Budapest is divided by the Danube into two distinctly different parts: the hilly Buda and the flat Pest. If you want to see everything at once, the best solution is to take the bus, boat and walks in one ticket. This way, Budapest’s sights are discovered without fuss and with stops to suit your tastes.
Since the city is built right on a tectonic plate fault, its parts are different from each other. Because of their convergence, Hungary shrinks by a few millimetres every year. So before it shrinks completely, let’s go and explore its beautiful capital city. Don’t be intimidated, it takes a few million years. It’s worth the rush though, there’s so much to see!
Fisherman’s Bastion
In addition to the beautiful views along the way, from the towers of the bastion you can admire the stunning Parliament building on the other side of the river. This can be done from the observation deck or from the café on the grounds, which serves traditional Hungarian cuisine. The place is certainly considered iconic, and according to one legend, it stands on a system of tunnels which can be used to secretly and quickly get anywhere in the city – sounds good, right?
St Matyas Church
Located across from the Fisherman’s Bastion, the church has an important historical significance. It was here that Franz Joseph I and Sisi were married. It is now open to tourists.
Entrance ticket to Matthias ChurchThere are also classical music concerts here, and for the visually impaired and blind people, there is a smaller replica nearby that can be touched. Of course, it is impossible to feel the colours in this way, but it is worth paying attention to them – the columns are painted and the stained glass windows make you freeze with a delighted smile on your face.
Hospital in the Rock
Not far from the Matyas Church is an unusual museum. Because it is both a former hospital, which functioned during World War II and the 1956 Revolution, and a nuclear bomb shelter. In the past – a classified facility, in the present – a museum with an exposition not for the impressionable. There are exhibits related to the hospital and the problems of nuclear war.
To show all the horrors of those times, wax figures are used, so the spectacle is likely to leave no one indifferent. By the way, it will be interesting to go here with a tour, which takes place in Hungarian and English.
If you want to quickly orientate yourself and see the main sights of Budapest, you can start with a guided sightseeing walk. Pest, Buda, sightseeing, cuisine – they will show you all the most important things in two hours.
Kilometre Zero
Undoubtedly the landmark from which the distance to other points in Hungary is counted down when it comes to Budapest. Of course, you can take memorable photos here and make a mental note of «I’ve been here».
Sightseeing tour on the Big Bus Hop-On Hop-OffUnfortunately, there are always a lot of agents around who offer bus tours in a very intrusive way. Truth be told, bus tours are really the best way to explore a city, but it would be more reliable and cheaper to book a bit in advance rather than with an agent’s commission.
Philosopher’s Garden
Meanwhile, we move on – in front of you is a sculptural composition consisting of 7 statues of great philosophers reflecting on the meaning of life and the importance of religion in it.
Buddha, Jesus Christ, Lao Tzu, Abraham and… Who is that alien-looking man? That’s Ehnaton, the ancient Egyptian pharaoh, Nefertiti’s consort, whose famous bust is in the New Museum in Berlin.
And the wise men are observed by St Francis of Assisi, independence fighter Mahatma Gandhi and Buddhist patriarch Bodhidharma. The composition can be interpreted in different ways – both as the unity of all religions and as an eternal search for truth. There is another sculpture nearby, it is called ‘Buda meets Pest’.
Church of Our Lady in the Rock
Actually a beautiful quiet place with a peaceful atmosphere – the chapel is small but cosy.
It is an extension of a natural cave in Gellert Hill, which has been enlarged and adapted to the needs of the parishioners.
Freedom Bridge
And very close to the Church, the Freedom Bridge, which connects the two parts of Budapest, stretches over the Danube. Mint and patina-coloured, it impresses with its elegance. It was originally called the Franz Joseph Bridge – the emperor personally placed the last rivet in the support on the Pest side.
Palace of Arts
Next to another bridge, the Rakoczy Bridge, is a modern style building. This is Müpa Budapest, which used to be called the Palace of Arts, but even now citizens often call it by its old name. In addition to listening to concert performances and brass organ, you can enjoy theatre performances.
Unicum Csavak
This museum is dedicated to the history of the Csavak family of liquor magnates and is housed in a distillery building that fell on hard times during World War II. After reconstruction, it was nationalised by the communists and the family had to emigrate to Italy. It is famous above all for the production of Unicum balsam, created in 1790.
The exhibition includes giant barrels, ingredients for making drinks and various distilling apparatuses. Tastings are also available during the visit and speciality products can be bought in the shop adjacent to the museum.
University Church
The altar of this Baroque-style church is marked with Pauline signs, an ancient monastic order named in honour of Paul of Thebes. The building features an unusual colour scheme.
A large brass organ is placed inside. And next to it there is a fountain of Knowledge in the form of a book, from which a stream of water beats.
Tree of Life
Installation next to the Great Synagogue. On the metal branches of the weeping willow tree are carved the names of Holocaust victims. There is also a cemetery with mass graves on the territory of the Synagogue.
Vaci Street
A stroll along Budapest’s most famous street, and therefore a major tourist attraction, will allow you to admire the shop windows, people-watch and do some shopping if you wish. Depending on the season, the street is decorated differently, but the beauty of the old facades remains, of course, unchanged at any time of the year.
Simpla Kert
An eclectic ruin bar whose interior can be as heady as the drinks it serves. Everything shimmers and flashes of colour from countless disco balls suspended from the ceiling and protruding parts of the furniture. And it’s amazing here too – statues as chairs and a bathtub as a table make you feel like you’re dreaming of someone like the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland.
St Istvan’s Basilica
In addition to the magnificent facade and impressive interior decoration, the Basilica includes the most difficult staircase to climb. You bet, about 300 steps. So calculate your strength if you’re going to climb to the observation deck. But the view is worth it!
Buy an entrance ticket
Sculpture of a fat policeman
The moustachioed policeman is said to bring good luck if you rub his belly. It is located at the intersection of 6th October Street and Zrini Street. Prepare to queue to have your photo taken with the monument.
Despite the fact that the official name of the monument sounds like «Law Enforcer», of course, this cute guy has another name – locals affectionately call him «Uncle Karchi».
Shoes on the Danube embankment
A very interesting monument to the victims of the Holocaust with an unusual and tragic history. In order not to bother burying the bodies and just throwing them into the water, those sentenced to execution were brought to this place.
The shoes were removed from the victims and stood on the shore for some time, after which they were sold or used for the needs of the Nazi party. Nowadays people come here to honour the memory of the innocents and lay flowers.
Hungarian Parliament
The building of the Hungarian Parliament is one of the most beautiful architectural constructions in Budapest. It amazes with its size, majesty and fine, delicate work of craftsmen. You can also get inside, but only with a guided tour. It will be justified – in the domed hall there are sculptures of 16 lords who ruled Hungary in the past. You can also see St Istvan’s royal regalia and simply magnificent decoration.
Vajdahunyad Castle
This place strikes you with its absurd but cute atmosphere. The castle building was originally a pavilion built to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the Hungarians finding their homeland. The pavilion was made of cardboard, wooden supports and improvised means, but the townspeople liked it so much that it was erected in a stone version, in which it still exists today. It is interesting that the castle is a mixture of absolutely different and in some places seemingly incompatible styles and epochs. There are many interesting objects on the territory. For example, the bust of Bela Lugosi, who became world famous for his role as Count Dracula. The castle is within 30-40 minutes by car from the city centre.
Szechenyi Baths
In all fairness, the exquisite architecture of the bathing building, located on the thermal springs slightly away from the city centre, is pleasing to the eye. And all other senses won’t be spoilt either. Indeed, there is plenty to do here – saunas, water massagers, salt caves, gorgeous pools. And even rooms for sleeping!
Since the place is popular with tourists, impressive queues are formed. To avoid standing in them, you can buy a ticket online. By the way, the pleasure for taste buds is also implied, there is a cafe on the territory. In addition, there’s a special tasty addition to a day spent in the baths.
Szechenyi Baths is one of Budapest’s top attractions, but the day doesn’t have to end there. After the pools, a palinka tasting in the centre. All included in one ticket.
Memento Park
Actually, scattered around the park are sculptures that served their time during Hungary’s socialist period. Some of them have only partially survived. For example, the legs of the monument to Stalin. Meanwhile, a stone Lenin has grown out of the mass grave, but only half of it.
Entrance ticket to Memento ParkThe park is practically in the countryside, but it’s easy enough to get there by public transport.
Such is the city of Budapest, the beautiful capital of Hungary. Of course, there are many more interesting things to see there, but we can’t fit everything in. We look forward to your impressions. And have a nice trip!
MF Evelyn / Unsplash
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