Choose from 72 Fun Things to Do in Budapest
ShowingFilter 21-40 of 72 listings.
Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Built in neo-Renaissance style, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences is the work of Prussian architect Friedrich August Stüler and was completed in 1865, although the society was originally founded back in 1825 at the instigation of the Hungarian politician Count István Széchenyi. Its underlying purpose was to promote the Hungarian language alongside the sciences and arts, and the academy is found in a leafy square named after Széchenyi, who also donated the equivalent of a year’s income towards its building. It overlooks the River Danube and is close to the iconic Chain Bridge and there are panoramic views leading up to Buda’s Castle District. The Secessionist dream that is the Gresham Palace – which is now a grand hotel – is also located in Széchenyi István tér.
Statues adorning the three-tier façade of the Hungarian Academy represent the main branches of science and the opulent interior has suites of ornate rooms with frescoes by Károly Lotz; the academy also boasts Hungary’s most comprehensive scientific library. The third-floor art collection displays portraits and drawings from the collection of Count Széchenyi, but otherwise the building is not often open to the public.
Practical Info
Széchenyi István tér 9. Art collection open Mon & Fri 11am–4pm. Tram 2 to Széchenyi István tér.
Address: Széchenyi István tér 9, Budapest 1051, Hungary
From $ 25
House of Hungarian Art Nouveau
Also known as the Magyaw Szecesszio Haza, the House of Hungarian Art Nouveau in Budapest is the only museum in Hungary dedicated to the Secession style of art. The house itself, called the House Bedo, was built at the turn of the twentieth century in a style that combines traditional Hungarian design with elements of Belgian Art Nouveau. Beyond the remarkable green façade, visitors will find a collection of family portraits, paintings, porcelain and period furniture, including more than 20 unique cabinets and an entire dining room set complete with a table, chairs, dish cupboard, glassware cupboard and porcelain display case. The two-story lobby features a large stained glass lamp and stained glass windows are prominent throughout the interior courtyard.
Practical Info
Located in the center of Budapest, the House of Hungarian Art Nouveau can be reached from the Kossuth ter stop on Metro Line 2 or the Arany Janos utca stop on Metro Line 3. The museum has its own café which serves coffee, tea and pastries and is also furnished in an Art Nouveau style. It is open from 8am to 7pm Monday to Friday and from 9am to 5pm on Saturday.
Address: Honvéd utca 3, Budapest, Hungary
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm
Admission: 2000 Ft
From $ 145
Hungarian State Opera House (Magyar Allami Operahaz)
This neo-Renaissance opera house has an illustrious history as one of Budapest’s greatest cultural venues, with legendary composer Gustav Mahler having once served as director here. Behind the Miklós Ybl–designed facade, which features statues of Puccini, Mozart, Liszt, and Verdi, is a plush interior with gilding, marble, and chandeliers.
The Basics
A landmark of Hungary’s capital, this beautiful building is seen during many city sightseeing tours, including walking, bike, Segway, tuk-tuk, scooter, and hop-on hop-off bus tours. Visitors who want to explore the interior have two options: Join one of the thrice-daily guided tours of the venue, which conclude with a mini concert performed by two opera singers, or book tickets for a full performance.
The opera house is home to the Hungarian National Opera and National Ballet companies, as well as the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra. Performances are held most days, and sometimes more than once a day. Most operas are performed in their original language, whether German, Italian, or French, with Hungarian and English surtitles.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Hungarian State Opera House is a must for music fans and architecture enthusiasts.
- Refuel at the Opera Café, situated on-site.
- No dress code is enforced but most patrons wear smart dress (i.e., no shorts or sneakers).
How to Get There
The Hungarian State Opera House is situated on Andrássy út boulevard in the Terézváros district of Budapest on the Pest (east) side of the Danube. To get here, ride the M1 metro line to the Opera stop, which is just steps from the Hungarian State Opera House, or take the M3 line to Arany János station.
When to Get There
Tours take place in the afternoon with tickets available at the door. If you have tickets to a performance, arrive at least 20 minute before the start time so you have time to find your seat and get settled.
Choosing a Seat
Tickets to performances at the Hungarian State Opera House are—by American standards—relatively cheap. The most reduced-price tickets typically have only partial views of the stage, while more expensive tickets tend to offer unobstructed views. That said, the venue is renowned for its acoustics, so the sound will be excellent no matter where you sit.
Please note: The Hungarian State Opera House is currently closed to the public for renovations. The reopening is scheduled for 2019.
Address: Andrássy Way 22, Budapest 1061, Hungary
Admission: Varies
From $ 16
Lake Neusiedl
Lake Neusiedl, called the Neusiedler See in German, is Europe’s second largest steppe lake.The lake is an ideal breeding ground for hundreds of bird species, as it’s ringed by a wetland area of reed beds where the birds make their nests. The lake’s water is relatively shallow, meaning it gets warm quickly in the summer when it is enjoyed by birds and people alike. During the summer months, thousands of tourists come to the lake for sailing, swimming, and windsurfing. The best swimming beaches are on the eastern side of the lake, and the reedy western shores are best for birdwatching. The Neusiedler See is not just popular among watersport enthusiasts – the area is also wonderful for cycling, too. In addition to the athletic attractions, some of Austria’s best wines are made in this area, and the Neusiedler See National Park’s flora and fauna can be accessed and admired through solo exploration and guided tours.
Practical Info
Neusiedl am See is the region’s largest town, the most accessible from Vienna, and a good springboard into the lake area. A bike path goes around the entire lake, the ferry boats that cross the lake will carry bicycles, and the hotels around the lake are almost all cyclist-friendly (some of them even have thermal spas!).
Address: Austria
From $ 315
Hungarian National Museum
Founded in 1802, the Hungarian National Museum is the oldest public museum in Hungary and is home to the most important collection of historical artifacts in the country. It is also became an important symbol of Hungary’s national identity when the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 was launched after a reading on the museum’s front steps. For a time, the upper house of the Hungarian Parliament also met in the building.
The neo-Classical building housing the museum was built between 1837 and 1847 and today features seven permanent displays. Two sections provide an overview of Hungary’s history, while another focuses on modern history beginning with the Rakocizi War of Independence in the early 1700s. Yet another chronicles the rise and fall of Communism in Hungary. On the ground floor of the museum, you can find a collection of medieval and early modern stone carvings, while in the basement, ancient Roman stone inscriptions and carvings are on display. The first floor display of a medieval Hungarian Coronation mantle should not be missed.
Practical Info
The Hungarian National Museum (Magyar Nemzeti Museum in Hungarian) is located on the Pest side of Budapest. It is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and admission for adults is 1600 HUF. To get there, take streetcar 47 or 49, or take the Metro line M3 to Kalvin ter.
Address: Múzeum körút 14-16, Budapest 1088, Hungary
Hours: Tue-Sun 10am-6pm
Admission: Adults 1600 HUF
From $ 17
Hungarian National Gallery (Magyar Nemzeti Galeria)
Located up at Buda Castle, the Hungarian National Gallery is the country’s premier fine-art gallery, housed in the vast, colonnaded former Royal Palace, a restored Renaissance building of massive proportions.
The gallery is chronologically laid out over four levels and follows the development of Hungarian art from medieval times to present day. With around 25,000 artifacts in the collections, the gallery divides between nine permanent exhibitions.
To many western eyes, much of the work will be by unknown artists but the dynamism and skill of the work will more than compensate as the development of Hungarian art unfolds through the gallery. The 19th-century portraits are fascinating as they provide a glimpse into the rarified world of pre-World War I Hungarian aristocracy, but the show is totally stolen by the gleaming, gilded medieval wooden altarpieces depicting the Madonna and various ecclesiastic scenes.
The gallery is chronologically laid out over four levels and follows the development of Hungarian art from medieval times to present day. With around 25,000 artifacts in the collections, the gallery divides between nine permanent exhibitions.
To many western eyes, much of the work will be by unknown artists but the dynamism and skill of the work will more than compensate as the development of Hungarian art unfolds through the gallery. The 19th-century portraits are fascinating as they provide a glimpse into the rarified world of pre-World War I Hungarian aristocracy, but the show is totally stolen by the gleaming, gilded medieval wooden altarpieces depicting the Madonna and various ecclesiastic scenes.
Practical Info
English-language audio-guides available. Opening hours are Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm. Access to the permanent displays is free with the Budapest Card; temporary exhibitions are discounted. There are free English-language tours of the gallery at 2pm on Thursday and 10pm on Saturday. Take the Sikló funicular from Clark Ádám tér by the Chain Bridge.
Address: Szent György tér 2, Budapest, Hungary
Hours: Tue-Sun 10am - 6pm, ticket office closes at 5pm. Closed Mondays.
Admission: Admission: 1400 HUF
From $ 25
Hortobagy National Park
Found among the rolling plains of Alföld in eastern Hungary, Hortobagy National Park is UNESCO World Heritage-listed for its unique puszta grasslands, marshes, meadows and Europe’s biggest salt plain lying close to the River Tisza. Covering 82,000 hectares, it is a landscape where time has stood still and ancient rural farming traditions are still practised.
Distinctive gray cattle with curly horns graze the grasslands along with hardy, long-horned, woolly racka sheep and hairy mangalica pigs, shepherded by farmers who were once largely nomadic. The local csikós – Hungarian cowboys – are known for their daredevil equestrian skills and regular riding displays are given at several stud farms in the park. Hortobagy is also a paradise for bird watchers; during fall, some 70,000 cranes break their migration in the park, where more than 340 species of bird have been spotted, including cormorants, herons and egrets.
One of the few manmade landmarks in this land of infinite horizons is the elegant Neo-classical Nine-Span Bridge, completed in 1833 across the River Hortobagy to allow easier travel between Budapest and Hungary’s second city of Debrecen. Visitor attractions in the park include a museum of shepherding, an animal sanctuary and a narrow-gauge railway through the salt marshes. A series of roadside inns known as csárda were developed for travelers heading along the salt trading routes; these now provide low-key accommodation in the national park.
Practical Info
Hortobagy National Park Visitor Centre and Workshop: Hortobagy, Petőfi tér 13. Open May–June, Sept–Oct Mon–Fri 8am–4pm, Sat–Sun 10am–4pm; July–Aug Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat–Sun 10am–5pm. Entrance to national park and attractions: adults 600 HUF; seniors & students 400 HUF; family ticket 1,600 HUF. Hortobagy is two hours 15 minutes from Budapest by car along the M3 and Route 33.
Address: Petőfi tér 13, Hortobagy, Hajdú-Bihar, Hungary 4071, Hungary
Hours: May–June and Sept–Oct: Mon–Fri 8am–4pm, Sat–Sun 10am–4pm; July–Aug: Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat–Sun 10am–5pm
Admission: Adults: 600 HUF; Seniors & Students: 400 HUF; Family: 1,600 HUF
From $ 580
Fisherman's Bastion (Halaszbastya)
Sitting high on Castle Hill on the Buda side of the Danube River, Fisherman’s Bastion was built in 1905 as part of the ongoing celebrations of the thousand-years existence of the Hungarian state. It encompasses part of the original fortified castle walls and its terraces boast the best view points over the river and across to Pest. The bastion is a step away from several of Budapest’s big-hitting attractions, including the Royal Palace with its museums and library, Matthias Church and the Hungarian National Gallery.
Festooned with Neo-Romanesque lookout towers, equestrian statues, turrets and colonnades, the T-shaped bastion has two levels and wraps itself around Matthias Church. Architect Frigyes Schulek revamped the church and designed the bastion at the same time. The wide steps leading up to the bastion are scattered with neo-Gothic statuary and provide an impressive introduction to Castle Hill. Landmarks that can be seen from the terraces include Margaret Island, the Parliament building, the Chain Bridge and St Stephen’s Basilica. A terraced restaurant is open over summer.
Festooned with Neo-Romanesque lookout towers, equestrian statues, turrets and colonnades, the T-shaped bastion has two levels and wraps itself around Matthias Church. Architect Frigyes Schulek revamped the church and designed the bastion at the same time. The wide steps leading up to the bastion are scattered with neo-Gothic statuary and provide an impressive introduction to Castle Hill. Landmarks that can be seen from the terraces include Margaret Island, the Parliament building, the Chain Bridge and St Stephen’s Basilica. A terraced restaurant is open over summer.
Address: Szentháromság tér 5, Budapest, Hungary
From $ 12
Kazinczy Street Synagogue
Located in the heart of Budapest’s buzzing Jewish Quarter, Kazinczy Street Synagogue belongs to the city’s tradition-bound, ultra-Orthodox community and was completed in 1913 by Hungarian architects, the Löffler brothers, in glorious Secessionist style. Largely constructed of red brick, it has decorative battlements detailed with the Star of David and other religious imagery.
Destroyed in 1944 during World War II, the synagogue has risen phoenix-like from its ashes and its breathtaking interior is once more a riot of color, with stained glass in intricate floral designs by master-craftsman Miksa Róth – who also designed two windows in St Stephen’s Basilica – decorative tiles featuring menorahs and floral motifs; ornate chandeliers; and Ancient Egyptian-style columns and pediments. There is capacity for 1,000 worshippers, still strictly segregated with the women relegated upstairs to the balconied galleries.
Today the Kazinczy Street Synagogue is still central to Budapest’s Orthodox community, encompassing a Talmud school and communal hall and surrounded by kosher shops and the only remaining mikvah (ritual baths) in the city.
Practical Info
Kazinczy Street 27-29, Pest District VII. Open Mon–Thur 10am–3.30pm, Fri & Sun 10am–12.30pm, admission HUF800. Subway M1, M2 or M3 to Deák tér.
Address: Kazinczy Street 27-29, Pest District VII, Budapest 1075, Hungary
Hours: Mon-Thur 10am-3:30pm, Fri & Sun am-12:30pm
Admission: HUF800
From $ 35
Gell ert Thermal Bath and Spa
The century-old Gellért Thermal Bath and Spa is one of Budapest’s largest and most luxurious spa complexes. Housed in a magnificent art nouveau building, it boasts a grand colonnaded indoor pool, multiple thermal baths, saunas, steam rooms, a rooftop wave pool, and a panoramic sun terrace.
The Basics
Spa tickets offer full-day access to all of the spa facilities, with optional massages and treatments available. For a hassle-free experience, book tickets in advance to benefit from fast-track entry or an optional tour package that includes hotel pickup and drop-off. Another popular choice is to combine a spa day with a romantic dinner cruise along the Danube River. Guided tours of the baths are also available, allowing non-bathers to admire the historic architecture.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Most tickets include either a locker or a private changing cabin; towels, swimsuits, flip-flops, and toiletries are also available to buy or rent.
- Treatments, such as massages, mud packs, reflexology, and manicures are available but must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.
- The Gellert Baths are wheelchair accessible, and there are lifts to help with access to the pools.
- On-site facilities include a restaurant, snack bar, sundeck, and spa shop.
How to Get There
Gellért Thermal Bath and Spa is located on the Buda side, close to the Danube riverfront at the foot of Gellert Hill. The closest metro station is Szent Gellért tér on Line 4.
When to Get There
The baths are open daily all year, and the thermal waters make swimming in the outdoor pools possible even during the winter months. The baths can get busy, especially during the peak summer season, so opt for a weekday visit to avoid the crowds and get there early to enjoy the baths before the mid-afternoon rush.
The Thermal Waters of Gellert Spa
Rising 460 feet (140 meters) over the western flank of the River Danube, Gellért Hill stands above the complex of underground caves and hot springs that feed Budapest’s spa baths. Formed in karstic limestone, the springs provide 18.5 million gallons (70 million liters) of hot, mineral-rich water—with temperatures ranging between 70°F (21°C) and 168°F (76°C)—each day to power the seven major spa complexes in the city. The waters at Gellért Spa are believed to be especially effective in aiding joint pain and bronchial complaints.
Address: Kelenhegyi út 4, Budapest 1118, Hungary
Admission: Varies
From $ 17
Hospital in the Rock
The Hospital in the Rock, or Sziklakórház as it is called in Hungarian, is a museum today, but once was a functional hospital built inside the hill under Buda Castle in the 1930s, in preparation for World War II. The site can only be visited by guided tour, which is offered every hour in Hungarian and English. Discounted rates are available with the Budapest Card.
The hospital served primarily during the Siege of Budapest in 1944 and 1945. While it was initially designed to treat 70 patients at most, at one point it wound up being used to treat 600 soldiers, with water, food and equipment shortages becoming a real issue and causing many deaths. It was used again in 1956 during the Soviet Revolution and was then repurposed as a nuclear bunker where doctors and nurses could stay safe and help the wounded – hence why the current displays house anti-radiation kits and Soviet spying equipment.
Practical Info
Located near the Szell Kalman Square and Déli Railway stations, the Hospital in the Rock's 60-minute tour costs 4,000 Ft for visitors between the ages of 6 and 25, or 2,000 Ft for seniors between 62 and 70. Family tickets are also available, but the site is not recommended for children under 6. The temperature inside is around 59-64 degrees Fahrenheit (15-18 Celsius) year-round, and photos are not allowed on the tour. The museum is open every day from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Buses 16, 16A and 116 can be taken to the Szentháromság Square stop.
Address: I. Lovas út 4/c, Budapest, Central Hungary 1012, Hungary
Hours: Daily 10 am-8 pm
Admission: 4,000 Ft
From $ 25
Kecskemet
Kecskemet is the eighth largest city in Hungary, located about 50 miles from Budapest in the center of the country. With a population of just over 100,000, it is known best for its museums, apricot brandy and secessionist and art nouveau architecture. While it makes a nice day trip from Budapest, it is also a good jumping off point for trips to nearby Kiskunsag National Park.
One of the must-sees in Kecskemet is the Ornamental Palace, which is a prime example of Hungarian secessionist architecture. Completed in 1901, it is now home to the Kecskemet Gallery, which is worth a visit as much for the art as it is just to experience the impressive Decorative Hall inside. The city has more than a dozen other museums to occupy your time, including a photography museum, a toy workshop and museum, a museum of Calvinist ecclesiastical history, a Hungarian folk arts and crafts museum and a musical instrument museum.
Practical Info
Kecskemet can be reached by train from the Ferihegy train station near terminal 1 of Budapest’s airport, as well as from Nyugati train station in central Budapest. Trains leave hourly and take about an hour and 20 minutes from the city center or about an hour from the airport. You can also reach Kecskemet by bus from Budapest’s Nepliget bus station, but the journey is less predictable, sometimes taking up to two hours. Upon arriving in Kecskemet, both the bus and train stations are about 10 minutes outside of the center.
Address: Kecskemet, Hungary
From $ 75
House of Terror Museum
Appropriately housed within the former headquarters of the communist secret police, the House of Terror Museum was established in 2002 to present two truly horrific periods of Hungarian history: its fascist and Stalinist regimes.
A Soviet tank in the atrium serves as a stark welcome to the museum. The basement, where prisoners were once tortured and killed, now displays recreations of the prison cells where suspected enemies of the state were held. The Hall of Tears displays the names of the executed on its walls. Exhibits on the upper floors highlight period propaganda, Social Realist art and photographs of the men responsible for the atrocities.
Practical Info
Most of the exhibit information is in Hungarian, but English-language printouts are available in each room. Audio guides are also available in English and a few other languages for an additional fee.
Address: Andrassy ut 60, Budapest, Hungary
Hours: Open Tues-Sun 10am-6pm
Admission: 2000 HUF
From $ 30
Imre Nagy Monument
One of the most notable monuments in Budapest, the Imre Nagy Monument stands in Martyrs’ Square (Vertanuk tere) on the Pest side of the city. The statue of the former Hungarian prime minister depicts him standing halfway across a sculpted bronze bridge over a small pool of water, which is said to symbolize his role in bringing the nation halfway to freedom. Nagy was tried for treason and executed after the Hungarian Revolution, and became a symbol of freedom during communist times, when his name could not be mentioned. In 1989, a crowd of more than 100,000 gathered in Heroes’ Square in Budapest to celebrate his reburial.
The life size sculpture of Nagy has its back to the nearby Soviet War Memorial and faces toward the Hungarian Parliament Building. In 2011, a statue of Ronald Reagan was added between the War Memorial and the Nagy Monument, creating a straight line of monuments between the American Embassy and the Parliament Building. Discover Budapest's history on a walking tour of the city's communist past.
Practical Info
The Imre Nagy Monument is within walking distance of many hotels on the Pest side of Budapest. From further afield, you can take subway M2 or streetcar 2 to Kossuth Lajos Square and walk a very short distance to Vertanuk tere.
Address: Vertanuk tere, Budapest, Hungary
Hours: N/A
From $ 12
Holy Trinity Column
Standing 15 meters tall in the heart of Trinity Square in Buda’s castle district is the Holy Trinity Column. Made of limestone and erected near the beginning of the 18th century, the column was built to celebrate the end of the plague in Budapest while also memorializing the victims and, the residents hoped, protecting them from another plague. The sculpture at the top of the column represents the Holy Trinity and includes a prayer written in Latin. Just below the Holy Trinity sculpture is a long pillar decorated with statues of small angels and larger statues of six saints. The pedestal includes reliefs on three sides, depicting three different scenes: King David praying to God to end the plague, the plague with the Buda Castle in the background and the construction of the Holy Trinity Memorial. It also features the Hungarian crest.
The Holy Trinity Column is the oldest Baroque sculpture in Budapest and is a popular meeting spot for tours of the castle district or the Buda side of the city in general.
Practical Info
The Holy Trinity Column stands in Trinity Square on the Buda side of Budapest, not far from Matthias Church and Fisherman’s Bastion. To get there, take bus 10 to the Szentharomsag ter stop.
Address: Szentháromság square, Budapest, Hungary
From $ 23
Lake Balaton
At 48 miles (77 kilometers) in length and seven miles (11 kilometers) at its widest point, Balaton is Central Europe’s largest freshwater lake and landlocked Hungary’s prime summer playground, with spectacular scenery and swim-friendly milky green waters. The lake is fringed by beach resorts, a national park, and wine-producing vineyards.
The Basics
Because of its proximity to Budapest, Hungary’s largest lake is a prime choice for day-trippers based in the city. Full-day Lake Balaton tours from the Hungarian capital typically pass through the countryside before stopping at attractions around the north shore, such as the Herend Porcelain Manufactory, the spa town of Balatonfüred, and the 18th-century Benedictine Abbey on the Tihany Peninsula. Some sightseeing tours also stop at local Balaton wineries. Active travelers can bike around the lake on the cycle path that encircles it.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Lake Balaton makes a peaceful escape from bustling Budapest.
- Bring a swimsuit to take advantage of Lake Balaton’s shallow, calm waters.
- Watersports, such as windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding, and sailing can be practiced on the lake, though no motorized sports are allowed.
- Many full-day tours include lunch at a traditional Hungarian restaurant.
How to Get There
The shore of Lake Balaton is just an hour’s drive from Budapest via the M7 motorway. Drivers must purchase a highway permit from a gas station before venturing onto the motorway. Alternatively, trains depart several times a day from Budapest-Déli Station, stopping at Siófok, Balatonfüred, and Badacsony.
When to Get There
Lake Balaton is at its best in summer. During this time, warmer temperatures invite sunbathing, swimming, and outdoor activities. Music lovers may want to time their trip to coincide with Balaton Sound, a major open-air electronic festival that takes place in July in Zamárdi on the south shore. Get there early in the day to avoid summer traffic. In winter, it’s often possible to ice skate on the lake.
North Shore vs. South Shore
The lakeside resorts on Balaton’s northern shore are more low-key and often offer family-friendly facilities such as playgrounds and paddleboats. The northern shore is also home to the main wine-growing regions, the hiking-friendly Balaton Uplands National Park, and Szigliget, a village known for its 13th-century fortress. The resorts on the south shore of the lake, such as Siófok, Fonyód, and Balatonlelle, are typically livelier, with a party-style atmosphere and beach clubs.
Address: Lake Balaton, Hungary
From $ 69
Gellert Hill (Gellert-hegy)
Gellért Hill is one of Budapest's most romantic nights out. Just grab a bottle of the city's famous red wine, a couple of glasses, and your beloved. It might be a bit of a trek up there, but the view of twinkling lights will amply reward you.
The views you'll see over the Danube are best seen from the Citadel, built by the Austrians after their victory over the Hungarians in the 19th century. In fact, the monuments on Gellért Hill all have a somewhat painful history.
The girl posing with the palm of victory symbolizes the Russian liberation of the city after WWII, but as the liberation turned into an occupation, its presence has been disputed.
And Gellért himself? A martyred saint whose efforts at conversion ended with him being killed by angry pagans in a nail-filled barrel rolled down the hill (ouch!). He's commemorated by an immense statue.
Practical Info
These days, the forested slopes of the Gellért Hill are filled with picnickers and lovers. At the bottom of the hill is the swanky Gellért hotel, with its fantastically elaborate baths, used in Matthew Barney's art films.
You can get to Gellért Hill by tram (take 41, 47 or 49) or bus (7, 27 or 86).
Address: Budapest, Hungary
Admission: Free
From $ 17
Heroes' Square (Hosok tere)
At the entrance to Budapest's City Park, Heroes' Square (or Hősök tere) features an impressive semi-circular sweep of columns and statues and a cenotaph honoring the fallen of the 1956 uprising. On either side of the square are the Museum of Fine Art and the Exhibition Hall, which now shows contemporary art.
At the peak of the semi-circle is a statue of the Angel Gabriel bestowing the Hungarian Crown on St. Stephen. Lower down is a rugged band of chieftans on horses with antler bridles - this is Árpád and other leaders from an early Magyar civilization.
Other statues represent various leaders and statesman as well as abstract values like war and peace.
Address: At the end of Andrássy út, Budapest, Hungary
Admission: Free
From $ 17
Godollo Palace
Located northeast of Budapest, the Baroque treasure that is Gödöllö Palace originally belonged to the aristocratic Grassalkovich family, but by the 1890s it had been taken over by the Habsburg dynasty – who ruled the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1526 to 1918 – as their favored summer retreat. Emperor Franz Joseph I and his wife, Hungary’s much-loved Elisabeth of Bavaria, gave Gödöllö the mother of all makeovers and the palace soon became one of the most luxurious Baroque castles in the world.
Elisabeth was usually known as Sisi, a famed beauty who set about upgrading the interior of the palace to her taste; tragically she was assassinated in 1898 in Geneva and Gödöllö slowly sunk into disrepair. Following Soviet occupation of Hungary in the aftermath of World War II, the palace was requisitioned as a barracks and was slowly destroyed. It was not until well after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989 that the palace was returned to its Habsburg heyday.
By 1996, Gödöllö’s ornate exterior was once more a striking white and pink, accessorized with arched windows and wrought-iron balconies. Its central wing is topped by a red-brick bell tower and the vast palace is again surrounded by formal gardens and Baroque stable blocks fashioned on the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. Inside all is adorned with frescoes, gold and chandeliers; apartments are crammed with priceless antiques, statuary, weaponry and portraits of the Habsburg emperors; seasonal exhibitions focus on the centuries of their rule in central Europe.
Practical Info
Gödöllö is 30 km (18.5 miles) northeast of Budapest, easily accessible by road, HÉV train or bus. Open Apr–Oct daily 10am–6pm; Nov–Dec Mon–Fri 10am–4pm, Sat–Sun 10am–5pm; Tickets for the permanent displays in the palace: adults HUF2,200, students HUF1,100, family tickets HUF4,600.
Address: Grassalkovich-kastély, HRSZ: 5852, Gödöllő 2100, Hungary
Hours: April thru Oct, Daily 10am-6pm & Nov thru Dec, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm
Admission: Adults HUF2,200 & Students HUF1,100
From $ 42
Gozsdu Courtyard (Gozsdu Udvar)
The new kid on Budapest’s entertainment block, Gozsdu Courtyard is at the heart of the city’s newly revamped Jewish Quarter and has become the destination of choice edgy nightlife and bar hopping. Running between Dob utca and the cool design stores of Király utca, Gozsdu comprises a series of interconnecting courtyards lined with balconied townhouses and was built in the early 20th century. Once home to workshops and tenements, the courtyards became part of the Jewish ghetto in World War II, with thousands of Jews incarcerated here. Happily the complex was given a glamorous facelift in the 2009 and now positively overflows with smart cafés, ruin bars and restaurants featuring international cuisines from Yiddish to Thai; it’s a city hotspot and on summer evenings the crowds spill out into the open air.
And in a city full of funky flea markets, Gozsdu Courtyard comes into its own on Sunday mornings when it is site of the funky GOzsdU BAzaar; this is one of the best places in Budapest to source unusual jewelry, vintage clothes and local delicacies such as honey and pálinka (traditional Hungarian fruit brandy). The Jewish Summer Festival takes place there over the last week of August, with workshops, live music and antiquarian bookstalls, while occasional night markets also take place in the run up to Christmas.
Practical Info
Budapest’s District VII in Pest. GOzsdU BAzaar (GOUBA) runs on Sunday between mid April and October, 10am–7pm, with free admission. Subway M1, M2 or M3 to Deák tér.
Address: Király utca 13, Gozsdu udvar Budapest 1075, Hungary
From $ 16