Budapest Destination Guide

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Budapest: Things to See & Do
Guide to Sightseeing in Budapest

The Budapest card represents a good investment for any visitor to the city. The card entitles holders to reduced or free entrance to most of Budapest's premier attractions as well as reductions at restaurants, and on city tours and free travel on all forms of public transport in the city centre. The card costs:

48 hours: HUF4700
72 hours: HUF5900

Since May, 2004, many of Budapest's public museums are free to enter. This includes the permanent collections of the Museum of Applied Art, the Transport Museum, Ludwig Museum, Hungarian National Gallery, Hungarian National Museum, Museum of Ethnography, Hungarian Agricultural Museum and the Semmelweis Museum.

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. Since the downfall of Communism the building is once again serving its original purpose as the seat of Hungarian democracy but it is still possible to visit and explore this fascinating building. When parliament isn't sitting you can even visit the members' gallery benches.

The resplendent Hungarian crown jewels are also on show, under permanent ceremonial guard.

Open: daily. Admission: HUF2000. Tours are given at various times in various languages during the day.
Tel: +36 (06)1-441-4904.
Metro: Kossuth ter.

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 recognisable by its patterned roof (a 19th-century addition) and elaborate main spire. The church has been in existence for 700 years but was stripped during the Turkish occupation when it served as the city mosque - requiring architect Frigyes Schulek to restore its splendour in the late 1800s. Contained within are an extensive display of religious relics and several notable works of iconography.

Fisherman's Bastion admission: HUF300, adults; HUF150, children.
Tel: +36 (06)1-489-0717.
Matthias Church admission: HUF600.

City Park

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.

You should visit the park by way of metro line one (the yellow one - get off at Szechenyi Furdo). This is the oldest metro in mainland Europe and travelling on it is an experience in its own right. Once at the park there is plenty to see and do. Hungarian national heroes through ten centuries are honoured 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 centrepiece, 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. It's perhaps not the prettiest tourist attraction in the world but it's certainly among the most fascinatingly macabre.

Entry to the church is free although entry to the tower costs HUF500 per person.
Metro: Arany Janos utca.

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. Spread over four floors there are displays on everything from altars and religious iconography of the Middle Ages to medals and coin collections from the 20th century. National Gallery open: Tue-Sun 10h00-18h00 (May-Nov); 10h00-16h00 (rest of the year). Admission: free for permanent exhibitions.

Contained elsewhere in the palace is the National Historic Museum, which traces the history of the city and the palace in particular. The catalogue of conflict it has endured since being first established goes some way to explaining the palace's fascinating mixture of architectural styles. Don't forget to admire the building as much as the exhibits. Historical Museum open: Mon & Wed-Sun 10h00-16h00 (Nov-Feb); 10h00-18h00 (Mar-May & Sep-Oct); daily 10h00-18h00 (May-Sep). Admission: HUF800, adults; HUF400, children.

Tel: +36 (06)1-224-3700.
Metro: Castle Hill.

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.

Located at the Eastern end of the Kobanya district, the city's main Jewish cemetery is still in use today and contains the graves of around half a million people. Most visitors come here to enjoy the peace and solace among the graves, which are well maintained. However it is also very much a focus of reflection on Jewish and Hungarian hardships over the centuries and particularly through the 20th century. The country's main Holocaust monument is sited here, commemorating the estimated 600,000 Hungarian Jews who lost their lives during the war. Certainly a poignant place.

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. The summit can be reached on bus 27 from Moricz Zsigmond station or on foot.

Roman Ruins

A short trip out of the town centre are the ruins of Aquincum which are all that remain of the former Roman capital of the province of Pannonia. Although the ruin complex is spread over some distance, the two main attractions, the Amphitheatre and the Civilian Town, are close together and are easy to see in one stroke.

The Aquincum Museum houses Roman coins, jewellery and pottery recovered from the site.
Open: 15 Apr-31 Oct.
Admission: HUF800. No charge for access to the ruins. (Guided tours cost HUF5000.)
Tel: +36 (06)1-250-1650. To get to the site take the HEV suburban railroad from Batthyany ter to Aquincum.

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.

The Kiraly is particularly atmospheric.
Fo Utca 82-84.
Open to men and women on alternate days.
Admission: HUF1000.
Tel: +36 (06)1-202-3688.

Grand Circus

Born of the itinerant peasant lifestyle, the circus is well established in Hungary and counts among the country's most defining attractions.

At the Grand Circus (Nagy Cirkusz) in the City Park the tradition lives on. Tumblers, artistes and animals entertain crowds the way they've done for centuries. Although circuses have fallen into some disrepute over recent years all the animals are well treated and it's hard to remain negative about such a fascinating aspect of genuine Hungarian culture. The circus performs nightly from Wed-Sun throughout the year except September and October. Shows cost between HUF800-1600 per person.

 

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