ESSENTIAL BUDAPEST TRAVEL GUIDE

Budapest is one of the most captivating cities in Europe. With various green parks full of natural elegance, galleries that inspire you and vibrant nightlife, the charm of this capital is recognized by numerous tourists. Almost 20 million per year, who visit this impressive city with some monuments more than 1000 years old. So here the essential guide to travel to Budapest.

The city consists of two different sections. Buda in the western part of the Danube and Pesta in the eastern part. Buda Fortress and the Danube riverbank were registered in 1987 in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. And the beauty of these places is also a motive why Budapest is known as the Pearl of the Danube.

PALACE OF THE PARLIAMENT

When I say Budapest, I inevitably think of the Danube, which runs so superbly, from one end to the other of the city. And also to the building in which the Hungarian parliament works, a sumptuous palace situated on the Danube bank. This building is one of the oldest and third-largest in Europe. It is among the buildings where the parliamentary authority does its job, being, equally, an architectonic jewel.

BRIDGES OF BUDAPEST

There are nine bridges over the Danube, in total, Budapest being known as the Capital of the 9 Bridges. These are the Árpád Bridge, the Chain Bridge, the Elizabeth Bridge, the Freedom Bridge, the Margareta Bridge. There is also the Megyeri Bridge, the Petőfi Bridge, the Rákóczi Bridge, and the Northern Railway Bridge. If you do not have enough time to visit them all, although each has its charm, do not miss, however, the Chain Bridge (Széchenyi Chain Bridge), the Margareta Bridge and the Freedom Bridge. Of course, a great way to see them all would be to go on a Danube cruise, which doesn’t cost too much.

THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE

The Great Synagogue on Dohany Street is one of the most sought-after sights in the heart of Budapest. Being one of the greatest such constructions in the world, the Great Synagogue in Budapest serves for both a pilgrimage site for Jews universally, but also an architectural gem rich in historical events. The synagogue is located in the Jewish Quarter, the closest subway station being Astoria. The Great Synagogue, on the other hand, is declared the most beautiful synagogue in the world and the second-largest in size, after that of New York.

SAINT STEPHEN’S BASILICA

St. Stephen’s Basilica is the most famous church in the whole of Hungary. Here is the right arm of King Stephen the Holy, the founder of the Hungarian nation. It is best to visit it in the evening or at night because the cathedral and the surrounding market can be quite populated during the day. Most visitors like to sit on the stairs of the basilica and admire the rest of the urban landscape, as do the tourists who arrive in Rome, at the famous Spanish Stairs.

FISHERMAN’S BASTION

You can find the attraction on the right bank of the Danube. It’s on the same side as Buda Castle, the bastion delivers you an amazing view of the whole city. It is said that the name came from the Dark Ages when the city banks were guarded by fishermen. You can walk into the garden, take pictures from the top of the Danube or even visit the Matyas Church, in the heart of this area.

BUDA CASTLE

The castle of the kings of Hungary was finished in 1265. It was declared a historical monument and included in the UNESCO Patrimony in 1987. Nowadays is also one of the most well-known and visited tourist attractions in Budapest. You can comfortably spend a whole day walking around here, especially since it is right next to the Chain Bridge, but also near the funicular that goes up to the top of the hill.

HEROES SQUARE

Heroes Square is a symbol and also one of the main tourist attractions in Budapest. The work of the architect Albert Schickedanz, the Heroes Square in Budapest incorporates an ensemble that includes the statuary complex of the Millennium Monument, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Palace of Arts.

The statues complex depicts the figures of the Hungarian leaders and was started in 1896 to mark 1000 years since the founding of the Hungarian state. It also commemorates the conquest by the Hungarians of the Carpathian Basin. The 36-meter high column ends with the statue of the Archangel Gabriel.

CONCLUSION

Budapest has many more attractions, but these are the top 7 that I loved and recommend. I wrote this in an attempt to give you parts of the reasons why, annually, the capital of Hungary is visited by over 20 million tourists. I’ve left out Hungarian gastronomy, wineries, clubs and entertainment opportunities, which I will address on a separate article.