Picking the top 10 attractions in Budapest is not an easy task: there is a lot to see in a beautiful city dusting off its Communist past.

The top 10 attractions includes 2 UNESCO World Heritage sites, and we had to pick more than 10 bigger spa baths, over 50 museums, numerous churches, beautiful 19th century buildings (some of which are built in amazing Art Nouveau style), lots of good restaurants, several festivals and parties throughout the year.

If you only spend 2 days in Budapest, you will regret how little time you have to enjoy the attractions and things to do Budapest has to offer, but you may have time to see at least the World Heritage sites.

Top 10 Attractions in Budapest

The following top ten attractions in Budapest are highly recommended by both locals and tourists (based on locals’ tourists’ votes and reviews on travel sites like TripAdvisor,  travel guides like Frommer’s Travel Guide, Fodor’s Travel Guide, the Lonely Planet, travel forums, etc. and of course our own experience).

The top ten attractions in Budapest are highlighted in bold; neighbouring attractions and places of interest have also been added to make planning your itinerary easier.
Click on the links of each attraction to get loads of useful info about them: a detailed overview, history, architecture, opening hours, entrance fees, miscellaneous tips and info, etc.

• Szechenyi Bath (or Rudas Bath) (Gellert Bath, not really): one of the best thermal spa baths in Budapest, the city of spas. A great way to relax after your city walks and tiring flights. Entrance fees are not cheap, but affordable. Open all year round, even winter time.

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  Matthias Church Budapest photo by Pedro Szekely

• House of Terror Museum: the most popular historical museum in Budapest revealing the horrors of the Communist and Nazi regimes in Hungary. Unique content, great displays, recommended as a ‘must see’ by most tourists, a great favourite amongst local Hungarians.
• Hungarian State Opera House – on Andrassy Avenue (Andrassy, Budapest’s Champs Élysées is a World Heritage site): the Opera House is like a jewel box, 19th century architecture, superb acoustics. The opera performances are not only great, but can be the best budget programmes you can have in Budapest. Romantic, beautiful, high quality and inexpensive.
• Castle Hill – Buda Castle (World Heritage site as a complex) - Fisherman’s Bastion (Halaszbastya – Matthias Church – (Matyas Templom) – Wine Tasting. The whole Castle Hill or Buda Castle quarter could be a one day programme in itself. You can take the best panoramic photos at Fisherman’s Bastion, and you can try the best Hungarian wines in the Castle (much better than in most restaurants). 2 less known hidden gems not to be missed in the Castle district: Cafe Ruszwurm (19th century confectionary) and the Rock Hospital museum (communist bunker hospital)
• Hungarian Parliament in Budapest. The Parliament building standing just by the river Danube was modelled after the English Parliament (Gothic revival), magnificent, opulent, and free for EU tourists (expect long queues though).  Once at the Parliament, you can walk along the Promenade of the river Danube (one cannot walk enough by the river Danube as the lights and sights are so endearing and changing), or take a day or night boat tour on the river.
• St Stephen’s Basilica – the biggest church in Budapest (seating 8,500). The mummified hand of the first Hungarian king is also on display here. Steps or lift will take you to the lookout tower of the Pest side as the basilica is the highest point on the flat Pest side of Budapest
• Synagogue, i.e. Budapest Central Synagogue in Dohany Street – Jewish Museum – Jewish quarter (Budapest had a big Jewish community before WW2). The Central Synagogue in Budapest is enormous (seating 3000) and beautiful. There are several concerts here and the most touching monument, the Willow Tree.
• Central Market Hall (Vasarcsarnok): The Market Hall is a great place to try Hungarian fruits, Langos (yummy snack) in the summer, and buy the most traditional gift items. From the Central Market Hall you can walk over the 19th century  Liberty Bridge to the Gellert Baths, or go to Raday street full of restaurants, or continue your walk back to the city centre through Vaci utca pedestrian only shopping street (more shopping) to arrive at Vorosmarty square (Cafe Gerbeaud), Gresham Palace and the Chain Bridge, the symbol of Budapest.
• Heroes’ Square - Millennial Monument -  Museum of Fine Arts – Budapest Zoo (Art Nouveau beauty) – City Park (all these attractions are right next to the Szechenyi Baths, the number 1 Budapest attraction on our list). You could spend 1-2 days around Heroes’ Square, which is the culmination of Andrassy Avenue (World Heritage site). The whole complex is not to be missed, even if you have only 2 days to spend in Budapest.
• Margaret Island park: to relax, rest and have fun in a bit of nature in the middle of the city of Budapest go to Margitsziget (Margaret Island). Take a ride on 4 wheeled bike carts, drink and dance in Cafe Holdudvar, visit the pet zoo, throw frisbees, have picnic, etc.

Related: Top ten things to do in Budapest, Hungary: the top ten list includes activities and other programme options besides attractions, and Budapest landmarks.

Some photos of the Budapest attractions (click on the pictures to enlarge)

The Chamber at the Hungarian Parliament – one of the top attractions in Budapest:

The river Danube with the Chain Bridge at night – not only a top Budapest attraction, but also part of the UNESCO World Heritage

Szechenyi Bath – one of the top three attractions in Budapest, Hungary – relaxing, fun, healing, beautiful, a perfect getaway:

The Fisherman’s Bastion in Budapest atop the Castle Hill – undeniably the most popular Budapest attraction with probably the best views:

The Central Market Hall also known as the Grand Market Hall on Vamhaz square by the Liberty Bridge – the most popular Budapest attraction for shopping: