Budapest Weekend Trip from Vienna: Student Guide to Hungary's Party Capital | TravelDiari

Last weekend, six of us from The Social Hub in Vienna spontaneously decided to hit Budapest. We booked Friday morning, left Friday afternoon, and returned Sunday night absolutely exhausted but convinced that Budapest might be the most fun weekend trip in Europe.

This isn't your typical tourist guide. This is the real deal — where to party until 5 AM in abandoned buildings turned bars, which thermal baths won't be packed with screaming children, what street food will blow your mind for €3, and how to do Budapest on a student budget while still experiencing everything that makes this city legendary.

But here's what surprised me: Budapest isn't just for 20-somethings. My friend's parents visited at the same time (retirees in their 60s), and they had a completely different but equally incredible experience — opera, elegant cafes, luxury thermal spas, and river cruises. This guide covers it all.

Whether you're a student studying abroad in Vienna, a Gen Z backpacker, or an active retiree looking for culture and relaxation, Budapest delivers. Let me show you how.

Getting from Vienna to Budapest: The Easy 2.5-Hour Journey

One of Budapest's biggest advantages as a weekend destination? It's ridiculously close to Vienna and insanely cheap to reach.

🚂 Train (Best Option for Most Travelers)

ÖBB Railjet trains run multiple times daily, taking 2 hours 40 minutes from Wien Hauptbahnhof (Vienna Main Station) to Budapest Keleti. The trains are modern, comfortable, with WiFi, power outlets, and cafe cars.

Pricing:

• Standard ticket: €19-39 if booked 1-2 weeks ahead
• Last-minute: €40-60
• Student discount: Available with ISIC card or Austrian student ID
• ÖBB Sparschiene deals: Sometimes as low as €13 if you book early and are flexible

We paid €24 each for Friday afternoon departure, €27 for Sunday evening return. Book at oebb.at or use the ÖBB app (works in English).

🚌 Bus (Budget Champion)

FlixBus and RegioJet run frequent routes for €10-20, taking 3-3.5 hours. Buses are comfortable enough with WiFi and toilets, but slower than trains. Best for extreme budget travelers or if train times don't work.

✈️ Flight (Not Recommended)

Flights exist but make zero sense for this route. By the time you factor in airport travel, security, and check-in, trains are faster and cheaper.

Where to Stay in Budapest: Options for Every Budget & Vibe

Budapest accommodations are significantly cheaper than Vienna or most Western European cities. Here's where to stay based on your travel style:

For Students & Budget Backpackers (€10-30/night)

For Gen Z Travelers Wanting Comfort (€40-80/night)

For Active Retirees & Luxury Seekers (€100-250/night)

Search and compare all Budapest accommodations on TravelDiari to find the perfect match for your budget and style.

When to Visit Budapest: Seasonal Guide for Different Travelers

🌸 Spring (April-May)

Perfect for everyone. Temperatures 15-22°C (59-72°F), gardens blooming, outdoor terraces open, thermal baths comfortable. Easter markets appear. Not too hot, not too crowded, prices moderate. Ideal time for first-time visitors.

☀️ Summer (June-August)

Best for nightlife and festivals. Hot (25-35°C / 77-95°F), Danube island parties, rooftop bars in full swing, Sziget Festival in August (one of Europe's biggest music festivals). Peak tourist season means crowds and higher prices, but maximum energy. Thermal baths can be too hot during day — go evening instead.

Note for retirees: July-August can be uncomfortably hot. If you visit in summer, stick to mornings and evenings for sightseeing, rest midday.

🍂 Fall (September-October)

Underrated gem. Comfortable 12-20°C (54-68°F), autumn colors in parks, wine harvest season (try Tokaji wine!), fewer tourists, lower prices. September especially lovely — still warm enough for outdoor activities but summer crowds gone. Great for cultural travelers.

❄️ Winter (November-March)

Best for thermal baths and Christmas markets. Cold (0-5°C / 32-41°F), December Christmas markets are magical, thermal baths feel incredible when it's freezing outside (nothing beats Széchenyi in winter), lowest prices and crowds. January-February can be gray and very cold but budget-friendly. Not ideal for party-focused trips.

We visited in February — it was cold AF, but honestly perfect for thermal baths and cozy ruin bars.

What to Do in Budapest: Activities for Different Vibes

🎉 For Students & Gen Z: Party, Adventure & Street Culture

Ruin Bars (Absolute Must-Do)

This is what makes Budapest BUDAPEST. Ruin bars are abandoned buildings transformed into bars with mismatched furniture, graffiti, indoor gardens, and the most eclectic vibe you'll ever experience.

Top ruin bars we hit:

• Szimpla Kert: The OG ruin bar. Massive multi-room complex, live music, farmers market on Sundays. Gets touristy but essential first-timer experience. Beer €2-3.
• Instant-Fogas: Mega-complex with 26 rooms across three buildings. Different music in every room — EDM, hip-hop, indie rock. Where we spent most of Saturday night. €3-4 drinks.
• Kuplung: More local, less touristy, bike-themed decor, great live music. Unpretentious and chill.
• Anker't: Outdoor courtyard bar (winter = massive heated tent), street food, concerts, young crowd.

Pro tip: Start at Szimpla around 9 PM, bar hop through the Jewish Quarter, end at Instant around midnight. Everything's walkable. Cover charges rare (€2-5 if any). Drinks shockingly cheap compared to Vienna.

Free Walking Tours

We did the "Communist Budapest" walking tour Saturday morning (10 AM start, perfect hangover cure). Technically free but tip €5-10. Learned about Soviet occupation, 1956 uprising, life under communism. Guide was hilarious and irreverent. Highly recommend.

Other tours: General city tour, Jewish Quarter tour, Communist-era buildings tour.

Budapest Street Food & Market Halls

Great Market Hall (Central Market Hall): Three floors of Hungarian deliciousness. Ground floor = fresh produce, meats, paprika. Upper floor = food stalls. We demolished lángos (deep-fried flatbread with sour cream and cheese) for €3. Life-changing.

Other street food spots: Karavan street food court (near Szimpla), Tram Depot (food hall with craft beer), chimney cakes (kürtőskalács) from street vendors.

Thermal Baths at Night (Sparty)

Széchenyi Baths hosts "Sparty" (spa + party) on Saturday nights — thermal pools with DJs, laser lights, and drinks. It's wild. Entry €30-35, expensive by Budapest standards but unique experience. We skipped (too tired from Friday), but friends rave about it.

🏛️ For Retirees & Culture Seekers: History, Art & Elegance

Hungarian Parliament Building Tour

One of Europe's most beautiful parliament buildings. Neo-Gothic architecture, ornate interiors, crown jewels of Hungary on display. Tours run in English throughout the day.

Tickets: €8-15 depending on nationality (EU citizens cheaper). Book online days ahead — sells out. Tours last 45 minutes. No mobility issues — mostly flat, elevators available.

Buda Castle & Fisherman's Bastion

Historic castle district on the Buda side of Danube. Fisherman's Bastion offers postcard views of Parliament and Pest side (some areas free, €3 for upper terraces). Matthias Church is stunning. Take funicular up from Chain Bridge (€4 round trip) or bus 16 from Deák Ferenc tér.

Plan 3-4 hours to wander at leisure. Cafes overlook the Danube — perfect for coffee and contemplation.

Hungarian State Opera House

Neo-Renaissance masterpiece. Guided tours (€10, English available) show incredible interior — frescoes, gold leaf, marble. Or attend an actual opera/ballet performance (€20-80 tickets). My friend's parents saw La Bohème for €45 — world-class performance at fraction of Vienna prices.

Classical Danube River Cruise

Evening cruises with dinner and live music (€50-80), or simple sightseeing cruises (€15-20). See illuminated Parliament, Chain Bridge, Buda Castle from water. Romantic and relaxing. Book through TravelDiari for best deals.

St. Stephen's Basilica

Budapest's largest church. Free entry (donations appreciated), €5 to climb dome for panoramic views. Houses mummified right hand of St. Stephen (Hungary's first king) — macabre but historically significant. Evening organ concerts frequently held.

🧖 For Everyone: Thermal Baths (Universal Budapest Experience)

Széchenyi Thermal Baths

Largest medicinal bath in Europe, iconic yellow building in City Park. 18 pools (3 outdoor), saunas, steam rooms. The outdoor pools in winter steam dramatically — surreal experience.

Ticket: €25 weekdays, €27 weekends (all day). Student discounts available. Bring your own towel/swimsuit or rent there. Go weekday morning for fewer crowds, weekend evening for social vibe.

We went Sunday morning at 9 AM — practically empty, peaceful, perfect hangover recovery. Three hours of soaking in 38°C (100°F) thermal water while it's 2°C outside = absolute bliss.

Gellért Thermal Bath

Art Nouveau masterpiece, more elegant and refined than Széchenyi. Stunning architecture, smaller and quieter. Better for older travelers wanting sophisticated atmosphere. Wave pool is fun.

Ticket: €28. More expensive but worth it for ambiance.

Rudas Thermal Bath

Ottoman-era bath with rooftop pool overlooking Danube and bridges. Stunning at night. Mix of historic Turkish baths downstairs, modern facilities upstairs. Night bathing (10 PM-4 AM) Friday-Saturday.

Ticket: €20-26 depending on time/day.

What to Eat in Budapest: Food Guide for Every Appetite

Traditional Hungarian Dishes (Must-Try)

Gulyás (Goulash)

Hearty beef and vegetable soup with paprika, served with crusty bread. This is Hungary's national dish. Best version we had: Café Kör (mid-range, €8-10) or For Sale Pub (budget-friendly, €6).

Lángos

Deep-fried flatbread typically topped with sour cream, cheese, and garlic. Cheap street food (€2-4), incredibly filling, best hangover cure known to humanity. Get it at Central Market Hall or any market.

Chicken Paprikash (Paprikás Csirke)

Chicken in creamy paprika sauce served with nokedli (small dumplings). Comfort food at its finest. Try at Frici Papa Kifőzdéje (local canteen-style, €5-6).

Töltött Káposzta (Stuffed Cabbage)

Cabbage rolls stuffed with pork and rice in tomato sauce. Traditional grandma food. Heavy but delicious. Best at traditional Hungarian restaurants.

Chimney Cake (Kürtőskalács)

Spiral-shaped sweet pastry cooked over charcoal, coated in cinnamon, sugar, or nuts. Sold by street vendors everywhere. €3-4. Instagram gold.

Dobos Torte

Layered sponge cake with chocolate buttercream and caramel topping. Hungarian cake royalty. Try at Café Gerbeaud (upscale, €6-8 slice) or any traditional cafe.

Budget Eating (€5-10 per meal)

• Karavan: Street food court, everything €4-8, international options
• Central Market Hall: Upstairs food stalls, lángos, sausages, €3-6
• Hummus Bar: Middle Eastern chain, huge portions, €5-7
• Bors GasztroBar: Soups in bread bowls, €4-5, always a line (worth it)
• For Sale Pub: Traditional Hungarian, massive portions, €6-10 mains

Mid-Range Restaurants (€10-20 per meal)

• Café Kör: Traditional Hungarian, excellent quality, €10-15 mains
• Mazel Tov: Middle Eastern in gorgeous courtyard, trendy, €12-18
• Két Szerecsen: Hungarian fusion, breakfast through dinner, €10-16
• Menza: Communist-era cafeteria theme, good Hungarian food, €8-14

Upscale Dining (€30+ per meal)

• Onyx: Michelin two-star, tasting menu €100-150, ultimate splurge
• Costes: Michelin one-star, Hungarian fine dining, €80-120
• Gundel: Historic restaurant since 1894, traditional elegance, €30-50 mains
• New York Café: World's most beautiful cafe, afternoon tea €40, worth it for atmosphere (book ahead!)

Our Actual 48-Hour Budapest Itinerary (Feel Free to Steal)

Friday: Arrival & First Night

3:20 PM: Train arrives Budapest Keleti. Metro M4 to Deák Ferenc tér (connection point for all metro lines). Walk 10 minutes to Carpe Noctem hostel in Jewish Quarter.

4:00 PM: Check in, drop bags, quick shower

5:00 PM: Walk around Jewish Quarter, stumble into Kazinczy Street Synagogue (beautiful, free to admire exterior)

6:30 PM: Dinner at Mazel Tov — hummus, shakshuka, sharing plates (€15 each)

8:30 PM: Hostel pre-game with new friends from hostel

10:00 PM: Ruin bar crawl — Szimpla Kert → Kuplung → Instant (close at 5 AM, we left at 3 AM)

Saturday: Recovery, Culture & More Partying

9:30 AM: Wake up destroyed, free hostel breakfast (coffee = life)

10:00 AM: Communist walking tour (3 hours, hilarious guide, learned tons)

1:30 PM: Lunch at Central Market Hall — lángos, sausages, beer (€8 total)

3:00 PM: Walk across Chain Bridge to Buda side, funicular up to Castle District

3:30 PM: Fisherman's Bastion, Matthias Church, panoramic photos

5:30 PM: Walk down, across bridge back to Pest side

6:00 PM: Power nap at hostel (essential)

8:00 PM: Dinner at For Sale Pub — chicken paprikash, goulash, too much food (€10 each)

10:00 PM: Round 2 ruin bars — straight to Instant, stayed until 4 AM

Sunday: Thermal Baths & Departure

9:00 AM: Force ourselves awake, metro to Széchenyi Baths

9:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Thermal bath heaven, outdoor pools steaming in cold air, perfect hangover recovery

1:00 PM: Chimney cakes from street vendor while walking back

2:00 PM: Pack up, check out, store bags at hostel

2:30 PM: St. Stephen's Basilica, quick climb to dome

3:30 PM: Coffee at Café Gerbeaud, Dobos torte

5:00 PM: Grab bags, metro to Keleti

5:40 PM: Train back to Vienna (sleep entire way)

Sample Itinerary for Retirees (Elegant & Relaxed)

Based on my friend's parents' trip (simultaneous to ours but VERY different experience):

Friday: Arrival & River Views

Afternoon: Check into Four Seasons Gresham Palace, rest from journey

Evening: Sunset walk along Danube Promenade, dinner at Costes (Michelin-star), early night

Saturday: Culture & Thermal Relaxation

Morning: Parliament building tour (pre-booked), coffee at New York Café

Lunch: Traditional Hungarian at Gundel

Afternoon: Gellért Thermal Baths (3-4 hours, spa treatments)

Evening: Opera performance at Hungarian State Opera House, dinner at Onyx

Sunday: Historic Buda & Departure

Morning: Leisurely breakfast at hotel, Buda Castle District exploration

Lunch: Café at Fisherman's Bastion with Danube views

Afternoon: Matthias Church, last-minute shopping on Váci Street

Evening: Private car back to Vienna (they booked driver, €150 but comfortable)

Their verdict: "One of the most cultured, relaxing weekends we've ever had. Budapest has the elegance of Vienna at half the price."

Budapest Money & Practical Tips

💰 Currency & Costs

Currency: Hungarian Forint (HUF). €1 ≈ 390-400 HUF (rate fluctuates)

Budget breakdown (48 hours):

• Train: €51 (round trip)
• Hostel: €36 (2 nights)
• Food: €40 (very well-fed)
• Drinks/bars: €25
• Attractions: €30 (thermal baths, walking tour, museums)
• Transport: €10 (Budapest metro/tram)
• Total: ~€192 for incredible weekend

💳 Payment Tips

• Many places take cards, but carry some HUF cash for markets, street food, small vendors
• Withdraw from ATMs (avoid exchange bureaus — terrible rates)
• Use card with no foreign transaction fees
• Tip 10% in restaurants (not mandatory but appreciated)

🚇 Transportation

Budapest has excellent metro (M1, M2, M3, M4 lines), trams, and buses. Buy 72-hour Budapest travel card for €17 — unlimited transport entire weekend. Or single tickets €1.20 each. Download BKK FUTÁR app for routes/schedules.

📱 Phone & Internet

EU roaming works if you have European SIM. If not, get temporary Hungarian SIM (Vodafone/Telekom shops in Keleti station) or just use WiFi at hostel/cafes/restaurants.

🗣️ Language

Hungarian is HARD and totally different from anything you know. Young people speak English in tourist areas. Older folks less so, but people are helpful. Learn "köszönöm" (thank you), "szia" (hi/bye), "egészségére" (cheers).

⚠️ Safety

Budapest is very safe. Normal city precautions apply: watch belongings in crowded areas, don't accept unsolicited help with ATMs, be aware in District VIII at night (slightly sketchy but we were fine). Ruin bars get wild but generally safe.

Day Trip Options from Budapest (If You Have Extra Time)

If you extend to 3-4 days, consider these:

Szentendre (1 hour)

Charming riverside town with art galleries, museums, Mediterranean vibe. Take HÉV suburban train from Batthyány tér (€3 return). Perfect half-day trip for retirees or anyone wanting quaint escape.

Lake Balaton (1.5-2 hours)

Central Europe's largest lake, "Hungarian Sea." Summer = swimming, water sports, beach clubs. Winter = quieter but still scenic. Town of Balatonfüred is prettiest.

Eger (2 hours)

Baroque town famous for wine (Egri Bikavér - Bull's Blood), castle, thermal baths. Wine tasting in historic cellars. Great for wine-loving retirees.

Visegrád & Esztergom (1 hour)

Danube Bend region with medieval castles and Hungary's largest basilica. Beautiful Danube views. Combine both in one day trip.

Why Budapest Should Be Your Next Weekend Trip

Here's what makes Budapest special: it's a city that doesn't try to be something it's not. The ruin bars embrace decay and turn it into art. The thermal baths mix 400-year-old Turkish architecture with rooftop infinity pools. Michelin-star restaurants operate in buildings that survived Communist occupation and World War II.

For students and Gen Z travelers, Budapest offers the perfect weekend escape — cheap enough to not destroy your budget, wild enough to create stories you'll tell forever, and interesting enough that it's not just about partying (though the partying is exceptional).

For retirees, Budapest provides Old World elegance at New World prices. World-class opera, stunning architecture, thermal spa culture that's been refined over centuries, and a pace of life that encourages lingering over coffee and contemplation.

The city is easy to reach from Vienna (2.5 hours), easy to navigate (compact center, good public transport), and easy to afford (seriously, the value is insane). Whether you're 22 or 72, there's a Budapest experience waiting for you.

Quick Budapest Weekend Checklist

• ✅ Book Vienna-Budapest train tickets 1-2 weeks ahead for best prices
• ✅ Reserve accommodation early (hostels fill up, especially party hostels)
• ✅ Book Parliament tour online in advance (sells out days ahead)
• ✅ Download: Bolt (taxi), BKK FUTÁR (transport), Google Maps, WhatsApp
• ✅ Bring: Swimsuit and towel for thermal baths, comfortable walking shoes
• ✅ Get: 72-hour Budapest travel card (€17, unlimited transport)
• ✅ Cash: Withdraw HUF from ATM upon arrival (avoid exchange bureaus)
• ✅ Must-try food: Lángos, goulash, chimney cake
• ✅ Must-do experiences: Ruin bars (especially Szimpla and Instant), thermal baths (Széchenyi), Parliament exterior at night
• ✅ Budget: €150-250 for comfortable 48-hour weekend (students), €400-600 (luxury travelers)
• ✅ Use TravelDiari to search hotels, plan itinerary, and save wishlist items

Related Travel Resources

More European weekend trips from Vienna:

• Prague Weekend Guide from Vienna
• Salzburg Day Trip Planning
• Vienna Study Abroad Guide
• Best Student Travel Destinations in Europe