Budapest Things to Do

The statue of the Turul hovers menacingly near the top of the funicular leading up to Castle Hill. In ravaging the grandmother of Arpad, so the legend goes, the Turul was established as the progenitor of Hungary's first reignin... more

If you've ever wondered where the beautiful unobstructed photos of the Parliament building are taken from; this is almost certainly the spot. Batthyany ter offers gorgeous views over the Danube as well as some sights of its own... more

This was originally named after Emperor Franz Joseph and was opened for Hungary's millennium celebrations in 1896. It is a light, elegant structure, designed by Virgil Nagy, featuring manifestations of the Turul (Hungary's myth... more

Raoul Wallenberg was a Swedish diplomat who is credited with saving the lives of 20,000 Jews during the war by providing safe houses and fake Swedish ID papers. He disappeared after the war and it is assumed that he died in a S... more

This square lies at the foot of the Margit (Margaret) Bridge, on the Buda side. It is dominated by a statue of Jozsef Bem, a beloved Polish general during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848-49. He was fondly called Bem Apo ('Fath... more

This bridge is named for Hungary's most beloved queen. The original Erzsebet Bridge, completed in 1903, was destroyed during World War II (as were all the other bridges). The new version is a white suspension bridge shooting ou... more

This gate once led from the walled town of Buda towards Vienna. The gate we see today was built in 1936 (according to the original design) to celebrate the city's liberation from the Turks two hundred and fifty years before. Th... more

On the left as you are about to enter the last courtyard of the palace where the Szechenyi Library is housed, stands the intricately worked and majestic scene of King Matyas hunting. He is surrounded by his dogs and retainers,... more

Located at Szabadsag ter (Freedom Square), this impressive building once housed the city's Stock Exchange. Now it is home to the headquarters of the Hungarian National Television network. Designed by home-grown Hunagarian archi... more

Catch Bus 65 and ride it to the terminus in order to escape the city. You'll wind up on Harmashatar-hegy (Three Border Hill), with unobstructed views of Budapest in all directions. It's a perfect spot for a picnic, a hike in th... more