Budapest is a popular destination amongst tourists for a reason. There are typical tourist attractions that everyone visits. However, if you’re a bit more familiar with the city than the average tourist, you might truly see why they call it the Heart of Europe. There are almost unlimited things to do in Budapest – if you know where to find them. In this post, we give you 4 creative ways to spend your stay and really feel the vibe of the city.
What secret places and activities are in the city if you have already seen it once or twice?
Visit the Hospital in the Rock
During the Cold War, a confidential object was built beneath the Buda Castle. Up until 2008, the public had no idea what it was exactly. It was a hospital, but today it operates as a Museum. In case of a nuclear attack, it can serve as a nuclear bunker as well.
Hungary’s biggest wax figure exhibition shows the history of the Hospital and the development of military medicine.
The primary goal of the Museum is to show the real face of the War and emphasize the value of peace. According to Tripadvisor, in 2015, 2016, and 2018 it was the most popular museum in Hungary.
As a tourist, it’s almost an obligation to visit the Castle District of Budapest. If you are interested in history, we recommend you to put this museum on your “things to do in Budapest” list. We guarantee you’ve never seen anything like this.
Find out the secrets of the streets
Budapest has a long history. Some of its streets are several centuries old. The city has seen the rise and fall of a considerable number of kings and other kinds of rulers, but the city remained. It lived through 2 World Wars and Revolutions too.
As such, its streets are full of secrets and wonders. Did you know that Casanova spent some nights in the city, and stole several girls’ hearts? Or that one of Hungary’s most famous poets, Endre Ady, once went home from a club with a sphinx? And it’s just the tip of the iceberg…
Yet there are countless wonderful things to do in Budapest, if we would need to choose one, we’d go for a thematic guided walk to get to know the city’s secrets.
Watch the sunset from the Philosophers’ Garden
If you’re a hopeless romantic, we know the perfect dating idea for you: the sunset from the Philosopher’s Garden.
It’s a huge park on the western slope of Gellért Hill, and watching the sunset from there is one of the most romantic things to do in Budapest.
While the Garden is well-known amongst the locals, it’s one of Budapest’s most underrated attractions. Despite the accessible location and stunning views, you can always find a cozy spot without any hassle.
It got its name from the statues of the great philosophers of the past, like Jesus Christ, Ekhnaton, Buddha, Francis of Assisi, Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham, Lao Ce, and Bodhi Dharma.
If you decide to add this to your ‘things to do in Budapest’ list, arrive at least 30 minutes before sunset, so you can enjoy the company of these great thinkers as well.
Go for a hike around Normafa
In case you’re a more active person, Normafa can give you views you can’t get anywhere else.
It’s a huge park-like clearing surrounded by trees above the city. You can get there by bus in 30 minutes from the city. There are only a handful of things to do in Budapest that are worth more than the view you get if you decide to go on an adventure.
The experience is best if you start and finish the hike by using The Chairlift. It literally feels like flying above the forest.
Transportation and summary
All in all, there are a lot of things to do in Budapest, if you decide to spend your holiday here. We would think that on vacation, you want to spend as much time creating memories as you can. So how you get around the city can affect your time.
Using public transportation is a great way to get from point A to point B, but it doesn’t have almost any added value.
Luckily for you, Budapest is famous for its alternative means of transportation. Electric scooters, fat-tire MonsteRollers, segways… you name it. You can rent one almost anywhere in the downtown area, and immediately turn your time spent with transportation into memory on its own.
Cruising around on a MonsteRoller not just adds some extra spice to the vacation, but also offers you freedom. You can cruise around however you like, as you can rent one up to an entire day.
Also, for those preferring to get to know the city more deeply, several service providers are selling guided tours. By using one, you can get to know the city’s most famous attractions and enjoy the coolest means of transportation at the same time.
By the end of the day, it’s 100% your choice whether to go for a free-ride or stick with a guided cruise, in our opinion, you can’t make a bad decision.
