Budapest One-Day Citywalk Guide: A Tested Route to Avoid Pitfalls

I just took my kids on a family trip to Austria-Hungary-Czech Republic (🇦🇹🇭🇺🇨🇿) in early July, with 🇭🇺 Budapest as our first stop. Here's the latest one-day citywalk route and tips I've compiled, hoping it helps everyone 😊 🗺️ Our Route (Pest first, then Buda): Liberty Bridge ➡️ Great Market Hall ➡️ St. Stephen's Basilica ➡️ Hungarian Parliament Building ➡️ Hungarian National Museum ➡️ Széchenyi Chain Bridge ➡️ Buda Castle ➡️ Matthias Church ➡️ Fisherman's Bastion ➡️ Elizabeth Square ➡️ Jane Haining rakpart (Dock 7) for a night cruise on the Danube 1️⃣ Recommended to buy paper 24h/72h passes (2750 HUF/person) with printed time – no validation needed, purchase at metro stations when starting your journey. 2️⃣ Take tram to Szent Gellért tér-Műegyetem M station. Liberty Bridge is within walking distance. 3️⃣ Liberty Bridge is super photogenic! The green bridge with yellow-white trams is iconic! Nearby is Gellért Hill Cave Church – climb to the platform for bridge views. The Great Market Hall is perfect for shopping and lunch. 4️⃣ For St. Stephen's Basilica, combo tickets cover interior and dome access (views less spectacular than Buda Castle). Don't miss Gelarto Rosa's flower-shaped ice cream nearby! 5️⃣ We mainly admired the Parliament and National Museum exteriors (free restrooms at the museum). 6️⃣ Cross from Pest to Buda via Széchenyi Chain Bridge (distinct from Liberty Bridge) – see the Shoes on the Danube memorial along the way. 7️⃣ Skip the Buda Castle funicular – free elevators are most efficient! Navigate to 📍 Várkert Bazár, take elevator to 2nd floor, then escalators to a small door. At the end, another elevator leads to the classic Parliament/Chain Bridge photo spot. 8️⃣ From Buda Castle to Fisherman's Bastion (10-min walk via Sándor Palace and Matthias Church) – only the upper terrace requires tickets, with equally stunning evening views. 9️⃣ Before our night cruise 🚢, we took bus 16 to Elizabeth Square for dinner. Haining rakpart (Dock 7) is nearby with the "Little Princess" statue (girl with dog). 🔟 We chose Legenda's 9:30pm cruise (1-hour duration, spectacular lights!). ~€19/adult includes a drink, free for under-10s (reservation required).