Budapest in 1 Day: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

If you have a long layover, a day off after a business conference or just find yourself in Budapest for 24 hours, you can make the most of it by following our itinerary.

Ah! And if you don't feel like walking too much, you can always opt to book the Budapest sightseeing bus or a cruise on the Danube. You can even book a guided tour of Budapest to see the must-see sights in a short time.

Budapest's Parliament is the city's iconic landmark. Its exterior appearance is reminiscent of the Palace of Westminster in London and this is no coincidence. In 1881 the Hungarian National Assembly issued a call for proposals for the design of this building and Imre Steindl' s proposal won because it paid homage to the British parliament.

In this way they wanted to send a double message: to underline Hungary's commitment to Western Europe and to wink at England, a country taken as a model by the Hungarian reformers.

I recommend taking a guided tour of Budapest and the Parliament with a guide to see the inside of the building and learn the most interesting anecdotes. During the tour you will be able to admire rooms such as the Dome Hall and other important parts of the city.

A short distance from the Parliament, a unique monument reminds us of Budapest's darkest era: the shoes on the banks of the Danube. Moulded in iron, these shoes reproduce the models used in the 1940s and abandoned by their owners on this very spot.

Next to them, a metal plaque bears the words: 'To the memory of the victims shot on the Danube by Arrow Cross militiamen in 1944-45'. The Arrow Cross was a party that took power in 1944 when the Germans invaded Hungary.

The Arrow Cross was inspired by the Nazi regime and played a key role in the oppression of the Jewish people. It committed brutal crimes, for example, forcing its prisoners to come to the banks of the Danube and take off their shoes and then shooting them mercilessly. The lifeless bodies ended up directly in the water.

St. Stephen's Basilica (Szent István bazilika) is located a little away from the riverside. To get to its façade you must leave the banks of the Danube, cross Freedom Square (Szabadság tér) and walk along Hercegprímás Street. In about five minutes you will reach the place of worship dedicated to the patron saint of Hungary: Saint Stephen.

The austere appearance of the exterior hides a neoclassical interior with red marble columns, gilded details and white stone statues. The origin of the temple is linked to the flooding of Pest. In 1838, the Danube left its course and the inhabitants had to take refuge on a hill where a small church was located.

When the flooding ended, the survivors donated money to build a larger place of worship. If you visit Budapest in December you can enjoy classical music concerts hosted inside.

Before entering the Great Synagogue (Dohány utcai zsinagóga), take a few minutes to see the Tree of Life (a metal weeping willow tree with the names of Holocaust victims inscribed on each leaf) and the Jewish cemetery. The most surprising thing, however, is hidden inside.

As you enter, look up to see the richly decorated ceiling. Like jewels, two large chandeliers embellish and illuminate the central nave. Unlike the other synagogues, the Budapest synagogue includes elements more typical of Christianity: the rose window, the altar and the pulpits at the side.

Its history is linked to the events of World War II. The church was bombed and then converted into a radio station and then into a stable used by German troops.

Traveller Tip

If you return to this area at the end of the day, be aware that two streets away is the Szimpla Kert, the dean of Budapest's ruin bars. The establishment has been a landmark in the Hungarian city since 2002.

After visiting the Great Synagogue, it's time for lunch. Leave the temple and follow the signs for the Hungarian National Museum (Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum). Once in front of it, continue along Kálvin tér and Vámház krt: in about 15 minutes you will arrive in front of the art nouveau façade of the Central Market.

The building was inaugurated in 1897 and is characterised by its iron structure and elegant yellow, green and red roof tiles. This covered space is divided into three floors:

• The first is occupied by shops selling fruit, vegetables, meats and other local products.
• The second floor is dedicated to restaurants, where you can sample two of the country's signature dishes: goulash and langoustines.
• The basement houses fishmongers.

Take the opportunity to do some shopping

After lunch, you can round off your visit with a bit of shopping. The Central Market is the ideal place to buy some souvenirs:

• Paprika, the key ingredient in Hungarian cuisine. The vermilion-coloured spice is made by crushing dried peppers. Today there are two varieties: édes (sweet) and erős (hot).
• Tokaji, a white wine harvested in the north of the country.
• Libamáj, the Hungarian foie gras. Unlike its French counterpart, it is much cheaper (and no less tasty).
• Hungarian embroidery - tablecloths, napkins and other textiles decorated with floral motifs and bright colours.
• Kolbász, the delicious local sausages.

To get to the next stage, you'll cross the Freedom Bridge (Szabadság híd) and climb to the top of Mount Gellert. At the top is the Citadel, a fortress built by the Habsburgs in the first half of the 19th century.

This defensive structure has never been used for war purposes and survived the will of the Hungarian people who wanted to destroy it after the end of the First World War. Today, it is a tourist attraction and its bunker is decorated with old photographs and wax figures recreating scenes from the past.

However, most travellers come here to enjoy the views. From here you can see the Danube, the Chain Bridge, the Parliament, St. Stephen's Cathedral and Buda Castle. I also recommend a walk to the Statue of Liberty (Szabadság Szobor).

A thirty minute walk will take you to the foot of the building that has stood guard over the capital for centuries: Budapest Castle. The first fortress was built in the 13th century when King Bèla IV decided to build a fortress to protect himself from Mongol attacks.

However, it was destroyed on several occasions and the construction we can see today is due to the restructuring carried out by István Janáki in 1950.

Today, this gigantic building houses the National Gallery, the Budapest History Museum and the National Library. Outside, you will see a façade of more than 300 metres (divided into two wings by the central dome) and Turul, a bronze bird of prey portrayed in the act of taking flight.

Personally, Matthias Church (Mátyás-templom) is the most beautiful church in the Hungarian capital. Its history is linked to the vicissitudes of the royal family: it was built at the behest of King Bèla IV in the 13th century, hosted the marriage of Emperor Franz Joseph I and his wife Elisabeth (Sissi) and saw the coronation of Charles IV, the last king of the Habsburg dynasty.

Its most curious elements are the colourful majolica tiles, the two towers and the equestrian statue of Saint Stephen that watches over the façade. If you want to have a drink, you can enjoy a slice of cake or an espresso in the Café Walzer.

A few metres from this temple is the penultimate stop of the day: the Fisherman's Bastion (Halászbástya). The building bears the signature of the Hungarian architect Frigyes Shlek, who designed a structure that blends neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque styles.

In its early years it had a defensive function as it overlooks the Danube, the Chain Bridge and Pest. Today, it is a belvedere where you can take some wonderful photos.

Right on the terrace of the Bastion is a romantic and exquisite establishment: Halászbástya. The restaurant opened its doors in 2010 and has since become a favourite destination for couples and bon vivants.

Chef Szabó Barna proposes a menu based on seasonality and reinterprets traditional dishes.

The reviews speak for themselves: Halászbástya is highly regarded for its comforting soups, duck-based recipes and delicious desserts. From the top of the bastion, you will enjoy an incomparable panorama over the Danube and the Hungarian capital.

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If I have to be honest, I think that to explore the Hungarian capital at a leisurely pace it is best to opt for a 3-day tour of Budapest.

Budapest has a rich history, having been conquered by the Ottomans over the centuries, having led an empire along with Vienna and having been occupied for over fifty years by the Soviets. However, the route we have prepared brings together the essentials that can be a snack before your next visit.

September in Budapest is a very good month to travel to the city. But if you visit at a different time and in the rainy season, you should know that bad weather is no excuse to stay in your hotel.

The Eastern European city has quite a few attractions that can be enjoyed even if it rains or snows. In addition to some of the attractions already mentioned, there is plenty more to see! In the list below you will find some very interesting options:

• Thermal baths, a must-see in Budapest. If you want to find the destination you like the most, I recommend you to read the post about the best spas in the city. But without a doubt, the best thing to do is to book tickets to the Széchenyi Spa.
• Millennium Underground: this is the museum that commemorates the first underground railway on the continent. In fact, Budapest was the second city in the world to have a metro line. It occupies an abandoned section of the tracks and has some old metro cars.
• Rock Hospital Museum: a labyrinth of underground chambers. This is where the city's inhabitants took refuge during the Second World War. With the arrival of the Soviets, it was converted into an anti-atomic bunker.
• House of Terror Museum: this is the former headquarters of the political police during both the Nazi occupation and the communist regime. Inside you can discover what life was like during Europe's most bloodthirsty dictatorships. The highlight is the Soviet T54 tank used to suppress the 1956 Hungarian uprising.