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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!
Budapest, Hungary is one of the best 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.
It’s not hard to see why: Budapest is a great destination.
I’ve been to Budapest twice now, and I think it is one of the best destinations for solo travelers who are looking for a fun city that is also safe and won’t break the bank.
This is why I think Budapest is currently one of the best places in Europe for solo travelers:
It is an affordable destination
One of the biggest reasons Budapest is perfect for solo travelers is because it is very affordable, especially compared to cities in Western Europe.
Although it is unfortunately no longer as cheap as it used to be, Budapest is still an affordable city where hotels, hostels, food, drinks and activities are all a lot cheaper than what you would find in Paris, for example.
In fact, data from BudgetYourReis says you only need $91 per day for a trip to Budapest, compared to $249 per day for a trip to Paris.
And that’s if you want to stay in a hotel: hostels will bring your costs down significantly, and you can easily stay in Budapest for less than $50 per day.
It is extremely safe
Another reason why so many solo travelers, especially solo female travelers, love Budapest is because it is a very safe city.
In fact, Budapest is so safe that it is the seventh safest city in the world and the second safest city in Europe.
I felt very comfortable during my trip to Budapest, and I didn’t encounter any of the problems that you sometimes encounter in other European capitals such as Paris, Rome and Athens (such as aggressive touts or scammers).
Backpacker-friendly atmosphere
Budapest has long been a hotspot for backpackers, as it is one of the more affordable destinations in Europe, and this means it is very easy to make friends as a solo traveler.
There are numerous hostels in the city where you can meet other travelers.
Or if hostels aren’t your style, you can still take part in group activities like walking tours or pub crawls visiting Budapest’s famous ruin bars.
These are great ways to meet new travel companions 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 in terms of history and culture, and you can easily spend hours wandering through Budapest’s museums and exploring its historic streets.
I even visited one of Budapest’s famous thermal baths, the Széchenyi Thermal Bath, on my own and it wasn’t uncomfortable at all.
And Budapest has a great café culture, so you can sit alone at a corner table and people watch while enjoying a cup of coffee or a snack.
Easy access to more of Europe
Budapest is one of the top destinations in Europe and it is definitely worth spending three full days enjoying everything the city has to offer.
However, it is not the only place where 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 few days there, then take the train to Vienna, Austria (50 minutes).
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and 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 in the post.
