Budapest is one of those cities everybody seems to like, and the city attracts more and more tourists every year. And you can understand why, Budapest is a wonderful city, with a lot of places to discover. Located between Eastern and Western Europe, the city has a little bit of both areas, regarding the culture, the atmosphere, the people… It’s pretty much impossible not to succumb to the charm of the city. Budapest is actually made up of the “Buda” part and the “Pest” part, separated by the Danube river. Let’s see together why Budapest attracts more and more tourists, and we will focus on the places to visit in Budapest!

 

The Hungarian Parliament building

A must see in Budapest, the Hungarian Parliament building! This Parliament has 691 rooms, and is the third largest parliamentary building in the world. It looks old, but actually the Parliament is not that old. It was completed in 1904. Whether you capture it by day or by night, it looks perfect! One of the most popular places in the city! The best way to get a good picture of this Neo-Gothic building, is from the Fishermen’s Bastion.

 

The shoes on the Danube

Not far from the Hungarian Parliament building, you’ll see the shoes on the Danube. What are those shoes? It’s actually the most famous memorial in Budapest. It commemorates the Jews murdered in Budapest by the arrow cross party (fascist political party) during World War II. At the time, they were forced to remove their shoes, they were shot, and their bodies were falling in the Danube river.

 

St. Stephen’s basilica

“What a tall basilica!” is probably what you’ll think when discovering it. Actually it’s normal to have this reaction, no other building can be taller than St. Stephen’s Basilica or the Hungarian Parliament building, it’s written in the law! It took 55 years to complete this basilica (from 1851 to 1906), and it can hold up to 8,500 people. The cathedral is named in honour of Stephen, the first king of Hungary. His mummified hand is still there, and it’s possible to see it (but you’ll have to pay a small fee).

 

Heroes’ Square

Heroes’ Square commemorates the 1000th year anniversary of Hungary (in 1896) and has several statues within the structure. Therefore this monument was built in 1896. Just like the Hungarian Parliament Building, whether you go there during the day or at night, you’ll get amazing pictures of this place!

 

Vajdahunyad castle

Just behind Heroes’ Square, you’ll find Varosliget Park, the largest one in Budapest. In this park, you’ll see a large castle, Vajdahunyad castle. This castle was completed in 1908, and it was built with different architectural styles used during the history of Hungary.

 

Szechenyi baths

Another unmissable place, the Szechenyi baths! Super popular thermal baths in Budapest, it’s one of Europe’s largest public baths, with 15 indoor baths and 3 large outdoor pools. Thermal baths are part of the culture in Hungary, and Hungarian people will all tell you going there has medicinal properties (skin problems, respiratory problems, muscular ache…).

 

The chain bridge

One of the various bridges in Budapest, but probably the most popular, is the chain bridge (Széchenyi lánchíd). This bridge connects “Buda” and “Pest”, and once you get on Buda from Pest, you’ll almost immediately arrive at the funicular which can take you up to the Buda castle. Take a few minutes just to walk on this famous bridge.

 

Buda castle

The Buda castle, also called Budavar Palace, dates back to the 12th century. A beautiful castle overlooking the Pest side of the city and the Parliament. It’s possible to go to the castle via funicular, or by foot if you have courage! The castle is where the kings used to live and it’s home to Fisherman’s Bastion. There are also two museums in the castle, the Hungarian national gallery, and the Budapest History Museum.

 

Fishermen’s bastion

Next to the Buda castle, you’ll see Fishermen’s bastion. The structure is from 1902, and it was used by fishermen who protected this area of the city. This structure was built to thank the fishermen. Fishermen’s Bastion is the perfect viewing place for panoramic shots of the city (especially to get that perfect picture of the Hungarian Parliament building).

 

Matthias church

A church with a multicolor roof, next to fishermen’s bastion! This church is 700 years old (from 1255), but it has been destroyed several times through the years. An architect restored it in 1896, and since then Matthias church kept this appearance. It takes its name from a former Hungarian king, and it’s one of the few churches where you have to pay to get in, because there’s a small museum inside.

 

As you probably noticed, there are a lot of places to visit in Budapest. Don’t forget to go to a ruin bar, those former abandoned buildings in the city center, converted into regular bars. Szimpla Kert is the most famous. Ideal to get a drink and party, even during weekdays! Try to eat a langos, a typical Hungarian food. This is a deep fried dough. And you’ll find plenty of places to sleep, whether you travel on a budget or you want to splurge on a nice luxury hotel.

 

Written by: Been around the globe

39 thoughts on “Places to visit in Budapest

  1. I’ve never been to Budapest, but it’s on my list! The Basilica is beautiful! I love seeing the different architecture of the Roman Catholic Churches around the world!

  2. I agree with your opinion on the Hungarian Parliament building. I think this is the most beautiful building in all of Europe, more people should know about it. The shoes on the river Danube is an interesting memorial of a terrible history.

  3. Budapest is such a great city – it’s a shame I only got to visit it once so far! It was such a short visit too, so I’ll have to follow a list to make sure I hit the proper spots… Oh look, here’s a great one! 🙂

    I haven’t seen either the Parliament or the Szechenyi baths – so those two really caught my eye. I’ll make sure to see the shoe memorial close to Parliament too, somber memorials like those always seem to make me reflect on the history of wherever I am, and along the river seems like the perfect spot for it. Thanks for curating this nice little list! I’ll be bookmarking it for that future trip 🙂

    1. Visiting a memorial is always a special thing that conveys lots of feelings and it’s something you have to try if you are on the place (wherever you are and if the place have these type of monuments).
      Budapest has everything a tourist needs to discover!!

  4. Deep-fried dough. Wow, that sounds so yummy.

    A thousand-year-old city has to be full of interesting and historic stuff. Thanks for taking the time to pick the eyes out of the feast.

    Not yet been, but my impression of Hungarians is that they eat and drink a lot, resulting in a race of chubby but cheerful people. Is this true on the ground, or is it just the ones that got away?

  5. This is an interesting and well illustrated guide to a great city. I visited Budapest many years ago, but it was right in the middle of winter, so it was lovely to see it in the sunshine via your photographs. Thanks for sharing 🙂

  6. Whoa! That public bath is super crowded, but we’d love to check that out and connect with other people. Budapest is stunning! We love the way how the original architecture and “theme” of the city is preserved.

  7. I have heard and read a lot of great stories about Budapest and how amazing it is. I hope I can get there one day and see all those shoes. I am sure that would be a very moving place to witness. Hero square looks really cool as well as one of the many public baths.

  8. I have heard about the shoes at Danube. It is really saddening to remember such incidents. Well, Budapest is a beautiful country with lots of architectural design to see. Would love to visit it someday. 🙂

  9. Budapest is a city I’ve been meaning to visit for years- it’s interesting to see new and different options for what to do – love thermal baths!:)

  10. Budapest is a lovely place with some magnificent and stunning architecture. But what really moved me was the shoe memorial by the side of the Danube river. What a chilling and poignant sight it must have been when innocents were shot here. I think a very moving memorial.

  11. I never have been to Budapest but it’s very high on my bucket list. The memorial at the Danube is something I would like to show my children; it’s horrible without being graphical .. I think it would impress them very much and they absolutely would understand the meaning of it. It’s important to teach children European history in the hope it’s never repeating.

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