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We traveled to Budapest by train from Vienna and had the most unforgettable 3 days in early October exploring this beautiful city with our almost 2 year old toddler. Is Budapest worth visiting with kids? Absolutely, yes! In fact, it’s one of our favorite family and kid friendly destinations. The people are incredible, there’s so much to see and do, the food is diverse and delicious and the city, itself, is super affordable and budget-friendly. Budapest is a must visit in my book!

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Where to Stay

We booked a room at the Kempinski Hotel and it was the best place to stay during our time in Budapest. The rooms were quite luxurious with a fluffy bed and a good shower. Most importantly, it’s in a great location right in front of Elizabeth Square and walking distance to many attractions and restaurants. As a plus for those with kids, there is a playground right across the street from the hotel that we frequented often for 15 minutes every day to get the wiggles out.

What to Pack for the Fall

The fall weather in Budapest can be fairly mild. For us in early October, it was cooler in the mornings and evenings and warm in the afternoons. Packing layers is key. Also, if you want to visit one of the thermal baths, don’t forget to pack a swimsuit.

As for the little ones, check out our Top Toddler Travel Essentials List for more ideas!

Our 3 Day Family Travel Itinerary in Budapest

Day 1

Morning: Széchenyi Baths, Vajdahunyad Castle and Hero Square

We started the early morning visiting the Széchenyi Baths and Thermal Spa when there were less people (buy tickets here). We got a cabin for our family to change and leave our things in which came with two water proof wrist tags and was super convenient. The baths themselves were stunning and the water was perfectly warm. Our toddler loved splashing in the outdoor pools. We had initially intended to check out the indoor pools but the outdoor pools were so relaxing that we ended up just staying outside the entire morning.

Before we left, we also wandered the property a bit to appreciate the building architecture. You could tell that the outdoor pools were pretty well maintained but some parts of the property needed some upkeep. It’s to be expected given how old these baths are (built in 1913!). We had an incredible experience at Széchenyi Baths and it was a great start to our morning!

After our time at the spa, we decided to walk the 45 minutes back to our hotel, strolling through Vajdahunyad Castle and Hero Square.

Afternoon: Lunch at Borze, Great Synagogue, Great Market Hall

After a quick nap at the hotel, we went to Borze for lunch, enjoying their delicious cauliflower soup and Moussaka (layered eggplant dish). After lunch, we walked to the Great Market Hall passing by the beautiful Dohány Street Synagogue, better known as the Great Synagogue. The Great Market Hall was a colorful array of stalls selling spices, local souvenirs and even guided food tours with tastings. We were too full from lunch to try any of the local good shops and restaurants so ended up shopping for spices to take home.

Evening: St. Stephen’s Basilica, Dinner at Menza, Budapest Eye Ferris Wheel

Before dinner, we stopped by St. Stephen’s Basilica. We skipped the guided tour since we arrived 20 minutes before closing time and opted to do a quick walk through to admire the beautiful church and treasury.

Then we headed to dinner at Menza for a savory Hungarian crepe, homemade tagliatelle with lamb ragout and local ratatouille. Seriously, the food in Budapest is out of this world and so affordable. While walking back to the hotel, we decided to ride on the Budapest Eye Ferris Wheel which was an absolute thrill for our toddler. It was fun to see the city lit up below and it was the perfect end to our evening.

Day 2

Morning: Brunch at Szimply

We had a bit of a slow morning and then walked to have some very instagrammable avocado toast and brunch plate with coffee at Szimply. The restaurant is tucked in a small, unassuming alleyway and it was fun to enjoy our brunch outdoors.

Afternoon: Buda Castle (funicular), Matthias Church, Fisherman’s Bastion

We then walked across the famous chain bridge and took a funicular up to Buda Castle. After exploring the grounds of Buda Castle, we made our way to Matthias Church and then to Fisherman’s Bastion (all walking distance to each other). We loved wandering in that neighborhood and discovering tree lined streets and beautiful architecture.

Evening: Early dinner at Mazel Tov, Váci Street

After a quick stop at our hotel, we went to Mazel Tov for an early dinner to enjoy some modern Israeli dishes and walked through Váci Street (fun walking street with shops and restaurants) on our way back.

Day 3

Morning: Breakfast at Mon Chéri Coffee Shop

We started our morning with a light breakfast at Mon Chéri Coffee Shop for pastries and coffee. It was about a 10 minute walk from our hotel and seemed to be a popular place for locals to work and study.

Afternoon: Budapest Zoo

Then we took the metro to the Budapest Zoo where we saw a ton of animals, a California sea lion performance and a bird feeding, which were huge toddler highlights! We spent a good half day here wandering the park and felt like the zoo was a worthwhile stop, especially with kids.

Dinner: Dinner at Blue Rose

We had our last dinner in Budapest at the Blue Rose, which served traditional Hungarian cuisine. We had a mediocre beef tartare, a delightful goulash and a light salad in a rather dark restaurant and left a little bit disappointed. We realize that we much prefer the modern Hungarian fusion restaurants which served incredibly tasty dishes in light and contemporary spaces for similar prices. We ended the evening with a stroll and some gelato from Gelarto Rosa.

Other things to do that we wish we had time for:

• Book a tour too see the Parliament
• Take an evening cruise down the Danube River and see Budapest by night
• Check out the many caves near Budapest (best for older kids (8+))

We had an amazing time as a family visiting Budapest! We think it’s an incredibly toddler and kid friendly destination and you should add this city to your bucket list!