Visiting Hungary and Budapest, in general, is getting more and more popular. It is not a surprise because Budapest is one of the most beautiful and affordable cities in Europe. No question why so many visitors come here every year. In this article, we’ll describe ten places you must visit during your time in Hungary. These locations could be interesting for locals as well. Now let’s see what you need to see when visiting Budapest.
- Visit Gellért Hegy (Gellert Hill)
- Visit Margit-Sziget (Margaret Island)
- Visit the House of Parliament
- Take a Ride with the Zugligeti Libegő (Zugliget Chairlift)
- Visit Nagycsarnok (Great Market Hall)
- Take a Boat Trip on the River Danube
- Take a Journey with 2-es Villamos (Tram 2)
- Visit Buda Castle (Budai Vár)
- Buy Yourself a Drink and Simply Sit on the Rakpart (Quay)
- Visit One of the Thermal Baths
Visit Gellért Hegy (Gellert Hill)
For ease of naming, I will call it Gellért Hill. The Gellért Hill is a 235m high hill overlooking the Danube in Budapest, Hungary. It is located between the 1st and the 11th districts. The hill was named after Saint Gerard, who was thrown to death from the hill.
The famous Hotel Gellért and the Gellért Baths can be found in Gellért Square at the foot of the hill, next to Liberty Bridge. The Gellért Hill Cave is also located on the hill, facing the hotel and the Danube.
It is the perfect location for couples and families, but if you visit Budapest alone, it’s a great challenge to climb the stairs by yourself. The hill is filled with small locations that give you a beautiful overview of the Pest side of Budapest.
At the top of Gellért Hill is the famous Liberty Statue, which is currently under construction at the writing of this article. Gellért Hill is a must-visit place regardless of the season.
Visit Margit-Sziget (Margaret Island)
Margaret Island is a 2.5 km long, 500-meter wide island in the center of Budapest. The island is located between Buda and Pest, in the middle of the Danube. The island is mostly covered by landscape parks and is a popular recreational area. Its medieval ruins are reminders of its importance in the Middle Ages as a religious center.
The island spans the area between the Margaret Bridge (south) and the Árpád Bridge (north).
Nowadays, the island is full of opportunities. From baths to sports centers, you will find something that you love. If you like running with a view, the island has a dedicated running track on its side, so you can run around the island while admiring Budapest.
For people interested in good drinks, the island is full of bars in the middle. If you are looking for a romantic place, you can find many locations where you can enjoy each other’s company.
Visit the House of Parliament
We can say without any exaggeration that the Parliament of Hungary is one – if not the most beautiful in the world. If you see it in person, you will understand. Whether you take a short journey on Kossuth Square, where the Parliament is located, or take a guided tour inside the building, visiting the Parliament is a must-have thing.
History of the House of Parliament
We don’t want to get too technical here with the history of the Parliament, but some things can’t be ignored without a mention. First, let’s set things straight. The word “parliament” actually refers to the body that assembles in the House of Parliament. Although many call this fascinating building the Parliament, the correct name is the House of Parliament.
Building this impressive structure took 17 years, from 1885 to 1902, based on the design by the architect Imre Steindl. Unfortunately, the designer himself did not live to see the inauguration, since he died five weeks before.
The Hungarian Parliament building was constructed using primarily Hungarian raw materials, involving local craftsmen and manufacturers. Only the massive granite columns were imported from abroad, with 12 columns in total, 8 of which are in the House of Parliament and the other 4 in Britain.
The construction required approximately 40 million bricks and around 40 kilograms of 22-23 carat gold for embellishment. Spanning 18,000 square meters, the building features 90 stone statues on the facade and around 162 more inside. The interior boasts a nearly 3 km long red carpet, 27 entrance gates, and 365 towers symbolizing each day of the year.
Take a Ride with the Zugligeti Libegő (Zugliget Chairlift)
Taking a ride with the Zugliget Chairlift is one of the coziest things to do while staying in Budapest. The tickets are super affordable, yet the experience is priceless.
A little history and details about the Zugliget Chairlift. The Chairlift was built in 1970. The cable railway connects Zugliget and János Hill in the 12th district of Budapest. The line of the Chairlift is 1040 m long; the level difference is 262 m between the 2 stations. The journey time is 15 minutes in both directions. You can read more about the Chairlift on the official website.
Visit Nagycsarnok (Great Market Hall)
The Great Market Hall in Budapest was built in 1897 and is the most beautiful and largest of all Budapest market halls (yes, there are more historical market halls in Budapest, like the one in Hold Street called the Downtown Budapest Market Hall).
If you love fresh goods, people watching, shopping, photo opportunities, guided tours with tastings, or just sightseeing in amazing places, we know you will enjoy visiting our beloved Great Market Hall. No matter if it rains or shines, the Great Market Hall is a great option, and one of the top Budapest attractions according to many Budapest guides.
Take a Boat Trip on the River Danube
If you want to have a different perspective from our beloved capital city, one of your best chances is to hop on a boat. Lucky for us, there are a dozen types of options, from party or restaurant boats to public transportation boats. You will find one that suits your needs. Some luxury hotels, even have their own yachts.
Don’t miss this if you are visiting Budapest. One thing to keep in mind is that the schedule of the boats above may vary depending on the day and season you visit Budapest.
Take a Journey with 2-es Villamos (Tram 2)
Hopping on Tram 2 is one of the most beautiful and cost effective ways of sightseeing in Budapest, as it goes along the Danube riverbank, conveying you past the iconic buildings from Jászai Mari tér to the National Theatre.
All of this costs the price of a BKK ticket (roughly €1) – or two if you want to do the return journey.
Look to your left and right when going in either direction as the tram goes by Parliament, the Gresham Palace, Chain Bridge, and under Elizabeth Bridge. On the other side of the Danube, the Buda Hills can be seen as well as the Castle District and Gellért Baths.
Tram 2 is not the only communal transport that provides an alternative way of exploring the city – MOL Bubi and BKK Boat Services open new possibilities, too.
Visit Buda Castle (Budai Vár)
We’ll describe the Buda Castle in a separate article in more detail as there are so many things to do and see there. For now, we cover the basics. Buda Castle is the historical castle and palace complex of the Hungarian kings in Budapest. It was first completed in 1265, but the massive Baroque palace today occupying most of the site was built between 1749 and 1769.
The complex in the past was referred to as either the Royal Palace or the Royal Castle. The castle now houses the Hungarian National Gallery and The Budapest History Museum.
Buda Castle sits on the southern tip of Castle Hill, surrounded by the touristic area known as Várnegyed (Castle Quarter), which is famous for medieval, Baroque, and Neoclassical houses, churches, public buildings, and monuments. The hill is linked to Clark Ádám Square and the Széchenyi Chain Bridge by the Castle Hill Funicular.
The castle is a part of the Budapest World Heritage Site, and so declared in 1987. The original Royal Palace was ruined during WWII, it was rebuilt in a simplified Stalin Baroque style during the Kádár era. Nowadays the Castle Quarter and the Buda Castle a famous tourist attractions. Don’t miss it when you visit Hungary.
Buy Yourself a Drink and Simply Sit on the Rakpart (Quay)
If you are looking for the cheapest program in Budapest, buy your favorite drink and walk down to the Quay. Locals do it regularly as it is a stunning view.
Whether you sit on the Buda or Pest side of the Quay, the scenery is simply beautiful to watch. We only recommend this in summer, as it can get windy and cold next to the river Danube.
Visit One of the Thermal Baths
Finally, if you are looking for the perfect way to relax, we recommend visiting one of our thermal baths. For thousands of years, locals have enjoyed the steaming, mineral-rich thermal water simmering beneath Budapest’s surface.
For example, the remains of the Roman-era public baths, Thermae Maiores, are still visible in today’s northern Budapest.
The Ottoman Empire, after taking the city in the 16th century, was particularly fond of the hot springs of Budapest and some of the hammams they built are still functional today (Rudas, Király, Veli Bej).
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