Introduction

You haven’t experienced Budapest until you visit its famous ruin bars and join a pub crawl late at night. Last May, I toured several pubs in District VII with a group to try the famous places, cheap drinks and lively crowds that characterize the scene in Budapest. This article covers what to expect, including the itinerary, the atmosphere, cost and tips to make your night incredible.

What It’s Like for Pub Crawl Goers

For £14.58, I organized a crawl through Pub Crawl Budapest (pubcrawlbudapest.hu), a leading choice on TripAdvisor (receiving a 4.6). There were plans for four stops on the tour, each spot served with a welcome shot and a guide to guide us through the area’s ruin bars. A group of 20 people—from England, Australia and Budapest—and I left Szimpla Kert at 8 PM and Anna, a charming local, guided us and explained how these unique places were born after communism.

The first stop on the list is Szimpla Kert.

Wednesday night got underway at Szimpla Kert, the original ruin bar in Budapest. The large space in a rundown tenement is full of clashing furniture, graffiti and amusing installations, there’s even a Trabant car. We drank a pálinka shot and Dreher beers also came to 800 HUF each (£1.67). At 20°C, spring in the courtyard offered a great setting for people to come together under the fairy lights. Although live jazz made everything more soulful, the crowd had grown large by 9 PM, making the place crowded. Reddit users in r/budapest say Szimpla is “a chaotic masterpiece,” and that experience was tough to match.

Go to Ellátó Kert at your next call.

I walked for only five minutes to Ellátó Kert (Kazinczy u. 48), an intimate ruin bar set among nature. Relative to Szimpla, its airiness and outdoor set-up left a relaxed feeling on me. We started our meal with a Unicum (700 HUF, £1.46) shot, together with a variety of craft beers (1,200 HUF, £2.50). One of the street stands sold well-made tacos for quality food on weak budgets. Anna told us that Ellátó champions local artists which shows in the murals found there. Its laid-back setting was perfect for our early conversations, according to TripAdvisor which said it wasn’t as polished as other places.

Your third stop should be Instant.

Following Hall, there was Instant (in Akácfa u. 49–51), a nightclub with seven areas and several dance floors. At 10:30, the place was filled with beats of techno and hip-hop, while neon animals above lighted up. We didn’t need to pay the 2,500 HUF (£5.21) cover for our group, just for shots of vodka sodas at 1,000 HUF (£2.08). There was dancing in the crowd, made up of locals, expats and tourists, right up until 6 in the morning, according to instantclub.hu. People on r/travel describe Instant as a cross between a club and ancient ruins, but the large crowd was a big change after being at Ellátó.

Number 4: Located at the Fogasház.

The last venue, Fogasház (Akácfa u. 51), featured a terrace on the roof and a dance floor underground. When we got there around midnight, we drank fröccs (having 1,000 HUF, £2.08 each). We found, perhaps, more fun on the rooftop’s ping-pong tables while the techno played in the background. Fogasház looked artsy and its Instagram held information on exhibitions, much like what you’d expect from the hipper sibling of Szimpla. Some participants left by 2 AM, though others stayed until 4 AM.

Surroundings and Crowd

Its strength was in its mix—Szimpla offered chaos, Ellátó was calm, Instant was lively and Fogasház had a mix of art. As part of the group—aged 20–35—we had shots, told stories and Anna was good at including us all. Because the district was well-organized, walking wasn’t a problem during the comfortable May evenings. Yet, the crowded atmosphere of Instant wasn’t popular with introverts, so Reddit’s r/budapest suggests choosing smaller crawls if you prefer more quiet places.

You get your money’s worth.

When the pub tour in Budapest came to 7,000 HUF (£14.58), it looked a lot cheaper than the £30–£50 tours in London. The total value of the package included four shots, no extra charge for entry (4,500 HUF, £9.38) and a guide. You could find a nice drink here for as little as 700 HUF (£1.46) which is a lot less than you’d pay in Berlin’s €5–€10 range. You could eat lángos for just 800 HUF (£1.67) at the stalls. The Guardian article points out that Budapest’s nightlife is cheaper and we noticed this as well.

Good Points and Bad Points

Szimpla’s performances, Fogasház’s excellent views from the terrace and hearing Anna’s story about 2002’s ruin bars were my favorites. At times, you had to stand shoulder to shoulder with other people, while minor language issues with the staff could occur sometimes. Choosing 10–15 people for your group may make the event feel more intimate, according to reviews on TripAdvisor.

Tips on heating and cooling your home for May 2025

• It’s important to book in advance by visiting pubcrawlbudapest.hu; pub visits fill up quickly.
• If you want to dress casually, try sneakers and jeans, just skip the sportswear at Instant.
• Bring HUF cash: Ellátó shops most places in HUF.
• Come early at 7:45 PM to get comfortable.
• The nearby Metro: M1 stop is Oktogon (at a cost of 350 HUF or £0.73).
• Crowds are dangerous, so carry your bag securely over your body with its strap.
• Budapest Beer Week in May adds craft beers to the lineup, budapestinfo.hu reports.

Why Should You Select a Pub Crawl?

Visiting the ruin bars should be on your list and a guided exploration makes going from place to place much more convenient. Instead of solo pub-crawling, group nights mean reliable schedules, more money in your pocket and more people to share your evenings with. Follow your unlimited drinks by walking to the Dohány Synagogue (admission costs 5,000 HUF) or Karaván food court (choose a main for only 1,500 HUF).

Conclusion

Going on a Pub Crawl tour in Budapest lets you explore the area’s exciting ruin bars which mix old history, fascinating art and lively nights out. It’s economical (compared to places that charge £50) to visit atmospheric Szimpla Kert and Fogasház, probably the best spots if you travel in a group or by yourself. Look for a bar crawl in May 2025, drink fröccs and feel the bohemian atmosphere of Budapest.