Other Main Interests Not to Miss
The Great Synagogue and Jewish Museum
The Main Entrance of the Synagogue
The synagogue in Dohány Street is one of the most beautiful and also the largest one still functioning in Continental Europe and the second largest in the world, able to sit 3000 people. Budapest’s grand synagogue was built between 1854 and 1859 based on plans by Viennese architect Ludwig Förster.
The synagogue is basically Moorish in style, with two tall onion-domed towers that make it easily recognizable throughout the Pest section of the city. Tourists will also find some Byzantine, Gothic, and Romantic elements in the architecture of the synagogue. The building is 53 meters long and about half as wide. The brick work on the outside is colored in yellow and red. A rose stained-glass window sits over the main entrance and the two polygonal towers on either side soar to a height of 43.6 meters. The interior of the synagogue is quite colorful and ornate. Strangely, Budapest’s Great Synagogue is home to a huge pipe organ. This grand organ contains about 5000 pipes and was built in 1859, today it is often used for concerts. The synagogue was heavily damaged during the war and renovation was completed in 1988.
Next door is the Jewish Museum containing relics from the Hungarian Jewish Community, including religious objects from festivals, and the Holocaust Memorial room. During World War II, the Nazis sent many Budapest Jews to their death. Many are buried in the courtyard of the synagogue where can be found the Holocaust Memorial in the shape of a weeping willow tree, each metal leaf engraved with the names of Nazi victims.
Website: www.dohany-zsinagoga.hu
State Opera House
Once known as the Budapest Royal Opera House, the city’s ornate concert hall is considered one of the most magnificent in the world and is home to first-rate performances of the world’s greatest operas. Erected between 1875 and 1884, this Eclectic, Neo-Renaissance style building is, even on an international scale, an outstanding creation for its time – both in the terms of its exterior, and its interior decoration.
On the exterior, visitors will find sixteen statues of the great composers of the world, including Beethoven, Mozart, Verdi, Bizet, Tchaikovsky, and Monteverdi. Of particular interest to the Hungarian people are the statues of their country’s most popular composers – Franz Liszt, a prolific composer/pianist of the 19th century, and Ferenc Erkel, composer of the Hungarian national anthem and first director of the opera.
The inside of the Hungarian State Opera House is stunning as well, boasts a magnificent foyer with a double marble staircase. The auditorium possesses unusually good acoustics. The ceiling frescos and the wall-paintings are masterpieces of their kind. More than seven kilograms of gold were used to decorate the inside of the immense auditorium, which seats about 1200 patrons. The Opera House was renewed on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of its opening. There are guided tours available.
Website: www.operavisit.hu
On the exterior, visitors will find sixteen statues of the great composers of the world, including Beethoven, Mozart, Verdi, Bizet, Tchaikovsky, and Monteverdi. Of particular interest to the Hungarian people are the statues of their country’s most popular composers – Franz Liszt, a prolific composer/pianist of the 19th century, and Ferenc Erkel, composer of the Hungarian national anthem and first director of the opera.
The inside of the Hungarian State Opera House is stunning as well, boasts a magnificent foyer with a double marble staircase. The auditorium possesses unusually good acoustics. The ceiling frescos and the wall-paintings are masterpieces of their kind. More than seven kilograms of gold were used to decorate the inside of the immense auditorium, which seats about 1200 patrons. The Opera House was renewed on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of its opening. There are guided tours available.
Website: www.operavisit.hu
Central Market Hall
Budapest’s huge Central Market Hall, also known as the Great Market Hall, is the city's largest indoor market. The beautiful historic structure attracts both local shoppers and tourists. Just prior to the turn of the 20th century city leaders recognized a need for more and better market places for the city. Decision was made to build covered markets similar to those in larger European cities, such as Paris.
A competition was held to determine the architect for this grand market. Samu Petz was chosen and construction commenced in 1894. Unfortunately, just days before the 150-meter-long neo-Gothic hall was due to open in 1896, a fire destroyed a sizeable portion of the roof, delaying opening until March of the following year.
When it finally opened, it was declared among the finest and most modern covered markets on the continent. The structure originally incorporated an indoor canal by which goods were delivered to the market traders.
Budapest’s Central Market Hall was extensively damaged during World War II and while rebuilt contractors took short cuts and the newly reconstructed market lacked the strength of the original and it was closed down in 1991 as it was declared hazardous. In the mid-1990s, the city government decided to restore this grand monument. Renovations were made to both the interior and exterior and new Zsolnay tiles were crafted for the roof. The result was a clean, bright, colorful new market that 3 floors serve the needs of the city’s residents and its many visitors.
On the ground floor you find every kind of food you would need while on the whole first floor an amazing range of tourist souvenirs are on sale, definitely a must see for all tourist.
A competition was held to determine the architect for this grand market. Samu Petz was chosen and construction commenced in 1894. Unfortunately, just days before the 150-meter-long neo-Gothic hall was due to open in 1896, a fire destroyed a sizeable portion of the roof, delaying opening until March of the following year.
When it finally opened, it was declared among the finest and most modern covered markets on the continent. The structure originally incorporated an indoor canal by which goods were delivered to the market traders.
Budapest’s Central Market Hall was extensively damaged during World War II and while rebuilt contractors took short cuts and the newly reconstructed market lacked the strength of the original and it was closed down in 1991 as it was declared hazardous. In the mid-1990s, the city government decided to restore this grand monument. Renovations were made to both the interior and exterior and new Zsolnay tiles were crafted for the roof. The result was a clean, bright, colorful new market that 3 floors serve the needs of the city’s residents and its many visitors.
On the ground floor you find every kind of food you would need while on the whole first floor an amazing range of tourist souvenirs are on sale, definitely a must see for all tourist.
Liberty Square (Szabadság Tér)
Budapest’s Liberty Square is considered one of the most charming and architecturally-significant areas in the city. The square is actually a very pleasant, quiet park which is built around with architectural masterpieces. A unique fountain was recently built at the square which is already extremely popular with tourists who don’t even mind getting wet on a hot day.
In the very centre of Liberty Square, visitors will find one of the city’s few remaining monuments to the Soviets. Most have been moved outside of the city to the Statue Park. However, this rather large monument with a star on the top remains as a reminder of the Red Army troops who liberated Budapest in 1944-45.
Residents are enamoured of the wonderful buildings that surround the square. Directly behind the Soviet monument stands the magnificent U.S. Embassy Building, completed in 1900 and housing U.S. diplomats since 1935. Two immense buildings at Freedom Square stand opposite each other were completed in 1905. More glory is given to the National Bank building - built in the late Classical style at the east side while at the square's western side is the former Stock Exchange building. Another notable building where the headquarters for Hungarian National TV is located and the building is clearly influenced by the Secessionist style. This is particularly noticeable at the building's impressive entrance.
A short walk around or a quick rest at Liberty square is a memorable time of Budapest without any doubt.
In the very centre of Liberty Square, visitors will find one of the city’s few remaining monuments to the Soviets. Most have been moved outside of the city to the Statue Park. However, this rather large monument with a star on the top remains as a reminder of the Red Army troops who liberated Budapest in 1944-45.
Residents are enamoured of the wonderful buildings that surround the square. Directly behind the Soviet monument stands the magnificent U.S. Embassy Building, completed in 1900 and housing U.S. diplomats since 1935. Two immense buildings at Freedom Square stand opposite each other were completed in 1905. More glory is given to the National Bank building - built in the late Classical style at the east side while at the square's western side is the former Stock Exchange building. Another notable building where the headquarters for Hungarian National TV is located and the building is clearly influenced by the Secessionist style. This is particularly noticeable at the building's impressive entrance.
A short walk around or a quick rest at Liberty square is a memorable time of Budapest without any doubt.
Buda's Green Upland
Chair lift to Janos Hill
The Buda Upland forms the natural western boundary of the Hungarian capital. The hills offer a wide variety of programs for those wishing to relax in nature. Whether you simply want to hike up the hills for the fantastic view or you rather choose one of the extreme versions of public transport to reach the top, you won’t be disappointed. Designated paths through the forests are suitable for both walking and cycling.
There are some interesting ways of getting here. You can begin your journey with the Cogwheel Railway which connects Városmajor and Széchenyi Hill, and is the third oldest in the world. Once you reach the top, walk up to the Children's Railway opened in 1951 (with the exception of the engine driver, the Railway is run entirely by children) and take the train a couple of stops to Janos Hegy (Janos Hill). Look out for the steam-hauled special services. Website: www.gyermekvasut.hu
Janos hill is the highest hill around the capital with its 529 meters. Here you will find the 24 m high Erzsebet Look-Out Tower, a Victorian observation tower which was built in 1910. Climb to the top and enjoy a splendid view in all directions. The chair lift is a fun way of getting down the hill. While travelling down silently sitting in this „ski-resort type” lift you can enjoy superb views over the whole of Budapest. Jumping out of the chair at the end of your journey you can take a bus or taxi back to the centre.
2 fascinating caves offer the real beauty of the nature uniquely just in the capital of Hungary. To discover the amazing heritage of some million years you can either choose the guided tour or even the more adventurous way dressed in an overall and using a miner cap and lamp on your head. This is definitely an experience you will never forget.
Website: http://barlangaszat.hu
Palvolgyi-Cave (Pálvölgyi Barlang) is a stalactite-rich cave, the longest in the Buda Hills, was discovered in 1904 during quarrying. Guided tours are offered every hour and take approx an hour. The full length of the discovered parts is 19 km and the guided tour is 500 m long. The inside temperature is constantly 10 C’ degree all year round.
Szemlohegy-cave (Szemlohegyi-Barlang) is a well-known hydrothermal cave with formations such as peastone that were created where thermal water permeated through the limestone. This strictly protected cave is one of Budapest’s most valuable natural treasures. The clean air is used for medical purpose and the air temperature is a constant 12 C’. Tour takes about 40 minutes.
There are some interesting ways of getting here. You can begin your journey with the Cogwheel Railway which connects Városmajor and Széchenyi Hill, and is the third oldest in the world. Once you reach the top, walk up to the Children's Railway opened in 1951 (with the exception of the engine driver, the Railway is run entirely by children) and take the train a couple of stops to Janos Hegy (Janos Hill). Look out for the steam-hauled special services. Website: www.gyermekvasut.hu
Janos hill is the highest hill around the capital with its 529 meters. Here you will find the 24 m high Erzsebet Look-Out Tower, a Victorian observation tower which was built in 1910. Climb to the top and enjoy a splendid view in all directions. The chair lift is a fun way of getting down the hill. While travelling down silently sitting in this „ski-resort type” lift you can enjoy superb views over the whole of Budapest. Jumping out of the chair at the end of your journey you can take a bus or taxi back to the centre.
2 fascinating caves offer the real beauty of the nature uniquely just in the capital of Hungary. To discover the amazing heritage of some million years you can either choose the guided tour or even the more adventurous way dressed in an overall and using a miner cap and lamp on your head. This is definitely an experience you will never forget.
Website: http://barlangaszat.hu
Palvolgyi-Cave (Pálvölgyi Barlang) is a stalactite-rich cave, the longest in the Buda Hills, was discovered in 1904 during quarrying. Guided tours are offered every hour and take approx an hour. The full length of the discovered parts is 19 km and the guided tour is 500 m long. The inside temperature is constantly 10 C’ degree all year round.
Szemlohegy-cave (Szemlohegyi-Barlang) is a well-known hydrothermal cave with formations such as peastone that were created where thermal water permeated through the limestone. This strictly protected cave is one of Budapest’s most valuable natural treasures. The clean air is used for medical purpose and the air temperature is a constant 12 C’. Tour takes about 40 minutes.
Western Railway Station (Nyugati Palyaudvar)
On the site where in 1846 the first Hungarian train departed from a primitive train station to Vác, you'll now find an elegant glass and iron construction. The West Station is a protected building which was erected in the 1870s by the Parisian firm of Eiffel. (The company famous for building the Eiffel Tower.)
The iron-framed hall is considered to be one of the best examples of Eiffel’s magnificent complex ironwork, typical of the late 1800s. For many years, it was Europe’s most modern railway station and also the fifth largest in the world.
Fun fact is that just beside the West Station sits a very ornate McDonald’s Restaurant. Always filled with hungry commuters, it’s said to have the most beautiful interior of any fast food restaurant on the planet. The 250-seat restaurant is the second busiest of all the 11000 McDonald’s restaurants worldwide.
The iron-framed hall is considered to be one of the best examples of Eiffel’s magnificent complex ironwork, typical of the late 1800s. For many years, it was Europe’s most modern railway station and also the fifth largest in the world.
Fun fact is that just beside the West Station sits a very ornate McDonald’s Restaurant. Always filled with hungry commuters, it’s said to have the most beautiful interior of any fast food restaurant on the planet. The 250-seat restaurant is the second busiest of all the 11000 McDonald’s restaurants worldwide.
Tropicarium - Ocenarium
Tropicarium is the largest sea aquarium in all Central Europe and as a matter of quality is one of the most beautiful in all Europe. Located in a big shopping center in the outskirt of Budapest. Not only a part of the deep sea world is presented but also a tiny bit of a tropical rainforest, where the sky thunders every quarter of an hour, rain starts to fall and lightning zigzags over the lazily lying Mississippi alligators.
Organised in eight rooms, the permanent exhibitionpresents exotic birds flying freely, squirrel monkeys jumping on the hanging trails, tortoises walking comfortably and thousands of colourful fish swimming in the aquariums, offering a breathtaking view, representing all the seas of the world in front of the visitors. The shark aquarium containing 1.4 million litres of salt water, housing 8 two-meter-long sharks and hundreds of colourful fish of other species, swimming around in peaceful harmony. There is long subway under the shark pool providing the best sight of the aquarium when the long and frightening creatures swimming just above you.
Website: www.tropicarium.hu
Organised in eight rooms, the permanent exhibitionpresents exotic birds flying freely, squirrel monkeys jumping on the hanging trails, tortoises walking comfortably and thousands of colourful fish swimming in the aquariums, offering a breathtaking view, representing all the seas of the world in front of the visitors. The shark aquarium containing 1.4 million litres of salt water, housing 8 two-meter-long sharks and hundreds of colourful fish of other species, swimming around in peaceful harmony. There is long subway under the shark pool providing the best sight of the aquarium when the long and frightening creatures swimming just above you.
Website: www.tropicarium.hu
Other Great Museums
- The Millenaris Park (House of Future & Palace of Miracles)
The House of Future is an exhibition area with 3000sqm, the frequently changing topics embrace genetic research computer sciences. Pixel Gallery is an outstanding showroom for media arts.
The Palace of Miracles is a playful, interactive exhibition. A kind of mixture of a museum, playground, school, cultural- and amusement center. It presents scientific and natural phenomena interactively. The exhibited objects try to proove that the world is interesting. In every autumn the main theme of the exhibitions changes but some popular attractions stay there. Website: www.csodakpalotaja.hu/english
The Palace of Arts, Budapest and Hungary's long-awaited new cultural hub opened in 2005. It was built to represent more than a hundred years of Hungarian cultural history. As a collection of cultural venues, the building has no precedent in 20th century Hungarian architecture and has no peers in the whole of Central Europe. The three institutions housed in the building – the ”Béla Bartók” National Concert Hall, the Ludwig Museum and the Festival Theatre – were all constructed in parallel as part of a highly sophisticated and carefully coordinated project. This form of “cultural shopping centre”, unique in Hungary and throughout Europe, has been a hit not only with the critics, but also with the public. Website: www.mupa.hu Museum of Contemporary Art collects and displays masterworks of modern and contemporary art. Here are displayed the modern exhibits of the art-collecting husband and wife Peter and Irene Ludwig, originally from Cologne. The museum concentrates on the last fifty years of modern art in general, and the last ten years of modern Hungarian art in particular. Website: www.ludwigmuseum.hu |
To recreate the feeling, the exhibition displays much of the original and contemporary artifiacts in diaoramas with over 70 wax figures, further bringing to life the sights that one might have seen when the Hospital and shelter were in operation. Website: www.sziklakorhaz.hu |
- Transport Museum
One of the oldest transport collections in Europe boasts a model railway system that is famed the world over. Old cars, motorcycle, trams, and models of ships show the development of transportation in Hungary.
- Railway Memorial Park
Website: www.mavnosztalgia.hu/en/
The Museum, while presenting the horrors in a tangible way, also intends to make people understand that the sacrifice for freedom was not in vain. Ultimately, the fight against the two cruellest systems of the 20th century ended with the victory of the forces of freedom and independence. Website: www.terrorhaza.hu |
The statues of Lenin, Marx and Engels, and Ostapenko can be seen at the park, and memorials to The Soviet Soldier, the Communist Martyrs, and the Republic of Councils. This is the only collection in the world from the time of Communist politics. Website: www.szoborpark.hu |
- Budapest Historical Museum – Castle Museum
Website: www.btm.hu
- Castle Museum – Nagyteteny
Website: www.nagytetenyi.hu
- Hungarian Natural History Museum
Website: www.nhmus.hu
- Palace of Art
Website: www.mucsarnok.hu
- Museum of Military History
- Museum of Music History
Website: www.zti.hu
- Stamp Museum
- Telephone Museum
Unique Buildings and Places
Construction began on this Secession masterpiece in 1904, concluding a little more than two years later. Originally, the palace served not only as an office building but also a home for wealthy British aristocrats connected with the company. |
During World War II, however, Soviet soldiers eagerly took up residence in the very opulent palace. Eventually, it fell into disrepair and served as an apartment building during the Communist rule of Hungary. When democracy was restored, thenational government presented the palace to the city of Budapest. In the early 21st century, it was purchased by the Four Seasons hotel chain and is now turned to one of the city’s most luxurious hotels. Website: www.fourseasons.com/budapest
Built between 1859 and 1864 - after the original building was destroyed by fire during the 1848-49 revolution. “Vigadó” is one of this country’s pre-eminent monuments in the Romantic style. Its main façade, overlooking the Danube, features outward projections at the corners joined by arcades. The hall is open only for concerts. It is being renovated but the facade is already finished providing an amazing sight from the little square in front. |
- National Theatre
Website: www.nemzetiszinhaz.hu
The Café New York is luxuriously furnished in bronze and marble with Venetian chandeliers. It used to be a favorite rendezvous of writers, publishers and various well-known personalities during the first thirty years of this century. It is loacted on the ground floor of the Palais New York, a Secessionist and Neo-Renaissance building originally built at the very end of the 19th century for a large American insurance company. It was severely damaged during the Second World War but has been fully restored. The Late Eclectic interior architecture is much admired. Website: www.newyorkcafe.hu/eng |
- Grand Boulevard
- East station (Keleti Station)
- Moscow Square (Moszkva tér)
- Budapest Sportarena
Website: www.budapestarena.hu