Buda or Pest: Which Side of Budapest is Better to Stay in?

Why is Budapest Split into Buda and Pest

In the past, Buda and Pest used to be two separate cities, split by the River Danube. You could only cross between the two cities by boat, but then in 1849, they built the first bridge, Chain Bridge, that connected Buda to Pest.

Ultimately, Buda and Pest were merged into one city, Budapest, in 1873.

Which Side of Budapest is Better?

If you are deciding between staying in Buda vs Pest, it largely depends on your preferences.

Both Buda and Pest are great places but are different. Buda is the more upscale, quieter part of Budapest, while Pest (especially downtown) is more lively with lots of bars and restaurants.

If it’s your first-time visiting Budapest, I recommend staying on the Pest side. Book a hotel in downtown Pest (District 5) and you’ll be close to many famous attractions, bars and restaurants.

The Buda side is ideal if you are looking for a less busy, relaxed stay. There are also bars on the Buda side, but it is not the place for a big night out like Pest.

If you stay in Buda, the best option is to stay in District 1 as you’ll be close to historic attractions on the Buda side, and you can also easily get over to the Pest side. Depending on where your hotel is, you may even be able to walk across to Pest.

Pest Side of Budapest

The Pest side of Budapest is like the fun side of the city. The best districts in the city center of Pest are District 5 (Downtown), and parts of District 6 and 7 that are close to the city center.

Pest has lots of famous attractions and things to do. The city center is also walkable, so you can explore many places on foot. In case you get tired, the public transport in Budapest is well-connected, safe and affordable.

Things to Do in Pest

• Visit the Hungarian Parliament: You can also book a entry ticket to the Parliament but make sure to book your ticket well in advance as it tends to sell out fast.
• Shoes on the Danube: Memorial to the Jews murdered in Hungary during WW2. It is located in close walking distance from the Parliament
• St. Stephen’s Basilica: Make sure to check out the view of Budapest from its lookout point! You can also pre-book tickets to St. Stephen’s Basilica so you don’t have to wait in the queue.
• Heroes’ Square: Monument built to commemorate the 1000^th anniversary of the Hungarian tribes arriving in the Carpathian Basin (today’s Hungary).
• Great Market Hall: The biggest and oldest market in Budapest. It is great to visit and see what a Hungarian market is like, and also to buy some food and souvenirs!
• Jewish Quarter: The Jewish Quarter is in District 7 and by visiting the Great Synagogue, you get to learn about the Jewish heritage in Hungary.
• Széchenyi Thermal Baths: Budapest is famous for its thermal baths, and the Széchenyi Bath is the biggest thermal bath in Budapest. Can be a bit touristy, but if you go early morning, it is not too crowded yet.
• City Park: nice place to relax in the summer
• Hungarian National Opera
• Museums: House of Terror, House of Music, Museum of Ethnography, Museum of Fine Arts, Hall of Arts
• Walk over to Margaret Island: The Margaret Island is great to visit (especially in the summer). Many locals come here in the morning for a run.
• Walk by the riverbank: Budapest is the most beautiful by the Danube riverbank, so make sure to come down here for a stroll. My favourite time is at sunset as it has the best views! You can also book a hotel with a river view for an epic stay!
• Go on a cruise: Most cruises leave from the Pest side of the Danube. The Budapest cruises take between 1-3 hours and some also offer drinks, dinner or live music.
• Váci Shopping Street: The most famous shopping street in Budapest. They have all the most famous brands, and it is the place for a shopping spree!

Restaurants in Pest

There are lots of restaurants in Budapest, and you can find restaurants serving local and international dishes (Turkish, Italian, Japanese, and more).

If you are looking for traditional Hungarian dishes, I recommend the following restaurants:

• Gettó Gulyás: traditional Hungarian food (located in District 7, close to the ruin bars)
• Paprika Restaurant: traditional Hungarian food (located near the Heroes’ Square)
• Hungarikum Bisztró: traditional Hungarian food (near the Parliament)
• Menza
• Retró Lángos: the place for lángos, a Hungarian salty snack
• Rosenstein Restaurant: a bit outside the city center of Budapest, but worth it if you are nearby.

Karavan is also a great place for food. It has outdoor street food stalls, so it is best to visit in the summer when the weather is good.

Bars in Pest

Pest is the place for bars and clubs. Most of the club are open until early morning, so if you have the energy, you can be clubbing all night.

Budapest is famous for its ruin bars that are funky, colourful bars. They were opened in run-down buildings, and had their interior designed in unique ways, like bathtubs for chairs. They are a must to visit in Budapest, and two of the best ruin bars are Instant and Szimpla Kert.

Budapest is generally a safe city even if you go home at night. I left bars late night to go home by myself and always felt safe in the city. You should still remain cautious and stick to well-lit streets, but overall, I have found Budapest is safe.

Buda Side of Budapest

Buda is the posh side of Budapest, and it is also quieter compared to Pest. I recommend staying in Buda if you are not that much into nightlife and want a more relaxed stay.

The best place to stay in Buda is the District 1 (Buda Castle District). It is close to the major attractions such as the Fisherman’s Bastion and Buda Castle. It is also the district closest to Pest, so you can easily get over to the Pest side.

Things to Do in Buda

• Fisherman’s Bastion: one of the most beautiful buildings in Budapest. You get great views overlooking the Pest side (including the Parliament)
• Matthias Church: located next to the Fisherman’s Bastion
• Buda Castle: free to walk around the castle. It houses some museums and galleries that need an entry ticket.
• Gellért Hill + Citadella (Liberty Statue): I love the Gellért Hill especially in the summer. It is a great place to hang out and walk around for a bit to escape the city.

Restaurants in Buda

• Aranybástya: Hungarian food + views overlooking River Danube and Pest.
• Bem Sörözö: Pub and restaurant, serving traditional Hungarian food

Getting Around Budapest

Getting around Budapest is pretty easy whether you stay in Pest or Buda. The public transport in Budapest is well-connected, so you can easily get from Pest to Buda or Buda to Pest.

You can also get a travel card for Budapest that is valid for public transport and various attractions. You can get it for various timeframes (24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours) depending on your stay – whether you spend a week or just 3 days in Budapest.

If you are up to exploring Budapest on foot, you can also walk across Buda and Pest on the bridges. The Chain Bridge and Elisabeth Bridge are two bridges located the most central in Budapest, so if you stay on the Pest side, you can use these bridges to walk across to Buda (and vice versa).