Last year, I took my daughter on an Extreme Day Trip to Disneyland Paris for her 12th Birthday instead of doing a party. She loved it so much that she requested another trip for her 13th — and who am I to say no to a travel-loving teen?
After searching SkyScanner, we came across super-cheap flights to Budapest, a city neither of us had ever visited but one that had been on my list for years.
I spent hours researching and quickly discovered that Budapest is packed with history, incredible views, and lots of fun things to do for teens.
This guide shares exactly how we spent 48 hours in Budapest, perfect for:
✔ first-timers
✔ budget travellers
✔ families visiting Budapest with kids or teens
✔ anyone planning a Budapest weekend getaway or 2-day Budapest itinerary
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Budapest is incredibly budget-friendly, even for a special occasion like my daughter’s 13th birthday.
Here’s a breakdown of what we spent:
👉 Total Basic Costs: £110.23pp
Amazing value for a 2-night European city break — and definitely cheaper than throwing a birthday party!
We flew Saturday afternoon and returned Monday lunchtime.
We landed in Budapest around 6.45pm and headed straight to our pre-booked private transfer through Booking.com (£20). Communication was seamless, and our driver met us right outside the terminal.
You can take the public bus for around £4.60pp, but after a long travel day, the taxi was worth it.
Travel time from the airport to central Budapest: around 35 minutes.
We arrived at our accommodation at 7.35pm.
We chose Pest, the flat, lively side of the city. It’s perfect for a short 2-day Budapest itinerary because everything is walkable and well-connected.
Just a 15-minute walk from our apartment, this was our first stop. At £10.50 per ticket, it’s a great budget-friendly activity with amazing nighttime views.
A lovely way to start our trip!
This was on my daughter’s absolute must-do list after seeing it on TikTok - and it didn’t disappoint.
Every Friday and Saturday, from 10pm–4am, this McDonald’s becomes a mini nightclub with:
🎧 Live DJ
✨ Light show
🍟 Cheap meals (we paid under £9 for 2 Large Meals)
It can be tough to get a seat during party hours, but the atmosphere is worth the visit. Despite rumours it was ending in 2024, it was still going strong when we visited in January 2025.
This was our only full day, so we packed it with activities - starting with a 90-minute Segway Tour, which turned out to be one of the best decisions of the trip.
As we were the only ones booked for that time slot, we ended up with a private tour. We chose the Buda Castle route, which is ideal as the uphill walk can be tiring.
Our guide gave us plenty of history and time for photos along the way. We visited:
Cost: £88 for 1 adult + 1 teen
Find the tour we did here
After the tour, we spent the afternoon strolling along the riverbank - one of the best free things to do in Budapest.
We visited:
We took a Bolt taxi to this quirky café which is very popular with families. You can dine with rabbits, tortoises, toucans, and even snakes.
Unfortunately, they were fully booked for the next 5 days. If you want to visit, book well in advance!
Our Bolt driver re-routed us to City Park, which turned out to be a great backup plan. It was a crisp winter afternoon - perfect for walking around the park and trying fresh Chimney Cakes from a café kiosk.
The park also has Europe’s largest outdoor ice rink, which looks magical, though we didn’t brave it!
After a short rest back at the apartment, we headed out for our night river cruise - one of the best ways to see Budapest in 48 hours.
This was the perfect end to our trip.
Budapest is one of the most affordable European city breaks we’ve done and very budget-friendly.
It also felt very safe, even walking around at night.
Yes, especially the flat streets of Pest. For longer distances or tired feet, Bolt is a great alternative. They also have a great metro system, one of the oldest in Europe, along with lots of trams too with tickets at just 66p!
If you're visiting for longer than 48 hours:
Yes! You can see many of the city’s top highlights in a well-planned 2-day Budapest itinerary.
A mix of walking, a Segway or bike tour, and a Danube cruise gives you the perfect overview.
Pest — it’s flatter, easier to walk, and close to shops, restaurants, and attractions.
Yes — it’s safe, affordable, and full of family-friendly attractions.
Budapest is the perfect city for a short European break - affordable, full of character, and ideal for both adults and kids.
Whether you're planning a Budapest weekend break, a family trip, or your first time visiting the city, this 2-night itinerary hits all the highlights without feeling rushed.
We loved every minute of our trip and can’t wait to return.
Currency: Budapest uses Hungarian Forint (HUF), not Euros.
Weather in January: Cold but crisp. Wrap up with gloves, a hat, and a scarf.
How Long to Spend in Budapest: A weekend is perfect, but three days would let you see even more.
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