After 188 matches, the scene is set, and just two teams remain in this season’s UEFA Champions League – and it will be Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal who will battle for glory in the Budapest final.
Taking place on Saturday 30 May, thousands of fans will travel across the continent to be in Hungary’s capital for European football’s showpiece fixture, whether they have a ticket or not.
As PSG and Arsenal supporters frantically search for flights and accommodation, Euronews Travel takes a look at what they should see and do during their trip to the “Pearl of the Danube”.
Things to see and do
Made up of two distinct parts – Buda and Pest – which are separated by the Danube River, Budapest is constantly growing in popularity for tourism, thanks to its spa culture and fascinating history.
Visitors shouldn’t miss a trip to one of many ruin bars housed in abandoned buildings, or tasting the incredibly potent Unicum liqueur.
For culture vultures, no trip is complete without a visit to the Fisherman’s Bastion, located near the Buda Castle. Built in the 19th century to serve as a lookout tower, it’s now world famous for offering some of the best panoramic views of the city.
Ferenc Puskás: Hungary’s legendary footballer
Fans visiting Budapest will quickly notice the enduring presence of Ferenc Puskás, Hungary’s greatest football icon and captain of the legendary “Magical Magyars”. The city’s centrepiece is the Puskás Aréna national stadium, built on the site of the former Népstadion and named in his honour.
Nearby the arena, the Puskás Museum charts his life and career through memorabilia, trophies and exhibits dedicated to Hungary’s golden era of football.
Visitors can also spot Puskás-inspired tributes across the city, from metro stations and statues to football murals celebrating the striker widely regarded as one of the game’s all-time greats.
A star for Real Madrid, Puskás scored two goals for Hungary’s “golden team” in its 6-3 win over England in 1953.
Described by many as the “match of the century”, The Guardian’s late, legendary sports journalist Pat Ward-Thomas wrote in his report: “Hungary gave England a severe lesson in the arts of Association Football here this afternoon in probably the finest exhibition of attacking play that has been seen in an international match in Britain.”
Football runs deep in Budapest, where historic clubs and fierce rivalries shape the city’s sporting culture. The traditional “big three” domestic teams in the city are Ferencvárosi TC, MTK Budapest FC and Újpest FC.
The host stadium
At the heart of the city’s football culture is the 61,400-capacity Puskás Aréna, host venue of this year’s Champions League final. Home to the Hungary national football team, the stadium previously held the 2023 UEFA Europa League final.
Puskás Aréna sits just three kilometres east of central Budapest, making it one of Europe’s most accessible major stadiums. From Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, the stadium is about 16 kilometres away.
On the day of the final, gates will open at 3 pm local time, three hours ahead of the 6 pm kick-off. UEFA recommends that fans arrive at the arena three hours before the match starts to “allow sufficient time for ticket and security checks”.
Champions Festival
Set against the grand backdrop of iconic Heroes’ Square, the UEFA Champions Festival brings the buzz of Europe’s biggest club competition to the heart of Budapest. Running from 28-31 May, the four-day event is open to all, blending football-themed games, sponsor activations and live entertainment.
Expect interactive experiences, surprise appearances and a lively fan atmosphere as the city builds towards the UEFA Champions League Final. It’s the perfect place to soak up the pre-match energy – even if you don’t have a ticket.
Sports bars
Budapest is warming up for a “bumper summer of football”, said Time Out, and there are plenty of pubs and bars where fans can go to watch a live game.
The publication’s top picks include Jack Doyle’s, a long-established, Irish-run pub that “feels authentic yet doesn’t forget it’s in Budapest”, and cellar sports bar Champs in the city centre.
Another popular spot is 6:3 Borozó, named after the scoreline from the famous match between Hungary and England in 1953. It’s “one of the oldest football bars in Europe, let alone Budapest”, according to Time Out.
This is a “great bar city”, said Libero Guide. The hub is District VII, between the Great Synagogue and Klauzál tér, while the “most football-friendly” of Budapest’s now “overly famous ruin bars” is UdvarROM and the adjoining Füge Udvar.
Hotels and places to stay
The city is not short of places to stay, and according to the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) tourism database, Budapest had around 65,600 hotel rooms across its accommodation sector in 2024.
For areas to stay in, District XIV is a great bet, with Zugló just four kilometres from Puskás Aréna, said Booking.com.
Fans can get there in around 25 minutes on public transport or 15 minutes by road. To avoid congestion on the roads, the site recommends travelling to Puskás Aréna by metro or tram.
Budapest’s hotel scene is defined by landmark properties that reflect the city’s rich architectural and cultural heritage. Overlooking the Danube, the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace stands out as the capital’s most iconic luxury address, its restored Art Nouveau interiors offering front-row views of the Chain Bridge.
Meanwhile, the Anantara New York Palace Budapest captures Budapest’s literary past, home to the opulent New York Café, often described as one of the most beautiful in the world.
New hotels in the city include The St. Regis Budapest, which opened in April in the historic Klotild Palace, and the Kimpton BEM Budapest, located on the Buda side of the Danube near Margaret Bridge.
Airports and flights
Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport serves as Hungary’s main international airport, with connections to and from all major destinations in Europe, including Paris and London. An express bus service offers a direct link from the airport to the city centre, taking around 40-50 minutes.
Arsenal have arranged a special supporter charter flight, exclusively for fans who have secured match tickets through the club. Costing £859 per person, it departs from London Luton on the morning of Saturday 30 May and returns in the early hours of Sunday 31 May, following the conclusion of the match.
Getting around
UEFA has confirmed that there will be free matchday travel in Budapest for ticket holders. They can take advantage of free travel on Metro lines 1, 2, 3, 4; Tram line 1; the Champions Express special bus service between the airport and city; and the 200E regular bus service between the airport and city.
Once in the city, visitors can get around via Budapest’s public transportation system, which includes the metro, trams, buses, trolleys, and suburban trains.
Budapest also has an extensive network of bike paths. Visitors can rent a bike at a rental shop or use the public bike-sharing system.
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