Is Budapest Walkable? (+4 Best Places on Foot!)

Are you wondering “Is Budapest walkable”?

You’ve come to the right place! I am originally from Budapest and although I have been living abroad for 15 years, I make it back home about once a year.

The good news is that yes, Budapest is walkable, and if you are staying in the city centre, there are many tourist attractions that you can explore on foot!

The public transport system in Budapest is well-connected and if you get too tired of walking, you can always switch to public transport or hail a taxi.

Many tourist attractions are located close to each other and below I have listed 4 routes that you can easily walk in Budapest.

So, here is everything you need to know about walking in Budapest!

Is Budapest Walkable?

Yes, Budapest is a walkable city and there are many tourist attractions close to each other that you can explore on foot.

The city centre of Budapest has well-built pavements for pedestrians and the pedestrian crossings are clearly marked including with traffic lights.

In Budapest, most people follow the traffic lights and you don’t see a lot of people crossing the road if the traffic light is red for pedestrians.

Sidewalks in Budapest

The sidewalks are well-developed in the city centre in Budapest and you will be able to walk pretty much everywhere as long as you don’t get too tired.

Pedestrian Crossings in Budapest

The pedestrian crossings are well marked and there are also traffic lights in the city centre.

In the suburbs you will only find the zebra crossing but the traffic is very low in the suburbs of Budapest, so in case you are there, you can just cross when there are no cars coming.

The traffic lights in the city centre of Budapest are well marked for pedestrians and usually people tend to wait for the green light even if there are no cars coming.

Cars don’t always stop for pedestrians if it is just a zebra crossing though so you should watch out.

I definitely noticed in recent years that cars stop more often for pedestrians but it is not like in Western Europe where all cars stop for pedestrians at the zebra crossing.

Pros and Cons of Walking in Budapest

Pros

• Explore new places, see everyday life in Budapest
• Extensive pedestrian pavements
• Many tourist attractions are close to each other
• Extensive public transport if you get tired of walking

Cons

• Watch out at pedestrian crossing as if there are no traffic lights but only the zebra crossings, not all cars stop for pedestrians

Best Places in Budapest on Foot

The city centre of Budapest can also be walked and there are many tourist attractions that are in close walking distance to each other.

If you like to explore new places on foot, Budapest is definitely a good place to do so!

There are also a couple of walking tours in Budapest, such as city sightseeing, caves, food and pub tours.

For self-guided walking around Budapest, some of the best places are:

• Option 1: Deák Ferenc tér – Bazilica – Shoes on the River Danube – Parliament – Margaret Island
• Option 2: Deák Ferenc tér – cross the Chain Bridge – take the Funicular to Buda Castle – Buda Castle – Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church
• Option 3: Fisherman’s Bastion/Matthias Church – Buda Castle – Gellért Hill/Citadella – Gellért Thermal Bath
• Option 4: Opera – House of Terror – Heroes’ Square – City Park + Vajdahunyad Castle – Széchenyi Thermal Bath

✅ Book a Budapest Walking Tour here!

Offline Map Apps for Walking in Budapest

There are 2 offline map apps that are great for navigation. Maps.me and Mapy.cz are best if you go trekking or hiking but you can also use them for city walks.

Before coming to Budapest, download one of these apps. To be able to use the offline map version, first you should select Budapest and download its map.

After you download the map, you will be able to use it offline even if you are not connected to wifi or have your data turned off. It will help you navigate as you explore the tourist attractions without having to use internet.

Maps.me

• Maps.me on Google Play
• Maps.me on the Apple Store

Mapy.cz

• Mapy.cz on Google Play
• Mapy.cz on the Apple Store

Is It Safe to Walk in Budapest?

Yes, it is safe to walk in Budapest.

Budapest is a safe city and it is very rare for crimes to happen.

You should still remain cautious and look after your belongings as petty crimes, like theft, can happen.

Is it safe to walk alone at night in Budapest?

Budapest is considered safe however, you should still remain cautious.

If you stay in the city centre and you only have to walk a short distance, it is fine. If it is a longer distance, it is better to take a taxi back to your hotel.

District 8 has a bad reputation and is probably the only district where you would have to be extremely cautious at night.

However, most of the hotels for tourists are located in other districts (5, 6) that have good safety records.

Public Transport in Budapest

It is great to explore Budapest on foot but in case you get tired, Budapest’s public transport is extensive and affordable.

The public transport system in Budapest includes metro lines, buses, trams, trolley buses and HÉV trains.

There are various options for tickets for the public transport, with the single ticket costing HUF 450 (USD 1.20).

There are also some options to buy a Budapest Card for a few days, depending on how long you are staying. The Budapest Card is a bit more pricey, but it includes free entry to some museums.

Taxis in Budapest

The main taxi companies in Hungary are City Taxi, FőTaxi, Bolt and Uber.

They mainly operate in Budapest, while you can also find City Taxi in bigger cities in the countryside, such as Debrecen or Pécs.

Bolt has been the only taxi app similar to Uber for years in Hungary, but ultimately, Uber has been reintroduced to Budapest in June 2024.

Bolt and Uber are generally known as the affordable taxi companies worldwide, however, in Hungary, they operate with the same rates as other Hungarian taxi companies.

FAQs: Is Budapest Walkable?

Can I walk everywhere in Budapest?

Yes, you can walk everywhere in Budapest as long as you don’t get tired.

While many tourist attractions are close to each other and can be explored on foot, Budapest is still pretty big and you may need to take public transport to get from one place to the other.

Can you get around Budapest without a car?

Yes, you can get around Budapest without a car.

Budapest has an extensive public transport system and once you get to the city centre, many of the places can be explored on foot.

Is Budapest friendly to American tourists?

Yes, Budapest is friendly to all tourists, including American tourists.

People are generally friendly towards tourists in Budapest and the younger generation also speaks good English, so you will be able to get by easily.

Is Budapest pedestrian friendly?

Yes, Budapest is pedestrian friendly. There are many sidewalks in the city centre of Budapest which makes it easy to walk from one place to the next.

On some of the bigger crossings, there are also traffic lights that mark clearly when it is time for pedestrians to cross.

What’s the best way to get around Budapest?

The best way to get around Budapest is by public transport, taxi, by own car or on foot.

The public transport in Budapest is extensive and makes it easy to get around Budapest.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Budapest is a walkable city and there are many tourist attractions close to each other that you can explore on foot.

The city centre of Budapest has well-built pavements for pedestrians and the pedestrian crossings are clearly marked including with traffic lights.

In case you get tired, Budapest also has an extensive public transport system that includes metro lines, buses, trams, trolley buses and HÉV trains.

Apart from the public transport, there are also many taxis in Budapest that offer a comfortable and quick way to get around the city.