Tourist Attractions
Szechenyi Thermal Bath »
Széchenyi Thermal Bath in City Park is one of the largest public baths in Europe. It was built in 1913 in Neo-Baroque style and has been extended and modified over the years. Today, there are 18 pools in the complex, 15 of which are spring-fed. In addition to these pools,... more »
St Stephen's Basilica »
The Basilica of St Stephen is Budapest's largest church. It is dedicated to St. Stephen, the first Christian king of Hungary. Enshrined in one of the church's chapels is St Stephen's right hand, the country's most important relic. Although in architectural terms the Basilica is a cathedral, it was given... more »
Fisherman's Bastion »
Fisherman's Bastion is one of the best known landmarks of Budapest, offering a stunning panoramic view of the city from its neo-Roman terraces. The Bastion looks like it is straight out of a fairytale and has been one of the World Heritage-listed sites of Budapest since 1987. Designed by architect... more »
Chain Bridge »
The Chain Bridge was the first permanent bridge to connect Buda and Pest, the two cities that merged to form what is Budapest today. Before the Chain Bridge existed, a temporary pontoon bridge allowed passage across the river from spring to autumn. However, it had to be disassembled for the... more »
Buda Castle »
Buda Castle is an imposing complex that overlooks the city of Budapest from an elevated position atop Castle Hill. Often referred to as the Royal Palace, Buda Castle has existed since the 13th Century and has been destroyed in battles and rebuilt several times. Once inhabited by kings and ruling... more »
Vásárcsarnok »
The magnificent hall, a 19th-century iron-frame construction, was reopened in late 1994 after years of renovation (and disputes over who would foot the bill). Even during the leanest years of communist shortages, the abundance of food came as a revelation to shoppers from East and West. Today the cavernous, three-story... more »
Taste Hungary »
Taste Hungary is quickly becoming the most respected botique company for walking tours in Budapest and day trips around Hungary. The company started out in wine tourism, and their expert tours of nearby wine regions like Etyek and Eger are a great way to see some of the countryside. Budapest... more »
Terror Háza »
The most controversial museum in post-communist Hungary was established at great cost, with the support of the centre-right government in power from 1998 to 2002. Some critics alleged that its exhibits are less than objective, sensational attacks on those even loosely associated with the communist-era dictatorship and place less emphasis... more »
Magyar Nemzeti Galéria »
The Magyar Nemzeti Galéria, which comprises the immense centre block of the Royal Palace (Wings B, C, and D), exhibits Hungarian fine art, from medieval ecclesiastical paintings and statues through Gothic, Renaissance, and baroque art, to a rich collection of 19th- and 20th-century works. Especially notable are the works of... more »
Szobor Park »
After the collapse of the Iron Curtain, Hungarians were understandably keen to rid Budapest of the symbols of Soviet domination. The communist statues and memorials that once dotted Budapest's streets and squares have been moved to this open-air "Disneyland of Communism." As well as the huge figures of Lenin and... more »
Művészetek Palotája »
In southern Pest, at the foot of the Lágymányosi Bridge, right beside the similarly grand National Theatre (which opened five years earlier), this monumental (750,000-square-foot) venue is not just a place where the capital's nouveau riche can spend their forints on a wide array of musical, theatrical, and dance performances... more »
Halászbástya »
The wondrous porch overlooking the Danube and Pest is the neo-Romanesque Fishermen's Bastion, a merry cluster of white stone towers, arches, and columns above a modern bronze statue of St. Stephen, Hungary's first king. Although you must pay to wander over most of it during the day over much of... more »
Néprajzi Múzeum »
The 1890s neoclassical temple formerly housed the Supreme Court. Now an impressive permanent exhibition, "The Folk Culture of the Hungarian People," explains all aspects of peasant life from the end of the 18th century until World War I; explanatory texts are provided in both English and Hungarian. Besides embroideries, pottery,... more »
Margit-sziget »
More than 2½ km (1½ mi) long and covering nearly 200 acres, this island was first mentioned almost 2,000 years ago as the summer residence of the commander of the Roman garrison at nearby Aquincum. Later known as Rabbit Island (Insula Leporum), it was a royal hunting ground during the... more »
Szent István Bazilika »
Handsome and massive, this is one of the chief landmarks of Pest and the city's largest church—it can hold 8,500 people. Its very Holy Roman front porch greets you with a tympanum bustling with statuary. The basilica's dome and the dome of Parliament are by far the most visible in... more »
