The official travel guideB2B
Budapest 6 °C
Magyar Magyar
Arts and Culture
Religious Sights
Thermal Baths & Spas
Winter Wonders at Lake Balaton Waiting to be Discovered
Must-see sights in Hungary
Destinations
Food & Wine
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Hungary
Itineraries day by day
How to get to Hungary
Weather
Free travel guides & maps
The historical cafés of Budapest
6 Hungarikums to place in your shopping basket for a true taste of Hungary
Contemporary art galleries in Hungary
3+1 thermal baths that are also unique natural formations
Budapest, the Queen of bathing cities
Budapest: 3 days trip
The highs and lows, the biggest and smallest of Budapest
Budapest’s best urban art
B2B
Budapest 6 °C
Magyar Magyar

Sights of Budapest

Cityscape from the CitadellaBudapestGreater Budapest

Budapest has managed to preserve its historical atmosphere and special eclectic cityscape, while allowing new places to open one after the other, and continues to be a vibrant metropolis. You will find interesting cultural events in abundance and many excellent entertainment venues in Budapest. Many hidden treasures, the secrets of past times, stories of fortunes rising and falling, and sultry gossip lie there on the street, just waiting to be discovered.

 

The first of the must-see sights has to be the Parliament building, designed by Imre Steindl in Gothic Revival style. It is the largest building in the country, and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

 

Hősök tere is a landmark in Budapest, and was built to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of the foundation of the Hungarian state, in 1896. The square is surrounded by the statues of 14 prominent figures from Hungarian history, while the archangel Gabriel stands on top of the central column. This statue was awarded the grand prize at the 1900 Paris World's Fair.

 

The view from the lookout terraces of the Fisherman’s Bastion in the Buda Castle District is truly one of a kind.

 

Citadella at the top of Gellért Hill is another Budapest landmark. The view is amazing: you can see Buda Castle, the Parliament building, the bridges over the Danube, the Pest side and the Buda Hills, all from one place.

 

And of course, you cannot forget the Chain Bridge, which was the first permanent bridge between Buda and Pest over the River Danube.

The Hungarian Parliament

What pops into your mind first when hearing the words iconic Hungarian building? We’ll bet you anything it’s the House of Parliament on the banks of the Danube. The building has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987 as part of the Banks of the Danube.

The Széchenyi Chain Bridge

The Chain Bridge is one of the most beautiful and well-known landmarks in Budapest. Although the mere sight of Budapest’s first permanent bridge over the Danube speaks for itself, it is well worth taking a peek through the ‘keyhole of history’ for a better appreciation of it. So here goes.

Heroes' Square

Take a journey through Hungarian history. An outdoor World Heritage site, lined with monumental statues. What is it? Heroes' Square, of course. It’s worth getting to know a bit about Hungarian history virtually beforehand so that you can absorb it better at the site itself.

Fisherman’s Bastion

The 140 m facade of the Fisherman’s Bastion in the Buda Castle District offers splendid views of the city and is a great spot for photos of another key attraction, the Parliament.

Citadella

One of the special features of the Citadella is that the Statue of Liberty at its south-eastern bastion is visible from almost anywhere in Budapest. Together with its pedestal, the female figure, which rises 40 metres above Gellért Hill.

St. Stephen's Basilica

The basilica is one of the most frequently photographed Hungarian tourist attractions and hides thousands of secrets. It was built for 54 years; 3 famous architects left their mark on the building.

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Things to do
Museums
There are many art galleries, museums and world-class works of art to visit, both in Budapest and all over the country. The National Gallery, for example, is home to the largest public collection of fine arts in Hungary. Helikon Castle Museum, the museum of Festetics Palace in Keszthely, has a carriage exhibition where you can see contemporary coaches and sleighs, while the hunting exhibition displays trophies of wild animals collected from five continents. Victor Vasarely was a key figure in op art, kinetic and international geometric abstract art, whose works are displayed in the inspiring exhibition of 20th century artists in the Vasarely Museum. There is also a world-class art centre in historical central Debrecen: the MODEM Modern and Contemporary Arts Centre. The Ludwig Museum, located within the walls of MüPa, is the only contemporary art museum in the country that exhibits international works as well.
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Plan your trip
Hidden treasures
We are surrounded by natural phenomena or built heritage that needs to be seen and visited. The beauty of the Káli basin, the Egerszalók salt hill or the library of the Cistercian Abbey of Zirc are all unique places. People have long worked and shaped the Megyer‑hegy Tarn, an extraordinary natural wonder near Sárospatak: what you will find here is the amazing union of a former millstone mine and nature itself. The brightly shining limestone cones of the Egerszalók salt hill have been created by the thermal water that breaks through here from the ground. Káli basin and the sea of rocks: amazing peace surrounds you on the wonderful land lying at the foot of the monadnocks in this area. From Köveskál to Mindszentkálla, Kővágóörs – off you go! The Reformed Stone Church in Csaroda is a wonder built in the 13th century, standing in the middle of the village surrounded by the Csaroda stream. The unique library of the Cistercian Abbey in Zirc contains a collection of almost 65,000 books.
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Travel Information
Festivals & prestigious events
There are several festivals and events in Budapest and around the country all through the summer. The activities on offer at open-air or tourism festivals include popular music, classical music, jazz, fine arts and gastronomy. And plan your summer by Lake Balaton so that you can take part in the VeszprémFest.
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Places to go
Castles
Discover the treasures of the past. The country’s built heritage, its castles, palaces and historical legacy are unparalleled. Boldogkő Castle is one of the most picturesque castles in Zemplén, and stands on top of Bodókő hill, surrounded by vertical cliffs. The medieval Füzér Castle is one of the seven wonders of Hungary. It sits on a symmetrical peak, on a volcanic cone with steep sides. Esterházy Castle in Fertőd is the largest Baroque palace in Hungary. It was where Joseph Haydn lived and worked, and Empress and Queen Maria Theresa once spent a night here. Buda Castle, with its characteristic dome, stands on top of Buda Castle Hill. At one time it served as a royal residence, and today it is home to two museums and the foremost library in the country. Vajdahunyad Castle was built on the manmade island in City Park Lake that surrounds the building, which can be accessed via four bridges.
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