How to do Budapest on a budget

Cheap places to stay in Budapest

The mighty Danube slices Budapest cleanly into two halves, each radiating its own distinct character. To the west of the vast river sits Buda: a leafy, residential district peppered with resplendent historical monuments, magnificent architecture and upscale restaurants, and topped with Buda Castle.

Across the water lounges its cooler sister, Pest. This half of the city is vibrant and gritty: think imposing architecture adorned with bold street art and hip bars tucked away within bombed out buildings. While Buda is a must-visit, Pest is the place to stay if you really want to get under the skin of the city – especially if you’re on a budget.

Accommodation across Pest is generally cheaper than the swanky hotels you’ll find in Buda, but it can still be pricey.

Pest’s cool Jewish Quarter is Budapest’s most popular tourist district thanks to its famous nightlife and shabby chic aesthetic and, unless you’re staying in a hostel, accommodation here is suitably expensive. However, there are some neighbourhoods bordering the Jewish Quarter where you can find spacious apartments in stunning historical buildings on the cheap.

Józsefváros – Budapest’s eighth district – is a fantastic option, offering plenty of beautiful, budget apartments within walking distance from the Jewish Quarter and the Palace District. It has plenty of its own trendy bars and restaurants, too.

A little further away from the inner city, the Corvin Quarter – at the border of Józsefváros and Ferencváros – is a bustling district with an authentic Budapest feel; plenty of locals head this way to shop and party. There are lots of cheaper apartments here, and it’s very well connected to the rest of the city by metro and tram.

If you prefer to stay in a hotel, there are plenty of comfortable budget options in convenient locations. The MEININGER Budapest Great Market Hall, just a one-minute walk from Budapest’s Great Market Hall, offers clean, contemporary rooms with a colourful aesthetic from around £76 per night. For modern accommodation with plenty of amenities, including an all-you-can-eat breakfast and a roof terrace, try the three-star B&B Hotel Budapest City. You’ll find it on the banks of the Danube, around 1.6km (1 mile) from the city centre, with rooms starting at around £56 per night. At the Ibis Styles Budapest Citywest, pop art-style accommodation by the city’s Western Gate starts from around £45 per night.

Cheap eats in Budapest

Dining and drinking in Budapest can be super cheap — if you know where to look.

Local favourites

Pest is the place to head for budget food and drink. To eat on a budget in Pest, avoid chain restaurants and eat local: even in the Jewish Quarter you’ll find your money goes a really long way. Order a bowl of goulash at a locally run establishment and you’ll be shocked at the excellent value for money.

Just around the corner from St Stephen’s Basilica, you’ll find Café Kör which has vintage vibes and a menu of Hungarian delicacies such as főzelék (vegetable stew with meatballs) and veal schnitzel.

Alternatively, tuck into some authentic lángos (flatbread) and goulash at Drum Café in Pest — an old-school Hungarian restaurant.

Dining hotspots

For lunch, try Mazel Tov – a gourmet Middle Eastern place set in spellbinding fairy-lit surroundings. In the evening, head to super hip Vicky Barcelona, an inexpensive tapas restaurant/bar with a dance floor. Opt for one of the brilliant tasting menus.

Head to the Jewish Quarter where you’ll find Street Food Karavan — a parking lot that has been transformed into a trendy outdoor food court with plenty of options for everyone.

Budapest’s famous ruin bars

As the sun goes down, make your way to the Jewish Quarter’s iconic ruin bars. These bars originally sprung up in abandoned bombed-out buildings as a meeting place for intellectuals and artists to escape Communist oppression.

Szimpla Kert is the most famous: this huge warren-like establishment is eclectically decorated and boasts a number of different spaces, including dedicated beer, spirits and wine bars. Often dubbed ‘the original ruin bar’, this watering hole attracts a party crowd at night, so for a quieter experience try relatively chilled ruin bars such as Kőleves Kert or Csendes Létterem.

Free (and cheap) things to do in Budapest

From its architecture, museums and historical attractions to its stunning green spaces and rich spa culture, there are so many things to do in Budapest.

Here’s how to embark on a low-cost adventure in the Hungarian capital.

Sightseeing

Hop on the Metro to head to Buda’s most iconic sites. Start with the emblematic Buda Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion, and the jaw-dropping Matthias Church. Cross the green-girdered Liberty Bridge to Pest, where you’ll see the awe-inspiring Hungarian Parliament Building, the wonderfully vintage Central Market Hall, the glittering Hungarian State Opera and Heroes’ Square with its surrounding park, which is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

While you can pay to explore the inside of most of these attractions, if you’re on a budget, just laying your eyes on their spectacular architecture is well worth the effort.

Historical attractions

The House of Terror is a truly unmissable Budapest museum that tells the heartbreaking story of the country’s oppression at the hands of two brutal 20th-century regimes. It gives you a terrifying glimpse of life in Budapest during the Communist era, when secret police roamed the streets and imposing statues towered over every corner. Adults pay 4,000 Hungarian Forints (HUF) or £8.84.

The BTM Castle Museum, meanwhile, explores 2,000 years of Budapest history. Here you’ll discover restored palace rooms from the 15th century, the history of medieval Budapest and exhibitions dating back to prehistoric times. It's cheap to enter too, with adult tickets 3,800 HUF (£8.43) and concessions available for students and seniors.

Spas

Visiting in the summer? Budapest is home to a number of thermal bathhouses, set in stunning art deco surrounds. Gellert Baths in Buda, and Pest’s Széchenyi Thermal Baths are two popular options. These are among the city’s most expensive attractions, with basic tickets exceeding £25, so pick your favourite and spend a whole day there to get your money’s worth.

How to get around Budapest on a budget

Budapest’s various districts and attractions are extremely well-connected thanks to a comprehensive public transport network that includes the Metro, tramline, trolleybuses, buses and boats, as well as a funicular up to Buda Castle and a chairlift up János Hill, the city’s highest peak. It’s easy to navigate too: there are two major tram lines that loop around the city, while a vintage Metro runs up and down the riverfront.

Best of all, it’s cheap: a 24-hour public transport card lets you use any mode for a full day and night, and costs just 2,500 HUF, or £5.53. Alternatively, buy a 5,000 HUF (£11.05) group travel card, which covers up to five people. A single journey ticket comes in at just 450 HUF (99p).

Insider tips

Stick to local beer and wine and you’ll be able to enjoy a big night out for little more than £10 – but bear in mind that the local wine can be something of an acquired taste. Approaching the bar, you’ll be asked if you prefer a “quality wine” – a standard Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay. These cost a little more than the local stuff but are still generally cheaper than in the UK.

While taxis aren’t super pricey in Budapest, those you’ll find idling around tourist hotspots are likely to switch their meter off and overcharge. For the cheapest cab trips, download Bolt (similar to Uber) on your phone ahead of your holiday.

For a cheap day out spent in nature, grab a picnic and hike up János Hill for a picnic. It’s not a difficult climb, but if you’re feeling lazy, there’s a chairlift that will take you all the way to the peak. And if you’re up for an offbeat train ride, a surprisingly stern cohort of children run a railway up on the hill for just £4 – a quirky hangover from a Soviet youth scheme.

Please note: all prices are correct at time of writing and are based on the exchange rate on 17 May 2024.