Menu Close

9 sights in Budapest you don't want to miss

Advertisement

Here are nine things to do in Budapest! Hungary's capital is home to stunning buildings, beautiful bathhouses and exciting ruin bars. We've just come back from another trip to this wonderful city, and now we're sharing our nine top tips for sightseeing in Budapest.

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Share
Share

Post updated in 2019

Many attractions in Budapest

Hungary's capital offers a lot to see and discover. In addition to all the historical sights in Budapest, you can enjoy everything from shopping and thermal baths to restaurants and ruin bars during your visit. And the prices are really good compared to Sweden.

Budapest

1. Castle Hill and Buda Castle

The castle hill on the Buda side is home to several fantastic sights. The first castle was built in the 13th century but the golden age was in the 15th century when King Matthias and his Italian Queen Beatrix of Naples lived here. Castle Hill has been destroyed many times in many wars, but always rebuilt better and more glamorous than before.

The castle hill has a thermal cave system with natural caves and the traces of human life found here are 500,000 years old. Below the castle is an old emergency hospital in the rock, which is open to the public as a museum.

The Buda Castle (Budavári Palótasom), also known as the Royal Palace, is one of Budapest's most famous sights and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Construction of the palace began in the 13th century and is a national symbol of Hungary. The castle houses a historical museum, the National Gallery and the Széchenyi National Library.

2. the Fisherman's Bastion

The Fisherman's Bastion is probably one of the coolest buildings in Budapest, looking almost like something out of a fairy tale. The building dates from the late 19th century and has seven tent-shaped towers, which are supposed to symbolise the seven Hungarian tribes that settled here in the 9th century.

The Fisherman's Bastion sits high up on the Buda side and offers magnificent views of the Danube River and the Parliament building on the other side. If you want, you can take the charming funicular railway up here, and you'll have several hours to wander around the sights.

Fiskarbastionen - en sevärdhet i Budapest
Fisherman's Bastion - an attraction in Budapest
Ungern, Budapest
View of the city from the Fisherman's Bastion!

3. Mattia Church

Many attractions in Budapest are close to each other. Right next to the Fisherman's Bastion is the Matthias Church. The church was originally built in 1015, but the impressive building that stands there today dates back to the 19th century. The church was originally "Our Lady's Church" but was renamed by King Matyás. In 1686, the "Miracle of Mary" occurred... A cannon salvo had loosened a wall and a statue of the Madonna became visible.

Ungern, Budapest
Mattia Church, and in the background the Fiskar Bastion.
Mattiaskyrkan
Matthias Church is impressive, but hard to capture on film

4. chain bridge

The great river Danube flows right through Budapest, with Buda on one side and Pest on the other. Several magnificent bridges cross the river, the most famous being the Chain Bridge (Lánchíd). Opened in 1849, the bridge is recognisable by its powerful stone lions.

Budapest Peter
Peter at the Chain Bridge - one of the many sights in Budapest

5. Parliament

The Parliament is Budapest's largest and most photographed building. Construction began in 1885 and was completed in 1904 with ice air conditioning that is still used today. It is the second largest parliament building in Europe, and you can see, among other things, the Hungarian Holy Crown and the opulent royal spire, which is adorned with precious stones.

The parliament building has 691 rooms and is one of Hungary's main attractions. The Hungarian Parliament is the third largest parliament in the world. You cannot walk freely here but need a guided tour, which can be booked on site.

Ungern, Budapest

6. Heroes' Square

At the end of Andreas Boulevard is Heroes' Square and Budapest City Park. There are several art museums here, but the most famous is the Millennium Monument with the equestrian statues of the chiefs of the seven Hungarian tribes. There is also the Archangel Gabriel on a tall column and statues of many important statesmen.

If you want, you can take the metro here. The line towards Heroes' Square (the yellow line) was built in 1896, making it the second oldest metro line in Europe (only London was ahead).

En av alla sevärdheter i Budapest: Hjältarnas torg
One of the many attractions in Budapest: Heroes' Square
Hjältarnas torg Budapest
In Budapest, you often have to look up.

7th St Stephen's Basilica

St Stephen's Basilica is the largest church in all of Budapest and has the capacity to accommodate over 8,000 people. The church began construction in 1851, in honour of Hungary's first Christian king, King István, and was completed in 1905. The exterior of the church is adorned with several large statues and the interior is beautifully decorated. The church can be found on the Pest side of the city.

St Stefans basilika
St Stephen's Basilica in the evening
St Stefans basilika
One of the many attractions in Budapest - amazing decorations!

8. thermal baths

Hungary rests on an underground sea filled with thermal water, with hot springs and full of minerals. The water is widely believed to alleviate and cure a wide range of ailments, and there has been a tradition of taking healthful baths here since ancient times. One of the most famous baths is the Gellert Bath, and another famous bath is the Széchenyi Bath, located in the city park.

Bad Budapest
Széchenyi pool in the city park, photo: Pixabay

9. Ruin bars - also a kind of attraction in Budapest

If you want to enjoy the nightlife in Budapest, you must definitely visit one of the "ruin bars". These bars are housed in old residential buildings that have fallen into disrepair and are no longer fit to live in. While waiting for investors to take over, the buildings are rented out to bar owners who turn them into lively nightclubs. People party amidst raw concrete walls covered in graffiti and mismatched furniture from flea markets.

We visited the Szimpla ruin bar, (and there are several) a two-storey pub with a courtyard. The atmosphere was relaxed and people were drinking beer, smoking hookah or playing ice hockey. If you get tired of beer, you can of course drink the Hungarian fruit brandy 'palinka'. The whole city is alive with nightlife, but in a pleasant way.

Ungern, Budapest
Of all the things you can experience in Budapest - don't miss the ruin bars!
Ruinbar Budapest
Ruinous Szimpla

More Budapest attractions for history buffs

There are, of course, other attractions in Budapest, in addition to those listed above. Here's a list of more things to see in Hungary's capital:

  • Mountain railway to Slottshöjden
  • The "Shoes" monument
  • National Museum of Hungary
  • House of Terror
  • Holocaust Memorial Centre (Holocaust Museum)
  • Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker
  • Memento Park
The "Shoes" monument in Budapest

More Budapest attractions for culture lovers

  • The Jewish Quarter
  • Large market halls
  • Museum of Fine Arts
  • Hungarian National Gallery
  • Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art
  • Zwack Unicum Museum
Large market halls

More Budapest attractions for nature lovers

Budapest also has a number of attractions to discover for nature lovers. Here are some tips:

Sevärdheter i Ungern - grottor
Budapest's caves

See more of Hungary

Hungary is more than Budapest! If you have the time and opportunity to explore the country, we can recommend a visit to the city, among other things Pécs in the southern part of the country. It is also nice to visit wine regions, where you can try both wine and sparkling wine. Even more tips for both Budapest and Hungary can be found below.

Pécs i södra Ungern
Pécs in southern Hungary

More tips for sights in Budapest?

Do you have any other tips for attractions in Budapest? Let us know!

Facts about Budapest

  • Country: Hungary
  • Residents: About 1.8 million
  • Language: Hungarian (English often works)
  • Neighbourhoods: Buda and Pest

Hotels in Budapest

Travelling to Budapest

  • Flight: You can travel with many different airlines and it takes about 2 hours from Stockholm Arlanda to get here.
  • Motorhome: It is of course possible to travel with a motorhome. We travelled without a motorhome this time and have not had time to test any campsites or pitches, but we have googled and found Camping Hallerwhich will be relatively central in Budapest. Have you been here with a motorhome and have any experiences to share?

Subscribe to our newsletter