Backpacking Budapest (The Definite Budget Guide)

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Find your Perfect Hostel in Budapest

Backpacking Budapest is synonymous to neon ruin pubs, 40 °C thermal pools, communism-era statues, and paprika-spiked street food all begging for your attention at once.

I’ve traveled in and out of Hungary’s capital enough times to know which corners keep your wallet happy and which corners keep your heart pounding.

This guide breaks down costs, hacks, and must-do experiences so you can show up, drop your pack, and start collecting stories faster than you can say jó napot (that’s “good day,” and yes, you’ll butcher it at first). 

Here's everything you need to know about backpacking Budapest.

Top Picks: The Best Hostels in Budapest

Best for Hostel Newbies

Mustache Hostel9.7

from 4,748 Ft | More Details

Best for Female Solo Traveler

Maverick Central Market9.2

from 2,660 Ft | More Details

Best Party Hostel

Jo&joe9.6

from 2,974 Ft | More Details

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Budget & Estimated Daily Costs in Budapest

Budapest sits in the sweet middle ground of Europe’s price spectrum—cheaper than Paris, pricier than Belgrade, but always generous on value.

• Budget (€40–50): Dorm bed, bakery breakfasts, market-hall lunches, free city walking tour, single-ride tickets, and a tall can of Dreher by the Danube.
• Moderate (€60–80): Modern dorm or cozy private, thermal-bath entry, a craft-beer tasting, two restaurant meals, 24-hour transit pass, and dessert at a historic café.
• Comfort (€90–110): Boutique hostel pod, rooftop bath upgrade, ruin-bar cocktails, guided bike tour, unlimited transit, and late-night food-truck feast.

Cash still rules small food stalls, but cards and phones tap almost everywhere else. Leave extra wiggle room for impulse pastry purchases—they happen.

Typical Daily Expenses in Budapest

• Accommodation: €18–25 per dorm bed (shoulder season) or €30–35 in peak summer weekends.
• Food: Around €18–25 if you balance cheap eats with the occasional sit-down meal.
• Breakfast: €3–6 — think a cinnamon-sugar kürtőskalács (chimney cake) and strong espresso at a corner bakery.
• Lunch: €6–10 — hearty goulash menu inside the Great Market Hall or stuffed cabbage at a no-frills cafeteria.
• Dinner: €8–15 — pizza slice the size of your face or a steaming plate of paprika chicken with rice.
• Local Transportation: €1.20 per single ticket; €5.50 for a 24-hour pass. Bikes and e-scooters hover around €6 per day when bundled.
• Attractions: €0–25 daily. City views are free, spas cost €22–28, and museums hover near €12.
• Entertainment & Extras: €10–18 for two beers, a chimney cake round two, or a thrift-shop hoodie.

Reality check: €45 covers bare essentials; €70+ lets you sprinkle in indulgences like bath parties and late-night munchies.

Money Saving Tips

• Arrive Sunday night. Hostels dip €5–10 midweek, and flights often drop after weekend crowds.
• Use the BudapestGO app for digital tickets—no paper waste and fewer “oops I lost my pass” moments.
• Carry a refillable bottle. Public fountains and thermal-spring taps dot the city; free hydration beats €2 bottled water.
• Thermal-bath trick: visit after 6 p.m. for reduced rates and pink-and-purple sunset steam.
• Skip rooftop bars for Danube views—grab a supermarket beer and head to Liberty Bridge’s metal beams instead.
• Veg lunch menus (look for “napi menü”) cost half the à la carte price and often include soup + main + dessert.
• On the first Saturday of each month, state museums offer free entry—Parliament, sadly, is excluded.
• Split group transit passes with new hostel friends; five-person day tickets cut costs to pocket change.

Short and crisp: The Best Hostels in Budapest

1. Mp Hostel - best for Groups (10+ people), Solo Traveller
2. Red Bus Hostel - best for Family-Friendly Hostel
3. Hotel & Hostel Rila - best for Digital Nomads, Family-Friendly Hostel, Solo Traveller
4. Station Guesthouse Hostel
5. HI - Budapest - Hostel Schönherz

Best for Groups

Mp Hostel

8.2

District 5

"…The staff were helpful and friendly and we got a good deal with flight/hostel through opodo. more

from

2,996 Ft

Red Bus Hostel

8.7

"…Breakfast is basic but nice and fresh bread is provided. There is a Match supermarket across the more

Hotel & Hostel Rila

8.2

"…In summer 2004 I stayed in this hostel. They give you a nice breakfast. The neighborhood isn't more

Station Guesthouse Hostel

8.5

District 14

"It's not really a hostel; it's an island in its own right. It comes intact with all of the above, more

HI - Budapest - Hostel Schönherz

8.1

District 11

"…WOW! We had a lot of space and slept like babies after a hitchhike trip from Prague. Staff were more

Getting Around Budapest on a Budget

• Walk: Flat Pest streets make 20-minute strolls feel like five; download an offline map and wander from ruin bar to basilica.
• Tram 2: Europe’s cheapest “river cruise.” Ride the full loop from Jászai Mari tér to the National Theater for Parliament and castle views, all for €1.20.
• Metro 1: Vintage yellow cars, €1.20 ticket—history lesson and transport in one.
• Night buses: Handy after ruin-bar shenanigans. Routes 909 and 914 blanket most central districts every 15 minutes.
• E-scooters: Lime and Bolt charge by minute, but daily unlock packages save coin. Perfect for the Buda hills when legs protest.
• Regional trains: €5 returns whisk you to day-trip darlings like Szentendre or Visegrád; buy at the machine to dodge counter surcharges.

Best Free & Budget Friendly Attractions

Free things to do

• Stroll Gellért Hill at sunrise—zero crowds, 360° skyline, and zero euros.
• Roam the Jewish Quarter streets hunting ruin-pub art by day when entry is free.
• Catch the hourly musical fountain show on Margaret Island; pack a picnic.
• Spy bullet holes and memorial shoes along the Danube Promenade; history class meets riverside walk.
• Relax in City Park—free outdoor gym, lakeside paths, and random dog meet-ups.

Low-cost attractions

• Széchenyi Baths: €22 weekday locker ticket; bring flip-flops and a padlock to skip rentals.
• House of Terror Museum: €12 entry. The immersive exhibits justify every coin.
• Fisherman’s Bastion upper terrace: €3 before 9 a.m. or after 7 p.m. (middle hours cost €9).
• Buda Castle funicular: €5 one-way; hike up the serpentine path for free cardio.
• Memento Park: €11 round-trip shuttle + entry, or €2 by public bus if you love local adventures.

Food and Drinks on a Budget

• Street munchies: A €3 lángos smothered in sour cream and cheese is the backpacker breakfast of champions.
• Canteen lunch: Hit restaurants labeled “étkezde” for €7 two-course daily menus—with free tap water if you ask nicely.
• Market snacks: Upstairs food stalls in the Great Market Hall offer €6 sausage plates and €1 palinka shots.
• Supermarket dinners: Pre-made salads, bread, and salami feed two for under €5; enjoy riverside on cheap benches.
• Drink tips: Local draft beer costs €2–3; wine spritzers (fröccs) are cheaper and lighter on the head.
• Nightlife savings: Arrive at ruin pubs before 10 p.m. to dodge cover charges; bring cash to skip card minimums.
• Cafés: Many indie spots discount pastries after 6 p.m.; pair with a €2 filter coffee and power-up Wi-Fi.

Experiences for Backpackers

• DIY ruin-pub crawl: Grab a paper map and tick off Szimpla, Instant-Fogas, and Csendes until your steps counter laughs.
• Sparty Saturday: Weekly bath party at Széchenyi—foam, lasers, and soaked selfies. Tickets from €40—book early.
• Bike loop: Rent wheels for €8/day and circle Margaret Island, stopping for free workout stations and ice cream.
• Cooking class: Roll stuffed cabbage and learn to pronounce pogácsa for €35; meal included, new friends guaranteed.
• Sunset cruise: Budget boats (€10) serve a complimentary lemonade; tip: BYO snack to dodge onboard prices.
• Thrift treasure hunt: Shops on Dohány and Wesselényi Streets offer €2 racks—perfect for quirky ruin-pub outfits.
• Day trip: HÉV train to Szentendre village (return €5). Colorful alleys and riverside patios reward the 30-minute ride.

5 Hidden Gemz in Budapest (by Hostelgeeks)

How it works

Additional Tips & Final Thoughts

• Best time to visit: March–May and September–early November. Hostels dip €5, crowds lighten, and temps stay picnic-friendly.
• Book in advance: Reserve hostel beds and Parliament tours at least two weeks ahead in summer; otherwise, last-minute is fine.
• Avoid tourist traps: Skip restaurants on Váci utca waving multilingual menus and “free” palinka—expect inflated bills.
• Safety first: Use a cross-body bag on crowded trams; late-night taxis? Stick to licensed apps like Bolt or Főtaxi.
• Cultural respect: Keep voices low on night transit, cover shoulders in churches, and avoid clinking beer glasses—a 19th-century war taboo locals still side-eye.

Budapest rewards backpackers who want to go past the postcard spots—whether that’s scoring half-price pastries at closing time or jumping into steaming pools under the moon.

Pack your swimsuit and curiosity, and the city will handle the rest. See you bridge-side with a warm chimney cake in hand!

Backpacking Budapest? Here’s What You Need to Know

These are the guides I wish I had before visiting. I’ve been there, had fun, did some minor mistakes, and now I’m passing the best tips on to you. Safe travels!

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About the author: Matt Kiefer

Hey, I’m Matt, the founder behind Hostelgeeks.com. My team and I are collecting the absolute best hostels in the world for you. We share the coolest hostels so you can focus on your travels, rather than spending your time trying to pick a good hostel.

Personally, I’ve bunked in over 600 hostels and stamped my passport in more than 70 countries. My heart beats for Vietnam, Spain, and France, and so many more destinations. I’m a Foosball champ but a beer pong amateur.

Last but not least: Hostelgeeks is a proud ambassador of Hostelz.com.