Budapest

Budapest is the capital of Hungary and its most populous city. It has a population of 1.7 million, rising to around 3.3 million when the suburbs are included, accounting for a third of the country’s population and over 40 per cent of its economic output. Budapest is the political, economic and cultural centre of Hungary. It ranks among the ten largest cities in the European Union and is the second-largest conurbation in Central and Eastern Europe. The city lies on the banks of the Danube and is strategically situated at the heart of the Pannonian Basin, on ancient trade routes linking the hills of the Transdanubian Mountains with the Great Plain. The city’s population peaked in 1989, when 2.1 million people lived in Budapest. Even following the subsequent suburbanisation, the city remained the most densely populated in the country. Budapest covers an area of 525.14 square kilometres, making it Hungary’s largest city. The city is situated 161 kilometres south-east of Bratislava, 214 kilometres south-east of Vienna, 441 kilometres south-east of Prague, 545 kilometres south-west of Warsaw and 688 kilometres south-east of Berlin. Interesting facts Budapest is a global city of international significance, consistently ranking among the world’s top 50 most important metropolises. It belongs to a select group of cities with a GDP exceeding 120 billion US dollars. Budapest is recognised as a global cultural capital thanks to the high quality of its human capital and ranks among the 35 most liveable cities in the world. In 1896, Budapest became the first city in Europe to have a metro line. Today, the metro and fixed-track tram network forms the backbone of the city’s public transport system, carrying 2.2 million people every day. Tram lines 4 and 6 are the busiest in the world. Budapest has been a popular holiday destination since the days of the Roman Empire and is regarded as the spa capital of Europe, thanks to its more than 100 therapeutic geothermal springs and the largest system of caves containing thermal waters. The city is home to the world’s second-largest synagogue and third-largest parliament building. Budapest is also renowned for its more than 40 museums and galleries, nearly ten Michelin-starred restaurants, and ranks among the world’s top 50 cities for gastronomy thanks to its unique Hungarian cuisine. Budapest regularly hosts major international sporting events. The Puskás Aréna, with a capacity of nearly 70,000 spectators, has become one such venue. It has hosted matches at Euro 2020, the 2023 UEFA Europa League final, the 2020 UEFA Super Cup and the 2026 UEFA Champions League final. In addition, the city hosted the World Athletics Championships in 2023 and the World Aquatics Championships in 2017 and 2022. In 2025, Budapest attracted 7 million foreign tourists, making it one of the most popular destinations in Europe. History The history of Budapest dates back to the 1st century, when a Celtic settlement stood on the site of the city. In AD 89, the Romans founded Aquincum on the right bank of the Danube; it became the centre of the province of Lower Pannonia (Pannonia Inferior), which is known today as Óbuda. Opposite, on the left bank of the river, lay Contra-Aquincum – modern-day Pest. The Roman fort was an important stronghold, built in the early 2nd century and rebuilt in the late 3rd century due to its strategic importance. It guarded the ‘capital’ and controlled the ancient trade crossing. Following the fall of Rome and the great migrations, Aquincum fell into decline. Pannonia was invaded by the Huns, Ostrogoths, Lombards, Avars and Slavs, and in the 9th century by the Hungarians. The first Hungarian settlement was destroyed by the Mongols in 1241–1242. In 1243, construction began on Buda Castle, known as ‘New Pest Hill’ or Castle Hill in Buda. In the 15th century, the rebuilt city became a centre of the Renaissance in the Kingdom of Hungary. Under the Jagiellonian dynasty, the combined population of the three cities stood at 25,000–30,000, making them among the largest in Europe alongside Prague, Vienna and Kraków. The city was an important trading centre, specialising in livestock and wine. This economic prosperity came to an end with the defeat of the Hungarian forces at the Battle of Mohács in 1526 (Mohácsi csata). In 1686, Buda was liberated from the Turks by the Habsburgs, but the region’s active development did not begin until the 18th and 19th centuries. Following the Compromise of 1867, the city became the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy alongside Vienna. Contemporary history On 17 November 1873, Buda, Pest and Óbuda merged to form Budapest. During this period, famous buildings were constructed, and the city transformed into a cosmopolitan metropolis. The Second World War caused enormous damage. In 1944, the German army blew up all the bridges over the Danube, and fierce fighting raged on the right bank for six months. Part of the Castle District was destroyed by artillery fire. In 1950, the city’s administrative structure was reformed, and 23 neighbouring towns were incorporated into the capital, increasing its area by 2.5 times and its population by 1.5 times. In the autumn of 1956, Budapest became the centre of an uprising against the communist regime. Best attractions: TOP 25 Budavári Palota Buda Castle, also known as the Royal Palace, is a historic complex of the Hungarian kings in Budapest. Today, the castle houses the Hungarian National Gallery, the Budapest History Museum and the National Library. Castle Hill is connected to Clark Ádám Square and the Chain Bridge by a funicular railway. UNESCO inscribed this area on the World Heritage List in 1987. Szent István-bazilika St Stephen’s Basilica, also known as the Basilica of St Stephen, is the largest Catholic cathedral in Budapest. This magnificent church is the co-cathedral of the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest, alongside the Basilica of St Adalbert. Országház The Hungarian Parliament Building, situated on the left bank of the Danube in Budapest, is the seat of the Hungarian Parliament. It is the largest building in Hungary, with 691 rooms, 29 staircases and 10 courtyards. It is flanked by 88 columns. Mátyás-templom The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary at Buda Castle, also known as Matthias Church, is situated on Holy Trinity Square in the heart of Budapest, opposite the Fisherman’s Bastion. Originally built in the Romanesque style in 1015, the church has undergone significant alterations. The present building, in the late Gothic style, was constructed in the second half of the 14th century and restored at the end of the 19th century. In its day, it was the second-largest church in medieval Buda and the seventh most important in the Kingdom of Hungary. Széchenyi fürdő The Széchenyi Baths are the largest spa complex in Budapest and Europe, named after the renowned Hungarian politician István Széchenyi. Construction began in 1909 based on a design by the architect György Cigler. The thermal water for the complex is supplied from St Stephen’s Well No. II, which came into operation in 1938, whilst cold water is supplied from six small wells. The baths feature three outdoor and fifteen indoor pools. A variety of therapeutic treatments are available here. Várkerület The first district of Budapest is the Castle District (Várkerület or Budavár). This is the historic part of the Buda side of the city. It comprises Buda Castle Hill and the surrounding areas, including Tabán, Kristinaváros and part of Gellért Hill. Sándor-palota The Sándor Palace is situated next to Buda Castle in the historic Castle District. Since 2003, the palace has also served as the official residence of the President of Hungary. It is the 37th largest palace in modern Hungary. Halászbástya The Fisherman’s Bastion is an architectural structure on Castle Hill in Buda. It is one of the main attractions of the Hungarian capital. The bastion consists of a square surrounded by a gallery 140 metres long and 8 metres wide. It features six small towers and one central conical tower. These symbolise the seven tribes that founded the Hungarian state. The gallery is adorned with arcades and balustrades. The bastion was built between 1899 and 1905. It was conceived as a backdrop for Matthias Church. The name ‘Bastion’ does not reflect its defensive purpose. Nagyvásárcsarnok The Great Market Hall, or Central Market Hall, is the largest and oldest covered market in Budapest. The idea for its construction came from the city’s first mayor, Károly Kamermayer, who invested considerable funds in the project. The market was officially opened on 15 February 1897. Hősök tere Heroes’ Square is one of Budapest’s most famous squares, situated in Pest. This is where Andrássy Avenue meets Városliget City Park. The square was created to mark the celebration of Hungary’s millennium in 1896. At that time, more than 50,000 people gathered there. Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum The Hungarian National Museum is one of Budapest’s leading museums. It is dedicated to the history and art of Hungary. The museum was founded in 1802 by Count Ferenc Széchenyi. Its collection originally comprised coins, books and manuscripts. Today, the museum’s collection comprises over a million exhibits. Széchenyi lánchíd The Széchenyi Chain Bridge is a famous bridge across the Danube, linking Buda and Pest, the two parts of Budapest. It was designed by the English engineer William Tierney Clark and built by the Scottish engineer Adam Clark. The bridge opened in 1849 and became the first permanent bridge across the river in Hungary. It is named after István Széchenyi, who actively supported its construction. Magyar Állami Operaház The Hungarian State Opera House is a historic building situated in the centre of Budapest on Andrássy Avenue. Originally known as the Hungarian Royal Opera House, it was designed by the architect Miklós Ybl. Construction began in 1875, funded by the city and Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary, and it opened on 27 September 1884. Szabadság híd The Liberty Bridge is the third-southernmost public road bridge in the city, and also the shortest. It was originally named the Ferenc József híd (Franz Joseph Bridge). This bridge was the first to be rebuilt following the severe damage it sustained during the Second World War. Szépművészeti Múzeum The Museum of Fine Arts houses Hungary’s largest collection of foreign art. The museum opened in 1906 in a neoclassical building on Heroes’ Square. It was designed by the architects Albert Schikedanz and Fülöp Herzog. The building was constructed opposite the Műcsarnok exhibition hall. Gellérthegyi-barlang The cave on Gellért Hill, known as ‘St John’s Cave’, is situated in Budapest. The cave is named after a hermit who lived there. He used the thermal water from a nearby muddy lake to treat the sick. It is possible that this same water filled the pools of the ancient Szarosh mud baths, now known as the Gellért Baths. Igazságügyi palota The Palace of Justice on Kossuth Lajos Square is one of Budapest’s most recognisable buildings. Built between 1893 and 1896 in an eclectic style to a design by Alajos Hauszmann, it was erected to mark the millennium in 1896 and served as the headquarters of the Hungarian Royal Curia until 1949. Thereafter, most of the building was occupied by the Museum of Ethnography, whilst a smaller section was used by the Institute of Political History, which operated there until the late 2010s. Vajdahunyad vára Vajdahunyad Castle is situated in Városliget Park. It was built between 1896 and 1908 to a design by the architect Ignác Alpar. Today, Vajdahunyad Castle houses the Agricultural Museum. Sziklakórház Atombunker Múzeum The ‘Hospital in the Rock’ Museum is the name given to the hospital built in the caves beneath Buda Castle in Budapest in the 1930s as part of preparations for the Second World War. The museum’s main mission is to highlight the value of peace, reveal the true face of war and honour the memory of those who showed humanity during the most difficult periods of the twentieth century: doctors, nurses and volunteers. Gellért gyógyfürdő The Gellért Thermal Baths were built in the early 20th century, between 1912 and 1918. The buildings were damaged during the Second World War but were later restored. References to the healing properties of the local waters date back to the 13th century. In the Middle Ages, a hospital was located here. And during the Ottoman Empire, there were also baths here. Andrássy út Andrássy Avenue in Budapest, established in 1872, connects Erzsébet Square with Városliget Park. The avenue is lined with magnificent Neo-Renaissance mansions and townhouses, featuring beautiful façades and interiors. In 2002, the avenue was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Notable buildings include the State Opera House, the former ballet school (currently undergoing renovation), the Zoltán Kodály Memorial Museum and Archive, the Hungarian University of Fine Arts, and the Ferenc Hopp Museum of East Asian Art. Nagy Zsinagóga The Great Synagogue of Budapest, also known as the Dohány Street Synagogue, is the largest in Europe. It is situated in the Jewish quarter of Pest, where many Jews still live today. The synagogue was designed by the Viennese architect Ludwig Förster, who had previously built a synagogue in Vienna. The building is constructed in a pseudo-historical Neo-Moorish style, symbolising the Middle Eastern roots of the Jewish people. Construction took place between 1854 and 1859. Néprajzi Múzeum The Ethnographic Museum in Budapest is one of the largest in Europe. The museum’s collection comprises almost 200,000 items: works of art, photographs, clothing, accessories and jewellery from various eras and peoples. Gellért-hegy Gellért Hill in Budapest, 235 metres high, rises above the Danube, stretching across the 1st and 11th districts. It is named after Saint Gerard, who was thrown from its summit. On Gellért Square, at the foot of the hill, next to the Liberty Bridge, stand the famous Gellért Hotel and the Gellért Baths. Magyar Zene Háza The House of Music in Hungary is a modern exhibition, concert and educational centre in Budapest. It is situated in Városliget Park, in a building designed by the Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto. The building, constructed between 2019 and 2021, is characterised by its futuristic design. Erzsébet tér Erzsébet Square is situated in District 5 of Budapest. It is bordered by Béci Street, József Attila Street, Bajcs-Zilinský Street and Harminkád Street. This square is the largest green space in the centre of Pest. Transport Public transport in Budapest is operated by BKK (Budapesti Közlekedési Központ) — one of the largest transport authorities in Europe. The BKK operates 4 metro lines, 5 suburban railway routes, 33 tram routes, 15 trolleybus routes and 264 bus routes, including 40 night services. The city also has 4 waterbus routes and the BuBi bike-share scheme. Every day, 3.9 million passengers travel on BKK services, and in 2011 the total number of passengers was 1.4 billion. A single ticket costs 500 forints, which is approximately 1.41 euros. Ten such tickets cost 4,500 forints or 12.65 euros. A 30-minute pass costs 600 forints, and a 90-minute pass costs 850. A day pass costs 2,750 forints, and a three-day pass costs 5,750. All tickets and passes can be purchased at any metro or tram station and at most bus stops. Children under 14 and people over 65 travel free of charge. Public transport Tram lines 4 and 6 are the busiest in the world. They are served by one of the longest trams (54 metres), running every 2–3 minutes during peak hours and every 4–5 minutes at other times. Trams run from 4:00 until 00:30. The Budapest Metro is the Hungarian capital’s rapid transit system. Opened in 1896, it became the second-oldest electrified underground railway in the world after the City and South London Railway (1890). Between 1970 and 1990, the metro was expanded with the addition of the M2 and M3 lines. The M4 line was completed in 2014. Today, the system has a total length of 39.4 km and comprises 52 stations. The first line, the M1, opened in 1896 and marked an important milestone thanks to a number of innovations. These included: reversible trams, electric lighting in stations and carriages, and an overhead catenary system instead of a third rail. In 2002, the M1 line was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Airport Budapest is served by Ferenc Liszt International Airport (IATA: BUD, ICAO: LHBP), one of the busiest airports in Central and Eastern Europe. It is situated 16 kilometres east-southeast of the city centre. The airport operates international flights to major cities in Europe, North America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. It is Hungary’s main airport, handling almost all of the country’s passenger traffic. In 2013, it handled around 250 scheduled flights and numerous charter flights. The most popular destinations are London, Brussels, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris and Amsterdam. Bus 100E runs from the city centre to the airport. A single journey costs 2,500 forints, which is approximately 6.50 euros. Railways The Hungarian railways are operated by a state-owned company. The city has three main stations: Keleti (East), Nyugati (West) and Deli (South). They serve both domestic and international trains. Budapest is one of the main stops on the Orient Express route through Central and Eastern Europe. The HÉV suburban railway also operates in the city’s outskirts. Main information Region: Central Hungary Area: 525.1 km² Coordinates: 47°29’46.3‘N 19°02’26.3’E Languages: Hungarian Population: 1,685,209 people Currency: Forint (HUF) Visa: Schengen Time zone: UTC+2 (Central European Summer Time, CEST) See also France travel guide Spain travel guide Catalonia travel guide Pyrenees travel guideThe post Budapest first appeared on All PYRENEES.