What to book before going to Budapest

Book these before you travel

• Hungarian Parliament Building

  Book ahead

  Book a timed slot on the Parliament's official ticket site and pick a language: guides or audio guides in Hungarian, English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. A ticket office exists at the visitor centre, but groups are limited, so do not rely on a walk-up place.

  Open 8:00 am–6:00 pm

  Tours run every day from 08:00 to 18:00 between 1 April and 31 October. From 1 November to 31 March the hours are 08:00 to 16:00. Visits are suspended on days of official events.

  See tickets

  Source: Országgyűlés Hivatala (Hungarian Parliament), checked October 5, 2026

Booking saves you the queue

• Széchenyi Thermal Bath

  Booking advised

  Buy a ticket on the bath's official ticket site, which sells up to six months ahead. A fast track ticket is sold online only.

  Open 8:00 am–8:00 pm · last entry 7:00 pm

  Open 07:00 to 20:00 Monday to Thursday, 07:00 to 22:00 on Friday and 08:00 to 20:00 on Saturday and Sunday. Cash desks close one hour before closing, and the pools must be cleared 20 minutes before closing. On peak days such as 18 December 2026 to 6 January 2027 the bath opens at 08:00.

  See tickets

  Source: Széchenyi Thermal Bath, checked October 5, 2026

• Dohány Street Synagogue

  Booking advisedClosed Sat

  Tickets bought on the official online shop give faster entry, and a ticket is valid for 2 days. Expect a security check, and cover shoulders and knees, because sleeveless tops, short skirts and shorts are refused.

  Open 10:00 am–4:00 pm · last entry 3:00 pm

  Autumn hours from 1 to 31 October 2026: Sunday to Thursday 10:00 to 18:00 and Friday 10:00 to 16:00, closed on Saturdays. From 2 November the winter hours are Sunday to Thursday 10:00 to 16:00 and Friday 10:00 to 14:00. The ticket office and last entry close one hour before closing. Hours change with the season and on Jewish holidays.

  See the guided visit

  Source: Jewish Tour Hungary (MAZSIHISZ), checked October 5, 2026

• Hungarian State Opera House

  Booking advised

  Tickets for the tours are released one week ahead, at the box office or online, and each group is limited to 30 visitors. Book as soon as your dates open.

  Open 1:30 pm–5:30 pm · last entry 4:30 pm

  The English language tour starts every day at 13:30, 15:00 and 16:30 and lasts 60 minutes. Tours are not available during performances. When the auditorium is used for rehearsals, the route goes to other areas.

  See the guided visit

  Source: Hungarian State Opera, checked October 5, 2026

No booking needed

Turn up when it suits the day.

• Buda Castle DistrictFree
• Fisherman's Bastion
• St. Stephen's Basilica
• Chain BridgeFree
• Matthias Church
• Great Market HallFree
• Heroes' SquareFree
• Gellért Hill and the CitadellaFree
• House of Terror Museum
• Margaret IslandFree
• Hungarian National Museum
• Vajdahunyad CastleFree