Discover Budapest: A Walking Tour of Iconic Sights
Budapest, a city where history and modernity intertwine, offers countless attractions waiting to be explored. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, this walking tour through the heart of the city will guide you to some of its most remarkable landmarks.
Start at the Hungarian Parliament Building
Begin your journey at Kossuth Lajos Square, home to the majestic Hungarian Parliament Building. This neo-Gothic masterpiece, designed by Imre Steindl, boasts 691 rooms and stands 96 meters tall. Inside, you can admire the Crown of St. Stephen, the royal scepter, orb, and Renaissance coronation sword. While the coronation mantle resides in the Hungarian National Museum, the surrounding area is adorned with statues of significant Hungarian figures, offering a glimpse into the nation’s rich history.
Stroll Through Liberty Square (Szabadság Tér)
A short walk brings you to Liberty Square, a vibrant space where locals gather for picnics, sports events, and leisurely chats. Encircled by notable buildings like the former Budapest Stock Exchange and the U.S. Embassy, the square is steeped in history. Beneath its surface lies the Rákosi Bunker, a Cold War-era shelter built in the 1950s, capable of housing 2,200 people. Though never used, it remains a testament to the city’s complex past.
Ascend St. Stephen’s Basilica
Next, head to St. Stephen’s Basilica, one of Hungary’s tallest buildings at 96 meters. Inside, you’ll find the mummified right hand of St. Stephen, Hungary’s first king. Climb the stairs or take the elevator to the dome’s observation deck for panoramic views of Budapest, surpassing even those from the nearby Ferris wheel on Erzsébet Square.
Relax at Erzsébet and Deák Squares
Conclude your tour at Erzsébet Square and Deák Ferenc Square, bustling hubs known for their lively atmosphere. In the warmer months, these squares are filled with locals and tourists enjoying the outdoors. Choose from various eateries and bars, such as the Akvárium Klub or Fröccsterasz, to unwind with a refreshing drink and live music.
Walk around the Jewish quarter of Pest
The VII. district since the turn of the millennium has been known as the Jewish quarter of Pest. Since the 19th century, this area has been the center of the Orthodox Jewish faith in Budapest: the Great Synagogue, the Rumbach Street Synagogue and Kazinczy Street Synagogue. During World War II, in 1944 the “Great Ghetto” was formed in this area, where nearly 70,000 Jews were housed. At that time, the non-Jewish population was evacuated from the area, and so, many dwellings became uninhabited, in which the famous ruin bars of Budapest began to appear a few decades ago.
The Dohány Street Synagogue is the largest synagogue in Hungary and Europe with its 1200 square meters. The Synagogue is still an important venue for the Jewish faith in Budapest, and in addition, Budapest plays a significant role in cultural life, as it also hosts concerts and festivals.
Wonders of the tour
Walking along the tour, you can discover the buildings of the Eötvös Lóránd University, the Hungarian National Museum and its pleasant garden, the Calvin Square, the beautiful Ervin Fővárosi Library and many antique stores. To reach Fővám Square and the Central Market Hall, it is worth looking around.
We can almost say that one of Budapest’s most peculiar places is this huge market. The largest indoor market in the capital opened to customers in 1897. The building with a floor area of 10,000 square meters features Pecz Samu’s work and Neo-Gothic features. The hall of the steel structure has a unique effect, and the ceramics of the Zsolnay factory in Pécs are visible at the top. It is worth noting that there is a significant difference between this and other markets. This is due to the fact that the construction of the building is aligned with the surrounding streets, which means that each stack supports each other at different altitudes. Entering the market, you will be greeted by colorful booths, shops, mouth-watering snacks, the freshest vegetables, fruits, cheeses, bakery products and meats. If someone gets hungry during the sightseeing tour, you must check out Divine Foods at the Central Market Hall.
The most famous pedestrian street: Váci Street
From Fővám square we can head on the Liberty Bridge over the Danube to the Buda side and reach the biggest shopping and walking street in Budapest, Váci Street. It stretches for 1.5 kilometers to the Vörösmarty square, where we can go for a walk through the huge Christmas market booths. Váci Street offers many historical buildings, gastronomic specialties, luxury fashion shops and comfortable hotels. In the shopping street, the four-star La Prima Fashion Hotel, the Estilo Fashion Hotel are waiting to serve their guests. The Promenade City Hotel and the Cosmo City Hotel provide a three-star experience for travelers. The north and south sections of the pedestrian area show a completely different face. While in the southern streets there are quieter restaurants and cafés, the northern part of the island is dominated by throngs of tourists and shoppers.
Enjoy the sunset over the Danube River
From Váci Street to the Danube Promenade you can see a huge mural displaying a cavalcade of colors. In Budapest, a number of initiatives have been launched in recent years, giving abandoned and degraded firewalls new looks that evoke a unique moment, experience or feeling.
Walking through the Danube, we can have a beautiful view of Budapest, which is at its most beautiful in the sunset. You can take a look at the Fisherman’s Bastion and Buda Castle, which is worth a visit and a pleasant walk among the old castle walls. If you do not have time to do so, you can stay at the Buda Castle Fashion Hotel, 200 meters away, and be part of the Buda Castle itself.
There are countless attractions and special places in Budapest, but if you have only a couple of hours, then the places and attractions listed above are almost compulsory.
