3 Days in Budapest: A Day-by-Day Itinerary

This three-day plan groups Budapest by bank of the Danube so you do not waste time crossing back and forth: Day 1 covers Castle Hill and the riverfront, Day 2 stays in central Pest for the Parliament and the Jewish Quarter, and Day 3 combines the Great Market Hall and Gellért Hill with Andrássy Avenue, City Park and Széchenyi Baths.

Day 1: Castle Hill, Fisherman's Bastion and the Danube at dusk

• 8:00am, Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church: ride Bus 16 or climb from Batthyány tér to reach Fisherman's Bastion while the upper terrace is still empty and free. At 9:00am, visit Matthias Church, then stop for coffee and a vanilla krémes slice at Ruszwurm Cukrászda on Szentháromság utca.
• 11:00am, Buda Castle and St Stephen's Hall: walk south along Úri utca or Tóth Árpád sétány into the Royal Palace courtyards. Tour the restored Szent István-terem (book ahead) or the Hungarian National Gallery and dome lookout, then ride the free lift down through Várkert Bazár to the river.
• 2:00pm, Chain Bridge and St Stephen's Basilica: walk across the car-free Chain Bridge into Pest, pass the Gresham Palace, and climb the dome of St Stephen's Basilica for late-afternoon rooftop views.
• 7:30pm, Tram 2 or an evening river boat: after dinner in Lipótváros, ride yellow Tram 2 along the lit Pest embankment or take a one-hour sightseeing boat under the bridges.

Day 2: The Parliament, the Jewish Quarter and ruin bars

• 9:00am, The Hungarian Parliament and Shoes on the Danube: take your pre-booked morning tour of the Parliament's Grand Staircase and Domed Hall, walk through Kossuth Lajos tér and Szabadság tér (spotting Ödön Lechner's Postal Savings Bank roof on Hold utca), and pause at the Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial.
• 12:30pm, The Jewish Quarter and synagogues: head into District VII (keep Day 2 off a Saturday, when the synagogues close). Have lunch on Dob utca, try four-layered flódni at Fröhlich Kóser Cukrászda, and visit the Dohány Street and Rumbach Street synagogues.
• 4:30pm, Szimpla Kert and evening drinks: explore Szimpla Kert on Kazinczy utca before the evening queues build, book dinner in the glass-roofed courtyard at Mazel Tov or in the Palace District, and finish with Hungarian wines or Friday/Saturday night bathing at Rudas Baths.

Day 3: Great Market Hall, Gellért Hill, Andrássy Avenue and Széchenyi Baths

• 8:30am, The Great Market Hall: browse the ground-floor paprika, Tokaji and salami stalls at Fővám tér (closed Sundays; swap Day 2 and Day 3 if Day 3 is a Sunday).
• 10:00am, Gellért Hill and the Citadella: cross green Liberty Bridge to Szent Gellért tér, step into the Pauline Cave Church, and climb the shaded paths to the newly reopened Citadella park and Liberty Statue.
• 1:00pm, Andrássy Avenue and the House of Terror: take metro M4 to Kálvin tér and M1 from Deák Ferenc tér up Andrássy Avenue past the State Opera House, spend two hours at the House of Terror Museum (closed Mondays), and walk out onto Heroes' Square.
• 4:00pm, City Park and Széchenyi Thermal Bath: stroll past Vajdahunyad Castle and the House of Music Hungary, then soak in the steaming outdoor yellow pools of Széchenyi Baths before riding yellow Metro M1 back into town.