Things to see & Do

Parliament Building

One of the largest state buildings in Europe, this neo-Gothic fantasy was completed in 1902 and remains one of Budapest's most dominant structures.

The magnificent façade facing the river stretches for a quarter of a kilometre, while the vast central dome that rises above serves as a landmark for locals and visitors alike. The resplendent Hungarian crown jewels are also on show, under permanent ceremonial guard.

Buda Castle district – World Heritage Site

The castle district is one of the most famous parts of Budapest and at the same time a piece of history. On top of castle district you can find the Matyas Church, the Fisher Bastion, the Military history museum, the Labyrinth of Buda Castle, the Budapest history Museum, the Hungarian national gallery, and the Széchenyi library.

Of course on Castle district you can find a lot more pieces of history, old buildings and interesting little streets. A lot of cafes, restaurants and bars are on top of the hill for tourists and other visitors as well as for the people who live in castle district in Budapest.

Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church

A series of ramparts facing the river in Buda's splendid Castle District, the Fisherman's Bastion is named after the traditional defenders of this stretch of walls. In fact the Bastion bears testament to the whole of Hungary's fortitude over the centuries. The seven conical topped towers are representative of the seven original Magyar tribes that established the nation. The views across to the parliament building are fantastic and shouldn't be passed up.

In the heart of the Castle District the nearby Matthias Church is one of the city's most popular tourist draws. An attractive church in a Romanesque style it is easily recognizable by its patterned roof (a 19th-century addition) and elaborate main spire.

City Park & Heroes’ Square

Budapest's City Park (Varosliget) contains several attractions in the same place and you can find yourself spending most of a day exploring its features.

Once at the park there is plenty to see and do. Hungarian national heroes through ten centuries are honored in Heroes Square where a 118-foot-high millennial column stands to commemorate the 1896 celebration of the Magyar Conquest on Hungary. Soldiers ceremonially guard the column on occasion.

Something of a centerpiece, the sham castle, Vajdahunyadi is mainly a copy of the original medieval one in Hunedoara in what is now Romania but is generally an amalgamation of castle styles from the great epochs of European castle building. Alternatively you can check out the European Masters in the excellent Fine Arts Museum.

Finally, if your budget allows, have a meal at Gundels's. Although relatively expensive it is still arguably the finest restaurant east of Vienna with a sensational wine cellar and impeccable service.

St.Stephen's Church (Bazilika)

One of Budapest's most celebrated landmarks and the largest church in the country, St Stephen's took over 50 years to build, only being completed in 1906.

The views from the tower are among the most impressive in the city and it is well worth paying the extra and making the trip to the top if you visit. Hungarian Catholicism's most holy relic, the preserved right hand of St Stephen (the first Christian king of Hungary) can be found in the chapel within.

Jewish Budapest

Budapest has long been home to a large Jewish community and their story is an inspiring one of endurance under the persecutions of history. The Dohány Street Synagogue within the City Park is Europe's largest synagogue and contains the Jewish Museum, both well worth a visit.

Royal Palace: Hungarian National Gallery

Housed in the magnificent Buda Palace, the national collection of art and sculpture features some excellent examples of Hungarian art from the Middle Ages to the present day. Although little-known outside their native land, artists such as Mihaly Munkacsy and Karoly Lotz produced some impressive works.

Gellert Hill

Towering 750 feet above the Danube, Gellert Hill affords easily the best views of Budapest. It is a good idea to make this your first stop on arrival in the city as the major attractions can all be easily spotted, enabling the visitor to get a feel for the city away from the hectic maze of streets and people.

Named after the martyr who was instrumental in the conversion of the Magyars to Christianity, a statue on the top of the hill is said to mark the location of his martyrdom (he was thrown down the slopes in a nailed barrel). The hill also boasts one of the few remaining Socialist memorials in Hungary, the imposing Liberation Monument, and the magnificent Citadella, built by the ubiquitous Habsburg clan.

Thermal Baths

An important Hungarian cultural institution, thermal baths remain popular today and there are several impressive bathhouses to choose from in the city. The city's first baths were established in Roman times and then expanded under Turkish occupation. The neoclassical architecture of some of the older establishments is well worth seeing even if the idea of a thermal bath doesn't appeal.