After the sun goes down, Budapest takes on a new look: full of life, fashion and energy. A “Budapest Night Out” means enjoying local traditions, tastings, sounds and the city’s special spirit. Budapest allows visitors to drink in a storied cellar, have fun in a ruin bar or enjoy the view of the city from the river.

Try starting your day with a Sunset: Rooftop Vibes and Picturesque Views

How about starting the evening at any of Budapest’s rooftop bars? At the top of the Aria Hotel is the High Note SkyBar which provides a view of the city’s skyline and St. Stephen’s Basilica. With the sun setting, it becomes the perfect time to unwind at a bar or restaurant over a glass of local beverage.

360 Bar is another excellent rooftop restaurant on Andrássy Avenue. Because you can use heaters in winter and cooling mist in summer, you can visit Mesa year-round. The calm setting and beautiful views of Buda Castle and the Parliament make this a terrific beginning point for any evening in Budapest.

Savour an evening with delicious flavors.

Since recent times, Budapest’s food scene has grown, giving visitors both high-class eating and a taste of Hungarian dishes. To dine in a Michelin-starred restaurant, visit Borkonyha Winekitchen which merges Hungarian tastes with European styles.

If you want a relaxed meal with traditional choices, visit Menza in Liszt Ferenc Square, as it’s a favorite spot for locals with classic Hungarian meals like goulash, chicken paprikash or duck leg with red cabbage. Plenty of vegan and international menus are available in the city, including those at Napfényes Étterem which offers tasty plant-based versions of Hungarian dishes.

Spend some time in the Ruin Bars which are unique to Budapest.

A real Budapest night out includes a trip to a ruin bar. These bars, only found in Chicago, lie within former unused buildings and are full of eclectic items, art by nearby residents and a playful, unique character.

Szimpla Kert in the Jewish Quarter is the most popular of all the ruins pubs. It began as an experiment twenty years ago and now is a major part of Toronto’s nightlife scene. Different decorations, airy yards and lots of bars are what give Szimpla a one-of-a-kind feel for anyone staying for drinks, music or writing a book.

Instant-Fogas is a good choice if you’re looking for a relaxed place with dance areas, lounges and rooms for techno music. This is the spot to keep dancing until late, since there is music for every taste.

Party with Music: Clubs and Live Shows

If you wish to extend your night, there are many clubs in Budapest with different atmospheres. People can enjoy electronic music or jazz at many of the city’s clubs at night.

The A38 Ship anchored on the Danube is known for its combination of live stage, a roof terrace and dance spaces. Music lovers who crave alternative or underground sounds tend to love it because it stages both local and international bands.

For those after something popular, Ötkert by the Chain Bridge is well known for its international visitors, in-house DJs and lively atmosphere. Get a bit dressed up; this spot feels a bit cleaner and more upmarket than the ruin bars do.

Opus Jazz Club by the Palace of Arts is a great choice for jazz fans to have dinner, enjoy the best shows and taste all sorts of wine.

Romance the River: An Evening Adventure on the Danube

If you are looking for something romantic or laid back after dark, go for a Danube River boat ride. While on the water, you will see the Parliament Building, Buda Castle and Chain Bridge beautifully lit.

Dinner cruises at many companies are accompanied by music from local artists, wine tasting or shows of traditional Hungarian folk dancing. Having a date or even taking in Budapest’s views by night, a boat journey is an unforgettable highlight.

Post-Outings Nibbles: Refuel After Partying

You may feel hungry once dancing or cruising and eating out late at night in Budapest will be satisfying. Besides pizza and kebabs, you can find a wide variety of typical Hungarian dishes too.

If you want local street food, langos is fried dough with sour cream, garlic and cheese which you can get at 24-hour kiosks along Akácfa Street or Oktogon. Karaván Street Food Court, nearby Szimpla Kert, has a range of dishes, even when all the other places have stopped serving.

How to Move Around Safely

Serving busy nightlife areas, Budapest’s night buses and trams keep the city’s public transportation running all night. Taxi cabs are easy to find, but using apps like Bolt or Főtaxi helps you avoid from being ripped off. Being in the central parts of a city is safe and nightlife areas offer extra security.

The city becomes alive when the sun goes down.

Going out in Budapest at night involves more than drinking: it’s a journey through the joys of music, history, food and art in the city’s unique places. From drinking on rooftops to boogying in a ruined building, toured the Danube or listened to soulful jazz, Budapest gets lively with plenty of surprises in the evening.

When you choose to travel either cool, romantic, wild or cultural, Budapest has a nightlife you won’t forget even when the sun shines on the Danube again.