Budapest – Hostels in Budapest. Maps for Budapest, Photos and Reviews for each hostel in Budapest.

With several city centre hostels nearby, the Royal Palace - part of the Buda Castle complex - is a great place to start. It dates from the 13th century and is today home to several museums and galleries, including the Castle Museum and the Hungarian National Gallery.

Website: www.btm.hu

Address: Szent György tér 2, 1014 Hungary

In the City of Baths, Gellért is one of the finest. With amazing history (built a century ago), sheer beauty (an art nouveau masterpiece) and low prices (entrance is £11.50), it's ideal for backpackers.

Website: www.gellertbath.hu

Address: Kelenhegyi út 4, 1118 Hungary

A hit with architecture fans and music lovers alike, the Budapest Opera House is a stunning neo-Renaissance and Baroque building that hosts world-class opera, ballet and theatre performances.

Website: www.opera.hu

Address: Andrássy út 22, 1061 Hungary

A shining example of 19th century neo-Gothic design, this Westminster-esque Parliament Building is unmissable for its striking architecture, stained glass and crown jewels. Entrance costs 2,000 HUF (£4.50) for EU citizens.

Website: http://latogatokozpont.parlament.hu/en

Address: Kossuth Lajos tér 1-3, 1055 Hungary

See Budapest from a fresh perspective with a river cruise. Trips range from one to 2.5 hours, day or night, and you'll see the riverside sights plus the beautiful Margaret Island.

Website: http://legenda.hu/

Address: Dock 7, Jane Haining rakpart, Budapest

Also called Várnegyed, this the historic centre of Buda that backpackers and tourists come to see. It dates back to the early 1200s, and it’s famed for its Royal Palace, medieval walls, winding streets, impressive churches and views across the Danube.

Theresa Town, or Terézváros, is dissected by the grand boulevard of Andrássy út, home to neo-Classical houses, chic fashion boutiques, Heroes' Square and the Hungarian State Opera House.

Across the river lies the Inner City, or Belváros: the heart of Pest. Highlights of the neighbourhood include the Parliament Building, St. Stephen's Basilica, Váci Street and legendary Gerbeaud Café. If you’re looking for a city centre location, you’ll find some great cheap hostels here.

Held each September, the city's annual gastronomic fest is paradise for the hungry backpacker. It features not only great Hungarian food and cookery demonstrations, but live concerts, art exhibitions, handicrafts, games and activities. All for free.

Website: www.szeptemberfeszt.hu

Address: People's Park, Budapest

A two-week event celebrating the best of Hungarian and international culture, the Spring Festival sees countless performances of classical music, opera, theatre, folk dance and more taking place across Budapest.

Website: www.btf.hu

Address: City wide

One of the world's most eye-catching city marathons, it follows a pretty route through Buda, Pest and along the Danube. With so many hostels clustered in the city centre, there’s a good chance it’ll be passing yours...

Website: www.budapestmarathon.com

Address: Olof Palme sétány, 1146 Hungary (Finish line)

Running from November until Christmas, Budapest's festive market sees wooden stalls line every inch of Vorosmarty Square. It’s a great time to be hostelling here. Pick up goodies ranging from roasted meat and mulled wine to handmade gifts and Christmas decorations.

Address: Vörösmarty tér, 1051 Hungary

Being a backpacker doesn’t mean you have to lose touch with the film scene. Budapest's biggest cinema festival hosts over 60 feature contemporary films, plus dozens of shorts, in venues across the city. Despite the name, it runs smoothly every time.

Website: www.titanicfilmfest.hu

Address: City wide

Held on an island in the Danube, this week-long music festival welcomes thousands of revellers each August. An impressive line-up of international acts perform pop, rock, reggae, world music, heavy metal and everything in between. Hostels will fill up quickly, so book ahead.

Website: www.szigetfestival.com

Address: Óbuda Island, Hungary

Perhaps the most significant musical event on the Budapest cultural calendar, this holiday season tradition sees melodies by Liszt, Brahms, Strauss recreated by the 100-Member Gipsy Band. Held every 30 December.

Website: www.100tagu.hu

Address: Budapest Congress & World Trade Center Budapest, Jagelló út 1-3, 1123

Held in the courtyard of the romantic Vajdahunyad Castle, this festival features musical variety (expect classical, swing, klezmar and gypsy music) to match the venue's Romanesque-Gothic-Renaissance-Baroque architecture.

Website: www.vajdahunyad.hu

Address: Vajdahunyad vár, 1146 Hungary

Hugely popular with students and backpackers, Leves (Hungarian for 'soup') serves at least five different types of soup each day, from coconut and pumpkin to Catalan chicken to cold raspberry.

Address: Vámház krt. 14, 1056 Budapest

Phone: 030 241 7760

The largest, oldest and most beautiful market hall in Budapest is the perfect place for backpackers to stock up on cheap local food, whether it’s a sandwich from a café or just bread and meat from the stalls.

Website: www.piaconline.hu

Address: Vámház körút 1, 1093 Hungary

Phone: 01 366 3300

This central étkezde (canteen) is popular with students, locals and backpackers alike. Choose the daily menu for tasty Hungarian specialties at the mouthwatering price of 950 HUF (£2).

Website: www.kisharang.hu

Address: Október 6. utca 17, 1051 Hungary

Phone: 01 269 3861

Photos: https://instagram.com/p/yZv1BKqXNK/

© Copyrights: atram15

You can't leave Budapest without trying lángos; a fried flat bread covered in grated cheese, sour cream and often garlic, ham and sausage. The lángos on party street Akácfa - which has youth hostels all around it, and in some case on it - is the best in town.

Serving a mix of Turkish and Hungarian cuisine, the quality of the delicious dishes at Szeráj belies the bargain prices. And with 24-hour opening, it’s handy if you’re heading back to the hostel in the small hours.

Address: Szent István körút 13, 1055 Hungary

Phone: 01 311 6690

This small but perfectly-formed bar beside Károlyi Garden has a lovely outdoor area that's perfect for sipping wine (from the extensive bar menu) and watching the world go by.

Website: www.csend.es

Address: Magyar utca 18, 1053 Budapest

Phone: 030 727 2100

Photos: https://instagram.com/p/pUG6D5CidW/

© Copyrights: florabiro

This one-time Ukrainian ship now permanently floats on the Danube as a bar, restaurant, lounge and club. Drink beer, wine and cocktails as you listen to pop, rock and indie music.

Website: www.a38.hu

Address: Petőfi híd, 1114 Budapest

Phone: 01 464 3940

Ruinpubs – modern bars opened in condemned Communist buildings – are a big part of the city's culture, and with a creative, anything-goes vibe they’re always welcoming to backpackers. Szimpla Kert, set within an old factory, is the coolest of the lot.

Address: Kazinczy utca 14, 1075 Budapest

Phone: 020 261 8669

The coolest club in Budapest, Instant combines an amazing space – featuring chic bars, a lounge, a dance club and special foosball/pinball rooms – with the best DJ line-up in the city. There are plenty of hostels within walking distance too.

Website: www.instant.co.hu

Address: Nagymező utca 38, 1065 Budapest

Phone: 01 311 0704

This fantastic daily market within the 10,000-square-metre Great Market Hall has it all: fresh food on the ground floor; souvenirs and gifts on the second; meat and fish markets in the basement. It’s just to the south of the majority of the city centre hostels, and one or two are right on its doorstep.

Website: www.piaconline.hu

Address: Vámház krt. 1-3, 1093

Phone: 01 366 3300

Budapest's monthly design market, WAMP is the place to pick up unique fashion, accessory and handicraft creations by great contemporary Hungarian designers.

Website: www.wamp.hu

Address: Erzsébet tér, 1051

Phone: 01 797 7190

Budapest's best shopping boulevard, Váci Street is home to stores that vary from popular high street brands such as Zara and Mango to designer boutiques such as Swarovski, Hugo Boss and Lacoste. There’s also an H&M for backpackers looking to stock up on budget clothes.

Address: Vaci utca

Some backpackers avoid opera because they don’t like it; some avoid it because it’s so expensive. Budapest can’t fix the first one, but it can sure fix the second - at the State Opera you can see opera for the price of a coffee. Tickets start at a paltry 500 HUF (£1). www.opera.hu

Students can save a small fortune in Budapest. Flash your student card for big discounts on not only city sights and transport, but also restaurant food and hostel accommodation. www.isic.org

Planning to cram in lots of museums during your hostel stay? The Budapest Card – 6,300 HUF (£14) for 48 hours and 7,500 HUF (£17) for 72 hours – gives entry to most museums, plus free transport. www.budapest-card.com