Fun things to do in Budapest – The most fun programs that would be a shame to miss

If you are looking for something really good, find out about the most fun things you can do in Budapest.

You don’t like prosy things? Instead, would you like a trip where you can really have fun with more and more fun programs?

You don’t have to be disappointed in Budapest now either, there are many happy and fun opportunities waiting for you to make your holiday. Get to know the city better while not following the usual program list.

The 10 most fun things in Budapest

1. Do it yourself restaurant, or Budapest Makery and others

Budapest Makery

Address: 1072 Budapest, Dob u. 38.

Do you love to eat and when you travel to a new country, do you like to try as many places as possible? What if we can twist this a bit and make this experience even more fun?

Budapest Makery is a restaurant where you can prepare your own meal, everything that you need — location and ingredients — is provided by the restaurant. I know, for sure, a lot of people are getting upset: Of course, I will pay for someone else to make my own food, I’d rather stay home.

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Yet, believe me, it’s a whole different experience to make your own food from the menu. Not just because it’s very funny, or because there are few things that can bond two people together better than cooking and eating, but because here people look at a menu and a restaurant with completely different eyes.

Once you’ve selected the food you want, you get the exact amount of ingredients you need (no need to measure) and you can see exactly how to make it step by step with the help of a video that you can watch on a tablet.

And the end result is a lot of laughter, delicious food in the best case, and you don’t even have to do the dishes, unlike if you had done it all at home. Budapest’s first DIY restaurant can be a good program for couples or even large groups of friends. A good atmosphere is guaranteed. (link)  

Culinary Hungary

Address: 1024 Budapest, Forint u. 3

Culinary Hungary works on a similar principle, only one thing has been twisted. If you really want to get to know Hungarian cuisine and Hungarian people, this is the right choice for you. (link).

The basic concept is to bring Hungarian culture closer to visitors in a much more familiar way. Ágnes and András, the two hosts, are waiting for the visitors in their apartment in Buda.

Through the purchase of food, through interesting stories, and the preparation of the food together, the guests are guided through the Hungarian gastronomy.

This is an Airbnb mixed in the kitchen, where you can get to know not only the food, but also the Hungarian people.

You could go through a real Hungarian market shopping, where you could buy really fresh, domestic and natural ingredients, and then get rich with a lot of new recipes and food.

Seeing the process, helping while any time you can ask as much as you like, is a whole other experience than just sitting in a restaurant and ordering for, say, a goulash soup. Who knows, you may make friends for life, but at least there will be a few new recipes in your pocket.

2. Bubble Football

Address: 1037 Budapest, Bécsi út 85.

Do you like sports, especially football? What if it could be twisted a bit, which is guaranteed that won’t keep your eyes dry.

Bubble Football has existed in Hungary since 2013, and Bubble Ball Budapest (link) was the first of its kind in the country. There is nothing to make it nicer, the name perfectly describes the game itself, we have to play with a bubble on our body.

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This extreme sport, by the way, comes from Norway, which then pretty slowly became so popular that it spread to almost every country in the world. It’s not a problem if you’re not a Ronaldhino  or you’re not even fully aware of the rules.

In the case of bubble football, the well-known rules of the game of football are simplified, and the inflatable bubbles makes it all even funnier. In addition, to ensure that the collision is not dangerous, players are secured with a fastened security belt.

We can fool around easily because the aim here is not only to score goals but also to get as much malpractice as possible. Funny falls, or rather rolls, bumps and falls to each other, without anyone hurting seriously.

Even watching these battles is so much fun, as the bubble team itself is a pretty funny sight, even though they’re fooling around. If you want to exercise a little, but meanwhile laugh like never and try something new, this is definitely going to be one of the best choices.

3. Paintball in Budapest- for the secured fun

Address: 1224 Budapest, Török u. 1, 

You’ve always wondered what you’d be like in your favorite computer games — like Counter Strike, Day of Defeat — if it would be real?

Or do you just love excitement and have fun? There are many paintball courses you can take advantage of in Budapest, and I will now introduce you to something special (link).

The history of paintball dates back to the 1970s and can be linked to forestry, as back in those days it was used to sign trees and farm animals.

Then, about a year later, they realized that it was a lot of fun and good exercise at the same time. There are also two courses at your disposal, one in the center of Budapest and one in Tököl, which is an outer area.

The Budapest course is a cave course, where the coolest light and sound equipment is responsible for making you feel even better and have fun. Moreover, if you bring your favorite music, your soundtracks, they can even be played while you are in, so the shared experience can be even more special and ferocious.

You can even put together a cool soundtrack for this occasion. As you enter this cave, with all its stylistic elements, the mood is sure to catch you right away. You can choose from several game modes in which the game master will help you.

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You can also take the courses in the style of the well-known computer games, but you can also try out the special, exciting paintball matches developed by the organizers. It’s important to come in comfortable clothes, as there will be plenty of action, but you don’t have to worry, you’ll get all the other equipment on site.

Since this is not exactly a safe sport, to make sure the experience stays good, follow all the rules, such as wearing a mask.

The Tököl paintball field is located at the Airport in Tököl and has eight parts. The military barracks, the forest, building battles, and stealth: there is everything you need to make you feel like a real action hero.

There are different styles of buildings and outdoor tracks to try, so the game is sure to be diverse. Anyway, you might want to study the tracks in advance if you already know which one you want to try.

This can make the fight even more interesting, as you can develop and prepare tactics in advance, even just real soldiers. For those who are afraid of live ammunition — let’s just say it wouldn’t be such a party to shoot at each other — and avoid the shooting ranges, but still want to try themselves on such a non-real and exciting mission, this is the perfect time.

4. If Harry Potter would own a Cafe

Address: 1034 Budapest, Pacsirtamező 36.

Are you a Harry Potter fan? Or are you just wondering what it is like when a lot of Harry Potter fans get together?

If the answer is yes to any of the above questions, go to the recently opened Flying Broom Experience and Magic Cafe. The magical world comes to life in the cozy café in Buda, with all its obligatory elements.

Not only the furniture, the accessories, but even the drinks and food on the menu all from the fairytale world of J.K Rowling with their looks and names. It’s an exciting venue for kids and adults also: it’s fun to see the book series and all its important characters come to life in front of us.

Guests are sitting in Harry Potter cloaks, participating in this fun game. And really, the way we enter, like we’re in Hogwarts. Gryffindor robes line the bottom of the stairs, Hagrid’s huge spider peaks in the corner, and floating candles hang from the ceiling in the hall.

Here they did pay attention to every little detail in the design. Not only can you have coffee, but to make the experience even more complete, you can make your own magic wand or try out the quidditch with the help of a floating broom.

Don’t worry, the Sorting hat is also resting there. And the owners are trying to lift the place’s atmosphere with games, quizzes, and better and better programs. You might want to follow them on Facebook as well, because they’re almost constantly uploading innovations.

And yet we are only talking about a café, so the drinks and food available here cannot be neglected either. The selection is quite wide, and of course the fabulous elements come back here as well.

Even the design of the menu is very magical, in every sense of the word. There is Rox Expresso here, and of course the butterbeer are also listed on the drink menu (available also in flat version).

Countless main courses, salads, and hamburgers await us here, and it’s not a problem if we don’t eat meat, don’t even mention the desserts.

Getting here is a real experience, it’s just a plus that we can eat and drink well too. Surely you won’t find anything like this anywhere else, every detail of the cafe will enchant you even if you love Harry Potter, or not.

5. Invisible exhibition: entertainment and sensitization in one place

Address: 1024 Budapest, Kis Rókus u. 16-20.

The Invisible Exhibition (link) is a unique and unusual exhibition in Budapest, which I can only recommend to everyone. In addition to making sure you have a good time, you will have more of a truly special experience.

It is an interactive journey in which only your senses lead. You have to navigate in complete darkness with the help of a blind guides: there is nothing but touch, hearing, and smells.

Imagine that the world is darkening for an hour and your senses are gaining strength as there is no other way to orient and get to know each other. Now imagine that someone lives their life this way every day.

And this unusual exhibition is accompanied by blind and visually impaired people, with whom you can of course talk and they share their experiences with you. It is certain that by the end of this tour your attitude and way of thinking will change a lot.

But you don’t have to worry that the whole thing is about something sad and stomach cramping, it’s more of a new and often funny experience that allows you to understand a completely different world than the one you lived in.

It highlights that even with the loss of vision, the world can be complete and beautiful. Those with sight and non-sighted can get closer to each other through real positive experiences. They show us completely everyday life situations: be it orientation in the hustle and bustle of the street or just solving a task at home.

And all this in complete darkness, where unique sound effects and scents complete the experience. In this way, we can learn about the fundamental problems that we might not even think about because they are natural to us. Such as how to pay in a cafe without, say, leaving much more on the table, or how to cook by recognizing the right spices that may be needed in the food.

This is a completely ordinary exhibition, where we can get to know even the most ordinary objects possible in a completely new way, which will make the whole thing very unique.

They also provide guided tours in foreign languages for tourists because due to its uniqueness, it is important to understand exactly what is being said. These are only on certain days, so it’s worth paying attention to if you want to attend.

If this program alone would not be enough anyway (I doubt it), it could still be enhanced. As an invisible dinner, for example, you can try many cuisines from around the world, be Italian or Indian, but there are also invisible wine and grappa tastings too.

So this way as you don’t see what you’ve put in your mouth, the tastes and smells will be even more intense and a dinner eaten like this will take on a whole new meaning.

6. Magician’s theater in Budapest

Address: 1115 Budapest, Bartók Béla út 98-102.

It may sound strange at first if someone wants to go to the theater in a foreign city where they don’t know the language. But not in that case if it is the magic theater where the mother tongue does not play as much a role, since magic is certainly magic in every part of the world.

If you want to believe in magic again and have fun, head to the Magician’s Theater in Budapest. Many remember magicians of the cheap tricks, birthday parties, and loss of an eye.

Yet this ancient art is much more complex than this. This is one of the reasons why this unusual theater was first created at the time. Here we can talk about real art, theater, and the movement of human emotions, from which we can leave with an experience we didn’t even expect.

They create a real illusion around us and in the end we no longer know what reality is and what the trick is. Each performance is very interactive, often involving the audience, which will make the whole thing even more familiar and fun.

There are also children’s shows, but of course most are specifically for adults, where magicians twist our minds well. If you want a really fun evening, sign up for a ticket. (link)

7. Private tours in Budapest

Phone: + 36-70-428-8848

Have you ever imagined how cool a tour would be where there are really only those with whom you would love to share your experiences?

If, in the meantime, you don’t want to give up the professional tour guide who knows everything about Budapest as a local and can take you to the best places, then the My Personal Budapest (link) initiative is for you.

You can choose from several different themed tours where you can even customize the program. This option is unique because it allows you to get to places where the majority of tourists don’t, and there is no mandatory program.

You just go where you really want to go. During the private tours, they customize the possibilities, be it getting to know the castle district, get to know the thermal baths in Budapest, or just good marketing.

We can admire all the sights through a car with a sunroof, so every detail becomes visible, for example, if we cross one of the beautiful bridges in Budapest or if we circle around the Parliament.

Then, if you really want to get close to the Hungarian people’s soul, The Hungarian Soul Tour is a good choice. If there are at least four of you, you can also do it in a private way.

During this tour, we can learn about the culture and history of the country as well as the most characteristic sights. Lunch can be eaten at the local families, with real home-made, Hungarian flavors. After all, Hungarians are best known through their stomach and food.

We can also be part of real Hungarian folk music, where we can find out what Hungarian virtue is like with the help of folk songs and dances.

If you want to get to know the history of the Jewish quarter, the Jewish community, and the culture of Budapest, this is also possible on a separate tour. You can walk through the very popular Jewish Quarter and see the most beautiful synagogue in the world.

Budapest does not forget the murders, that is when the shoes of Jewish people were worth more than their lives. Shoes on the Danube bank.

Or you can meet locals who are active members of the Jewish community and they can provide you with many stories about their past and present. Meals here are also possible with local families, where more flavors and stories await you.

Whichever tour you take, it is sure that you will have a great time. And you get a real picture of the city and the people who live here, and it’s worth all the money if you’re curious about more than the surface.

8. Markets in Budapest

If you might decide to cook for yourself, or just look at a market from close, even without shopping; then Budapest is the perfect city for you.

In the city we can experience this in many markets, in which almost every Hungarian has an anecdote and over 60 is an almost obligatory program.

Of course, put the jokes aside, we can see a lot of interesting things here, not to mention the fact that we can also meet the goods of the Hungarian farmers.

Great Market Hall

Address: 1093 Budapest, Vámház krt. 1-3.

One of the best-known such markets is, of course, the Great Market Hall, which is an attraction just because of its beautiful building, not to mention what is in it.

Fény Street Market

Address: 1024 Budapest, Lövőház u. 12.

On the other hand, there is one, which sticks out a bit because it’s not a typical market, located on Fény Street in Buda. Here you can also find very popular restaurants and cafes next to the usual meat counter and vegetables.

So in the middle of a big shopping trip, we can even have lunch at one of the restaurants, which we might not have thought we would find in the middle of a market.

9. Alternative Budapest

Phone: +36 20 929 7506

If you want to get to know the face of Budapest like never before, Alternative Budapest Tours (link) is the program for you.

You can choose from several different tours that show the face of the city which is only known by few. For example, we can walk through hidden neighborhoods that we might not have discovered on our own.

We can also see the works of Hungarian alternative street artists, designers, and graffiti sprayed on the walls of houses. We can also enter hidden small craft cafes, but we can also see the works of independent galleries and mainstream creators.

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Instead of walking, we can take the city on two wheels and get to lesser-known areas. This tour is rather discovering the outer city, showing the hidden, alternative side of it.

But we can also cycle around the historical parts of the city, visit the Victor Vasarely Museum in Óbuda. In the meantime, we can see the longest graffiti wall in the country, where artists can legally go to create, and even talk to the actors.

And cycling backward, you shouldn’t miss the fried dough, which is one of the must-have programs for anyone who comes to this country.

And if you are a lover of street food and you are wondering where Budapest is in this matter, here it is also possible within the framework of a tour.

Prepare your stomach for the mission, there will be different kinds of food to taste. Since there will be plenty of craft beer tasting as well, it is necessary that you eat before. Thus, the tour begins in a lesser-known Hungarian market, where everyone has the opportunity to taste some delicious Hungarian food.

These dishes are the basis of the new food revolution in Budapest. Since the Hungarians also created a couple of unforgettable ones in the field of sweets, of course, the tour also enters such manufactories, which obviously, as it fits, ends in pubs with better than better craft beers. Thus giving a complete picture of the Hungarian street food market.

10. Everything that is fashion

Address: 1056 Budapest, Nyáry Pál u. 7.

What could be more fun than a little shopping? Of course, Váci Street jumps in immediately for everyone’s mind, where many world brands are represented.

But why go into a shop that can be found in many parts of the world. Especially if we can see and even buy the works of exciting and talented Hungarian designers and creators.

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The Eventuell, though, is the place to find everything, inside one building (link). At the same time it is a gallery, an exhibition space, and a shop, so from clothes to carpets to jewelry, you will find everything that just popped out of the brains of Hungarian designers.

In addition, it hosts a number of exhibitions, cultural programs, and opportunities for young artists who may not yet be known by the general public, although they should.

Here, it is certain that you may be richer with objects that will not be shown anywhere else, mainly because they are produced in small series by the creators.

Fun things to do in Budapest – Summary

We only need a good imagination for Budapest, the rest is all given to us to do fun things.

It doesn’t matter which part of the city we go to, there’s something amazing everywhere, something fun we may not have seen anywhere else.

It is worth trying them, not only because of the good atmosphere, but also because in many cases we can get a real picture of the city.