Leisure activities in Budapest for solo expats, couples and groups
In our article about weekday activities in Budapest, we mentioned some common things to do in your free time, like going to a ruin pub, cinema, theatre or a museum. Here, we discuss the things you can see and do on your own, with your partner, with your family or with friends during your stay in Budapest.
Things to do on your own or with friends in Budapest
If you are looking for something to do alone, you can, of course, do all the things we mentioned previously. However, one of the best things to do is to go take a walking tour of the city. Don't forget to take your camera if you have one. Starting from the amazing architecture to the magnificent views from the hills in Buda or the green areas as Margaret Island and Varosliget, there are many things to discover across Budapest.
You can go on your own, or you can join an organised walking tour; these are getting more and more famous in Budapest. You can go on free ones, where you can discover the Jewish district and the city's Communist history. On paid ones, you can taste some wine, visit the most famous gastro places, or the most popular ruin pubs.
If you are looking to spend a day out with your best friends, you should visit one of the spas Budapest offers. Szechenyi Spa is the largest spa complex in Europe, with 11 indoor thermal pools and two outdoor pools beside the huge sauna and plunge pools. Other famous ones are Gellert Spa, Kiraly Spa, but there many more.
If you would prefer to do some shopping, there is a wide range of shops as well. To find everything in one place, just go to one of the shopping malls, like Westend, Arkad, Mammut or Arena Plaza, and you can easily spend hours there. If you prefer smaller boutiques, visit Vaci street and Andrassy Street for elegant fashion stores, or Nagykorut, along the 4/6 tram for cheaper shops.
When you are done with your shopping, have a nice coffee and a slice of cake in one of the traditional cafes, like Central or New York Coffee House, which were the favourite places of famous Hungarian writers and poets during dualism (end of 19th century until 1918) or try out one of the specialty coffee places as Dorado Cafe or Kontakt Budapest.
Things to do with your partner in Budapest
If you are searching for a real romantic place with your partner, Buda castle and its surrounding is a perfect choice. You can as well go on a river cruise where you can have a nice lunch or dinner with a perfect background. You can also visit Margaret Island and have a picnic on a sunny day or just walk around, and visit the Japanese Garden and the Musical Fountain, which truly are romantic places.
Things to do with your family in Budapest
If you are looking for things to do with your family, especially if you have kids, visit Varosliget, which is the second biggest park in Budapest, and home of Budapest Zoo and the Budapest Amusement Park. Here you can try out the wooden Roller Coaster, a Ferris wheel and a 100-year-old carousel.
A special railway, run by children is great fun as well. If you are there, go for a little hike, and discover the woods in Normafa. In the Buda side, you can find many more great places for excursions. Autumn and spring are the best time to do this. Here are some more tips for entertaining the little ones in Budapest.
