Hard to miss and easy to linger in, this L-shaped square is basically an open-air museum. Grab a seat at a café (yes, it’s pricey, but the people-watching is worth every euro), and you’ve got front-row views of Palazzo Vecchio, the Fountain of Neptune, and the statue of Cosimo I on horseback. Just off to the side is the Loggia dei Lanzi, packed with Renaissance sculptures—all free to see, no ticket needed. Early mornings or late evenings are quieter if you want to take it all in without the daytime crowds.

The distinct symbol of the Jewish quarter in Budapest, the Great Synagogue is also noted as the largest synagogue in Europe, seating up to 3,000 people. The visit entails a guided tour with a walk in the building and its surrounding garden, where you will also find sculptures of famous Hungarian writers and artists of Jewish origin. There is also a Jewish museum beside the synagogue, not to be confused with the Holocaust Memorial Centre further away on Páva Street.

The charming district of the Buda Castle entails the prominent Fisherman's Bastion, Matthias Church, several museums, as well as some residential homes. You'll find the National Gallery here, along with a wide range of other museums dedicated to music, military history, pharmacy (housed in the first pharmacy of Buda), and the life of Houdini. Take a stroll under the blossoming trees of Tóth Árpád sétány, watch the change of the guard, and make your way back to the city centre by descending on the most scenic funicular in the world.