1/7
Party in the morning
Use the spare time of your pre-peak hours by kick-starting your morning with pounding music, freshly baked croissants, and a strong black coffee. The great initiative of Pesthajnal’s dawn-time party sessions has been around Budapest for almost a year now and enjoying ever-growing popularity, as dancing among a happy community provides a positive energy rush before a lengthy day ahead. Following registration for each upcoming event, anyone can join the sessions on the last Wednesday of each month, happening at varied locations usually starting at 6:30am. Watch out for future events on Pesthajnal’s website (only in Hungarian) or their Facebook page; the next one is happening on July 29th.
2/7
Get on a running track
Be fit and refreshed by getting a running start on your day sprinting around the recently refurbished running track on Margaret Island. Everyone is free to get there as early as they can to get a rush of energy from the moving view of sunrise over the Danube, or to admire the way the morning rays illuminate the Buda Hills. If morning sports sound better as a social activity, anyone can join the free running community of “Kvázibárki” (translating to “Quasi anyone”) for a dash of morning motivation along with other early risers. The group starts running usually at 6:30am, plodding their way through varied downtown routes, sometimes covering 18 kilometers in a single session.
3/7
Walk the Budapest streets
As the saying goes, the early bird catches the worm, and while most of the city is still fast asleep, we can walk around its hotspots and hidden treasures at a laid-back pace with the guides of Budapest Private Walks. Their private, fully customized “early morning walking tour” is a good way to escape the urban rush hours and see the city’s renowned attractions in a state of sunrise glory, while getting some exciting morsels of history, architecture, and daily life in Budapest. After a satisfying breakfast, the trip covers must-see sights of Buda and Pest at an easy pace, avoiding the herds at popular attractions. A four-hour guided tour going solo costs a whopping 110 euros, but any additional participants pay only 12 euros to join, so this can be a great value for larger groups.
4/7
Take a refreshing dip at a spa
Water lovers can start their day in a relaxed way by letting their muscles melt amid the legendary spas of Budapest. For an urban panorama and a soothing dip atop the city, ascend to the rooftop thermal pool at the recently refurbished Rudas Bath on the Buda riverfront. The rooftop sundeck features unrivaled panoramic views over the Liberty Bridge and Elizabeth Bridge. Those who would like to spend their time amid an Art Nouveau milieu can make an early splash in Gellért Bath, or for a pleasant plunge in Budapest’s largest spa, visit to the renowned and widely photographed Széchenyi Bath, something not to skip during any stay in Hungary’s capital – and since all three of these thermal baths open at 6am, you can be sure to avoid the crowds by arriving super early.
5/7
Explore a downtown market
An early-morning jaunt means market time for many local residents, and Budapest offers many impressive options for finding foodstuffs, with the Great Market Hall near the Liberty Bridge being the paramount place for acquiring farm-fresh produce. The typical market crowd consists of a diverse mix of foreigners, old ladies, young housewives, and professional chefs, all roaming around three floors to get hold of the freshest vegetables, fruits, and meats, oftentimes discovering some seasonal specialties. Life starts buzzing here at 6am, and we can find just about anything – from goat meat to fresh fish to Hungarian paprika garlands – under one roof. A smaller-scale alternative is the Belvárosi Piac (“Downtown Market” in Hungarian) with less of a crowd, open from 6:30am Monday through Saturday.
6/7
Eat a hearty breakfast
Refill your energy reserves and treat yourself to a rich breakfast of a range of specialties early in the morning. From classic scrambled eggs to freshly baked croissants to hefty sandwiches to ultra-healthy morning treats, everyone can find the perfect spot to gulp down some tasty eats in Budapest. Start the day with a muesli-and-fruit combo at in District V near , or with the super-deluxe eggs Benedict at the historic bistro in Buda’s District I. Those with a sweet tooth can savor the old-school vibe and traditional cakes at Jégbüfé on every day from 6am.
