Látnivalók
The Royal Palace
The Royal Palace is situated on the southern part of Castle Hill. The medieval palace that stood here was destroyed during the battles against Turkish invaders, leaving only the fortified walls as a memento. The site was then filled in to lay the foundations of the new grandiose Baroque palace which was initially ordered by Maria-Theresa and expanded on Hungarian initiative in the 19th century. The Palace itself was plundered during the Second World War. Unfortunately, visitors no longer have access to the lavish suites and interiors of the past kings and queens. Today, it functions as the home to important cultural institutions and museums, like the Hungarian National Gallery (National Museum of Hungarian Fine Art), the Ludwig Museum (Museum of Contemporary Art) and the Budapest Historical Museum.
The best restaurants and shops in town are also nearby. The cellars of the Hungarian Cultural Foundation accommodate the House of Hungarian Wines. A particular point of interest of the Castle District is the Funicular. It is the easiest and most interesting way to enter the Castle. From the Buda side of the
Chain Bridge it takes just a few minutes to get to the
Royal Castle via this steep slope. What is also interesting on the Buda side is that almost every house in the quarter has cellars running down into the hill several stories deep. One section of the cellar system was turned into what is known as the Labyrinth of the Buda Castle, offering remarkable historical corridors and tableaux..
The Parliament
Looking out over the Danube from the balconies of the Fisherman's Bastion, the flat Pest skyline between the Margaret Bridge and the Chain Bridge is dominated by only one building - the Országház (Houses of Parliament). Conceived and built for the millennium celebrations of 1896, the Imre Steindl design was only finished in 1902 (the year of his death). Inspired partly by the Palace of Westminster, its white neo-gothic turrets and arches are stretched along the Danube over a length of more than 250 meters.
Heroes Square
The spectacular ensemble of statues erected to commemorate the thousandth anniversary of the Magyar Conquest is situated at the end of Budapest's most beautiful avenue (Andrássy Street). It was designed by Albert Schickedanz and Fülöp Herczog and many of the statues representing Hungarian Monarchs and Princes of Transylvania were sculpted by György Zala. At the center of the Monument is a column surrounded by seven figures - the leaders of the seven ancient Hungarian tribes.
The Opera House
Designed by Miklós Ybl for the Hungarian Millennium Celebrations, Budapest's magnificent State Opera House was completed in 1884. Regarded as one of the most important historical buildings in Hungary, its elegantly styled neo-Renaissance design fits in perfectly with neighbouring buildings on Andrássy ut.
The façade of the building is decorated with sculptures depicting 16 of the world's greatest composers including Monteverdi, Mozart, Beethoven, Verdi, Bizet and Tchaikovsky. Below, one can find the muses of the opera, together with sculptures of Franz Liszt and Ferenc Erkel (the composer of the Hungarian national anthem and director of the opera house when it opened in 1884). The interior of the building is equally lavish, particularly Karoly Lotz's frescoed ceiling in the main auditorium, which breathtakingly depicts 'Olympus, home of the Gods'.
The St. Stephen Basilica
Though Budapest's biggest cathedral is architecturally not a basilica, tradition and the authority bestowed upon it by the Pope have earned it this denotation. Its construction was started in neo-Classical style but the design was later modified by Miklós Ibl according to architectural models from the Italian Renaissance. Inaugurated in 1905, the Basilica with its 96m high dome can hold up to 8500 persons. St. Stephen's statue of Carrara marble by Alajos Stróbl is the "piÄ?ce de résistance" of the Sanctuary.
The Great Synagogue
The Synagogue of Pest is one of the most beautiful and largest in Europe. The Austrian Ludwig Förster was commissioned to design the building which was erected between 1854 and 1859 and displays Romantic and Morisco motifs. The three flat-ceiling halls of the Synagogue are of equal height. The celling and women's gallery are supported by cast-iron columns which testify of the building's advanced technical design.
Heroes' Chapel was raised behind the Synagogue in 1931, a year later the neighbouring Jewish Museum was built.
Vicinity:
Óbuda
Óbuda is the oldest part of the capital. In the middle ages Óbuda was the first and main village of the Budapest region. Take a walk from Szentlélek tér to F?? tér, the beautifully restored heart of Óbuda.
The most interesting building here is the baroque Zichy Mansion (1752) at F?? tér I. There is an art gallery at the end of the courtyard and on the top floor of the mansion you can find the unique Kassák Museum with a three-room exhibition of unique gems made by early 20th century avantgarde artists.
The Vasarely Museum is also situated in the two-story wing of the old aristocratic house of the Zichy family. Vasarely's vast collection of over four hundred works of art makes for one of the most vivid and inspirational art collections in Budapest.
Kiscelli Castle Museum
Decorative arts coupled with important Hungarian 19th century works are among the permanent exhibitions in this Baroque Trinitarian monastery. Downstairs is an exhibition of Hungarian printing houses from the 18th and 19th century, including an antique printing press. Contemporary 20th century Hungarian art is also featured, with works from renowned artists like cubist János Kmetty, Károly Ferenczy and the vibrant puppet themed paintings of Margit Anna. Temporary exhibitions and concerts are also held during the summer.
Aquincum
Aquincum was the key military garrison of the Roman province of Pannonia. A Roman aqueduct used to pass this way from a spring in the nearby park and remains have been preserved along the highway and the HÉV railway line. The 2nd-century civilian amphitheatre is right beside the station. A few hundred metres away one can find a large excavated area and the outdoor Aquincum Museum (open from May to October only). From the Aquincum site you have the choice of going to downtown Budapest or taking the railway in the other direction to the old town of Szentendre (see the Danube Bend section).
Margaret Island
The Capital's most highly valued park is a green oasis on the two kilometer long Margaret Island. The island is surrounded by the Danube and is situated between the Margaret Bridge - which offers one of the most beautiful panoramas of the city at night - and the Árpád Bridge. Here you will find trees hundreds of years old, a colorful rose garden and a romantic Japanese garden with a thermal lake and waterfall. The Wildlife Park is popular with children and the Alfréd Hajós Sports Swimming Pool hosts major sporting events. Summer fun can be had at the Palatinus Outdoor Pool. The base of the old water tower is a popular venue for summer evening concerts, as well as the open-air stage. The island offers a full range of recreation opportunities.
Dating back 700 years, the Dominican and Franciscan church and monastery ruins can still be visited and the country's oldest church bell still rings in the steeple of the Premonstratensian chapel. Margaret Island can be explored in the high season by minibus and four-wheeled, two-person pedal cars available for rent at the northern part of the island. (Traffic may not enter the island, but it can be reached by bus No. 26 from Nyugati tér).
Buda Hills
When travelling with children, the Buda Hills are the place to go. Begin with a ride on the Cog Railway (Fogaskerek??), which has been winding through pleasant, tree-rich suburbs into the Buda Hills since 1874. The lower terminus of the railway is on Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor, opposite the circular high-rise Hotel Budapest and within walking distance of Moszkva tér.
Near the Széchenyi hegy upper terminus of the cog railway on XII Rege utca is the Children’s Railway (Gyermekvasút), a scenic 12-km route opened in 1950, which operates hourly year-round every day except Monday. With the exception of the engineer, this line is staffed by children, which provides them with a wonderful experience. Catch a train to the station on Jánoshegy and walk up through the forest to the lookout tower (529 metres) with its 360° view.
The chair cabel lift (libeg??) on János-hegy, which operates daily all year from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m., will take you down to XII Zugligeti út, where you can catch the No 158 bus back to Moszkva tér. If you take the Children’s Railway until the northern terminus at H??vös-völgy, you can catch tram No 56 back to Moszkva tér.
Gellért Hill
Citadella
Szentendre This small picturesque town located 20km (12 miles) north of Budapest makes for a popular daytrip destination for tourists. Szentendre is a Mediterranean-styled cultural and tourist centre, a town of arts and artists, right on the bank of the Danube. It has several Serb Orthodox monuments and 12 museums.
Only a few kilometres from Szentendre, the Open-air Ethnographical Museum (Skanzen) recreates rural life in Hungary in the 18th and 19th century. With different regions of the country represented here, adults and children alike find the museum's various thatched cottages, mills and craft demonstrations very interesting.
During the summer months free wine tasting is offered to the visitors.
Within Walking Distance
5 minutes
- Margitsziget
- Hajógyári sziget
- Amphitheatre of Óbuda
- Zichy museum
10 minutes
- Aquincum Museum
- Kiscelli Museum
- Buda Hills
15 minutes
Useful links for events in Budapest:
http://www.budapestinfo.hu/http://www.budapest-tourist.info/hu/http://www.itthon.hu/Hungarian National Gallery:
http://www.mng.hu/nyito
Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music:
http://www.lfze.hu/hp/nyitolap/index.htmlOpera:
http://www.opera.hu/index.php?module=mainMuseum of Fine Arts:
http://www.szepmuveszeti.hu/Budapest Sport Arena:
http://www.budapestarena.hu/Palace of Arts:
www.mupa.huKunsthalle Budapest:
http://www.mucsarnok.hu/Ticket Express:
http://www.eventim.hu/
