Castle Royal Palace
Located at the top of Castle Hill in the picturesque Castle District of Buda, the Palace was first inhabited by King Béla in the 13th century who, after the Mongol invasion, turned it into a fortified stronghold against further attack. During the next 700 years it was the residence of many royal figures. The strategic location of Budapest, situated in the heart of Europe and straddling the Danube, offered whoever controlled the city a defensive position and potential control of the main waterway and this led to repeated invasions, followed by rebuilding in the style of the period. The castle has a mixture of architectural styles, ranging from Gothic to Baroque. Today it is the country's most important cultural centre housing numerous museums and the majority of the buildings are historical monuments. The Budapest History Museum contains an exhibition explaining the history of the city as well as archaeological remains of the palace. Also within the palace complex are the Hungarian National Gallery, the National Library and the Ludwig Museum.
Address: District I, Budavári Palota, Dísz tér 17; Transport: Tram 18 to Dózsa tér; bus 5, 16 or 78; funicular railway from Clark Ádám tér; or Várbusz (castle bus) from Moszkvatér; Opening time: The Budapest History Museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm, except on Tuesdays. The Hungarian National Gallery and the Ludwig Museum are open daily from 10am to 6pm, except on Mondays; Admission: Budapest History Museum 700 Ft (adult), 300 Ft (child). Hungarian National Gallery guided groups cost 1,000 Ft per head. Ludwig Museum 600 Ft (adult), 300 Ft (child)
Fisherman’s Bastion
Built in 1905 on the medieval castle walls, the neo-Romanesque ramparts were so named after
the city's fishermen whose duty it was to defend this side of the hill during the Middle
Ages, but the existing bastion never actually served a defensive purpose. It is solely
ornamental with gleaming white cloisters and stairways connecting seven turrets symbolic of
the Magyar tribes that conquered the Carpathian Basin in the 9th century. Set back from the
ramparts is an equestrian statue of King Stephen, a memorial to the founder of the
Hungarian nation. The view from Fisherman's Bastion, over the Danube, the Chain Bridge and
the Parliament Buildings with Pest stretching out into the distance, is outstanding.
Floodlit at night, the bastion is a mesmerising sight from across the river.
Address: District I, Szentháromság tér; Transport: Tram 18 to Dózsa tér; bus 5, 16 or 78;
funicular railway from Clark Ádám tér; or Várbusz (castle bus) from Moszkvatér
Matthias Church
Situated in the centre of the Castle Quarter, the 700-year-old Church of Our Lady is
popularly known as Matthias Church after the nation's famous ruler, King Matthias
(1458-90), a patron of learning and the arts who reconstructed the Hungarian state after
decades of feudal anarchy. With its distinctive multicoloured tiled roof and Gothic spire,
the church is one of Budapest’s best-known structures, and it was here that the nation’s
kings were crowned and King Matthias was married. Today the church continues to hold High
Mass, as well as concerts, organ and choir recitals owing to its magnificent acoustics.
Matthias Church is a mixture of styles from the various kings, occupations and periods.
When the Turks occupied the Castle in 1541 it was converted into a mosque, and the interior
walls were whitewashed and painted over with scenes from the Koran. It suffered heavily in
the later siege and was restored again in the 19th century, reconstructed in its
characteristic neo-Gothic style, and remains of the original medieval frescoes were
discovered underneath the whitewash. The interior is richly decorated with gilded altars,
statues, rose windows and frescoes. Inside is the Church Museum, which gives access to the
crypt, and a small collection of religious treasures and jewels. A fantastic paradox is
visible in the reflection of the Gothic church in the sleek dark glass sides of the
contemporary Budapest Hilton alongside.
Address: District I, Trinity Square (Szentháromság tér); Telephone: (01) 355 5657; Website:
www.matyas-tempom.hu; Transport: Funicular from Clark Ádám tér, or bus 6; Opening time:
Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm, Sunday from 1pm to 5pm; Admission: 600 Ft (adults), 400
Ft (students, pensioners, soldiers), 1,000 Ft (family ticket, 1 or 2 parents plus
children), children under 6 free, audio guide extra 300 Ft
Gellért Hill
Gellért Hill offers unrivalled panoramic views of the city, taking in both Buda and Pest
and the meandering Danube in between. The hill is named for a bishop who was tasked to
convert pagan Magyars to Christianity but, according to legend, he was killed by being
rolled off the hillside in a barrel by militant heathens. A statue of the martyred Bishop
stands at the base of the hill. On its summit stands the Liberation Monument, a female
figure holding aloft the palm of victory, dedicated to the memory of Soviet troops who died
freeing Hungary in 1945. With the fall of communism the inscription was changed to honour
those who died for 'Hungary's prosperity'. Behind the monument is the Citadella, or
fortress, built after the 1848 revolution to provide military control against further
uprisings. Today it houses a hostel and a museum. The hill is also home to several historic
spas, valued for their medicinal qualities since the Turkish occupation. The city's most
famous spa, the Gellért Baths, is attached to the grand establishment of the Art Nouveau
Gellért Hotel. Here visitors can relax in the thermal waters of the Roman-style pool with
its lion-headed spouts, surrounded by columns and mosaic patterns, or indulge themselves
with private therapeutic treatments or a massage.
Address: District XI, Szent Gellért tér 2-6; Telephone: (01) 385 2200; Transport: Bus 27
from Móricz Zsigmond körtér (opposite the Gellért baths), or it’s a 20-minute walk up;
Opening time: Citadella: Monday to Friday from 6am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday from 6am to
4pm; Admission: 2,000 Ft (concessions available)
Chain Bridge
The Chain Bridge was the first stone bridge to be built over the Danube and is the most
famous with its lion statues. Today nine bridges span the river linking Buda to Pest, but
Chain Bridge takes pride of place as the city's symbol, a magnificent sight when floodlit
at night. It owes its construction to Count István Széchenyi who decided to build a
permanent crossing after having to wait a week to cross the river to bury his father. The
Chain Bridge was built by William and Adam Clark who also constructed London Bridge. It was
considered an amazing feat of engineering when it was opened in 1849. At the foot of the
bridge is Kilometre Zero, the point in Budapest from where all distances are measured.
Address: Clark Ádám square; Transport: Bus 4, 16 or 105; tram 2 or 19
The Great Synagogue and Jewish Museum
Situated within Erzsébet Town, the charming old Jewish quarter and former ghetto, the Great
or Central Synagogue is the largest in Europe and the second largest in the world, able to
seat 3,000 people. Completed in 1859 the style is typically Byzantine-Moorish, with
exquisitely patterned brickwork in the red, blue and yellow colours of the city’s coat of
arms. Gilded domed towers, archways and beautiful window designs are just some of the
features that make this one of Budapest’s landmarks. The splendid interior glitters with
lights; gilded arches and balconies line the walls, the ceiling is covered in Stars of
David, and the floor is tiled in decorative stars. On Jewish festivals it is packed with
Jews from all over Hungary who come to celebrate within its splendour. Next door is the
Jewish Museum containing relics from the Hungarian Jewish Community, including religious
objects from festivals, and the Holocaust Memorial room. In the courtyard is the Holocaust
Memorial in the shape of a weeping willow tree, each metal leaf engraved with the names of
Nazi victims.
Address: District VII, Dohány utca 2; Telephone: (01) 342 1335; Transport: Metro 1, 2 or 3
to Déak tér; bus 7, 7A or 78; trolley bus 74; tram 47 or 49; Opening time: Synagogue:
Monday to Thursday from 10am to 5pm, Friday from 10am to 3pm, Sunday from 10am to 2pm.
Museum: Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm, Sunday from 10am to 3pm. Closed Jewish holidays;
Admission: Synagogue and museum 1,000 Ft (concessions available)
Parliament Buildings
Parliament buildings from Castle Hill © Paul Micallef
On the banks of the Danube stands one of the world’s most beautiful parliament buildings,
an imposing sight and a prominent feature of the city’s panorama. With its red dome and
white stone lace ornamentation and spires it is the city’s most decorative structure. Stone
lions flank the entrance guarding a rich interior of marble and gold, statues and columns,
and magnificent artefacts, including the 1,000-year-old crown of the first Hungarian King,
all of which can be viewed on a guided tour. The grand edifice, stretching for 820 ft
(250m) along the embankment, is one of the biggest national assemblies in the world.
Address: District V, Kossuth Lajos tér 1-3; Telephone: (01) 441 4904 (for bookings);
E-mail:
tourist.office@parlament.hu (for bookings); Website:
www.parlament.hu; Transport:
Metro 2 to Kossuth tér; bus 15; trolley bus 70 or 78; tram 2; Opening time: Guided tours on
the hour (or half hour during peak season) between the following times: Monday 8am to 11am;
Tuesday to Saturday 8am to 4pm; Sunday 8am to 2pm; Admission: 2,300 Ft (adults), 1,150 Ft
(students). Tickets sold at the gate a quarter of an hour before next tour
Statue Park
One of the city’s popular but more bizarre attractions is Statue Park, containing the giant
figures of the Communist era that once filled the streets of Budapest. After the change in
the political system the monuments glorifying Communism were banished into the exile of
this outdoor museum and among the statues, busts and monuments are the forms of Lenin, Marx
and Engels, as well as memorials to the Soviet Soldier and the Communist Martyrs. This is
the only collection in the world from the time of Communist politics. Some of the
interesting souvenirs sold at the park are cans of air from the ‘last breath of socialism’
and Stalin and Lenin shaped candles.
Address: District XXII, corner of Balatoni út and Szabadkai út; Telephone: (01) 424 7500;
E-mail:
office@szoborpark.hu; Website:
www.szoborpark.hu; Opening time: Daily from 10am
until sunset; Admission: 600 Ft (concessions available)