Once you’ve checked out the Parliament and walked the Chain Bridge, there is a whole other Budapest left to explore. If you like a little adventure before you relax, something unexpected and a story to tell when you get home, here are six suggestions on how you can make your time in the Hungarian capital all the more unforgettable.
1. Try Your Hand at Real-Gun Shooting
For a city tour that’s a little less run-of-the-mill, include a stop at a shooting range in Budapest. An experience that will really get your heart rate pumped up. At Ranger Sport, participants can target shoot with real guns (with professional accompaniment) included in either the beginner or advanced shooting session.
Safety first: participants are, while under the supervision of English-speaking professional instructors, given a lesson in gun handling and safety precautions and can then proceed to shoot their firearms without the need for prior experience or gun licenses. All equipment is provided, and a guide is also in attendance should participants require further assistance.
Don’t forget to bring a valid ID and save the alcohol for after this unforgettable adrenaline experience.
2. Go Underground on an Extreme Caving Tour
Budapest is so beautiful that it doesn’t just have the veneer of loveliness. Thanks to the curious geological forces and thermal meanderings at work around the capital, there’s a whole world of sprawling caves beneath the streets.
You can opt for a guided caving tour, which will have you squeezing through narrow passageways, climbing over rocky outcrops, and exploring subterranean chambers not only far from the madding crowd, but rarely more than a few metres under it. Some caverns and tunnels involve a serious workout, so do check that you’re signing yourself up to a suitable type of cave before paying up. And remember to dress accordingly (in hard-wearing clothes and closed-toe shoes). You’ll get dirty.
It’s a welcome departure from the city’s museums, and a more daredevil day out for those who’d always rather have an adventure than have someone point at a piece of erstwhile stonemasonry.
3. Spend an Evening in a Ruin Bar
You can’t mention an alternative side of Budapest without its ruin bars. These quirky night spots are set in empty buildings and gardens decked out with odds-and-ends furniture, avant-garde art, twinkling lights, and bric-a-brac by the bucket-load.
Szimpla Kert is the big daddy, but smaller, lesser-known ruin bars are just as cool. Order a Hungarian beer or wine, find a seat, and unwind. Many ruin bars host DJ sessions, live music, and cultural events throughout the week, hidden away from the public eye.
Cool off early with a drink or head there later for a memorable night out.
4. Take a Retro Trabant Driving Tour
For a fun way of getting your bearings around town, consider setting off in a Trabant, the iconic vehicle of former East Germany. Its distinctive engine roar and narrow-gauge design help make this an adventure in itself.
An itinerant guide will lead the way while briefing you on life in postwar communist Hungary plus the everyday routine of living behind “the iron curtain”. Part sightseeing, part history lesson and part oddball thrill ride.
Check the tour operator for minimum driving requirements before booking. Some only apply if you possess a valid driver’s license.
5. Soak in a Thermal Bath After Dark
Most everyone knows about Budapest’s thermal baths, but night brings its own unique vibe. Imagine soaking in the warm, mineral-laden water, surrounded by historic architecture. And then you can experience a cool relief when you walk above the outdoor pools.
Széchenyi is the favourite for obvious reasons, but Rudas is also a very atmospheric experience with a rooftop pool and mesmerising views. Before you go, make sure you check the daily timetable of evening opening hours and programmes because they vary.
Bring your swimsuit, comfortable shoes and schedule a reasonable amount of time. Don’t rush!
6. Hunt Down Budapest’s Street Art
Forget the main shopping streets for the evening and take a stroll around the Jewish Quarter. The cobbled lanes and charming courtyards hide street art, quirky installations and great little places to stop that you’ll never find if you stick to the well-worn tourist path.
If you want to know more about the artists and hear the stories behind the work, sign up for a street art walking tour, or just take yourself off and go wild. It’s got to be time for a cafe in an in-the-know independent coffee shop or a rummage in a vintage store, right?
Make Room for the Unexpected
The charm of alternative Budapest is how many different things there actually are in one place. You can head to underground caves in the morning, try a supervised shooting experience in the afternoon and finish the day in a ruin bar and a thermal bath.
Throw one or two awesome activities in with lazy afternoons and things that’ll happen at the time. You’re still seeing all the big names, but when you get back home, you’ve got a killer idea of what’s actually going on in the city.