3 Best Sights in Hungary

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.

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.

This beautiful Moorish Revival-style building, designed by architect Otto Wagner, dates to 1872 and was once one of Budapest's most prominent synagogues. In 1941, it served as a deportation site for 16,000 Jews sent to southern Poland, and later in the war hosted services while part of the Jewish Ghetto. The building saw an extensive renovation in 2021 and it functions as a cultural center as well as a center of religious observance, welcoming all branches of Judaism. Regular tours and exhibitions allow you to experience the restoration in detail, while classical music concerts are held every week.

Check the calendar of events to plan a visit around a concert.