Dan Nolan

Budapest is a beautiful sight. And what better way is there to take it all in then sitting on top of an insanely high building, with a cocktail in hand? The rooftop bars in Budapest offer up views, good vibes and just a little romance, so you've come to the right place. These rooftop stunners are plenty pricey, but you get what you pay for here. If you want an altogether more affordable drink, visit the many brilliant ruin bars dotted around the city. But for breathtaking views in a seriously classy setting, read on for the best rooftop bars in Budapest.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Budapest😋 The best restaurants in Budapest🍻 The best ruin bars in Budapest🏡 The best Airbnbs in Budapest Dan Nolan is a writer based in Budapest. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Budapest is a seriously cool city, and the Jewish Quarter might just be its coolest bit. The neighbourhood is basically a microcosm of all the great things there are to do in Budapest, from wacky cafés and restaurants to independent art galleries.  So whether you’re looking for a full-on night out, some casual drinks or just to explore what the city has to offer, the Jewish Quarter is a great place to start. We’ve rounded up its very best things to do, from its best food offerings to where to go shopping. Here’s everything you should do in the Jewish Quarter.  RECOMMENDED:🚋 How to spend a weekend in Budapest🪩 The best Budapest nightlife spots📍 The best things to do in Budapest Dan Nolan is a writer based in Budapest. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Budapest is like your cool older cousin. Incredibly successful, but doesn’t shout about it. Effortlessly chic. Never a try-hard. Just when the rest of Europe is getting expensive AF and mediocre restaurants are getting two-hour-long queues outside the door, Buda is affordable, fun, and full of culture. And somehow, it’s still pretty low key.  And sure, you’ve come to the Hungarian capital to see the sights, bathe in strangely warm outdoor spas, and get your chops around a late-night lángos smothered in sour cream and cheese. But the thing you’ll remember forever about Budapest is its ruin bars. The ruin bars are unique, magical places. Neglected buildings transformed into insanely cool bars. Delicious beer. Huge, rustic outdoor seating. An overwhelming amount of ambience. So if you’re ready to give them a go, follow this guide closely. Not all the bars in the city are great, but all the ones on this list are. Read on for the very best ruin bars in Budapest.  RECOMMENDED: 📍 The best things to do in Budapest🪩 The best Budapest nightlife spots🛏 The best hotels in Budapest🍴 The best restaurants in Budapest

The Hungarian capital has plenty of fabulous quick-eat options, but our list of the best street food spots in Budapest is all about quality over quantity. Come to think of it, the entire gastronomic scene in Budapest is a delight, but there is something about picking up some informal bites between ruin bars that really hits the spot. Sustenance, style and substance? Where do we sign?Gone are the days when street food in Budapest meant cardboard pizza and soulless service. Today, the streets of Buda and Pest are lined with delicious options from all over the globe, from Middle Eastern magic to a joyously broad selection of vegetarian and vegan spots. Budapest is packed with things to do, and the street food scene is right there.  

Whether you’re an escape room devotee or simply looking for something fun and adventurous to do while you’re here, Budapest offers a wealth of choice. ‘There are so many empty cellars in Budapest, and there are already a million bars, so it’s natural that escape rooms took off here,’ says Tünde Máté, an escape game enthusiast who works at E-Exit. So where should you start? Many of the more established escape rooms in Budapest are based on prison breaks, bank robberies or pirate sorties. However, as the games have gone global – Scavenger also operate rooms in Doha and Mumbai, and PaniQ-Room has launched in the US and even Iran – a ‘new generation’ of more sophisticated rooms is emerging. These increasingly high-tech games often drop players into sci-fi or sword-and-sandals scenarios, while others are historical, transporting visitors to ancient Egypt, Victorian London or Chernobyl. Best of all, all the venues listed here offer games for non-Hungarian speakers. ‘People get hooked,’ Tünde told us. ‘Loads of people come for a weekend and play seven or eight a day – the escape rooms here are better quality and much cheaper.’ And what’s more, the more friends you bring, the cheaper it gets. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Budapest