Holidays to Budapest

Thermal spring soaks, scenic river trips down the Danube and cocktails in ruin bars (it’s a thing), Budapest holidays promise an ultra-hip experience, with a side of history.

Spa days

Built on hot springs, Budapest bubbles over with natural warm baths –in fact, the city has been home to thermal spas since Roman times!

Budapest’s most famous thermal spa is the positively palatial Széchenyi Baths, Europe’s biggest medicinal spa complex, which features 18 indoor and outdoor pools. It’s a glorious venue for an alfresco soak during the day or messy mayhem on Saturday nights at Sparty – the bath’s wild EDM night! On the quieter side, the 16th-century Ottoman-era Rudas Baths offers a wide range of wellness experiences.

Get ruined

Head to Budapest’s Jewish Quarter (District VII) to eat and drink in the city’s unique ruin bars — watering holes housed in and around the ruins of old buildings. A visit to some of these establishments is an absolute must on a Budapest holiday: they look as if they’re being held up by magic.

If you have to pick just one, make it Szimpla Kert, the oldest and most famous ruin bar in Budapest, which has graffiti, vintage furnishings and quirky knick-knacks strewn around its many rooms and open courtyards. From its Sunday morning farmers’ market to early morning dancing, you’ll find an event to match your mood at Szimpla Kert.

Danube delights

The Danube River runs through the heart of Budapest, splitting the historic city of Buda, on the river’s western bank, from Pest, on the eastern bank. A trip down to the Danube is another must on your getaway here.

Cross the Chain Bridge, Budapest’s oldest suspension bridge, for a great view of the river and the impressive buildings that line it, or go one better with a boat trip. You can opt for a daytime sail (a bevvy is generally included) or an evening dinner cruise. Either way, you’ll get an eyeful of some of the city’s amazing architecture, like the iconic spire-crowned Parliament building.

Soviet souvenirs

Budapest has a fascinating, and at times dark, history – and there are plenty of ways to learn more about the city’s intriguing past.

Wander around the open air Memento Park in Buda to see the gargantuan statues of Lenin and Marx that used to dot the city when Hungary was behind the Iron Curtain. Over in Pest, the House of Terror museum is a must-visit for a grim glimpse into the inner workings of the former fascist and communist secret police forces.