1. District I: Castle Hill

With cobbled streets, Ottoman echoes and grand Habsburg palaces, there’s history in layers on Castle Hill. Alongside its medieval relics you’ll find the Hospital in the Rock, a subterranean hospital used in WWII and the 1956 Revolution. Visiting the Castle District is a must, but don’t miss Rudas Baths and a nice brunch at Deryné.

2. District V: Belváros & Lipótváros

You can still see the stones from Pest’s old city wall surrounding District V, but today elegant residences and monuments like the Parliament, Shoes on the Danube memorial and St Stephen’s Basilica populate the inner city. Don’t miss the trendy design hubs and new-wave cafes, for ex. fuel up at Szimply Food and later discover Hungarian design at MONO Art & Design or Bomo Art. Treat yourself for a dinner at the Michelin-starred Costes Downtown or Onyx, or try the Gastronomic Quarter in the Kempinski Hotel Corvinus. Wrap things up with cocktails at the gritty, industrial Impostor bar on Szabadság tér in the former Hungarian TV building.

3. District VII: Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter

‘Juxtaposing its synagogues and echoes of its ghetto past against crumbling ruin bars, hedonistic party hostels and unique design shops, the Jewish Quarter perfectly blends Budapest’s complex history with its eclectic contemporary life’ – Lonely Planet writes.

They recommend Stika for a good breakfast, and right after to discover the Great Synagogue in Dohány utca and the other neo-Moorish synagogue on Rumbach Sebestyén utca, before stepping into Printa for silkscreen prints, design and upcycled fashion. If you visit district VII, Király utca and Gozsdu Court is a must.

4. District VIII: Józsefváros

Many people have avoided this area but nowadays it has a lot of beautifully renovated streets, buildings and other sights worth seeing. In its heart lies the Palace District, named for the palatial apartments once belonging to Budapest’s 19th-century aristocratic elite. If you visit this district, don’t miss a good coffee in Lumen, a bagel in Budapest Bagel and visiting Ervin Szabó Library, Uránia Cinema and the neoclassical Hungarian National Museum.

5. District IX: Ferencváros

The former industrial area is getting more and more popular with tourists thanks to its cultural complex around the National Theatre, the Palace of Arts and the Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art. It has earned the nickname ‘Craft Beer District’ for its density of bars with local beers on tap.

If you visit this district, don’t miss the Great Market Hall and Bálna - buy some souvenirs and find your favourite cafes, restaurants, galleries and shops here. Later, stop at Zwack Unicum Factory, where you can learn all about Hungary’s most famous bitter liqueur in an interactive way.