Many luxury river cruises start or end their itineraries in Budapest. We recommend staying an extra couple of days as there are many things to see and do in Budapest. Below are our top 10 things to see in Budapest.
Budapest is the capital and largest city of Hungary. Budapest was originally two cities divided by the Danube River: Buda on the west bank and Pest on the east bank. The two cities united in 1873 to form Budapest.
1. Buda Castle
Castle Hill is a kilometer-long limestone plateau towering 170 meters above the Danube River. Buda Castle, formerly a Royal Palace, is located towards the southern end of the plateau. Construction of the medieval castle and palace complex began in the 13th century and became the home of Hungarian kings.
Buda Castle now houses the Budapest History Museum, Hungarian National Gallery, and the National Széchényi Library. The History Museum informs you about Budapest’s 2000 years of history. The Hungarian National Gallery shows the history of Hungarian art from the 11th century until the present. The National Széchényi Library features a collection of rare and antique books.
2. Fisherman’s Bastion
Fisherman’s Bastion, located in the center of Castle Hill overlooking the Danube River, is a panoramic viewing platform that looks like a neo-romanesque castle. However, it was actually built in 1902. The seven towers represent the seven chieftains of the Magyar tribes that helped settle the Magyar people in the Carpathian Basin. The Bastion’s name comes from the Guild of Fishermen who were responsible for defending this section of the city walls during the middle ages.
Due to its location, it has amazing views of the Danube and Pest. This means it is a popular place to take photos and can be very crowded. The lower section is free but there is a small fee to enter the upper towers.
3. Matthias Church
Matthias Church is located directly behind the Fishermen’s Bastion. The neo-gothic style church, with a brightly multi-colored tiled roof, a gothic spire, and painted interior, is beautiful and definitely worth a visit. It is over 700 years old and one of the oldest buildings in Buda. This building has quite the history and has been rebuilt several times. Matthias Church has, among other highlights, played host to royal weddings, the coronations of two Hapsburg Kings, and spent 150 years as a mosque.
4. Liberty Statue & Citadella
Gellert Hill, next to Castle Hill and the highest peak of central Budapest, is named after Saint Gerard. On top of this hill is the fortress of Citadella and the Liberty Statue. The Hapsburgs constructed the Citadella following the failed Hungarian War of Independence. Built as a fortification to discourage uprising, it controlled both Buda and Pest. It now houses a restaurant, a hotel, and a museum.
The Liberty Statue or Freedom Statue on Gellert Hill is a 45-foot bronze statue holding a palm leaf. It is one of the few prominent communist statues which remains in situ after the transition to democracy. It was first erected in 1947 to commemorate the Soviet troops who lost their lives liberating the country during World War II. However, the current engraving commemorates “all who sacrificed their lives for the independence, freedom, and prosperity of Hungary.”
5. Gellert Baths and Cave Church
At the base of Gellert Hill is a bath and Cave Church. Gellert Baths are located in a magnificent Art Nouveau building built between 1912 and 1918. It is one of the grandest spas in the city and had the first wave pool. The baths sustained serious damage during World War II but renovations restored them in 2008. The Gellert Baths have an open-air pool, an effervescent swimming pool, a Finnish sauna, and a range of other saunas and plunge pools.
Cave Church is located across the road from Gellert Baths. The Church is called Sziklatemplom which means Rock Church. Monks of the Order of Saint Paul built it in the 1920s.
6. Széchenyi Chain Bridge
The Széchenyi Chain Bridge is the first permanent bridge to connect Buda and Pest. The suspension bridge opened in 1848. It was one of the largest in the world at the time, spanning 663 feet. The bridge has regal-looking lions at each of the abutments.
7. Hungarian Parliament House
Parliament House is located on the east bank of the Danube and one of the most familiar landmarks of Budapest. It is currently the 3rd largest parliament building in the world and was designed in the Gothic Revival style. Construction took 17 years before its completion in 1902. The dome of the main Parliament House is 96 meters high which symbolizes the year of the settlement of Hungary in 1896. There are also 96 steps on the main staircase. If you would like to see the inside of Parliament House we recommend buying tickets in advance.
8. Shoe Memorial
The Shoes on the Danube Bank located near the Parliament House is a memorial to honor the Jewish people killed during World War II between 1944 and 1945. The 60 pairs of shoes represent the 3,500 people forced to take off their shoes (as these were considered valuable) before being shot so that their bodies fell into the river.
9. Dohany Street Synagogue
Dohany Street Synagogue is the largest Synagogue in Europe and the second-largest in the world. It can seat 3,000 people. It was built in 1854 in a Moorish Revival Style partly inspired by the Alhambra in Granada. During World War II it was the gateway to the Jewish Ghetto and was severely damaged. Major renovations took place through the 1990s. Dohany Street Synagogue consists of the Great Synagogue, the Heroes’ Temple, the graveyard, the Memorial, and the Jewish Museum. If you decide to visit dont forget to dress appropriately. Women need to have their shoulders and knees covered and Men need to cover their heads.
10. St. Stephen’s Basilica
St. Stephen’s Basilica is the largest church in Budapest. Like the Parliament House, it is 96 meters tall. Built in the Neo-Classical style, it took 54 years before its completion in 1905. The Basilica is named after the first king of Hungary whose right hand is kept in the reliquary.
Are you excited about all of the things to do in Budapest? Contact us today to start planning your vacation.