – Walk to St. Stephen’s Basilica
About 13 minutes walking from Parliament is St. Stephen’s Basilica. A beautiful Roman Catholic church, you can go inside and even climb to the top of the basilica for a panoramic view of the city. Check the church’s website before your planned visit, as there are regularly scheduled events such as concerts. We only took a quick look from outside before heading to eat nearby.
1:30 pm – Have lunch at Zeller Bistro in the Garden Room
Only two minutes walking from St. Stephen’s Basilica is Zeller Bistro. We found Zeller after a quick look on Google. We were immediately impressed with the friendly waitstaff and beautiful ambiance of the restaurant. Our waiter gave us complimentary champagne to start and complimentary cupcakes at the end of our meal. They have a small seasonal menu and work with local producers and Hungarian wineries. You can see their menu online here.
3 pm – Head to New York Café for a 24 Carat Gold Cappuccino
New York Café is known as the ‘Most Beautiful Café in the World,’ and for good reason. The building was built in the 19th century. Its interiors are incredibly ornate, complete with Italian frescoes, crystal chandeliers and gilded molding. The New York Palace where the café is located also houses a hotel and restaurant. We went just for a cappuccino, which at 10.50 EUR does not come cheap — you definitely pay for the ambiance. We came without a reservation, so we did have to wait in line. I would recommend making a reservation in advance if you do not want to wait!
And that’s everything we did over our weekend in Budapest and how we recommend you to spend 48 hours in the city.
Do you have other favorite spots in Budapest? We definitely did not cover everything the city has to offer and would love to hear your recommendations in the comments below!
