Budapest is the capital of Hungary and also the most populated city in this country and the most important. There are countless places to see in Budapest and we are sure that, after leaving, you will always want to return. Not only for its beauty but because it is one of the cheapest tourist destinations in Europe; perhaps the most expensive are the plane tickets. Every year, around 4.3 million tourists come to this city.
Iconic places to see in Budapest
1. Parliament of Budapest
Without a doubt, one of the most recommended places to see in Budapest is the Parliament. It is one of the most famous buildings in the city, the epicenter of several institutions, including the legislative branch of the country. The Hungarian Parliament is located in the 5th district, on the banks of the Danube and in the popular Kossuth Square. This building, the largest in the country and the second largest parliament in the world, after the Romanian, has a neo-Gothic style and was built between 1885 and 1904.
Interestingly, the condition for building the Parliament was that only materials of Hungarian origin were used. And so it was done, except for eight marble monoliths that are on the façade, to one side of the main staircase. For the construction, 40 million bricks, half a million stones to decorate and 40 kilos of gold were used. The facade is spectacular, but the interior of the building is not far behind. It has a dome that reaches 96 meters in height and the decoration of the building is made of marble and gold.
2. Cathedral Basilica of Saint Stephen
Along with the Parliament, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Stephen is one of the largest in Budapest. The construction of this religious temple took 54 years and the main architect of it was Miklós Ybl (who built as many buildings to see in Budapest ). Neoclassical in style with a Greek cross plan, it has two twin bell towers, one of which houses a nine-ton bell. To access the dome of the basilica you must climb 364 steps, but don’t worry, it also has elevators.
The chapel of the basilica houses the relic Santa Diestra. This is the mummified right hand of Saint Stephen I, the first Hungarian king, founder and who, in addition, brought Christianity to the country. All visitors can go up to the chapel to see Hungary’s most popular relic.
3. Church of Matías
The Church of Our Lady or Church of San Matías, has a fairly ancient origin. According to tradition, it was Saint Stephen I who ordered the construction of a religious building on the current site of the Church in the year 1015. Since then, the different Hungarian kings began to add towers, doors and other reforms typical of the monarchs. It was Matías I who gave the Church a Renaissance touch and, thanks to him, this temple is known as Iglesia de San Matías; the name of this king was Matías Corvino.
During the Turkish invasion in 1541 and over 150 years, the Church was turned into a mosque. Curiously, in this enclosure Francisco José I of Austria was crowned, husband of the emblematic Sissi who, in addition, lived in this country for many years.
4. Great Synagogue, one of the most spectacular places to see in Budapest
If there is a place to see in Budapest that you cannot miss, it is the Great Synagogue or Dohány Street Synagogue. This is the largest Jewish temple in Eurasia and the second largest in the world, after the one in New York. The architectural style of the building is Neo-Moorish and the design is inspired by the Alhambra.
The entire area around the Synagogue has great significance for the Jewish people. To begin with, next to the temple was the house of Theodor Herzl, father of the State of Israel; the site where the house stood is currently occupied by the Jewish Museum, which is part of the Synagogue. The complex is also made up of the Temple of Heroes, the Jewish cemetery and a Holocaust memorial. Also, the Dohány Street Synagogue was part of the Budapest ghetto boundary during WWII. Hundreds of thousands of Jews are estimated to have died here.
5. Széchenyi Baths
If there is one place that attracts locals and tourists alike, it is the Széchenyi Baths. And it is not for less, these are the largest medicinal thermal baths in all of Europe, with supplied water that runs between 25ºC and 28ºC and coming from two nearby sources. In the hot springs of these baths we can find calcium sulfate, magnesium, bicarbonate, fluorine and metabolic acid.
The sessions at Széchenyi are recommended for people who have degenerative joint diseases, chronic and subacute inflammation of the joints; they are also prescribed as treatment after orthopedic injuries. The bathrooms are located in the City Park and the buildings are in the neo-baroque style; They have three outdoor pools and fifteen covered ones.
6. Buda Castle: one of the essential places to see in Budapest
The Palace or Castle of Buda is, historically, the residence of the monarchs of this country. It was also called the Royal Palace or Castle for a time. It has a late Gothic style and was built in the 14th century, at the southern end of a hill. After the recovery of Hungary from the Ottoman Turks, the Habsburgs had the castle expanded during the 18th century.
The extension of the Buda Castle was achieved until the 19th century thanks to Miklós Ybl and Alajos Hauszmann. Thus, the palace was completed until 1904, becoming one of the largest monarchs’ residences in Europe. Everything is glitzy in Budapest! After the Second World War, part of the castle had to be rebuilt; the communist government of the country did it in neoclassical style. Since 1987, this Castle is part (along with other sites in Budapest) of the World Heritage Site.
7. Chain Bridge
If there is a place to see in Budapest that you cannot miss, it is the Chain Bridge, the oldest that connects Buda with Pest. It is a suspension bridge made up of rigid chain links; It is 202 meters long (one of the longest in the world when it was inaugurated) and is one of the most famous bridges that crosses the Danube River. But why is this bridge so important? Well, because it has become a national symbol, but, above all, because it is the permanent link between the two ancient cities of Buda and Pest, which now make up the capital of Hungary.
Before its construction, the transport had to be done by ferry on the Danube. When it froze, the passage had to be made on foot or by horse-drawn carriage. So, the construction of the bridge was a great success for the city dwellers who had to move between cities. The works of the bridge began in 1839 and concluded in 1849. Unfortunately, the Bridge of the Chains suffered the consequences of the German bombings during World War II; the Nazis dynamited the bridge during the Red Army siege of Budapest and the bridge had to be rebuilt.
8. Andrássy Avenue
Andrássy Avenue is an emblematic place in the Hungarian capital; this avenue connects the Plaza Isabel with the City Park. On your tour of Andrássy you will see countless houses and palaces with exquisite eclectic Neo-Renaissance architecture. The magnificence of this boulevard is such that in 2002 it became part of the World Heritage Site. But you will not only see houses and palaces, it is also home to many great haute couture firms such as Louis Vouitton, Ermenegildo Zegna, Burberry, Gucci or Roberto Cavalli. It is worth taking a walk around here and looking at the shop windows.
The works for the construction of the avenue began in 1872 and concluded in 1877. The most distinguished architects of the time, such as Miklós Ybl, participated in the construction of the palaces. The most important families of the Hungarian aristocracy lived in the palaces for many years.
There is much to see on this avenue. For example, the National Opera, Broadway Pest, the Academy of Music, the Memorial House of the famous composer Franz Liszt, as well as countless cafes where you can sit and enjoy a beautiful afternoon in the Hungarian capital.
9. Hungarian National Opera
The National Opera was built between 1875 and 1884 with the funding of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. The façade is distinguished by the presence of multiple sculptures by famous musicians and composers and, as expected, the construction was carried out by Miklós Ybl. You can attend the opera with a guided tour where they will tell you many curiosities about the venue or buy tickets for the ballet or the opera.
The prices are incredibly cheap: between € 1 and € 1.50 for self-guided and guided tours, respectively. Tickets for the shows are just as cheap and vary depending on what’s on the billboard.
