Castle
Hill Sightseeing – The Budapest Castle
complex of buildings is on the west side of the Danube
and perched up on Castle Hill overlooking the Danube.
From the Pest side, you can stroll across the Chain
Bridge, and then you can take the funicular railway
2 min ride, or walk up the hill.
On Castle Hill in Budapest, there
are many sights – the Vienna Gate, the remains
of the Magdalen Tower, the Museum of Military History,
the National Archives Buildings, etc.
Beneath the Castle Hill are cellars, caves, tunnels
and so on cut into the hillside. Some of this is open
to the public but more is being discovered on an ongoing
basis. Parts of the caves have been transformed into
a unique and interesting tourist attraction –
The Labyrinth. The rest is being
slowly excavated – this is the area used as
a Bunker by top generals of the Nazi Army towards
the end of World War II. There is layer on layer of
caves and cellars and part of it was mined and booby-trapped,
hence the very slow progress in unearthing it all.
Stroll along Uri Uca (Gentlemen’s Street).
Medieval and baroque houses, side by side, each different,
and well restored. Also walk along Disz Ter, the old
market square.
A strange example of juxtaposition of styles can
be seen on Buda Hill. One of Budapest’s
two Hilton Hotels is situated here. It is a modern
building but it is built onto the Tower of
the Church of St Nicolas and there are the
preserved ruins of part of a Dominican Convent and
Cloister
inside the hotel. It is kind of eerie to wander from
the plush foyer and sitting rooms of the hotel straight
to the old, old stonework of the convent. (The ruins
of another Dominican Convent were
unearthed on Margaret Island after the great floods
of 1838.)
FISHERMAN’S BASTION
Wow! This is where you look across the Danube River
to the Pest side of Budapest and marvel at the impressive
Parliament Buildings (on the edge of the Danube).
The Fisherman’s Bastion dates from the late
19th Century and is a huge big stone edifice.
ROYAL PALACE
A marvellous palace of impressive size, The Royal
Palace in Budapest almost faces the Parliament Buildings
across the Danube River. It houses several museums.
OBUDA (OLD BUDA)
This is a beautifully restored part of Budapest. The
Town Hall of Obuda and the Zivchy Mansion are foremost
among the gracious buildings, but many of the house
previously owned by the rich and powerful of Budapest
are here and a walk down Fo Street will reward you
with the differing romanctic and classical styles.
The Turkish influence can be seen in the Kiraly Baths,
the chapel of Baba Gul on the Hill of Roses (Baba
Gul the Turkish dervish set up a monastery here and
planted the area with roses).
BUDAPEST TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS –
The sights below are “must do’s”
on any visit to Budapest. After you’ve been,
you’ll have your own list. Budapest has a wide
range of important sightseeing options
but many people go without a pre-prepared list of
what they want to see – this is wise because
around every corner in Budapest is something likely
to appeal to someone. Another point about sightseeing
in Budapest is that many people don’t have a
mental picture of the magnificent buildings
such as the Budapest Parliament Buildings, the Royal
Palace in Budapest, etc – despite the fact they
are stunning.
1. Spend some time on Castle
Hill, Buda Castle, Royal Palace, Obuda
2. Go to the Budapest
Citadella and The Freedom Monument
3. Walk up Andrassy
Street to Heroes Square
4. Grab a bit of Culture
in Budapest – Opera,
Concert, Folk Music, etc
5. Look at the wide Danube
River and cross over the Chain Bridge
6. Take a trip to somewhere outside
Budapest – Danube Bend, Visegrad,
Esztergom, Cruise on the Danube, Szentendre (St Andrew)
etc
7. Soothe your aches in a Thermal
Bath, visit Vajdahunyad Castle and
City Park (Varosliget)
8. Go on a trip to Statue’s
Park
9. Visit some Churches,
the Great Jewish Synagogue, St Stephen’s
Basilica, St Matthias Church
10. Admire the Houses
of Parliament but make sure to take a
tour of the
interior
