6 Hidden Gems of Budapest That Most Tourists Never See

There isn’t a more beautiful and gem-filled city in the world than Budapest. The capital of Hungary is widely known for its architecture, style, and charm. But as a tourist that’s only there for two to three days, you are doing the city and all of its glory a disservice.

Thus, we decided to give you a list of the 6 hidden gems of Budapest that most tourists never get a chance to see. We will get into some amazing sights and places that never popped on your radar.

So if you’re visiting Budapest shortly, make sure to read to the end and you wouldn’t want to miss out on some of these.

1. Buda Castle

Let’s make one thing clear. Buda Castle is not a hidden gem as it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the whole city.

But the reason why Buda Castle finds its place on this list is down to the surrounding structures. For example, in the close vicinity of Buda Castle, there is a library called the National Széchényi Library. This library was founded by Count Ferenc Széchényi where he personally started the movement of buying and donating Hungarian books to this library.

Another very interesting site around Buda Castle is the underground series of caves. These caves are directly under Castle Hill and were very famous for housing prisoners.

One of the most notorious prisoners held at the underground caves at Castle Hill is Vlad Tepes. If that name doesn’t sound interesting, then how about Count Dracula? Count Dracula, Vlad Tepes, spend upwards of 10 years in these underground caves as a prisoner.

There are other impressive sites and locations around Buda Castle such as the National Hungarian Gallery, Matthias Church, and the Royal Gardens.

2. Roman Ruins

The remains of Roman history in the city are evident by the numerous ruin sites. According to officials, there are a total of 6 Roman ruins in the Obuda district. Out of all of 6, the two that the country has managed to preserve are the Aquincum Military Amphitheatre and the Thermae Maiores.

The Amphitheatre is particularly interesting as history shows this to be the place where Romans would frequently partake in sporting activities such as combat and chariot racing.

The other site, Thermae Maiores, was the place where the Romans would bathe and workout.

Both sites are free of charge and the best thing about them is the fact that not many people know about it.

3. Vajdahundyad Castle

This castle is found in the heart of the city where the Budapest Zoo, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Kunsthalle, the Szechneyi Baths, and many other popular sites are.

The Castle exists since 1896 but was so popular that it was rebuilt again in the early 1900s. The reason for that is because originally the castle was made out of wood and cardboard. It’s because of all the visitors that they decided to renovate it.

As part of the renovations process, the Castle ended up being made out of four different architectural styles. Each style resembled a unique part of the city and the insides of the Castle housed very famous art.

These are the sort of hidden gem attractions that are absolutely breathtaking but tourists don’t know about them. If your trip to Budapest is fast approaching, then we suggest you take a look over at Info-Budapest.

4. Karavan Street Food

Karavan Street Food is a small place in Budapest that can be pretty tricky to find. But once you do, your jaw will absolutely drop. This place is a collection of street food vendors that give the locals and tourists a taste of something different.

While most of the foods are native to Budapest and Hungary, you can find all kinds of fast foods. The best thing about this place is the Chimney Cakes. This unique dessert is so delicious that you cannot stop wanting more. What’s even better is you can fill it up with all sorts of fillings to make it that much delicious.

Apart from Chimney Cakes, there is a wide range of Italian, Thai, and traditional Hungarian foods.

One thing to note is that the Karavan accepts cash only, so don’t make the mistake of bringing your credit card along.

5. Holocaust Memorial Center

Not many tourists know this but the Holocaust Memorial Center is a pretty important site in Hungary. The country greatly suffered in World War II after its Jewish population was taken.

The Holocaust Memorial Center might not be the best-hidden gem out there, but it’s a great way to learn more about the Jewish history of the country.

The museum exists since 2004, on the 60th anniversary of the start of the Holocaust in Hungary.

6. Margaret Island

There is an island right between both Buda and Pest in the river Danube called Margaret Island.

This island is quite possibly the best way to rest and relax by the huge river while on your travels. It is a hidden gem that is not really hidden but still not many people know about it.

There are a few hotels on the island and plenty of greenery to help you enjoy your stay. One of the best activities to do here is to go on a picnic, as there are endless picnic spots on the island.

But don’t think that pars and picnics are all you’ll be doing on Margaret Island. If you’re particularly fond of swimming, then there are two swimming pools here.

The first one is the Hajós Alfréd National Sports Swimming Pool, which is the first-ever indoor swimming pool in Budapest, and the Palatinus, a very old, possibly the oldest outdoor swimming pool in the city.

There are plenty of things to do here, especially with Palatinus as it is open to visitors.

There are quite a few ways to get to the island. The most common way is through the bridge that connects both Buda and Pest, or you can always go for a boat ride.