A Weekend in Budapest: Airport Bus, Thermal Baths, Ruin Bars and Mobile Data

Budapest is one of the best-value city breaks in Europe: grand architecture on both sides of the Danube, thermal baths, great food and a famous nightlife. It is easy to reach by air, train or bus from across Europe. Here is how to plan a weekend.

Before you go

• Entry: Hungary is in the Schengen area. Check the visa rules for your passport, and whether the EU's ETIAS travel authorisation has started, before you travel.
• Money: Hungary uses the forint, not the euro. Pay by card in forint; if a card machine offers to charge you in euros, choose forint, it is almost always cheaper.
• Mobile data: If your phone plan does not include EU roaming (for example a SIM from the UK, the US, Switzerland or Turkey), data in Hungary can be expensive. A Hungary eSIM costs €2.29 for 3 GB.

From the airport to the city

• The 100E airport bus runs to Deák Ferenc tér in the centre in about 35 to 45 minutes. It needs its own airport ticket.
• Cheaper: bus 200E to Kőbánya-Kispest, then the M3 metro, on ordinary tickets.
• Taxis: use the official taxi stand outside arrivals, or a ride app.

Getting around

• Metro, trams and buses from BKK cover the whole city. Tram 2 along the Danube is one of the most beautiful public transport rides in Europe.
• Buy tickets in the BudapestGO app, which also has live departures. 24-hour and 72-hour travel cards are good value for a weekend.

What to see

• The Parliament: stunning from outside and from the river; book a guided tour to go in.
• Buda Castle and Fisherman's Bastion: take the funicular or walk up for the view over Pest.
• The Chain Bridge and a walk along the Danube promenade at night, when the bridges and the Parliament are lit up.
• A thermal bath: Széchenyi in City Park is the famous outdoor one; Rudas has a rooftop pool with river views. Bring flip-flops and a towel, or rent them there.
• Ruin bars: Szimpla Kert in the Jewish Quarter is the original, in an old abandoned building.
• The Great Market Hall for paprika, lángos and local food.

A 2-day plan

1. Day 1: the Parliament, St. Stephen's Basilica, the Chain Bridge, Buda Castle and Fisherman's Bastion; dinner and ruin bars in the Jewish Quarter.
2. Day 2: Széchenyi Baths in the morning, Andrássy Avenue and Heroes' Square, the Great Market Hall, a Danube cruise in the evening.

Staying connected in Budapest

Prices as of October 2026. Current prices are always on the Hungary eSIM page.

Buy the eSIM on rrugo.com/esim or in the RruGO app and install it at home with our guide. Visiting in December? See Christmas markets in Vienna, Munich, Prague and Budapest.