Budapest Districts: Best Neighborhoods & Things to Do (+ Map)

Budapest Districts Overview

Budapest has 23 districts and are formally numbered as District I, II, III, and so forth. The district with lower numbers (1, 5, 6, 7) are more central, and districts with higher numbers (17, 18, 22, 23) tend to be more in the outskirts.

However, it can be that some districts are pretty big, and they have parts both that are close to the city center and parts that are far out.

The good thing about Budapest is that the public transport is well-connected and affordable, so it is easy to get around the city. The city center is also walkable, which makes it easy to explore on foot!

Best Districts to Stay in Budapest for Travellers

If you are travelling to Budapest, some of the best districts to stay are District 5, 6, 7, and 1. Generally these districts are considered safe in Budapest, even at night, however, make sure to remain cautious and stick to well-lit areas.

District 5 is the Downtown of Budapest, the most central area of the city. It is great for first-time visitors, and everyone who wants to stay in walking distance to major attractions.

District 1 is the more upscale part of the city (Old Town), and is best for travellers looking for quieter stays. However, there are still plenty to do in District 1, such as exploring the Buda Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion. The district still has plenty of restaurants, but you won’t find the nightlife here as opposed to District 5 or 7.

The inner part of district 7 is like the party district of Budapest. It has lots of bars, pub, and the ruin bars (funky bars in Budapest). District 7 is best to stay if you want to go out a lot at night and stay close to all the bars.

Budapest Districts to Avoid

Budapest is generally safe but some parts of District 8 is best to avoid.

District 8 has undergone a lot of development in recent years, so it is not as bad as it used to be, however, it is best to stick to the areas in district 8 that are close to the city center (Palace District).

My travel tip for Budapest is that make sure to remain cautious, look out for your belongings. If you are visiting District 8, the only areas I would say is to avoid are the places around Kálvária Square and nearby streets.

Districts in Budapest: Neighborhoods and Things to Do

District 1: Castle District

• District 1 is the best option for travellers who want to stay in a quieter, upscale part of Budapest

District 1 is the Old Town in Budapest and it is more of the posh area. It is located on the Buda side of the city, but it is still very central and can be easily reached from Pest.

It is a good place to stay if you’ve been to Budapest before, or if you are looking for a place in the city which is quieter.

District 1 may be quieter than the downtown of Budapest (District 5, 7) but it has some major tourist attractions that you cannot miss: Buda Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church are all located here and are within walking distance of each other.

The Fisherman’s Bastion is one of the most beautiful landmarks in Budapest, and you get great views of Budapest and the River Danube from here. I love it here during sunset but if you have the energy, you can even make it here for sunrise which is the best!

From the Fisherman’s Bastion you can walk down to Batthyány Square, and from there, you get amazing views of the Parliament! It’s my favourite spot to see the Parliamentbuilding as you get the best view right next to the Danube.

Rudas Bath, which has been a thermal bath in Budapest for 450 years, is also located in District 1. It is a less touristy bath in Budapest, and it also has a small pool outdoors from where you get pretty nice views of the city!

District 2

District 2 is pretty big in comparison to District 1, and while parts of it is in the city center, a major part of the district is more suburban/residential.

District 2 is on the Buda side, right next to District 1, and it is connected to the Pest side by the Margaret Bridge – with Margaret Island in the middle. There are trams passing through the bridge, but you can cross on foot and even stop by to visit the Margaret Island.

If you want to relax and chill, two thermal baths are located in central District 2: Veli Bej Baths and Lukács Baths. Both thermal baths are smaller than the big touristy ones (Széchenyi, and Gellért Baths), but the entry ticket is much cheaper. They are mostly visited by locals, so you get a less touristy feel of the baths.

In the outskirts of District 2 is great to escape the city and spend some time in nature. The major attractions in the outskirts of the district include the Pál-völgyi Cave, and the Children’s Railway in Hűvösvölgy. These places are great especially for families, but I recommend visiting them if you have more than 2-3 days in Budapest, or if you have visited Budapest before and have seen all the major attractions in the city center.

District 5: Downtown/City Center

• District 5 is the best option for first-time travellers and those wanting to stay in the city center of Budapest

District 5 is the Downtown, city center of Budapest, located on the Pest side. It is the best place to stay if it’s your first time in Budapest and if you want to stay right in the city center close to all the bars, restaurants and major attractions.

Budapest is walkable and lots of attractions are in walking distance within District 5: Parliament, Shoes on the Danube, and St. Stephen’s Basilica. You can also walk down to the Danube bank and stroll along the river.

The view is pretty magical from the riverbank, and you get nice views of the Danube and famous buildings. My recommendation is to come here during sunset – it has the best views! At the riverbank, there are also many boats that leave on short cruises on the Danube which you should not miss out on!

The Tram Line 2 also runs in District 5 and taking it is one of my secret insider tips. Budapest has a good public transport system and Tram 2 passes by some of the major attractions in the city such as the Parliament, and has beautiful views of the Danube and with views overlooking Buda!

For shopping visit Váci Street which is the most popular shopping street in Budapest. It has all the biggest brands, a mix of high-end and affordable brands. The Vörösmarty Square is next to the Váci Street, it also has a couple of shops and in winter they set up a Christmas market here.

District 6

District 6 is also on the Pest side of Budapest, and is a mix of busy city center and quieter, residential area.

The area close to the city center is a good place to stay for travellers in Budapest, but if you want a place in a more peaceful environment, then the part of District 6 further from the city center can work well too.

Even though it is quieter, it is still well-connected. The M1 underground from the city center of Budapest all through District 6, so it makes it well-connected to the city center.

The major attractions in District 6 are the Opera (great for ballet shows) and the House of Terror museum.

There is also a major shopping center in District 6, the Westend Shopping Center – it is massive and you can find anything from clothes to shoes, electronics, and from restaurants to cinema.

Nagymező Street is one of the busiest streets in District 6. It is a street full of restaurants, bars and theatres. It mostly comes alive at night and can be quieter during the day.

The Andrássy Avenue that goes through District 6 leads from the city center of Budapest to the Heroes’ Square. It can be walked but you can also take the M1 underground to get to the square faster.

District 7

• District 7 (inner part) is the best option for enjoying the nightlife in Budapest

District 7 can also somewhat be split into two parts: the inner side of the district is lively, full of bars, while the outer side is more residential and quieter.

Staying in the inner side of District 7 is a great option if you plan to go out a lot at night and want to stay in a hotel close to the bars. The outer part of the district is better for long-term residents, rather than travellers.

Budapest is famous for its ruin bars (bars with funky furniture) and the best ones (Szimpla, Instant) are both located in District 7. Gozsdu Udvar, with lots of bars and restaurants in one place, is also located in District 7.

Overall, the inner part of District 7 is full of funky bars, pubs, restaurants, street food stalls, vintage shops, but is also full of history.

The Jewish Quarter is also located in District 7, and visiting the Great Synagogue is a good way to learn about the Jewish history in Budapest.

One of the much hyped cafes in Budapest is also in this district: the New York Café. It’s interior is so beautiful, however, due to its popularity the prices have gone up, and lots of people are just there to take photos.

My top recommendations for restaurants in District 7:

• Gettó Gulyás: traditional Hungarian food
• Paprika Vendéglő: traditional Hungarian food
• Karavan Street Food: street food stalls, best in the summer

District 8

District 8 used have a bad reputation in Budapest and was considered as the least safe districts. However, it has started to undergo development in recent years, and it has improved a lot.

Although there are still parts of the district that are considered unsafe, especially at night. The areas to avoid in District 8 are around Kálvária Park and Diószegi Sámuel Street. As long as you stay in the part of District 8 (Palace District), which is close to the city center, you will be fine.

Some of the major landmarks in District 8 are the National Museum, and the Szabó Ervin Library. The Library is usually full of university students but it has a beautiful interior that is worth a visit!

My top recommendation for restaurant in District 8:

• Rosenstein: serving traditional Hungarian food. It is a bit outside from the city center, but if you happen to be in the area, I recommend to try this restaurant.

District 9

District 9 is not too central, and it has parts both that are close to the city center, and parts that are less touristy and more residential.

The inner part of District 9 (Belső-Ferencváros) is still close to the city center, and it has a couple of attractions. If you are travelling in Budapest, I only recommend to stay in the inner part of the district – anything further out and you’ll be too far from the city center.

Major attractions in District 9 are the Central Market Hall (biggest market hall in Budapest), Bálna (outdoor bars, best in the summer), and a couple of museums (Ludwig Museum, Palace of Arts), and the National Theatre.

My favourite place in District 9 is the Central Market Hall, and you shouldn’t skip it. It is located very central and it is a traditional Hungarian market. They sell lots of Hungarian delicacies, so it’s even a good place to shop for some souvenirs.

District 11

District 11 is on the Buda side of the city and it is pretty massive. The areas close to the Danube are still pretty central and easy to reach. You can even walk across the Liberty Bridge from Pest to Buda, and you end up right in District 11.

Major attractions in the district include the Gellért Hill, Citadella (Liberty Statue), and the Gellért Thermal Baths.

The Gellért Thermal Baths is the second most popular thermal baths in Budapest (the first one is the Széchenyi Thermal Baths). While it is not as big as the Széchenyi Baths, the interior is super nice!

Gellért Hill is a nice place to explore and hang out during the summer months. Once you walk across the Liberty Bridge from Pest to Buda, you can walk up to Gellért Hill – it’s a nice way to enjoy some time in nature and from the top, you also get epic views of the city!

If you want to party on a boat, the A38 Party Boat is also located in District 11. It’s a bit out from the city center, but still okay to reach. In the summer it has events on the top deck, but in the winter it’s mostly inside the ship that the events take place.

District 14

District 14 is not too central but not too far from the city center either. I wouldn’t recommend short-term travellers to stay here as it is more residential but can be a nice place to stay if you are travelling with kids and you want to be close to parks.

The area of District 14 which is closest to the city center has lots of famous attractions. You can find here the Heroes’ Square, Széchenyi Thermal Baths, City Park, and a couple of museums (Museum of Fine Arts, Hall of Arts, House of Music, Museum of Ethnography).

The Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere) is one of the most famous monuments in Budapest, and it is one of the iconic landmarks that you cannot miss during your visit! It’s free to visit and is a great sight either during the day or in the evening light.

The City Park (Városliget) is great in the summer when the weather is warm and sunny. Lots of locals come here during the summer to have picnics and hang out with friends. There is a small lake within the park where you can go boating in the summer, and in the winter, they turn it into an ice-skating rink.

If you are looking to relax and recharge, the Széchenyi Thermal Baths is the biggest and most popular thermal baths in Budapest. It can get pretty crowded, but try to go as early as possible to beat the crowd (especially in peak seasons, like summer).