Budapest offers a truly unique European experience to any visitor from far and wide. No city has a comparable culture of youthfulness, a mass of grand historical buildings and a world-renowned classical music scene. People from all over the world indulge in the city’s diverse nightlife and the 80 natural thermal baths. Budapest’s scenic settings have given it a rightful nickname of the “Paris of the East”.
The city brings in around 4.4 million tourists a year, making it the 25th most popular city in the world, and the 6th in Europe.
Geography
Hungary’s quirky capital is sliced into two parts by the Danube River connecting the divisions with a 19th-century Chain Bridge. The hilly district of Buda is on one side and flat Pest (pronounced ‘Pesht’) on the other.
Though the amalgamation is technically historical, residents and tourists often refer to something being on the ‘Buda side’ or ‘that bar in Pest’ in the modern-day. Administratively, the city is also divided into 23 numbered districts which may cause more confusion for visitors.
History
According to historical papers, Budapest began with Celtic settlers and it became the Roman capital of Lower Pannonia. It wasn’t until the 9th century that the Hungarians arrived. Hungary’s capital entered a new age of prosperity in the 18th and 19th centuries, and became a globally recognized city after its unification in 1873. The city has since been hosting ground to the Hungarian Revolution in 1848, the Hungarian Republic of Councils in 1919, the Battle of Budapest in 1945, and the Revolution of 1956.
Sightseeing
Where do we even begin to tell you what there is to see in Budapest? Not only is the city home to the UNESCO World Heritage listed Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter, Andrássy Avenue, Heroes’ Square and the Millennium Underground Railway, the second-oldest metro line in the world, it is also home to the world’s largest thermal water cave system, the second largest synagogue, and third largest Parliament building! *breathe*
The Metro Line began operating in 1896 making it the oldest electrified underground railway system on the European continent, and the second-oldest electrically operated underground railway in the world, predated only by the London Underground.
The city is perfectly situated, almost compact enough to allow visitors to explore its main features in a matter of four days, like we did.
Banks of the Danube
The most iconic sites of the city mostly lie within the range of both banks of the Danube River making it one of the most important areas of integrity for Budapest.
As well as offering incredible views of both Buda and Pest, the banks are the most visited areas of the country. Murals and monuments have been built over the years to give a flavor of the city’s rich history. The banks offer a particularly fine spot to view a wonderful European sunset over Buda.
The Shoes on the Danube Bank is a memorial right by the river on the Pest side.
The memorial was built to commemorate the people (mainly Budapest Jews) who were killed by fascist Arrow Cross militiamen in Budapest during World War II.
The historical buildings on both banks of the river offer a phenomenal view and representation of the city’s urban development while maintaining the structural characteristics of the former cities of Pest, Buda and Óbuda.
Buda Castle Quarter
The Castle Quarter (Várnegyed) on the Buda side of the city is famous for its Medieval, Baroque, and 19th-century buildings, including Buda Castle. Buda Castle was built on the southern tip of Castle Hill where most of the buildings can be found. It is linked to Clark Ádám Square and the Széchenyi Chain Bridge by the Castle Hill Funicular.
Budapest’s Chain Bridge was designed by English engineer William Tierney Clark, and it was the first permanent bridge built across the Danube in Hungary, and was opened in 1849.
The bridge was once the largest of its kind and it became a symbol of advancement after providing a solid link between the East and West parts of the city.
The Lions on the bridge survived the destruction of World War II. An urban legend in the city has it that the lions do not have tongues. Upon closer inspection, the lions do actually have tongues, but they can only be seen from above.
Clark Ádám Square , named after a 19th century Scottish engineer who helped construct the Chain Bridge, sits at the bottom of Castle Hill. The area consists of a large tunnel which goes under the Castle Hill, the Chain Bridge and a roundabout.
The Castle Hill tunnel has provided a link between Clark Ádám Square and Krisztinaváros since 1857. The tunnel has two car lanes and a pedestrian lane which should be avoided due to exhaust fumes.
A tiled wall mural it situated right by the famous funicular train that will take you the easy route up to Castle Hill.
The Zero Kilometer Stone sit right by the mural, this is the actual point where distance is measured within the city.
The Castle Hill Funicular offers visitors the opportunity to ride to the top of Castle Hill without breaking a sweat. It takes 24 passengers per car and has been operating since 1870.
The ride is easier on the legs than taking the mass of stairs up there, like we did!
Guards are present in the Quarter giving tourists an opportunity for some authentic photographs on royal grounds.
The courtyard area of the Castle Quarter offers panoramic views of both Buda and Pest, the ground are completely free to enter and visitors can enjoy its unique position in the city.
A large area of rubble once stood as a palace remains unrestored in the Buda Castle complex. Bullet holes and visible damage from World War II can be seen on inspection.
A peculiar fountain resides on the grounds of Castle Hill, said to have been built by the communists to symbolize the union of Buda and Pest. It’s quite unfortunate that the locals and visitors now refer to it as the ‘Penis statue/Penis fountain’ though it could probably be worse.
The elevated area known as the Castle Quarter is a collection of ancient structures and buildings that date back to the 14th century. The Corvinus Gate is the only other entrance to the area if arriving southwards from the Old Town
Right beside the Corvinus Gate, the Turul bird depicts a mythological bird of prey. It is the largest bird statue in Europe, and the largest bronze statue in Central Europe.
The equestrian statue of Prince Eugene of Savoy stands in front of the former Royal Palace which is now the Hungarian National Gallery.
The Budapest History Museum is located in the southern wing of Buda Castle attracting millions of tourists every year.
Trinity Square is probably the most picturesque part of the Castle Quarter. The small area contains dozens of beautiful carvings on structures such as the Holy Trinity Statue and the Old Town Hall.
Fishermen’s Bastion is a Gothic and Romanesque style terrace surrounding Matthias Church. The bastion was restored between 1947–48 following damage from the War and it is a popular venue for weddings in the current day.
The Matthias Church stands tall at the edge of Castle Hill and records date back to the year 1015. The Romanesque style and detailed architecture makes this an ionic sight not to be missed.
Andrássy Avenue
Dating back to 1872, Andrássy Avenue is one of Budapest’s most famous Boulevards. The street is lined with a mixture of fine restaurants and cafes and notable buildings such as the State Opera House and the Hungarian University of Fine Arts.
There is a fine collection of spectacular Neo-renaissance mansions and townhouses featuring fine facades and interiors. It’s hard not to stop and appreciate the architectural gems while walking the length of the street.
As well as housing the Hungarian University of Fine Arts and the Ferenc Hopp Museum of East Asian Arts, we found some unmissable buildings here.
The Anker House can be found on the Avenue, it was the first ever block of flats in Budapest and has been standing since 1907. The building was purposely built to be distinctively noticeable to help promote its living spaces.
Originally built as a casino in the 19th century, the Alexandra Book store (Lotz Hall) can be found on the Avenue housing one of the city’s largest book stores. The building was also home to Budapest’s first ever department store and it is an iconic part of the Avenue.
One of the most recognizable buildings is the House Of Terror that hosts exhibits relating to the fascist and communist regimes in 20th-century Hungary. The building is also a memorial to the victims of these regimes, including those detained, interrogated, tortured or killed in the actual building. The architect of the building intentionally set out to highlight the building on Andrássy giving it a black exterior with decorative writing, blade walls and a granite sidewalk. There are also several other monuments outside.
A piece of the Berlin Wall stands outside the House Of Terror as a reminder of the segregation and loss of life caused by the wall that separated the East and West for over 25 years.
An ‘Iron curtain’ was also placed beside the House of Terror as a tribute to the fallen victims of the divide between Eastern and Western Europe.
The large tribute to Jókai Mór, a popular Hungarian dramatist and novelist, sits just off the Avenue in a wonderful park area.
The International School of Ballet, Állami Balettintézet, is a one of the Avenue’s most renowned buildings.
Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere)
At the end of Andrássy Avenue, Heroe’s Square stands as an iconic landmark of the city. The square is made up of a column topped by a statue of the archangel Gabriel and two matching colonnades, each with seven statues representing great figures of Hungarian history.
The figures, some kings, some religious icons, that are portrayed by the fourteen sculptures in the semi-circular monuments are each described in murals below.
Dohány Street Synagogue and the Jewish District
Also known as The Great Synagogue, this masterpiece of a building is also home to the Hungarian Jewish Museum.
The red brick pavement in front of the building has been in place since Andrássy Avenue and the surrounding area (7th district, Elisabethtown) that make up the Jewish Quarter made it on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Be sure to check out Budapest’s Ruin Pubs that are like no other in the world, visiting them is one of the best things to do in Budapest! See our blog on our Ruin Pub experience here.
Hungarian Parliament Building
The Hungarian Parliament Building is by far one of the most beautiful buildings we have ever seen in the world and probably the most iconic landmark of Budapest.
As well as being the largest building in Hungary and the tallest building in Budapest, the exquisite building has long been an iconic landmark of Eastern Europe.
We were told by our tour guide that the building was completed in 1904 and the architect, who designed the mighty structure, went blind before its completion. The style of the building ranges from Gothic Revival and the dome is typical Renaissance Revival architecture.
Our tour guide also told us that upon his visit to the city during a tour, Queen‘s Freddie Mercury wanted to buy the building for himself but his offer was politely declined. We can really see why he wanted this!
The building is a wonderful place to be during sunset as golden lights reflect the structure alongside a terrific view of a Budapest sunset beside creamy white statues.
Other buildings and monuments
Budapest is a dream for those looking for ancient and interesting structures within walking distance of one another, there are too many to mention but we have listed some of our favourites below with the stories behind them.
The French Art Noveau Fascade of the Turkish Bank House, Török Bankház, is a glass mosaic representing Our Lady, the Patron of Hungary on a glittering throne surrounded by people who played an important role in Hungary’s history. The building, which is a shopping centre, can be found at Szervita tér 3 is also noticeable by the Angel column standing beside it.
Buda’s very own Statue of Liberty, officially known as the Liberty Statue, can be seen from afar standing on the very top of Buda’s high Gellért hill. The statue was built to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives for the independence, freedom, and prosperity of Hungary.
The Hungarian National Gallery can be seen dominating the skyline of Buda from afar. It is part of the Buda Castle complex and its collections cover Hungarian art in all genres,
The statue of Archduke Joseph, Palatine of Hungary, is another grand tribute to one of the country’s important figures and can be found at József Nádor Tér square.
Named in honor of Stephen, the first King of Hungary, St. Stephen’s Basilica is a Roman Catholic basilica that was built in 1905. It is the third largest church building in present-day Hungary and the bells are only used twice a year, at 17 hours on the 20th of August, and at midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Sitting right by the banks of the Danube River, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences stands as one of the most prestigious learning societies of Hungary. It is a fine example of Renaissance Revival architecture style dating back to 1865.
One of the newer structures of the city is the ‘Fat Policeman’. Situated in the bustling Zrínyi street, the statue is said to bring you good luck if you rub his belly.
Gastronomy
Also known as ‘Tunnel cake’ or Kürtőskalács in Hungarian, the Chimney Cake has long been a festive treat of a Romanian/Hungarian descent. The sugary rolls often make an appearance for Christmas and are thought to date back to the end of the 1600s. They are usually flavoured with cocoa, chocolate, cinnamon, walnut, vanilla and coconut.
Chimney Cake comes from Székely Land, an ethnographic area in Romania. People living were said to utilize the resourceful and accessible hardwood embers. The embers were used to warm up a house and cook with simultaneously. Sweet dough would be wrapped on a wooden cylinder and baked over the embers and the cooked result would then be rolled in sugar.
We were fortunate enough to be in the city for Easter where the city holds a huge market at Vorosmarty Square in celebration allowing us to sample delicacies that might have ordinarily been harder to find.
Yep, that’s Rooster’s testicle stew, and people wonder why we are vegan.
Easter can be cold in Budapest with temperatures hovering under 10 degrees centigrade so many hot beverages are on offer across the square.
Lángos is Hungary’s most beloved deep-fried snack, it can be found in many tourist areas of Budapest and can be accompanied with various toppings. A good Lángos should be a hot crispy dough, but also soft and crumbly. Many stalls at the Easter market took their own spin on the bread, some flattening them down with sophisticated hot irons.
At a steeper price than usual, you can join the queue of dozens of hungry visitors at the markets and select your ideal fillings while watching the cooks skillfully press them down with their tools.
The markets cater for the hungry using fiery charcoal and smokey ovens enticing any passers-by to purchase something, even if they’re not hungry.
Hungary are famous for their spin on breads and passing by a stall like this without buying something is a mistake made by few.
No visit to Budapest would be complete without popping into one of the many ruin bars in Pest‘s Seventh District. Once home to a thriving Jewish community pre-World War II, the area was long neglected for decades until locals decided to capitalize on the area’s significant rich history. Somebody decided to buy a load of old buildings and turned them in to ‘Ruin pubs’ or romkocsma in Hungarian.
The pubs are enormous, each offering a quirky unique experience that you probably won’t get anywhere else in the world. Take Szimpla Kert for example on Kazinczy, an abandoned warehouse with a large piece of outdoor land. Somebody decided to throw any old thrift junk in there, on the walls, on the ceiling and at the bar.
Complete with a shisha jungle and a few beer taps, they somehow created a pub that attracts thousands of tourists a day. The experience of Szimpla Kert was so good, we felt it was worthy of its own blog.
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