The 14 best free things to do in Budapest

20.07.2024 - 08:52 / lonelyplanet.com

Jul 19, 2024 • 6 min read

Known as the Pearl of the Danube, Budapest is a city where you can tour grand monuments in the morning, slip into a thermal bath in the afternoon and party in a world-famous ruin bar after sunset – and plenty of your best experiences won't cost a single forint.

If you want to visit the Hungarian capital without breaking your budget, these 14 free things to do are the perfect way to enjoy Budapest without opening your wallet.

The Citadella, the mighty fortress atop Gellért Hill, marks one of the best viewpoints in Budapest, and the 30-minute hike to the top via a meandering forested path is a great way to spend a morning. Once at the top, enjoy the amazing panorama of the city in the shadow of the Liberty Monument, proclaiming freedom throughout the city.

Although the fortress itself is currently under renovation and certain sections are temporarily closed, other stunning lookouts are open, such as the steps leading up to the Citadella from the southern side of the hill and the northern lookout by the parking lot overlooking Buda Castle. 

Nagycsarnok (Great Market Hall) is Budapest’s largest food market. Head upstairs to browse traditional Hungarian folk costumes, dolls, painted eggs, embroidered tablecloths and carved hunting knives. On the ground floor, you'll find specialty food items, from huge bags of paprika to kolbász (sausages) and local wines.

Housed in a former 19th-century palace, the Ervin Szabó Central Library invites visitors to take a break from the dizzying pace of the Hungarian capital and unwind in regal surroundings. Spaces that once functioned as grand dining rooms and living quarters have been converted into a number of truly dazzling public reading rooms. Giant chandeliers dangle above plush armchairs, enticing visitors to spend an afternoon flicking through one of the two million-plus texts that line the library’s shelves. 

You need to register for a library card to see the building's most beautiful parts, but it only costs 400 HUF (just over US$1) and lasts a year. Bring a form of ID and head to the information desk to get registered. 

Pest’s green lung, City Park, is an open space east of the city, measuring almost one sq km. Stroll along the park’s shady paths past monuments like the hooded Anonymous, the unknown chronicler of the 12th-century court who wrote a history of the early Magyars. The unofficial entrance to the park is Heroes’ Square, with its landmark Millenary Monument marking the 1000th anniversary of the Magyar conquest of the Carpathian Basin.

Margaret Island, a green oasis in the middle of the Danube, boasts a couple of large swimming complexes, a thermal spa, gardens and shaded walkways, and is a delightful place to head on a hot afternoon.