St Stephens Basilica

Named after the first king of Hungary, King Stephen 1st, this huge building was eventually completed in 1905, the building having been started in 1851 but the original dome collapsed in 1868, and was designed in the Neo Classical style. A reliquary holds Stephens incorruptible right hand and the church itself has the plan of a Greek cross.

A spectacular view is to be had from the top of the dome, accessed by stairs or a lift. The Basilicas beauty lies in the carvings, frescoes, chapels and variegated marble, gilded stucco, bronze mouldings and the splendid organ situated above the doorway. On an architectural par with the Parliament, it is one of the two tallest buildings in Budapest, also at 96 metres commemorating the founding of the Hungarian peoples with the arrival of the Magyars in 896.

Fishermans Bastion

The seven towers of this stunning neo Gothic, neo Romansesque edifice represent the seven tribes that were united by Arpad in 896, the Bastion taking its name from the guild of fishermen that was responsible for defending this stretch of the city walls in the Middle Ages.
It was designed and built by Frigyes Schulek, between 1895-1902 and its spectacular position affords panoramic views of Buda, the Gellert Hill, Pest and Margaret Island.

Situated close to the Castle area, it offers cafes and bars nearby, whilst viewing this truly magnificent structure.
A bronze statue of Stephen I of Hungary mounted on a horse, erected in 1906, can be seen between the Bastion and the Matthias Church.

Castle Hill

Colloquially refered to as “the Var” by local residents, this area of Buda was first inhabited after a Mongol attack led the people of Buda to decide on a more readily defended residence. The Royal Court also decided to move there, leading to the building of a Gothic style Castle and the population grew to around 8000 persons by the C14th. 1541 – 1686 saw a period of Turkish rule, ending in a siege that saw the destruction of that building and the settlement reduced to some 300 souls. 1715 saw work start on a smaller, Baroque style Palace, strangely never lived in by the Royal Family.

The Mary Magdalene Tower is the only remaining reference to the only Christian church allowed by the Turks, originally a C13th Franciscan church. The convergence of the four lengthways streets here, led to the development of a market for non Jewish merchants, called Vienna Gate. German settlers in Buda created a church that became popular with King Matyas, he was married here twice and it contains both a sumptuous interior and a replica of St Stephens crown.

The Central Market

1894 saw the building of the Great Market Hall, one of five central markets built to supply the new city developement, however a serious fire just prior to that opening led to a delay of some 3 years before the Market finally opened under the management of Nandor Ziegler.
Rules governing behaviour and quality were strict from the start, no swearing and confiscation of poor goods occurring during the first few weeks, but soon standards had been established and trade improved weekly.

A building of fantastic size, colour and practicality, refurbished in 1994, it is probably one of Hungarys finest architectural features, practicing still, tremendous standards of hygiene and quality. It also has the advantage of being a venue where superb produce can be purchased – vegetable displays of unbelievable variety and colour and meat of every type along with a great selection of cafes and one or two bars.

The Central Synagogue

Built between 1854 and 1859 this, the largest Synagogue in Euro Asia, can accommodate some 3000 worshipers, it follows the Moorish design of North Africa and Spain.

Built in Dohany ( Tobacco) street the area has strong Holocaust connections, being adjacent to the Jewish Ghetto, the site being next to that of the house of Theodor Herzl, the father of modern Zionism, now the Jewish Muzeum.

Hotel Gellert

Built between 1916 and 1918, this sumptuous 4 star hotel, in the style of Art Nouveax, is one of the most famous historic hotels in Europe – a popular venue for the Marahajas of India and their entourage.

Refurbished in 1962 and 1973 the Gellert is a popular hotel for both tourists and business persons who return regularly to Budapest Part of the complex incorporates the famous Gellert Baths, probably the most attractive spa and swimming pool feature in Budapest. Healing waters were first described here in the C13th and a hospital was the first known development followed by Turkish baths in the Ottoman occupation.

The thermal baths are decorated beautifully with mosaic tiles. The complex also includes saunas and plunge pools (segregated by gender), an open-air swimming pool which can create artificial waves every ten minutes and an effervescent swimming pool. A sauna with cold pool and children's pool is also enclosed within the complex.

 Hero’s Square

Built to celebrate the Hungarian millennium of 1896, but only finished in 1929, it was started in the reign of the Habsburg dynasty when Hungary was part of the Austrian Empire. The magnificent central monument features the Magyar leader Arpad and the six other tribal heads, celebrating the joining together of the 7 founding tribes that went on to develop into the Hungarian race.

Directly behind the cenotaph is a column topped by a statue of the archangel Gabriel. In his right hand the angel holds the Holy Crown of St. Stephen (Istvan), the first king of Hungary. In his left hand the angel holds a two barred apostolic cross, a symbol awarded to St. Stephen by the Pope in recognition of his efforts to convert Hungary to Christianity. In Hungarian it is referred to as the double cross or the apostolic double cross. One side of the square contains the Muzeum of Fine Art and the other the Hall of Art, whilst behind it is the fabulous City Park.

Parliament Building

1873 saw the uniting of the three cities that now make up the capital of Hungary – Buda, Pest and Obuda. Seven years later the National Assembly resolved to create a new representative Parliament Building, started in 1885, it was inaugurated in the millennium year 1896 and completed in 1904.

Inspiration being taken from the British Parliament Building, the Palace of Westminster, it was built in Gothic Revival style having a symmetrical facade and a central dome. Along with St Stephens Basilica, it shares being one of the two tallest buildings in Budapest, both being 96 metres high, a reference to the founding of the Hungarian Nation by Arpad in the year 896.

The main facade faces the River Danube, but the official main entrance is from the square in front of the building. The main entrance is the stairs located on the eastern side, bordered by two lions. The Parliament contains great ornamental staircases, frescoes on the ceiling, a bust of the creator, Imre Steindl, in a wall niche, 242 sculptures on the walls and statues of Hungarian rulers, Transylvanian leaders and famous military  people and those of Árpád and Stephen I. Over the windows, there are pictures of coats of arms of kings and dukes.

One of the famous parts of the building is the hexadecagonal (sixteen-sided) central hall, with the huge chambers adjoining it - the Lower House (the National Assembly meets here) and the Upper House (until 1945). The Holy Crown of Hungary, which is depicted in the coat of arms of Hungary, has been displayed in the central hall since 2000.

Terror House

House of Terror is a museum located at Andrássy ut 60 in Budapest. It contains exhibits related to the Fascist and Communist Dictatorial Regimes in 20th century Hungary and is also a memorial to the victims of these regimes, including those detained, interrogated, tortured or killed in the building. Its location in the very visible middle of the main street in Budapest is a horrifying reminder of those days, not very long ago, when the population was terrorised by the authorities on a daily basis.

The Balaton

Lake Balaton, in the Transdanubian region of Hungary, is the largest lake in Central Europe  and one of its foremost tourist destinations. As Hungary is landlocked, it is often affectionately called the "Hungarian Sea". The Zala River provides the largest inflow of water to the lake, and the canalized Sió is the only outflow. Readily accessable by train, it makes for the perfect day trip to a fascinating destination.

The Opera House

The Hungarian State Opera House is a neo-Renaissance opera house located in central Pest, on Andrássy út. Designed by Miklós Ybl, a major figure of 19th century Hungarian architecture, the construction lasted from 1875 to 1884 and was financed by the city of Budapest and by Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary. The Hungarian Royal Opera House opened to the public on the September 27, 1884.

It is a richly-decorated building and is considered one of the architect's greatest works. It was built in neo-Renaissance style, with elements of Baroque. Ornate decoration includes paintings and sculptures by leading figures of Hungarian art of the time including Bertalan Székely, Mór Than and Károly Lotz. Although in size and capacity it is not among the greatest, in beauty and the quality of acoustics, rated 3rd in the world, the Budapest Opera House is considered to be amongst the finest of opera houses.

The Rudas Baths

The Rudas Bath is a thermal and medicinal bath that was first built in 1550, during the time of the Turkish occupation of Hungary. The baths have recently re opened after a major refurbishment and it retains many of the key elements of a Turkish bath, demonstrated by its Turkish dome and octagonal pool. It is located at Döbrentei tér 9 on the Buda side of Erzsébet Bridge.

The Statue Park

The words of architect Ákos Eleőd, the conceptual designer of Memento Park serve as its motto: "This Park is about dictatorship. And at the same time, because it can be talked about, described and built up, this Park is about democracy. After all, only democracy can provide an opportunity to think freely about dictatorship. Or about democracy, come to that! Or about anything!"

The Hungarian government, having the eminent good sense not to destroy, but preserve their Communist statues, created a separate park outside of the city to house them. On arrival you are confronted with a splendid, almost classical entrance, but behind there is a very different story, not so concrete, not so substantial – rather like a dictatorship itself. Also to be found here is the 6 metre high statue of a Soviet soldier, that intimidated the inhabitants of Budapest for years.

Szechenyi Baths

The Szechenyi Baths one of the largest bathing complexes in all Europe, and the only original medicinal baths to be found in the Pest side of the city. The indoor medicinal baths date from 1913 and the outdoor pools from 1927. There is an atmosphere of grandeur in these baths with the bright, largest pools resembling aspects associated with Roman baths, the smaller bath tubs reminiscent of the bathing culture of the Greeks, and the saunas and diving pools borrowed from traditions emanating in northern Europe. The three outdoor pools are open all year. Indoors there are over ten separate pools, and a variety of medical treatments are also available.

The thermal water is drawn from both natural springs and a 3,000-foot deep artesian well drilled in the 1870’s, the temperature of the water coming from this well is 165°F (74°C). Chess, an Hungarian favourite passtime, can be played in the outdoor pools.

Vorosmarty Ter

If anywhere, the city centre starts here on Vörösmarty Square. Váci Street, the pedestrian main street of downtown Budapest, sets out from here and the square holds the two most popular cafés of the capital: old Gerbeaud and trendy Art Café. The square is always busy and full of life. Anyone in town will surely drop by, and if the weather is fine take a coffee on a terrace or rest on a bench, and when the weather turns cold, sit behind a café window.