Top 10 Sights in Budapest
A friendly guide to Budapest’s big hitters—Parliament, Fisherman’s Bastion, Buda Castle, Heroes’ Square, City Park, Margaret Island, the Basilica, and more.
1) Hungarian Parliament Building
The main attraction to see in Budapest is the Parliament Building. Seated right along the Danube, it's a must see day or night. If you would like to take a tour of the inside, you'll need to book your tickets well in advance (~1 month). You can still walk inside and around the gift shop for free. They even have a post box inside, so you can mail your postcards.
Tip: On August 20th, there is free entry into Parliament, but queues are long.
2) Fisherman’s Bastion & Matthias Church
Across the Danube on the Buda side of the city, you can check out cream-stone terraces, storybook turrets, and a postcard view of the city. No need to pay for entrance to the top viewing deck, but I would suggest going early in the morning or later at night to not have so many other folks in your photos.
3) Buda Castle & the Castle District
Staying on the Buda side, check out the castle and surrounding gardens for amazing views. While we were there, the castle was undergoing renovations and they were also throwing the annual wine festival.
4) St. Stephen’s Basilica (Szent István Bazilika)
St. Stephen's Basilica is centrally located on the Pest side of the city. A vital landmark, you can purchase tickets to tour the inside of the church. As Catholics, we were able to attend Sunday mass and see the inside. The surrounding square contains many restaurants and great places to stay. While on our trip, our Airbnb was located just a 5 min walk away.
5) Margaret Island (Margit-sziget)
A green escape in the middle of the Danube. The entire island is very walkable and provides a nice touch of nature when you've been walking around the city. The musical fountain, located right as you walk onto the island, is a great spot to relax and take a breath.
6) Heroes’ Square & Vajdahunyad Castle
A historical location and another great green spot around the city. The park has many walking trails and the music museum. Széchenyi Thermal Bath is also in the area, if you wanted to stop by for a dip.
7) Budapest’s Statues & Monuments
Weave these into your walks around the city the many statues and monuments reflecting the art and history of the city. A few great examples you will run into while hitting a few of these spots are, the Shoes on the Danube Bank (Holocaust memorial), Little Princess on the promenade, and the mini statues made by Hungarian-Ukrainian artist Mihály Kolodko.
8) Central Market Hall
Located just down the road from the Szabadság híd (Liberty Bridge) and is the main attraction for tourists. Now everything being sold here is way too expensive. I would recommend checking out a couple of the local markets to grab food at instead, Lehel Market and Hunyadi Square Market.
9) Széchenyi Chain Bridge & the Danube Promenade
An iconic bridge plus an easy riverfront stroll that connects a lot of sights. During golden hour there are many photogenic spots along the river. Taking a river cruise gives you an opportunity to capture these sights.
10) Gellért Hill & the Citadel
Take a walk across the Erzsébet Bridge, and climb the hill to reach amazing views. Be sure to stop along the way to take many photos and water breaks. Garden of Philosophers sits at the top, along with a the Prince of Buda and Princess of Pest Statue. This small statue depicts the the tragic tale of lovers divided by the Danube.
Of course Budapest contains many more beautiful sites than just these top 10. Be sure to check out my other posts to plan your trip to this historical city.
