Várkert Bazár or Puskás Aréna—stunning buildings all around in Budapest

In Budapest, historical landmarks such as the Várkert Bazár and Buda Castle have recently been brought back to life. Several parts of Buda Castle, including the ornate St. Stephen Hall, have been rebuilt or renovated with historical accuracy. Once one of the palace’s most magnificent rooms, St. Stephen Hall was nearly destroyed during the Second World War and the devastation that followed. Today, visitors can once again enjoy the authentic interior and the historical setting where the king held ceremonial receptions and audiences. The Hauszmann-era Riding Hall and its adjoining Csikós Courtyard have been restored, inviting you to wander through the splendid halls of the Hungarian royal residence. In the former Guard House, you can sample the diverse cuisine of the Carpathian Basin, with the restaurant’s operators aiming to honour the members of the Hungarian Royal Guard who served the Hungarian rulers there, sometimes even at the cost of their lives.

Ferenc Puskás is Hungary’s trademark—the most famous Hungarian in the world, who, as a member of the unforgettable Golden Team, forever etched his name into football history. See for yourself how the prodigy who once kicked a rag ball in the streets rose to have one of Budapest’s most grandiose structures bear his name! For an unforgettable experience, attend a national team match, where your heart will beat alongside 67,000 Hungarians.

In recent years, world-class sports facilities have risen in Hungary’s capital. Riding this momentum, the Puskás Arena was rebuilt, and new venues such as the National Athletics Centre and one of Europe’s largest handball arenas, the MVM Dome, now host prestigious sporting events. 

You will remain merely a passerby until you immerse yourself in the surging flow of every vibrant city—Budapest included—during the morning or afternoon rush hour. One of the city’s newly revitalised spots is Blaha Square, named after actress Lujza Blaha—also known as the ‘nation’s nightingale’—who passed away exactly a hundred years ago this year. The nation’s theatre once operated here, and for decades the square was dominated by the Corvin, a then-modern department store. Today, it has been transformed into a 21st-century commercial and gastronomic hub, the Corvin Palace. Here you’ll find the Time Out Market, where the country’s top restaurants, chefs, bars, and cultural programmes come together under one roof. If you’re a fan of the internationally renowned Time Out Market, you must pay it a visit! 

Although the Bálna Budapest on the Pest side of the Danube opened more than ten years ago, it has been continually renovated and upgraded ever since, hosting unforgettable events. Aptly named Bálna (‘Whale’) for its current form, the building was once a public warehouse built for river trade. Today, it offers an exciting and unmissable cultural experience whenever you visit Budapest.