The Citadella on Gellért hill affords wonderful views of Budapest
The history of Gellért Hill, and the Citadella atop it, on the West bank of the mighty Danube in Budapest, goes back thousands of years. According to archeological findings, a watchtower stood there in Roman times and it later became famous as the venue of Saint Gellért’s martyrdom.
Matthias Church in the Castle District is a Budapest tourist attraction worth visiting
Matthias Church (Mátyás templom) is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Budapest, situated in the the heart of Buda’s Castle District. According to church tradition, it was originally built in 1015. The current building was constructed in the florid late Gothic style in the second half of the 14th century and was extensively restored in the late 19th century.
The Fisherman’s Bastion affords great views of Budapest and the Danube
The Fisherman’s Bastion is a neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque style terrace and rampart situated in Buda, on the Castle hill, by the Matthias Church. It has a fairytale look, with many turrets, projections, parapets, and climbing stairways. From the towers and the terrace there is a beautiful, panoramic view of the Danube, Margaret Island, the Hungarian Parliament and Gellért Hill.
The Great Market Hall for food, souvenirs or just some bustling Budapest atmosphere
The Great Market Hall (Nagycsarnok), or to give its official name the Central Market Hall (Központi Vásárcsarnok), is located on Fővám Square (Fővám Tér) in the 9th district of Budapest, in the downtown area of Pest. It is the largest indoor market in Budapest and was designed and built by Samu Pecz.
Saint Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest offers great views of the city as well as being a beautiful church
St. Stephen’s Basilica is the largest ecclesiastical building in Budapest and has been visited by former Pope John Paul II. It is named in honour of St. Stephen, the first King of Hungary, whose mummified and incorruptible right hand is housed here. He was also the king who dedicated the nation to Christianity.
The House of Terror – An unforgettable experience.
The House of Terror (Terror Háza) is a museum located on Andrássy Avenue (Andrássy út) very close to Oktogon. One of the most powerful museums in Europe it illustrates the grim decades of Fascist and Communist repression, with the museum occupying the former headquarters for the secret police of both the Nazi and Communist governments.
Vajdahunyad Castle and the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture
Vajdahunyad Castle (Vajdahunyadvár), in City Park (Városliget) was originally made by Ignác Alpár from cardboard and wood for the millennial exhibition in 1896 but it became so popular that it was rebuilt from stone and brick.
Soak in the Széchenyi baths and enjoy the oldest and largest spa Budapest has to offer
The Széchenyi medicinal baths (Széchenyi gyógyfürdő), or just Széchenyi baths (Széchenyi fürdő) as it is often called, is the largest medicinal bath in Europe. Located in City Park (Városliget), next to the Budapest Zoo (Állatkert), the Széchenyi baths were built in 1913 by Győző Czigler in Neo-baroque style.
The Budapest Zoo, come and see the animals
The Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden (Fővárosi Állat és Növénykert) is the oldest zoo park in Hungary and one of the oldest in the world having opened its doors on August 9, 1866. The Budapest Zoo (Állatkert), as it is more commonly known, is located in the City Park (Városliget), next to the Széchényi Baths (Széchenyi Fürdő) and not far from Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere).
The Hall of Art on Heroes’ Square
The Hall of Art (Műcsarnok) is another museum and gallery on Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere), opposite the Fine Arts Museum (Szépművészeti Múzeum). It is also known as the Palace of Art, but must not be confused with the Palace of Arts (Művészetek Palotája) in southern Pest.
The Museum of Fine Arts, enjoy the grand masters in Budapest
The Museum of Fine Arts (Szépművészeti Múzeum) is a museum on Heroes’ Square, facing the Hall of Art. It was built by Albert Schickedanz and Fülöp Herzog in an eclectic-neoclassical style, between 1900 and 1906. The museum’s collection is made up of international art and comprises more than 100,000 pieces. The Museum’s collection is made up of six departments: Egyptian, Antique, Old sculpture gallery, Old painter gallery, Modern collection, Graphics collection.
Heroes’ Square and the Millennium Memorial
Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere) is situated in Pest at the point where the Sixth, Seventh and Fourteenth districts meet. It is winged by two interesting buildings: the Museum of Fine Arts (Szépművészeti Múzeum) and the Hall of Art (Műcsarnok). It also faces Andrássy Avenue. The City Park starts on the opposite side of the square leading to the Budapest Zoo (Állatkert), Széchenyi thermal baths (Széchenyi-gyógyfürdő) and the Fun Park (Vidámpark).
The Hungarian State Opera House, a beautiful acoustical experience and a great example of neo-Renaissance architecture
The Hungarian State Opera House, or Budapest Opera House, was designed by the famous 19th century Hungarian architect, Miklós Ybl. Building lasted from 1875 to 1884 and was funded jointly by the city of Budapest and Emperor Franz Joseph of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Hungarian Royal Opera House (as it was known then) was opened to the public on the September 27, 1884.
Taxis can be an easy and reliable way to get around Budapest
The central Budapest downtown is much smaller and easier to get around by taxi than many other capital cities, like London and Paris. This means that Budapest taxis are not necessarily expensive, in fact if there are 3 or 4 of you traveling it may be cheaper than buying public transport tickets. Also not speaking Hungarian doesn’t have to stop you ordering a taxi as several companies provide English speaking telephonists or online ordering in advance of your trip.
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