Gulyás
A thick beef soup with paprika, potatoes and carrots. It is a lunch dish, and many places serve it in a bowl with bread.
Budapest
What to eat in Budapest
- Gulyás
- Lángos
- Paprikás csirke
- Halászlé
Data checked on October 5, 2026
Lángos
Deep fried flatbread, usually topped with sour cream and grated cheese. People eat it as a market or street snack.
Paprikás csirke
Chicken in a creamy paprika sauce, served with small dumplings called nokedli.
Halászlé
A hot, red fish soup made with paprika, traditionally from river fish. It is a classic around the Danube.
Kürtőskalács
Chimney cake, a sweet dough baked around a spit and rolled in sugar. Stalls sell it warm.
Tokaji
A wine from the Tokaj region, best known for its sweet versions. Wine bars pour it by the glass with cheese or dessert.
Every itinerary on this site keeps a lunch break after 12:30, so there is room for a proper meal in the middle of the day.
What a meal costs
- Meal in an inexpensive restaurant
- HUF 4,500
- Three courses for two, mid-range restaurant
- HUF 20,000
- Coffee
- HUF 1,093
Besides the sights
- An evening on the DanubeBoats run between the bridges after dark, when the Parliament and Castle Hill are lit. The stretch between Margaret Bridge and Liberty Bridge shows most of the landmarks.
- Ruin bar courtyardsOld buildings in the Jewish Quarter have been turned into bars with mismatched furniture and big courtyards. Go in the early evening for a seat.
- A second thermal bathThe older Ottoman era baths on the Buda bank are smaller than Széchenyi and have domes from the 16th century. Check the day schedule, because some baths have separate or mixed days.
- Tram 2 along the embankmentThe line follows the Pest bank of the Danube, with Castle Hill, the bridges and the Parliament in view. It runs on an ordinary ticket.
- Andrássy Avenue on footA long walk from the Opera to Heroes' Square under plane trees, past villas, cafes and embassies. It takes about 40 minutes without stops.
Markets in the stop base