Crazy Things to Do in Budapest to Put on Your Bucket List (and Your Camera Roll)

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Updated October 2025

Tired of cookie-cutter travel itineraries while traveling to Budapest? Craving something a little more offbeat, maybe even a touch eerie or downright wicked?

You’re in the right place, because Budapest is brimming with adventures that are as crazy as they are camera-worthy.

For a little backstory, I actually went to medical school in Budapest. And somewhere between anatomy labs and exams, I decided to diagnose myself with a serious case of wanderlust.

My cure? A mission to uncover every wild, weird, and wonderfully twisted corner of this city.

So trust me when I say, I’ve scoured every alleyway, cave, and ruin bar to bring you Budapest’s strangest, most unforgettable adventures.

And since you know I never travel without my lens, I’ll also share photo tips to help you capture the moody glow, dramatic shadows, and haunting beauty that make Budapest such a dream for photographers.

When I say “crazy,” I mean the stuff you won’t find in your average guidebook. The kind of experiences that are quirky, historically chilling, delightfully inappropriate, or just plain bizarre.

These are the hidden gems that’ll make your friends ask, “Wait…you did what in Budapest?!”

So grab your camera, your courage, and maybe a flashlight!

Let’s dive into the wild side of Hungary’s capital and discover crazy things to do in Budapest that will thrill your adventurous spirit and your creative eye. 🏙️✨

Bucket List Review of Doing the Crazy Things in Budapest

Category	Adventure History Unique
Who Should Add This to Their Bucket List?	Adventurers or historical lovers who want to get off the beaten path
Best Time to Go	May/June or September/October
Traveling Difficulty	Easy
Physical Difficulty	Easy
Popularity Rating	5/10
Tour Required	No, but recommended for some activities
Budget	$$
Wheelchair Accessible	Yes, in most cases
Favorite Place to Stay	7Seasons Apartments Budapest
Favorite Tour	Buda Castle District Vampires & Myths Walking Tour
Traveler’s Insurance	Get Quote with VisitorsCoverage

If you need more information about the categories of this table, please check out the Bucket List Reviews guide.

How to Capture Budapest’s Wild Side

Before we get started, here are some quick tips to photograph Budapests hidden gems.

Budapest may be known for thermal baths and historic palaces, but its more “offbeat” corners (eerie caves, haunting ruins, neon-lit ruin bars) are where your camera really comes alive. Here’s how to shoot them:

• Best times / lighting: Night and twilight are your playgrounds here. Use blue hour for moody portraits of statues or streets. When inside caves or the Buda Castle Labyrinth, use wide apertures (f/1.8–f/2.8) and bracket exposures so you capture detail in the dark and bright areas.
• Gear essentials: Fast prime lens (35mm, 50mm) for low light, a small travel tripod or compact gimbal, extra batteries (low light drains fast), and a good flashlight to light paths / walls.
• Composition tips: Use archways, door frames, or shadows as “frames within frames.” Seek out textures like cracked walls, moss, exposed stone. In crowded ruin bars, pick a silent corner, use a shallow depth of field, and capture ambient light.
• Dark / interior tricks: Inside labyrinths or churches, turn off flash. Use a high ISO + steady hand (or stabilized lens). If there’s colored lighting (in bars or neon), shoot in RAW so you can correct color later.
• Editing tips: Embrace contrast. Bring down brightness in the highlights, boost clarity in midtones. For nighttime shots, push a slight blue or teal in the shadows for that moody urban look.

Explore Labyrinth

Get ready to tick off a wildly exciting item from your bucket list—the Labyrinth of Budapest!

Nestled beneath the Buda Castle, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the oldest parts of the city. This maze provides remnants from the cold war, skulls and bones, and twists and turns that resemble an underground city.

But fear not, adventurers, it’s not all spooky! There is rich history here to be learned since it has been used for many years and updated for more modern purposes such as bomb shelters. 

📸 Photo Tip: Use a fast lens (f/1.8–f/2.8) and bring a headlamp to tease out cave textures. Try framing passages so the light draws you through the frame.

Go on a Dark Tour of Budapest

Next up on our crazy Budapest bucket list is the spine-chilling Ghost and Vampire tour of the city!

Don’t chicken out just yet! This isn’t your average scare-fest. It’s an enchanting journey through Budapest’s centuries-old legends and lore. And better yet, it is a fun way to see and learn about Budapest’s rich history. It is a fantastic blend of fun and fright with a generous dash of history.

Within two days of arriving in Budapest, I went on a dark tour of Budapest!

I didn’t realize how much wacky history Hungary had and it made me appreciate where I was even more.

You may get to learn all about Countess Elizabeth Báthory, the world’s most notorious female serial killer, or hear about the paranoia and witch hunt for vampires!

📸 Photo Tip: Shoot handheld at slow shutter (1/30–1/60 s) during candlelit or torch-lit moments. Use spot metering on faces or statues to keep them lit while maintaining moody shadows.

Visit the Terror Háza (House of Terror)

Alright, history buffs, it’s time to tick off another big one from your Budapest bucket list—the House of Terror or Terror Háza!

Except it touches on something that is, in my opinion, scarier than ghosts and vampires.

This museum isn’t just your average walk-through history; it’s a chilling reminder of the darkest periods of Hungary’s past, specifically the fascist and communist regimes.

It’s housed in a building that was used as a torture site during the Communist era—yikes! But don’t let that put you off.

It’s a must-visit to understand the struggles and resilience of the Hungarian people. In fact, the entire thing is a beautiful memorial to the victims that lost their lives here.

It’s a deeply moving experience you shouldn’t miss, especially if you are interested in Hungary’s darker side of history.

📸 Photo Tip: Use directional light (flashlight or your phone) to accent detail. Use long exposure (1–3 s) to capture ghostly motion if people are walking through. Get permission before photographing.

Learn about Medicine at the Semmelweis Medical Museum

Ready for a little off-the-beaten-path exploration? Then you absolutely must add the Semmelweis Medical Museum to your crazy Budapest bucket list! 

Nestled in the heart of the city, this museum is actually located in the former home of Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis, famously known as the ‘savior of mothers.’ 

You’ll get to literally walk through the history of medicine and even see some super old surgical instruments! Trust me, it’s not as gruesome as it sounds!

I also have to mention this because *drum roll please* I attended Semmelweis Medical School! It was always inspiring to attend a school with so much history and influence in medicine, and the Medical Museum proves it! 

Ahhhh if only I would have stayed and became a doctor instead of becoming a traveling mermaid who helps people with their bucket lists…sorry Mom and Dad. 

Back to the point, if you are a science or medicine geek like myself, the Semmelweis Medical Musum is perfect for you. My favorite part is the early x-ray machine and the shrunken head! 

Read More – Museum Photography Guide

Rock Hospital Atombunker Museum 

Speaking of medicine and hospitals, plunge into the depths of history at the Rock Hospital Atombunker Museum! 

Now, hear me out, this isn’t your typical museum. Carved into the side of the Castle Hill, it was once an air raid hospital that converted into a nuclear bunker.

This is truly history coming alive. Walking through the underground corridors, you’ll get to see original (some still functioning) medical equipment, fallout shelters, and a wealth of information about the history of the hospital and its role in World War II and the 1956 Revolution. 

It is also one of the biggest waxwork exhibitions with over 200 figures. 

The chilling aura of the past still hangs in the air, making you feel as if you’ve stepped into a time machine! 

So, if you’re ready to swap the usual tourist traps for a journey back in time, make sure to add the Rock Hospital Atombunker Museum to your crazy Budapest bucket list. 

Wander the Red Star Train Graveyard

Next on our crazy Budapest bucket list is the Red Star Train Graveyard! If you’re the type who enjoys the eerie silence and a touch of urban decay, then you’re going to love this place. 

Imagine an open field filled with rusty, Soviet-era trains—each one carrying a story of its own. 

You might wonder, “What’s a train graveyard doing in the middle of Budapest?” Well, I asked the same question! 

Built at the beginning of the 20th century, it was actually a massive workshop for repairs. Unfortunately, it was heavily damaged after World War II. Steam locomotion was eventually replaced by diesel and trains were then stored here. 

You wouldn’t think it would be spooky, but it is. I can’t explain it, but the whole thing is slightly eerie, especially the main Red Star train that was brought to Hungary during the Soviet Regime.

Word to the wise: this isn’t exactly regulated. Please be careful and don’t sneak anywhere you shouldn’t be going. 

Have a Travel Photoshoot

One of the unique things that I did before I moved out of Budapest was have a full blown travel photoshoot!

I hired a photographer and everything. This may seem over the top for some travelers, but it produced some of the best memories (and captured those memories) I had while in Budapest.

My jaw about hit the floor when I saw the photographs! They looks like they were straight out of a travel magazine!

In Budapest, you are going to pay less than other countries for this experience and you have many stunning options for locations.

See the Iron Shoes on the Danube Bank

Next on our crazy bucket list journey through Budapest is a deeply moving, historical spot—the Iron Shoes on the Danube Bank. 

The first time I stumbled upon these by accident. I was very confused at the iron shoes that lined the banks of the Danube. And you can imagine my shock and sadness when I found out the true purpose for these shoes. 

This isn’t a quirky shopping spree I’m talking about, but a memorial. 

Here, you’ll find 60 pairs of 40s style metal shoes arranged along the river bank, a tribute to the Jews who were killed here during World War II. 

They were ordered to take off their shoes before being shot, their bodies falling into the river. This memorial serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of war. It’s a heart-wrenching sight that’s bound to stir up a storm of emotions. 

But hey, isn’t travel about understanding and connecting with all aspects of a place, joyous and somber?

Unleash Your Inner Pinball Wizard at Flippermúzeum

And with all of this heartwretching history behind us, let’s lighten the mood with Flippermúzeum! 

Not every day do you get to tumble down a rabbit hole filled with 140 pinball machines, right?

This is Europe’s largest ongoing interactive pinball exhibit, and when you step inside, it feels like you’ve time-traveled back to the golden age of pinball arcades. 

It’s a blast from the past that’ll have you hooked! You pay an entrance fee, and then it’s free play on all the machines.

You can even play on the first pinball machine with flippers, dating back to the 40s.

It is definitely something that I have yet to stumble upon anywhere else in my travels. It’s flippin’ awesome…(see what I did there?)

Looking for some gift ideas for a loved adventurer? Check out the full gift list!

See The Mummified Hand in St. Stephen’s Basilica

Then let’s head over to the stunning St. Stephen’s Basilica! You may have already seen this massive religious icon on your normal Budapest bucket list. But you might not know that there is a unexpected surprise for you in this basilica.

Believe it or not, you can actually see what is believed to be the mummified hand of St. Stephen himself! 

This is known as the Holy Right Hand. And if seeing a thousand year old mummified royal hand makes it onto your bucket list, then I want to be friends with you!

It’s housed in a grand, ornate reliquary, and you can even light it up for a better view by dropping in 200 HUF. 

I actually stumbled upon this by mistake and was completely awestruck when I first saw it. It’s a truly intriguing blend of beauty, history, and a dash of the bizarre!

Grab a Drink in a Ruin Bar

Buckle up because now we’re heading into the wild and wacky world of Budapest’s infamous Ruin Bars! 

What is a Ruin Bar? It’s a concept so crazy, so unique, it could only have been born in Budapest! 

Picture this: old, dilapidated buildings transformed into hip, trendy bars filled with eclectic furniture and quirky decor—a mishmash of styles that somehow creates the perfect atmosphere for a night out.

As the name suggests, these aren’t your typical sleek and polished bars; they’re literally set up in the city’s ruins, hence the name ‘Ruin Bars.’ 

And trust me when I say, there’s nowhere else quite like them!

There are several Ruin Bars scattered around the city, with my favorite being Szimpla Kert. There are also several opportunities to go on bar crawls around the city in famous Ruin Bars, which I would recommend if you are a partier or backpacker: 

📸 Photo Tip: Use a fast prime lens and open up to f/1.8 or f/2. Use ambient light (neon, string lights) but don’t blast with flash. Try shooting details: a rusted sign, a textured wall, a silhouette in doorway.

Wander Around Fiume Road Cemetery

For those of you who love wandering around eerily beautiful cemeteries, why not visit Fiumei Road Cemetery!

Often overlooked by tourists, this gem is one of the largest green areas in Budapest and is home to the most prominent figures in Hungarian history. 

Rows upon rows of ornate tombstones, mausoleums, and statues make it more of an open-air sculpture garden than a cemetery. 

This is one of the more impressive cemeteries out there, and it is unmissable if your idea of a good time is looking at tombstones. I’m not judging, I’m one of those people!

Go On a VR Tour

Fasten your seatbelts, because we’re about to take a leap into the future! 

Ever wished you could fly over the city, walk through walls, or maybe even travel back in time? 

Well, here in Budapest, you can do all that and more—with a Virtual Reality tour! These tours offer a cutting-edge way to experience the city like never before. 

You’ll put on a VR headset, and suddenly, you’re soaring over the Danube, walking the streets in medieval times, or stepping inside the city’s iconic landmarks a hundred years ago. 

It’s incredibly immersive and it feels so real, you’ll forget you’re in a virtual world! 

The VR tours are also a fantastic option if you’re tight on time or want to avoid large crowds. 

Once you have returned back to the real world, there is another level of appreciation for what you are seeing in real life. Plus, you might learn something too! Welcome to the future! 

Final thought on Alternative Things to Do in Budapest

Alright, you adventurous wanderers!

Thanks for sticking to the end and uncovering the hidden gems and embraced the craziness of Budapest. Budapest, with its quirky delights and offbeat wonders, is a playground for those seeking something out of the ordinary.

Budapest’s “crazy” corners shine brightest through your lens in the shadows of caves, the glow of ruin bars, the silhouettes on gothic steps.

Don’t just endure these wild experiences…frame them.

Let your camera chase the light, capture the contrast, and reveal the texture beneath the madness.

Because the best stories in Budapest are the ones you can see in each photo.

📸 For your best “crazy Budapest” shots, carry a fast lens, embrace darkness, and feel free to follow and send your images on @TheBucketListMermaid. I can’t wait to see how you captured the madness.

Read More Budapest Bucket List Ideas