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If you’re looking for the best budget-friendly solo travel destinations in Europe, forget London and Paris and head to this beautiful, affordable city instead!
Budapest, Hungary is one of the top solo travel destinations of 2024.
According to recent data, tourism in Hungary is set to reach record highs this year, and much of that growth is concentrated in the capital city.
It’s not hard to see why — Budapest is an amazing destination.
I’ve been to Budapest twice now, and I think it’s one of the best destinations for solo travelers who are looking for a fun city that’s also safe and won’t break the bank.
Here’s why I think Budapest is one of the best spots in Europe for solo travelers right now:
It’s An Affordable Destination
One of the biggest reasons that Budapest is perfect for solo travelers is because it’s very affordable, especially compared to cities in Western Europe.
While it’s sadly not as cheap as it once was, Budapest is still an affordable city where hotels, hostels, food, drinks, and activities are all a lot cheaper than what you’d find in, say, Paris.
In fact, data from BudgetYourTrip says you only need $91 a day for a trip to Budapest compared to $249 a day for a trip to Paris.
And that’s if you want to stay in a hotel — hostels will bring your costs significantly lower, and you could easily stay in Budapest for under $50 a day.
It’s Extremely Safe
Another reason why so many solo travelers, especially solo female travelers, love Budapest is because it’s a very safe city.
In fact, Budapest is so safe that it ranks as the seventh-safest city in the world and the second-safest city in Europe.
I felt very comfortable on my trip to Budapest, and I didn’t encounter any of the issues you sometimes find in other European capitals such as Paris, Rome, and Athens (like aggressive touts or scammers.)
Backpacker-Friendly Vibe
Budapest has long been a hotspot for backpackers since it’s one of the more affordable destinations in Europe, and this means it’s very easy to make friends as a solo traveler.
There are tons of hostels throughout the city where you can meet other travelers.
Or if hostels aren’t your style, you can still join group activities like walking tours, or bar crawls that visit Budapest’s famous ruin bars.
These are great ways to meet new travel buddies while in Budapest.
Lots Of Solo Activities
One thing I loved about Budapest was how many solo-friendly activities there were.
On my first solo trip to Budapest, I visited the museums of Buda Castle, walked to the Fisherman’s Bastion, and toured the Hungarian Parliament Building on my own.
It’s a great city for history and culture, and you can easily spend hours wandering around Budapest’s museums and exploring its historic streets.
I even visited one of Budapest’s famous thermal baths, Széchenyi Thermal Bath, alone and it wasn’t awkward at all.
And Budapest has a great cafe culture so you can sit at a corner table on your own and people-watch while you enjoy a coffee or a bite to eat.
Easy Access To More Of Europe
Budapest is one of the top destinations in Europe and it’s definitely worth spending three full days soaking up all that the city has to offer.
However, it’s not the only place I would go on a trip to Europe. Instead, it combines well with other European capitals.
My recommendation is to start in Budapest, then hop on the train to Bratislava, Slovakia (2.5 hours) and spend a couple of days there, and then take the train to Vienna, Austria (50 minutes.)
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.