Exploring Budapest Like a Local: 9 Awesome Things To Do!

Things to do in Budapest to feel like a local.

Budapest is, in my opinion, the most beautiful capital city in Europe. And not only is this city visually beautiful, but also culturally. Which is why I highly recommend not just exploring the classic activities, but also the local things to do in Budapest!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of the product links, we’ll receive a small commission at no cost to you. We only promote products and services we 100% believe in. Thank you so much for supporting us! Read more about it in our disclosure policy.

About Budapest

Budapest, the vibrant capital of Hungary, is a city where history and creativity come together. Divided by the Danube River into Buda and Pest, the city offers two distinct atmospheres: hilly, historic Buda with its castles and viewpoints, and lively Pest, known for its cafés, ruin bars, and grand boulevards.

Often called the “Paris of the East,” Budapest is famous for its stunning architecture, from the iconic Parliament Building to the fairy-tale towers of Fisherman’s Bastion. The city is also home to some of Europe’s best thermal baths, a legacy of both Roman and Ottoman rule, making soaking in hot springs a must-do experience. But more about that later…

Beyond the landmarks, Budapest has a laid-back yet energetic vibe, with affordable prices, rich Hungarian cuisine, and a thriving cultural scene. It really doesn’t matter what you’re visiting for, the history, food, partying, or exploring, Budapest will surely fill your heart in any way!

Getting around Budapest

For getting around the city center, there are 2 ways that I highly recommend.

The first is to get a Metropass. You can opt for a 10-ride pass or a time-based pass, like for 24 or 72 hours. I went for the 72-hour pass, and it gave me a lot of peace of mind with getting around the city. You can check the current prices on this website.

So on my time in Budapest, I traveled around the city with a combination of two things. Firstly, I had the Metropass, and secondly, I opted for E-scooters.

I specifically like the Tier scooters, but you will also find Lime. All you have to do is download the app, scan, and go! You can pay per minute, or get a pass for 100 minutes, for example, which is a lot cheaper than paying per ride. This way of transport gives you even more flexibility and you get to see a lot more of the city.

How many days do I need in Budapest?

Budapest is a large city. There is no getting around it. There is also a ridiculous number of activities in the city. So I would say you need at least 3 days in the city, but if you have the time and want to see more, you can easily stay here for a week without getting bored.

Where to stay in Budapest

Buda or Pest?

Where to stay on your trip to Budapest depends on what type of traveler you are and the things you want to do. I stayed on both sides, so I’ll tell you about how I think you should choose.

If you love the liveliness of the city, shopping, being close to many activities, and maybe even partying, Pest is the perfect place for you.

But if you don’t mind the quiet and you want to explore the lesser-known parts of the city, Buda is your side. On this hilly side of the city, you will find a lot fewer tourists, but also fewer activities. However, you can find wonderful accommodations here and have your morning coffee in quiet, hidden cafés.

Accommodations in Buda

Luxury – Monastery Boutique Hotel Budapest

Budget – Hotel Castle Garden

Apartment/Family – Deluxe Swan Stone Castle Apartment

My favorite – PEST-BUDA Design Hotel

Accommodations in Pest

Luxury – Kozmo Hotel Suites & Spa

Budget – Budapest Panorama Central

Apartment/Family – A13- Deluxe Apartments

My favorite – Beletage-Boutique Hotel

Local things to do in Budapest

Explore Margaret Island

A city is not complete without a green heart where you can go to unwind. And in Budapest, this place is Margaret Island, a small island in the middle of the Danube River. In the Middle Ages, this was the favorite place for rabbits, and nowadays, the locals come here all the time to relax in the quiet nature.

And as you can come here for a nice picnic, a walk, or a run, you will also find a wonderful spa on the island.

There is so much to explore on the island, like:

Going for a run or a walk
Relaxing in Palatinus bath (or opt for the fun side of it, with adventure pools, water slides, and more)
Watching an open-air movie in summertime
Enjoy the animals on the local farm
Admire the stunning Water Tower that has even made it onto the UNESCO World Heritage Sites List!

My favorite way to reach the island is by foot, using the Margaret bridge, or using tram 4 or 6, that both stop by the entrance on the same bridge.

Wander around Vajdahunyad Castle and the Gatehouse Tower

The bike tour that I went on in Budapest showed me a lot more than just the tourist highlights. It brought me to the absolutely stunning Vajdahunyad Castle and its magical Gatehouse Tower. Located by city park, this is still a place that tourists visit, but most of them stay within the central part of the city.

And this is the one place that left an incredible impression on me. I would’ve loved sticking around to explore it better, but unfortunately I couldn’t.

I do, however, recommend taking a little trip to City Park and exploring this unpronounceable castle; it is definitely worth it!

Take a walk through City Park

I know, I already mentioned it, but City Park is not just a small park to wander around in. There is so much more to do, like:

Visiting the zoo and botanical garden
Unwinding in the Széchinyi Thermal Baths
Boating on Városligeti Lake (or ice skating on it in winter)
Taking a moment on Heroes’ Square
Visiting the House of Music

As the Park is the largest one in the city, and there is so much to do, it’s more than worth taking the time to go there and explore!

Go vintage shopping

My favorite ‘’local’s activity’’ in each city that I visit, is hunting for vintage shops. And oh my, Budapest has a lot of them. I even explored the ones that are quite hard to find and feel illegal to enter, and those experiences were awesome!

Some of my favorite vintage shops in Budapest are:

Royal Vintage
Alterego
Retrock Designer Vintage
Ludovika
Humana
Lovebug (hidden, use the google maps reviews as guidelines to get inside)

I absolutely loved wandering around town, looking for these shops. And know that some shops are not as cheap as you would expect second-hand items to be, due to the refurbished clothes (Retrock, for example). I still did find some really nice purple sports trousers there, though, for €11 euros.

Have coffee at Művész Café & Confectionery

While most tourists go to New York Café, to have an overpriced coffee, there is actually a much nicer place, that only locals know about. It’s called Művész Café & Confectionery, and going there is an entire experience in itself.

This 120-year-old café, has been completely preserved in its original interior. Stepping into the café feels like going back in time! And with the large assortment of artisan cakes, this is the perfect place for a tasty little break.

It’s best to go here during the week, because yes, even the locals like crowding the place during the weekends 😉

Relax at Vali Bej Bath

When researching things to do in Budapest, you must’ve stumbled upon Széchenyi Thermal Bath, which is an amazing place. But now that you’re here, reading this post, I will recommend something else; a more local thermal bath.

During my visit to Vali Bej Bath, I feel like there were no tourists at all, only Hungarians. And with the many swimming pools, saunas, and the Turkish Ottoman architecture, the day was as relaxing as it could get!

I highly recommend checking it out. Book your visit in advance, here!

Unfortunately, I couldn’t take a photo of the stunning pools, but please trust me on this: itis definitely worth it!

Escape from Neverland

Yes, in Budapest, you can actually find yourself lost in Neverland. And the point is to find a way out; it’s an escape room!

If you’re looking for a unique group activity, Neverland must be the perfect place! Not only is there an escape room, but also a pizzeria and a bar with (dare I say) the most delicious cocktails I’ve ever had!

There was a good mix of locals and tourists here, and the vibes were incredible!

Visit the Sunday morning Ruin bar farmers market

While walking through the city on a Sunday morning, I stumbled upon one of the most unique places. And the funny thing was, I already knew this place from the night before; it was the ruining bar where I partied. On every Sunday morning, the Szimpla Kert Ruin Bar, turns into a farmers market!

You can get fresh produce, honeys, juices, bread, and many more things here, from 9 am to 2 pm.

I highly recommend checking out this place!

Ride the Yellow Tram Along the Danube

I know, I know. This activity is kind of iconic. But still, it’s such a nice experience to ride the yellow tram along the Danube, especially the old trams are awesome! Plus, you get to people-watch, which is one of my favorite things to do (I’m not weird…).

Riding the beautiful yellow trams will bring you many different views that you wouldn’t have seen otherwise. So make sure to do it sometime on your city trip!

Final thoughts on local things to do in Budapest

Now that you know where the locals go in Budapest, it’s time to experience local life too! What’s your favorite place on this list? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy travels!

Exploring Budapest Like a Local: 9 Awesome Things To Do!

Things to do in Budapest to feel like a local.