113 Best Sights in Budapest, Hungary

Located at the Pest end of the Erzsébet híd (Elizabeth Bridge), this is not only the oldest church in Budapest, but the oldest building anywhere on this side of the river; its importance is illustrated by the evasive bend in the main road beside it. The relatively understated 18th-century Baroque facade belies the long history and variety of architectural styles you'll find inside, where a medieval Gothic nave stands over the remains of the original 11th-century Romanesque basilica (complete with fragments of frescoes) and the ruins of the Roman garrison that it was built upon. You will also find frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries, a 16th-century Islamic mihrab (prayer niche)—a holdover from the 150-year Ottoman occupation of Hungary—a 19th-century rococo pulpit, and a 20th-century high altar. The church contains the relics of Saint Gellért, the bishop who was first buried here in 1046 after pagans pushed him off a hill across the river, as well as those of 11th century Hungarian king Saint László.

This church, whose steeple is a symbol of the old Tabán neighborhood, arose between 1728 and 1736 on the site of a Turkish mosque and was subsequently expanded several times, its present facade dating from 1880-81. Its form—mustard-colored stone with a rotund, green clock tower—could be described as restrained baroque, and it is dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria. It is often closed on weekdays but worth noting as a truly ancient place of worship if you pass by; there has been a religious building on the site since the eleventh century.

Established in 1866, the Budapesti Állat-és Növénykert was one of the first urban zoos in the world. In the early days, most of the zoo's residents came from the Pannonian Basin, with only a handful of more exotic tenants. One of them was a giraffe gifted by Empress Elisabeth of Austria, who was Queen Consort of Hungary at that time. Her husband, Franz Josef, King of Hungary, sent 34 animals to the zoo from Schönbrunn. The lovingly preserved architecture, which seems to be endlessly under renovation, makes for a uniquely elegant urban zoo experience. Don't miss the Art Nouveau elephant pavilion, decorated with Zsolnay majolica and glazed ceramic animals. In the early 1900s, the elephant house had to be rebuilt at the request of the Turkish ambassador, who thought it resembled a mosque and found it offensive. The neighboring lot, once the amusement park immortalized in the classic Hungarian film about the Kádár era, A Tanú (The Witness), has been annexed by the zoo. The buildup of an enormous biodome, which would have recreated the nature and wildlife of the Pannonian Basin, was canceled halfway through construction in 2022 due to excessive costs (the building’s torso can be seen from the outside). Some of the antique relics, like the wooden roller coaster, remain on display. Note that the last tickets are sold one hour before closing, and animal houses don't open until an hour after the zoo gates.

Carl Lutz, a Swiss diplomat, is renowned for saving over 60,000 Jews during WWII. Leveraging his diplomatic status, he issued critical documents, established safe houses, and converted buildings into neutral territories, thus earning the title "Righteous Among the Nations." This striking tribute to his memory is nestled in a corner of the Jewish district, just streets away from the area's synagogues and the former ghetto. It portrays Lutz as a golden angel descending from the heavens, reaching out to rescue a victim, with an inscription that reads, "Whoever saves a life is considered to have saved an entire world."

The sweeping views of Budapest from this fortress atop the hill were once valued by the Austrian army, which used it as a lookout after the 1848–49 Revolution. Some 60 cannons were housed in the citadel, and while never used on the city's resentful populace, they were briefly, ominously, pointed down towards the citizens below after the 1956 uprising. The building is closed, but you can walk around it (keep an eye out for bullet holes from the various battles it has witnessed) and the view from the hilltop still makes it a worthy visit, especially at night when the entire city and its bridges are illuminated. Avoid the tacky, overpriced tourists stalls.

Just below the southern edge of the Citadella and visible from many parts of the city, the 130-foot-high Szabadság szobor (Liberty Statue) was originally planned as a memorial to a son of Hungary's then-ruler, Miklós Horthy, whose warplane had crashed in 1942. However, by the time of its completion in 1947 (three years after Horthy was ousted), it had become a memorial to the Russian soldiers who fell in the 1944–45 siege of Budapest; and hence for decades it was associated chiefly with this.

A young girl, her hair and robe swirling in the wind, holds a palm branch high above her head. During much of the communist era, and for a couple of years after its close, she was further embellished with sculptures of giants slaying dragons, Red Army soldiers, and peasants rejoicing at the freedom that Soviet liberation promised (but failed) to bring to Hungary. Since 1992 her mood has lightened: in the Budapest city government's systematic purging of communist symbols, the Red Combat infantrymen who had flanked the Liberty Statue for decades were hacked off and carted away. A few are now on display among the other evicted statues in Szobor Park in the city's 22nd district, and what remains memorializes those who fought for Hungary's freedom.

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This small square on Fő utca is a lovely, leafy place to take a break during a day's sightseeing. While home to a few monuments and a nice little café, Corvin tér is most notable for its eye-catching buildings at either end: to the north, a turn-of-the-20th-century masterpiece that contains the Hungarian Heritage House and Budai Vigadó concert hall; and to the south, a church that was converted from a Turkish mosque at the end of the 17th century and rebuilt in the romantic style in the mid-1800s.

Located in a working-class neighborhood, this off-the-beaten-path bathhouse was long considered an everyman’s bathhouse until the government decided to give it a makeover to use it as a venue to host the 17th FINA Aquatics World Championships in 2017. While many were worried that it would lose its basic charms, the results of the makeover were a delightful surprise to bathers old and new. There are discounts for families, which means it is still very much a part of the community and hasn't lost its roots. Local families come for the green space and to make use of the new facilities, including a large swimming pool, lazy river, playground, basketball court, and sunbeds. Visitors in the know come for the healing waters and authentic bathhouse experience. Located just off the riverfront, it also has a picturesque setting and good view of the Danube from the lookout point.

Noted for its spectacular hilltop views of the city, this green and tranquil cemetery is home to some flamboyant memorials and statues—check out the giant griffin, or Griffmadár, designed by Kálmán Veres as a tribute to those who are far away, and the final resting place of numerous Hungarian notables. Look for the tombs of several scientists, academics, and athletes, and note composer Béla Bartók near the main entrance. The stunning mortuary, designed by architect Imre Makovecz to look like a human chest, is worth a look if it is open.

Located on a quiet hilltop, a little farther back from the river, this peaceful, tucked-away, and little-visited modern monument is designed to show the similarities in thought between what the sculptor saw as the world's leading religions. Around a little pool, there are statues of Abraham, Jesus, Buddha, Laozi, and Akhenaten, with others (the most recognizable of which is probably Gandhi) looking on. Conceived by Hungarian sculptor Nándor Wagner, it has a double in Japan, and also offers panoramic views of the Danube and the city.

Part museum space, part gaming center, the carefully curated and maintained Flipper Múzeum was started by avid pinball enthusiasts to inspire pinball enthusiasm in kids of all ages. Admission allows you to play almost all of the 130 machines featured here for free and for as long as you like (some machines are ornamental as they are not working anymore). Look for Terminator, Star Wars, and Mario Brothers pinball games or simple amusement park shooter games dating back to the late 19th century. Officially registered as a museum, it adopts an arcade vibe in the evening as players flip away until midnight most nights.

The center of today's Óbuda is Flórián tér, where Roman ruins were first discovered when the foundations of a house were dug in 1778. While it does not necessarily merit a visit in its own right, if you're in the neighborhood, it's fairly interesting to contrast the ancient ruins in the center of the square, carefully excavated two centuries after they were first found, with the racing traffic and cement-block housing projects on the exterior.

The square is now a large, grassy park, which the local authorities regularly promise to spruce up. In the middle, stretching from the square toward Kiscelli utca, is an eerie, black metal angel-like sculpture pointing one hand skyward and holding a wreath in the other. This is the Memorial to the Victims of Road Accidents. In case the title isn't enough, a wrecked car at the foot of the main statue and a list of annual highway death tolls from 1984 to the present further ensures that the point gets across, compliments of the National Police Headquarters' Accident Prevention Committee.

Óbuda's old main square is its most picturesque site. There are several good restaurants and interesting museums in and around the baroque Zichy Mansion, which has become a neighborhood cultural center. Among the most popular offerings are the summer concerts in the courtyard (see 'Kobuci Kert', further on in the chapter) and the evening jazz concerts. Toward the southern end of the square (on the way out to Árpád út and the HÉV) is the elaborate Óbudai Szentháromság Szobor (Óbuda Trinity Statue), built originally in 1740, razed in 1950, and rebuilt in 2000.

This site pays tribute to the Jewish population herded into the ghetto during WWII, where thousands died of famine. The ghetto's walls ran along today's Rumbach, Király, Kertész, and Dohány streets. The memorial is easily accessed on the street, detailing the Jewish struggle with a map, historical summaries, and religious verses. The small section of the wall itself is located inside the apartment building's courtyard; you can try and peek at it through the gate or wait until a resident opens the door to view it.

A picturesque spot that is also one of the farthest north sites of Islamic pilgrimage in the world, this octagonal tomb houses Gül Baba, an Ottoman-era poet and dervish who took part in, and died shortly after, the Turkish conquest of Buda. He's known as 'Father of the Roses' in Hungary, hence the beautiful rose garden recently renovated using partial funding from the Turkish government.

The 12-km (7-mile) Children's Railway—so called because it's operated primarily by children—runs from Széchenyi-hegy to Hűvösvölgy. The sweeping views make the trip well worthwhile for children and adults alike. Departures are from Széchenyi-hegy. To get to Széchenyi-hegy, take Tram 56 or 61 from Széll Kálmán tér, and change to the cog railway (public transport tickets valid) at the Városmajor stop. Take the cog railway uphill to the last stop and then walk a few hundred yards down a short, partly forested road to the left, in the direction most others will be going. The railway terminates at Hűvösvölgy, where you can walk downhill for a few minutes and catch Tram 56 or 61 back to Széll Kálmán tér.

Near the main Aquincum ruins—but functioning separately—a fine third-century Roman dwelling, Hercules Villa, takes its name from the myth depicted on its beautiful mosaic floor. The ruin was unearthed between 1958 and 1967 and now stands, rather incongruously, among a large housing estate. Worth popping your head in after the Aquincum visit if you feel the need for more ruins; admission is free.

Built in 2002 as part of a government initiative focusing on Holocaust research and education, the stark, impressive modern design of the Holocaust Memorial Center, with its high white walls, is somehow evocative of both a fortress and the gates to a city. The interior of the entrance wall is lined from top to bottom with the names of a fraction of the Hungarian Holocaust victims, and the permanent exhibition focuses on the experiences of Jewish Hungarians, with a special section dedicated to Roma Hungarians. The Páva Street Synagogue houses the memorial and it was once one of the city’s largest Jewish congregations; it now displays its significant historical artifacts, and can also be visited when not in service.

In 1923 patron of the arts Ferenc Hopp bequeathed his home and a 4,000-piece private collection to the creation of a public exhibition space, and to this day it remains the country’s only Asian art museum. Visitors can enjoy a turn-of-the-century aristocrat’s home while perusing the collection's 30,000 items, spanning from Japan to the near East. Visiting exhibitions are always paired thematically with objects existing in the local collection, adding an interesting perspective. The small eastern-Asian-style garden space surrounding the museum is free and open to the public throughout the day.

Named for the renowned Budapest-born illusionist and escapologist, this entertaining, family-friendly museum is home to an enormous collection of Harry Houdini artifacts, from personal letters to stage magic props. Fun, English-language guided tours are topped by a live magic show performed by talented local conjurers.

The rather dull-sounding name belies a real gem of a museum, stuffed with interesting exhibits including old advertisements, shop signs, and restaurant items from the communist era. There are also fascinating details on the lives of different tradespeople, and recreated entire shops, cafés, and restaurants from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Andrássy út ends in grandeur at Heroes' Square, with Budapest's answer to Berlin's Brandenburg Gate. Cleaned and refurbished in 1996 for the millecentenary (1100th anniversary), the Millenniumi emlékmű (Millennial Monument) is a semicircular twin colonnade with statues of Hungary's kings and leaders between its pillars. Set back in its open center, a 118-foot stone column is crowned by a dynamic statue of the archangel Gabriel, his outstretched arms bearing the ancient emblems of Hungary. At its base ride seven bronze horsemen: the Magyar chieftains, led by Árpád, whose tribes conquered the land in 896.

Before the column lies a simple marble slab, the Nemzeti Háborús Emléktábla (National War Memorial), the nation's altar, at which every visiting foreign dignitary lays a ceremonial wreath.

In 1991 Pope John Paul II conducted a mass here. Just a few months earlier, half a million Hungarians had convened to recall the memory of Imre Nagy, the reform-minded communist prime minister who partially inspired the 1956 revolution. Little would anyone have guessed then that in 1995, palm trees—and Madonna—would spring up on this very square in a scene from the film Evita (set in Argentina, not Hungary), or that Michael Jackson would do his part to consecrate the square with a music video.

Hungary's Prime Minister at the time of the 1956 Revolution, Imre Nagy was executed by the Russians for his lenience towards the revolutionaries and buried as a traitor. On June 16, 1989, the anniversary of his execution, Nagy was rehabilitated and reburied with full honors, one of the events marking the change in regime. The removal of his statue from Vértanúk tere (Matryrs' Square) in 2018 to make way for the reconstructed Monument of National Martyrs was the talk of the town for months (opposition parties accused Viktor Orbán's right-wing government of historical revisionism). District 13 volunteered to adopt it, placing it here in Jászai Mari tér overlooking the Danube.

Just like Vajdahunyad Castle, the portal of this church is a replica. The original, located in the village of Ják, is Hungary’s best example of a Romanesque Church from the 12th century. Featuring a gorgeous facade filled with medieval gothic biblical motifs, statues, and stonework, the chapel is a working Catholic church with regular services, concerts, and the occasional lavish wedding.

A libegő (chairlift) will take you to János Hill—at 1,729 feet the highest point in Budapest—where you can climb a lookout tower for the best view of the city. To get there, take Bus 158 from Széll Kálmán tér to the last stop, Zugligeti út. The chairlift is sometimes closed due to bad weather, so you may want to call ahead to confirm.

Calvin Square takes its name from the neoclassical Hungarian Reformed (Calvinist) church that tries to dominate this busy traffic hub; this is a hard task, what with the dull-as-can-be glass facade of the Kálvin Center office building across the square. The Kecskeméti Kapu, a main gate of Pest, once stood here, as well as a cattle market that was a notorious den of thieves. At the beginning of the 19th century this was where Pest ended and the prairie began.

This historic square at the northwestern end of Castle Hill is named after St. John of Capistrano, a 13th-century Italian friar who recruited a crusading army to fight the Turks who were threatening Hungary; you can find a statue of the honored Franciscan here. The square is also home to the remains of the 12th-century Gothic Mária Magdolna templom (Church of St. Mary Magdalene). With most of church destroyed by air raids during World War II, the main feature still standing is its tower: you can pay to climb its 172 steps for stunning city views. Also on the square is the Hadtörténeti Múzeum (Museum of Military History), set within a former barracks that still has cannonballs from the 1849 siege lodged in its walls. The exhibits, which include collections of uniforms and military regalia, trace Hungary's military history from the original Magyar conquest in the 9th century through the period of Ottoman rule to the mid-20th century.

This impressive Art Nouveau synagogue, tucked in between shops, markets, restaurants, and narrow streets has been the epicenter of religious life for Budapest’s Orthodox community since its opening in 1913. The interior features pale blue walls and ceiling, stained glass windows painted by famed mosaicist Miksa Róth, and benches adorned with Hungarian folk motifs. The synagogue has been undergoing intermittent renovations, so check its website if you're planning a visit.

The grandiose, imperial-looking station was built in 1884 and was considered Europe's most modern until well into the 20th century. Its neo-Renaissance facade, which resembles a gateway, is flanked by statues of two British inventors and railway pioneers, James Watt and George Stephenson.