187 Best Sights in Hungary

Built after the devastating Tatar invasion of 1241–42, Eger's castle is inspired by the mighty fortresses seen by Béla IV in Italy and Western Europe. An imposing Romanesque cathedral was built within the castle walls, then later rebuilt in Gothic style, though today only its foundations remain. The casemates—a labyrinth of underground tunnels hewn in the 16th century by Italian engineers and used in the war against the Ottomans, when hundreds of defenders raced back and forth so the attackers would think there were thousands of them—now display many of the cathedral's surviving artifacts. Elsewhere, the Gothic-style Püspök Ház (Bishop's House) contains the castle museum, with exhibitions on local history and culture. Look out also for the statue of St. Stephen watching over the cathedral ruins; the Ágyúdomb (Cannon Hill) with its sweeping views of Eger; and—for an extra fee—the Panoptikum (Wax Museum) with characters from the historical novel Eclipse of the Crescent Moon. The Palotaudvar (Palace Courtyard) regularly hosts live music concerts.

Not interested in the exhibitions? Come once they have closed—after 5:30 pm in high season, or after 3:30 pm (or all day Monday) in low season—and you'll pay less than half the entrance fee.

This immense basilica, the largest in the country and visible from miles around, is the seat of the cardinal primate of Hungary. Completed in 1856 on the site of a medieval cathedral and recently restored, the basilica's most wondrous feature is the Bakócz Chapel (1506). Named for a primate of Hungary who only narrowly missed out on becoming pope, the chapel—on your left as you enter—is the most beautiful work of Renaissance architecture in all of Hungary; note its red marble, magnificent carvings, and enormous altar painting. Other highlights to look for are the sacristy, which contains a valuable collection of medieval ecclesiastical art; the vast and deep crypt, where the cathedral's builders and key priests are buried; and the treasury, containing a trove of precious ecclesiastical objects. For a great view of Esztergom, climb the long, winding staircase up to the observation platform in the cathedral's cupola, or take a stroll around the back of the building to the impressive Szent István megkoronázása (St. Stephen's Coronation) sculpture. Each section of the basilica's interior requires an entrance fee, from 500 HUF to 2,000 HUF, so your best bet is to purchase the combination ticket.

The wondrous porch overlooking the Danube and Pest is the neo-Romanesque Fisherman's Bastion, a merry cluster of white stone towers, arches, and columns above a modern bronze statue of St. Stephen, Hungary's first king. Medieval fishwives once peddled their wares here; today it's the turn of merchants selling souvenirs and crafts. During the day in high season, you must pay to get to the upper lookout level, but the reasonable price is well worth the view. Nevertheless, if you don't want to pay it, you can still access the lower portion of the walkway, or come after 8 pm to freely explore the whole structure.

Spread across four wings (and four floors) of the Royal Palace, this national gallery exhibits Hungarian fine art, from medieval ecclesiastical paintings, statues, and triptychs, through to Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque art, to a rich collection of 19th- and 20th-century works. Especially notable are the works of the romantic master painter Mihály Munkácsy, the Impressionist Pál Szinyei Merse (who independently pursued a style akin to French Impressionism), and the Surrealist Mihály Tivadar Kosztka Csontváry, who was much admired by Picasso. There is also a large collection of modern Hungarian sculpture, as well as regular (paid) temporary exhibits. Labels and commentary for both permanent and temporary exhibits are in English, and an audio guide is available.

In front of the gallery, facing the Danube, stands an equestrian statue of Prince Eugene of Savoy, a commander of the army that liberated Hungary from the Turks at the end of the 17th century. From here there is a superb view across the river to Pest. For another outdoor artwork, check out the nearby Halászó gyerekek díszkút (Fountain of the Fishing Children).

There is a 1,000 HUF charge to take videos, which are limited to permanent exhibitions.

Széchenyi Thermal Bath, the largest medicinal bathing complex in Europe, is housed in a beautiful neobaroque building in the middle of City Park. There are several thermal pools indoors as well as two outdoor pools, which remain open even in winter, when dense steam hangs thick over the hot water's surface. You can just barely make out the figures of elderly men, submerged shoulder deep, crowded around waterproof chessboards. To use the baths, you pay a standard price (unless you get a doctor's prescription, in which case it's free), plus a surcharge if you prefer having a private changing cabin instead of a locker. Facilities include an outdoor lap pool, Finnish and steam saunas, medical and leisure massage treatments, carbonated bath treatments, and other wellness treatments and wraps. A great way to sweat away last night's pálinka (fruit brandy).

Handsome and massive, this is one of the chief landmarks of Pest and the city's largest church---it can hold 8,500 people. Its very Holy Roman front porch greets you with a tympanum bustling with statuary. The basilica's dome and the dome of Parliament are by far the most visible in the Pest skyline, and this is no accident: with the Magyar Millennium of 1896 in mind (the lavishly celebrated thousandth anniversary of the settling of the Carpathian Basin in 896), both domes were planned to be 315 feet high and to this day city codes specify that no downtown Pest building may exceed this height.

The millennium was not yet in sight when architect József Hild began building the basilica in Neoclassical style in 1851, two years after the revolution was suppressed. After Hild's death, the project was taken over in 1867 by Miklós Ybl, the architect who did the most to transform modern Pest into a monumental metropolis. Wherever he could, Ybl shifted Hild's motifs toward the neo-Renaissance mode that Ybl favored. When the dome collapsed, partly damaging the walls, he made even more drastic changes. Ybl died in 1891, five years before the 1,000-year celebration, and the basilica was completed in neo-Renaissance style by József Kauser---but not until 1905.

Below the cupola is a rich collection of late-19th-century Hungarian art: mosaics, altarpieces, and statuary (what heady days the Magyar Millennium must have meant for local talents). There are 150 kinds of marble, all from Hungary except for the Carrara in the sanctuary's centerpiece: a white statue of King (St.) Stephen I, Hungary's first king and patron saint. Stephen's mummified right hand is preserved as a relic in the Szent Jobb Kápolna (Holy Right Chapel); press a button and it will be illuminated for two minutes. You can also climb the 364 stairs (or take the elevator) to the top of the cupola for a spectacular view of the city. Extensive renovation work here has, among other things, returned the cathedral from a sooty gray to an almost bright tan. Small-group guided tours in English are offered, but must be reserved at least 72 hours in advance.

This fascinating complex comprises the reconstructed, extremely evocative remains of a Roman settlement dating from the first century AD. Careful excavations have unearthed a varied selection of artifacts and mosaics, providing a tantalizing glimpse of what life was like in the provinces of the Roman Empire. A gymnasium and a central heating system have been unearthed, along with the ruins of two baths and a shrine once operated by the mysterious cult of Mithras. The Aquincum múzeum (Aquincum Museum) displays the dig's most notable finds: ceramics; a red-marble sarcophagus showing a triton and flying Eros on one side and on the other, Telesphorus, the angel of death, depicted as a hooded dwarf; and jewelry from a Roman lady's tomb. There are reconstructed Roman board games, interactive video games, and a reconstruction of an ancient Roman musical organ in the basement level. The museum also manages the Thermae Maiores or 'Great Bath' complex as part of the Roman Baths Museum, an ancient spa now incongruously located in a pedestrian underpass by Flórián tér station. It's free to visit.

Take a short detour off the road from Veszprém to Balatonfüred to find this impressive archaeological site, once a large Roman farmstead covering a sprawling 55 hectares. The site today barely covers two, but this includes a partially reconstructed central residential building, as well as the ruins of baths and burial sites and a host of carved stone monuments. Head down into the cellar of the main building to see four well-preserved mosaic floors, and keep an eye out for an almost-complete peacock frieze. The whole site is brought to life through models and interactive exhibits. Baláca is set a little way back from the road, so look for a small concrete car park; it's a five-minute walk from here to the entrance.

On a hilltop overlooking the Old Town is this twin-spired abbey, whose foundations were laid by King András I in 1055. Today, his body lies in the 11th-century crypt, along with a replica of the abbey's charter, the oldest written source of the Hungarian language (the original is in Pannonhalma). The contrast between the simple crypt, where a small black crucifix hangs over the king's tomb, and the abbey’s lavish 18th-century baroque interior—all gold, gilded silver, and salmon—is vast. The altar, abbot’s throne, choir parapet, organ case, and pulpit were all the work of Sebestyén Stuhloff, and it's said he immortalized his doomed sweetheart as the angel kneeling on the right-hand side of the altar to the Virgin Mary. A magnificent organ, adorned by stucco cherubs, can be heard during evening concerts in summer. In a baroque house adjoining—and entered through—the abbey is the Bencés Apátsági Múzeum. The best exhibits are in the basement lapidarium: relics from Roman colonization, including mosaic floors; a relief of David from the 2nd or 3rd century; and 1,200-year-old carved stones. Get a joint ticket for the abbey and museum from the modern visitor center, where you can watch a short introductory video.

One of Villány's most celebrated wine producers, the Bock family has been in business here for more than 200 years. Today, they produce more than a million bottles a year to sell all over the world. A visit here is a chance to sample Bock's selection of spectacular (mostly red) wines, from award-winning classics to untraveled vintages, during one of the twice-daily tastings. Visitors can also get a glimpse behind (or rather under) the scenes with a tour of the atmospheric wine cellar every day at 2 pm and 5 pm. The main feature of the cellar is an extraordinary central vault (known as the "Bock Chapel") that looks like a Turkish baths and has some bizarre acoustics: stand in the middle to have your own voice reflected back at you, or talk to a friend across the room with just a whisper. As well as welcoming day-trippers, Bock Pince also has 33 comfortable and stylish bedrooms—unusually, the standard rooms are nicer than the deluxe ones—with prices starting from 38,000 HUF a night.

Situated in a serene little park in front of Pécsi Bazilika, this subterranean museum—and UNESCO World Heritage site—is home to a series of burial chambers, many with remarkably well-preserved religious murals. The burial site dates back to when Pécs was a Roman outpost called Sopianae, though it was located just outside the city walls (as was the custom). Today, the excavated crypts are linked with a series of suspended metal walkways to help preserve them from damage. Two are of particular note: the beautifully decorated Wine Pitcher Burial Chamber, with its paintings of vines and drinking vessels (best seen from above); and the chapel-like Peter and Paul Burial Chamber, covered in Christian symbols and colorful frescoes (best seen from below).

A "Time Traveler" ticket also gets you into the nearby Early Christian Mausoleum, a tomb with stunning murals of Adam and Eve, Daniel in the Lion's Den, and the Resurrection, as well as the Medieval University.

Kecskemét’s most famous building is the Cifrapalota (Ornamental Palace), a unique and remarkable Hungarian-style Art Nouveau building built in 1902. A three-story cream-colored structure studded with folksy lilac, blue, red, and yellow Zsolnay majolica flowers and hearts, it stands on Liberty Square’s corner like a cheerful cream pastry. Once a residential building, it now houses the Kecskeméti képtár (Kecskemét Gallery), with an excellent display of artwork by Hungarian fine artists as well as occasional international exhibits and some space devoted to local history and traditions. The ground floor houses the permanent fine art collection, but it's the Peacock Hall on the second floor that's the highlight here, with its decorative ceiling dotted with peafowl.

The largest synagogue in Europe and the second-largest working synagogue in the world, this spectacular Moorish Revival-style building, with hints of northern African Islamic design, is appropriately known as the Great Synagogue. This building complex, completed in 1859, was designed to represent the Jewish community’s lasting place in the nation and its sad, storied history in Hungary. The synagogue was bombed by the Hungarian pro-Nazi Arrow Cross Party during WWII and the building was used by the Nazis as a stable for horses. Attached to the synagogue is the Garden of Remembrance with a mass grave for Jews murdered by Hungarian Nazis. The weeping willow memorial features the names of Hungarian Holocaust victims inscribed on metal leaves while the tomb of Raoul Wallenberg commemorates the Swedish diplomat who saved the lives of thousands of Jews in Budapest during the Holocaust. Severely damaged throughout WWII, the building was used for religious purposes again after the war, but it didn't receive much-needed renovations until 1991, with reconstruction lasting until 1998. The museum, an addition made in 1930, was built on the site of the birthplace of Theodor Herzl, the father of Zionism. It features a decent collection of local religious relics and ritual objects, a Holocaust exhibit, and also hosts visiting exhibitions. A ticket to the Jewish Museum or a full Jewish District tour will grant you access to the synagogue, too.

Crowning the top of a 1,148-foot hill, Visegrád's dramatic citadel was built in the 13th century and served as the seat of Hungarian kings in the early 14th century. In the Middle Ages, this was where the Holy Crown and other royal regalia were kept, until they were stolen by a dishonorable maid of honor in 1440; 23 years later King Matthias had to pay a vast sum to retrieve them from Austria. Today, the crown is safe and sound in Budapest's Parliament building. There are some interesting exhibits and artifacts inside the castle, including coats of arms, hunting trophies, models of the castle through history, and waxwork re-creations of Renaissance feasts and balls, but most people's abiding memory of the site is the breathtaking views it offers of the Danube Bend below. It's certainly ample reward for the strenuous 40-minute hike up, which starts from the back gate of Salamon Tower. Then again, you can always drive up the hill from the center of Visegrád in five minutes and park (for a fee).

Only interested in the view? Come after closing time for free access to the terrace.

Keszthely’s magnificent Festetics Palace is one of the finest baroque complexes in Hungary. Begun around 1745, it was the seat of the enlightened and philanthropic Festetics dynasty, which had acquired Keszthely six years earlier. Surrounded by manicured gardens with fine sculptures and a nature reserve park filled with rare plants, the palace's distinctive churchlike tower and more than 100 rooms were added between 1883 and 1887. A tour of the interior starts with an interactive Festetics family tree, followed by a series of remarkable rooms including the historic Helikon Library, home to 52,000 volumes and family history records, and the atmospheric chapel with its gorgeous stained glass windows and coin-covered floor. As you walk around, keep an eye out for some items that were forced into exile during communism but have recently found their way home, including a beautiful black-and-gold desk made by Louis XIV’s carpenter, and a Hungarian ceremonial outfit on display in front of a portrait of a family member wearing it. A standard ticket (3,200 HUF) includes the palace plus one exhibition—choose from the Palm House, the Coach Collection, the Hunting Exhibition, and the Model Railway—while a deluxe ticket (4,900 HUF) gets you in everywhere.

When it comes to public bathing facilities, few can match the beauty and novelty of this thermal lake in the heart of Hévíz. Covering nearly 60,000 square yards, the water reaches up to 38°C (100°F) in summer and never drops below 22°C (72°F) in winter, allowing for year-round bathing. It's also richly laced with sulfur, alkali, calcium salts, and other curative components, making a dip highly recommended for those with spinal, rheumatic, gynecological, and articular disorders (the water can also be drunk to help digestive problems and receding gums). Squeamish bathers should be forewarned that along with its photogenic lily pads, the lake naturally contains assorted sludgy mud and plant material. It’s all supposed to be good for you, though—even the mud, which is full of iodine and is claimed to stimulate estrogen production in the body. Nonswimmers can also enjoy the lake, as there's special hydrotherapy equipment available. You can buy a three-hour ticket for 4,500 HUF, or a 10-hour lake pass if you're staying for several days (13,000 HUF).

Bathing for more than three hours per day is not recommended.

On the 60th anniversary of the closing off of Budapest's Jewish ghetto, April 15, 2004, Hungary's first major center for Holocaust research and exhibits opened in the presence of Hungarian statesmen and the Israeli president. The stone facade of this one-time synagogue is an eerily high, windowless wall; the entrance comprises two tall, massive iron doors. Just inside the courtyard is a black wall bearing the names of all known Hungarian victims of the Holocaust, including both Jews and many Roma (Gypsies). From there you go downstairs into a cellar, where you proceed through a compelling and haunting blend of family and individual stories told through photos, films, original documents, personal objects, and touch-screen computers (with all text also in English). You are taken from 1938, when the Hungarian state first began depriving Jews and others of their rights; to 1944, by which time these people were being systematically deprived of their freedom and their lives; to liberation in 1945.

On reaching the final space, a small synagogue, you can still hear the wedding music from the first rooms: a poignant reminder of the pre-Holocaust era. Unlike the Terror háza (House of Terror), which honors victims of both Nazism and communism, nothing at all about this feels forced. It is just right. This is a moving and dignified testament to genocide.

A majestic monument akin to Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, the Millennium Monument at the gateway to the city's playground, Városliget, was commissioned to celebrate the country's 1,000th birthday in 1896 but wasn't completed until 1906. Above it all, standing on a 118-foot-tall column, Hungary's patron saint the Archangel Gabriel holds the Hungarian crown in one hand and the apostolic double cross in the other. At the base of the column, the imposing figures of Hungary's founding fathers stand guard on horseback: these are the mythical leaders of the seven tribes whose descendants will one day become the Hungarian nation. Behind them are the full figure statues of their more modern, but equally awe-inspiring counterparts: Hungary's most important rulers since AD 1000, when Szent István allied with the Holy Roman Empire and founded the modern European state of Hungary. The line-up starts on the left with Saint István himself. This square is meant to inspire reverence and it is no coincidence that you can see it from the other end of Andrássy út. The square is a popular meeting point for locals, and is always busy with skateboarders and museum patrons lingering before or after a visit to the surrounding museums. Beware of little old ladies selling imitation furry hats next to the coffin-like memorial for the fallen soldiers of WWI in the middle of the square. However entertaining they may be, their wares are illegal and not the deal they appear to be.

If you are here in the early fall, look out for the Nemzeti Vágta (National Gallop), a horse race around the square featuring equestrian shows throughout the day. You can purchase grandstand tickets for around 4,000–5,000 HUF or just stand to the side for free.

A palace originally built on this spot in the 13th century for the kings of Hungary was reconstructed in the Renaissance style under the supervision of King Matthias during the 15th century. That, in turn, was demolished as Buda was recaptured from the Turks in 1686.

The Habsburg empress Maria Theresa directed the building of a new palace in the 1700s. It was damaged during an unsuccessful attack by revolutionaries in 1849, but the Habsburgs set about building again, completing work in 1905.

Then, near the end of the Soviets' seven-week siege in February 1945, the entire Castle Hill district of palaces, mansions, and churches was reduced to rubble. Decades passed before reconstruction and whatever restoration was possible were completed. Archaeologists were able to recover both the original defensive walls and royal chambers, due in part to still surviving plans and texts from the reigns of Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund and King Matthias.

Freed from mounds of rubble, the foundation walls and medieval castle walls were completed, and the ramparts surrounding the medieval royal residence were re-created as close to their original shape and size as possible. If you want an idea of the Hungarian homelife of Franz Josef and Sissi, however, you'll have to visit the baroque Gödöllő Palace.

Today, the Royal Palace is used as a cultural center. It comprises three main sections set around the Lion Courtyard: the river-facing east wing (A-D) houses the Magyar Nemzeti Galéria (Hungarian National Gallery); the baroque southern wing (E) contains the Vármúzeum és Szent István-terem (Castle Museum and St. Stephen's Hall); and the W-shaped west wing (F) is home to the Országos Széchényi Könyvtár (National Széchenyi Library), which has a copy of more than two million volumes—everything ever published in the Hungarian language—along with well-preserved medieval codices, manuscripts, and even a sound library.

One of the city’s most prominent and iconic landmarks, Budapest's main venue for opera and classical ballet is located in a magnificent neo-Renaissance building dating from 1884. The work of famed architect Miklós Ybl, the exterior features two unique buxom marble sphinxes guarding the driveway that curves upward from the street to the main entrance, a reminder that special guests used to arrive here by horse and carriage. Proceeding inside, the main lobby is flanked by Alajos Strobl's "romantic-realist" limestone statues of Franz Liszt and 19th-century Hungarian composer, Ferenc Erkel, the father of Hungarian opera. The marble staircases and wood-paneled corridors usher guests into gilt lime-green salons, ornate private theater boxes, or the glittering jewel box that is the main auditorium. Helmeted sphinxes bow their heads beneath a dazzling frescoed ceiling by Károly Lotz. Lower down there are frescoes everywhere, with intertwined motifs of Apollo and Dionysus. In its early years the Budapest Opera was conducted by Gustav Mahler (1888–91), and after World War II by Otto Klemperer (1947–50). Badly damaged during the siege of 1944–45, it was restored for its 1984 centenary. Recently reopened after years of renovation, the opera house has completely refreshed its exterior, modernized the orchestra pit and dressing rooms, created more handicap accessibility, and touched up the ceiling seccos and interior facades. This has been the biggest overhaul the building has seen in over thirty years, delivering an even more spectacular experience. It's free to walk into the entrance hall, but if you want to have a proper look inside, daily tours in English with a mini-performance at the end, are best booked online or in-person at the box office. Of course, the finest way to experience the opera house is to see a full opera or ballet, an experience that cannot be recommended highly enough. While the most coveted of tickets could cost you a couple hundred euros, don’t think you are going to have to break the bank to partake; one can regularly find weekday tickets in the back rows for as little as a few euros. The most frequent productions are popular classical operas from Italy and around Europe, but you'll also find guest performances by international troupes as well as occasional Hungarian productions, like Erkel’s patriotic opera Bánk Bán and Béla Bartók’s Blue Beard’s Castle. Most feature subtitles in Hungarian and English, but make sure to double check before purchase.

The permanent collection here takes you on a stimulating journey into the everyday Hungarian experience, from the recent to the more distant past. Among the highlights are the 20th-century exhibit, including an early movie theater replete with films of the era, an old schoolroom, a 1960s apartment interior, and a host of historical posters—all of which lead up to the end of communism and the much-celebrated exodus of Russian troops. Older attractions include masterworks of cabinetmaking and woodcarving (e.g., church pews from Nyírbátor and Transylvania); a piano that belonged to both Beethoven and Liszt; and goldsmithing treasures. The museum also regularly hosts interesting programs, including lectures on historical aspects and showcases on restorations—check website for exact events.

Opened in 2022, Budapest's stunning new museum in the City Park was designed by the well-known Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto. The expertly curated permanent exhibition is dedicated to the history of music, charting its evolution from archaic folk beginnings to the current day. There are detours through Hungary's greats, including Ferenc Liszt, Béla Bartók, and Zoltán Kodály. With the help of wireless headphones, visitors can listen to high-quality musical samples and set their own pace. For those interested in music, this museum is not to be missed.

The ornate white steeple of the Matthias Church is the highest point on Castle Hill. It was added in the 15th century, above a 13th-century Gothic chapel. Officially the Buda Church of Our Lady, it has been known as the Matthias Church since the 15th century, in remembrance of the so-called Just King who greatly added to and embellished it during his reign (though many of these changes were lost when the Turks converted it into a mosque). The intricate white stonework, colorful mosaic roof decorations, and some of its geometric patterned columns seem to suggest Byzantium, yet it was substantially rebuilt in the neo-Baroque style 87 years after the Turkish defeat in 1686. One fortunate survivor of all the changes was perhaps the finest example of Gothic stone carving in Hungary: the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, visible above the door on the side of the church that faces Szentháromság tér.

Inside, the Trinity Chapel holds an encolpion, an enameled casket containing a miniature copy of the gospel to be worn on the chest; it belonged to the 12th-century king Béla III and his wife, Anne of Chatillon. Their burial crowns and a cross, scepter, and rings found in their excavated graves are also displayed here. The church's treasury contains Renaissance and baroque chalices, monstrances, and vestments. Climb the steps in the church's northwest corner to visit the Royal Oratory and the collection of ecclesiastical art, as well as (for an extra fee) the panoramic tower with spectacular views of the city. From here, you can also admire the baroque Trinity Column in the square opposite, erected in 1712–13 as a gesture of thanksgiving by survivors of a plague.

High mass is celebrated every Sunday at 10 am, sometimes with full orchestra and choir and often with major soloists; get here early if you want a seat. During the summer there are classical concerts on Friday (plus some Mondays and Wednesdays) at 7 pm, and organ recitals on Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 pm.

The fascinating (if somewhat macabre) discovery of the Memento Mori was made in 1994 during renovation work on the Church of the White Friars, when workers happened upon the largely forgotten, sealed entrance to a crypt that had been used by the Dominicans to bury clergy and local burghers from 1731 to 1801. Inside were numerous ornately decorated coffins with surprisingly well-preserved, still-clothed mummies and their burial accessories, including rosaries and crucifixes. The coffins have now been moved to a nearby cellar on the same square, with three open caskets displaying the eerie mummified remains of a nine-year-old girl, a woman in her 50s, and a man in his 60s. The museum starts with some interesting above-ground exhibits on the discovery, as well as the history of church and the town at large, before a steep staircase leads downstairs to the cold exhibit room.

Hailed as one of the first successes of the Liget Budapest Project, the reconstruction of the long abandoned historical Olof Palme House was completed in October 2020 and given its new name: the Millennium House. The original Zsolnay adornments have been painstakingly restored and new additions placed inside and out; the interior structure was entirely rebuilt. The new grounds include a café space, a stage, a full auditorium, and, outside, a rose garden featuring a new Zsolnay water fountain. This exhibition and community space celebrate Hungary’s golden age (1867–1914) under the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary that saw Budapest prosper and a newly blossoming Hungarian cultural elite begin to flourish. This era was also the heyday of the Városliget. Exhibits focus on the arts, history, literature, and gastronomy of that time. Currently, visitors to the Millennium House can book a guided tour of the building or to that of the neighboring Museum of Ethnography and the House of Music.

The city’s premier market hall, with a stunning gilded exterior, is a treasure chest of Hungarian produce and foodstuffs. This is the oldest (over 125 years) and largest market in town, and a great place to wander and sample specialties like Mangalica ham (Hungarian white swine), Szarvaskolbász (deer sausage), Kovászos uborka (fermented cucumber), and a variety of local handmade cheeses, honeys, Hungarian paprika, and other delectables. Follow your nose upstairs to its market eateries for lángos, a Hungarian deep-fried flatbread, and peach strudel from the popular rétes stand. You can stock your suitcase with vacuum-packed products, and look for additional souvenirs on the second floor, where you'll find a mix of lovely and kitsch Hungarian handicrafts, hand-carved chess sets, and Rubik's Cubes.

The most visible symbol of Budapest's left bank is the huge neo-Gothic Parliament, mirrored in the Danube much the way Britain's Parliament is reflected in the Thames. It was designed by the Hungarian architect Imre Steindl and built by 1,000 workers between 1885 and 1902. The grace and dignity of its long facade and 24 slender towers, with spacious arcades and high windows balancing its vast central dome, lend this living landmark a refreshingly Baroque spatial effect. The exterior is lined with 90 statues of great figures from Hungarian history, with corbels ornamented by 242 allegorical statues. Inside are 691 rooms, 10 courtyards, and 29 staircases; some 88 pounds of gold were used for the staircases and halls. These halls are also a gallery of late-19th-century Hungarian art, with frescoes and canvases depicting Hungarian history, starting with Mihály Munkácsy's large painting of the Magyar Conquest of 896.

Parliament's most sacred treasure isn't the Hungarian legislature but rather the Szent Korona (Holy Crown), which reposes with other royal relics under the cupola. The crown sits like a golden soufflé above a Byzantine band of holy scenes in enamel and pearls and other gems. It seems to date from the 12th century, so it could not be the crown that Pope Sylvester II presented to St. Stephen in the year 1000, when he was crowned the first king of Hungary. Nevertheless, it is known as the Crown of St. Stephen and has been regarded---even by communist governments---as the legal symbol of Hungarian sovereignty and unbroken statehood. In 1945 the fleeing Hungarian army handed over the crown and its accompanying regalia to the Americans rather than have them fall into Soviet hands. They were restored to Hungary in 1978.

The only way you can visit the Parliament and see the crown is on one of the daily tours. Lines at the visitor center on the north side of the edifice may be long and tickets are in limited numbers, so it's best to purchase tickets in advance online. A permanent exhibit about the thousand years of Hungarian legislation is available free through the visitor center. Note that Parliament is closed to the public during ceremonial events and when the legislature is in session (usually Monday and Tuesday from late summer to spring).

It requires confidence to give an attraction a name like this, but for families, it delivers. This science-themed, highly interactive amusement park, museum, and playhouse features everything from a 9D virtual reality cinema (that shoots water at "viewers") to live science shows, as well as escape rooms, puzzles, and a mind-bending hall of illusions that will leave the entire party questioning what they know about how the world works.

There are about 200 accessible caves in Budapest (some open, some not) but Pálvölgyi and Szemlőhegyi are the most popular. Both provide a long network of underground walking trails through narrow passages filled with crystal formations, stalactites, and stalagmites. The Pálvölgyi Cave stretches around 18 miles, making it the longest cave network in Budapest and one of the longest in Hungary. It is also one of the most beautiful. Breathe in at Szemlőhegyi as this cave is known for its mineral-infused air. The caves must be visited on a guided tour that lasts just under an hour. Pálvölgyi and Szemlőhegyi can be visited on a combined ticket. Mátyáshegy cave, just opposite Pálvölgyi, is a bit more intense, with some climbing required and caving equipment provided, so it is best suited to the fit (and the brave).

Adventure-seekers should book a three-hour adventure caving tour (21,000 HUF) with Caving Under Budapest (caving.hu), which offers the chance to climb and crawl through these caves.

Perched divinely above the countryside on a hilltop roughly 20 km (12½ miles) southeast of Győr, this giant 1,000-year-old Benedictine abbey still gleams like a gift from heaven. During the Middle Ages it was an important ecclesiastical center, the location of Hungary’s first school, and perhaps the first place the Holy Scriptures were read on Hungarian soil. It’s still a working monastery and school; 60 monks and 320 students live here.

Come by car from Győr (or by bus 7030 from south of the center) to explore the abbey. You can go around yourself—just pick up an audio guide at reception—or join one of the frequent English-language guided tours. While the abbey's architecture is predominantly baroque, the main basilica is in the early Gothic style, while the 180-foot-high bell tower is distinctly neoclassical. Don't miss the incredibly decorative Porta Speciosa (ornate entrance) or the spectacular library with its more than 300,000 volumes, including some priceless medieval documents like the 11th-century deed to the abbey of Tihany. A short uphill walk from the abbey takes you to the Millennium Monument, erected in 1896 to mark the Magyars' settlement of the Carpathian Basin 1,000 years earlier.