Things to Do in Budapest

Budapest's largest indoor market, built in 1897 with a steel-framed roof and Zsolnay tiles. Ground floor sells paprika, salami, and produce; upper floor has souvenirs and cheap eateries. Entry is free, though prices for tourists are marked up.

🕐 Mon-Sat 6am-6pm, Sun closed (only open Sun during Christmas season)

💡 Avoid the ground-floor spice stalls for paprika; locals buy from the vendors at the back of the hall near the grocery section. For lunch, try the upstairs canteens where lángos (fried dough with sour cream and cheese) costs 800 HUF (£1.70) – skip the overpriced goulash.

A haunting memorial of 60 pairs of iron shoes cast along the riverbank, just south of Parliament. It commemorates the Jews shot by Arrow Cross militiamen in 1944-45, who were forced to remove their shoes before being shot into the river. Fifty metres

🕐 24 hours

💡 Visit at dusk when the shadows stretch and the city lights reflect on the water. Combine it with a walk up to Parliament (free exterior) and the Holocaust Memorial Centre (cheap entry, 1000 HUF/£2.50).

A neo-Gothic terrace with seven turrets on Castle Hill, offering panoramic views of the Danube and Pest. Built between 1895 and 1902 as a viewing platform, not a real fortification. The lower levels are free; the upper towers cost a small fee.

🕐 Terrace: 24 hours; Towers: 9am-8pm (Apr-Oct), 9am-5pm (Nov-Mar)

💡 Go at sunrise to avoid crowds and get clear photos. The platform stays open 24 hours; the best light hits the Parliament building across the river around 6-7am from April to September.

A 2.5 km long island in the Danube, a car-free green space with running tracks, a small zoo, a Japanese garden, and the ruins of a 13th-century Dominican convent. You can rent bikes or just walk the tree-lined paths.

🕐 Park: 24 hours; Musical fountain: hourly 10am-8pm (May-Sep)

💡 Bring a swimsuit for the free public pools near the Palatinus water park (the water park costs, but the river access points at the northern tip are free). The musical fountain at the centre runs hourly from 10am to 8pm in summer.

A museum housed in the former secret police headquarters on Andrássy Avenue, documenting Hungary's fascist and communist regimes. The exhibits are heavy but powerful, with reconstructed torture chambers and original interrogation rooms. Entry costs 3

🕐 Tue-Sun 10am-6pm, Mon closed

💡 Check the museum website for 'free entry' days – typically on Hungarian national holidays. Go mid-afternoon on a weekday to avoid school groups. The basement cells are the most intense part; give yourself at least 2 hours.