The Buda Castle Budapest offers plenty of attractions, programmes and opportunities for families, couples and groups of friends.
In addition to museums, temporary exhibitions, the most visited sites (such as the Buda Castle, Matthias Church and the Fisherman's Bastion), other sights, medieval monuments, original cobbled streets and many interesting historical attractions can be found in the castle.
A quiet, tourist-free environment, the Buda Castle Budapest is a real refreshment, not only for people from the countryside, but also for people from Budapest, a break from everyday life.
Time travel in Buda Castle? Read the Roadster magazine article and go on a tourist trip in Budapest! Buda Castle is an island of tranquillity, so take advantage of this time to visit it.
This is what Buda Castle offers now, when there are no foreign tourists.
Sights of Buda Castle, attractions in Buda
Medieval Jewish House of Prayer
14th century Medieval Jewish House of Prayer. The vaulted prayer hall, decorated with valuable 17th-century wall paintings, was excavated and restored in 1964.
On the ground floor of the apartment building at 26 T.ncsics Mih.ly Street in Buda, you can see the prayer house of the late medieval and Turkish quarter of the Buda Jews - the former Jewish Street - built at the end of the 14th century. The vaulted prayer room, divided on the south side by a Gothic pillar and on the north side by a framed window of the former women's prayer room, was excavated and subsequently restored in 1964 during the historic research of the building.
Koller Gallery & Art Gallery
As the first private gallery in Hungary, it represents Hungarian and international contemporary and modern artists at a high artistic level. The gallery is located in the studio of the sculptor Amerigo Tot, and a modest memorial room has been created in his honour. It is worth a visit to its garden!
Mary Magdalene Tower
It is the only medieval tower in Buda that has survived largely in its original state. The rest of the church was demolished in the 1950s, but the tower survived thanks to an architect's idea to save it by creating a R.kosi Pantheon. Today, it houses a chime of 24 bells, which are rung every quarter of an hour.
Wise Castle
In addition to its educational function, the old Buda Town Hall building also houses a restaurant, caf., gift shop and bookshop for tourists. Thanks to a high standard of restoration, several medieval wall sections (above and below ground) have been made visible to the public.
Matthias Church
One of the main churches of the Catholic Church, it is a World Heritage Site. As a coronation church, a place of state representation in Hungarian history, and as a parish church, it has played a prominent role in the history of Buda.
Várkert Bazár
The neo-Renaissance Castle Garden Bazaar, built between 1875-1883 to the designs of Mikl.s Ybl, is a World Heritage Site. There are a number of places to eat and relax, or in the courtyard of the Foundry House on the first floor. The South Palace houses the World War I exhibition, while the Guard Palace houses the temporary exhibition of the Museum of Applied Arts
Renaissance garden, St Stephen's Tower
The South Gardens are the hidden treasures of the Buda Castle Palace. From the Renaissance-style garden you can approach the St. Stephen's Tower, from where you can enjoy an unparalleled view of the Gell.rt Hill.
Courtyard with lions
In the area of the Lion Courtyard, the lighter paving stones reveal the layout of the western wing of the Anjou palace and the huge attached Bone Tower. On the lower levels of the Castle Museum, you can also see the medieval parts of the buildings excavated after the Second World War.
Savoy terrace
The most beautiful panoramic view of the Castle District towards Pest and Gellért Hill. In front of the fa.ade of the Hungarian National Gallery, which forms the back wall of the terrace, a statue of Jenő Savoyai on horseback commemorates the recapture of Buda from the Turks.
Fisherman's Bastion
The Fisherman's Bastion is one of the most famous monuments in Budapest, located in the 1st district. It is one of the most important tourist attractions in Budapest because of the unparalleled panorama of Budapest from its neo-Romanesque observation decks. The main facade of the Fisherman's Bastion, parallel to the Danube, is about 140 metres long, so you can enjoy the view while taking a short walk. Its spire-like stone towers symbolise the seven Hungarian squatters. The name dates back to the Middle Ages, when this part of the castle wall was protected by a guild of fishermen. It has been part of the Budapest World Heritage Sites since 1987, as part of the Buda Castle District.
Tip: the Fishing Bastion is free all day in autumn and winter, but in spring and summer you have to pay a fee for certain times of
the day.
Museums, exhibitions in Buda Castle
Hungarian National Gallery
The Hungarian National Gallery is the largest public collection documenting and presenting the development and evolution of fine art in Hungary. Its collections range from the founding of the state to the present day, from the earliest Hungarian monuments to contemporary art. The museum is housed in the stately building of the Buda Castle Palace.
The history of the Buda Castle dates back to the reigns of King Louis the Great, King Sigismund and King Matthias, when the castle was one of the most splendid royal residences in Europe. The building was severely damaged during the Turkish occupation from 1541 until 1686, when Buda was reconquered.
Its rebuilding began in 1749, during the reign of Maria Theresa, in the Baroque style then in vogue.
At the end of the 19th century, the palace was extended with new buildings designed by Mikl.s Ybl and Alajos Hauszmann, and then supplemented with neo-Baroque elements.
During World War II, part of the building was burnt down and destroyed. The restoration of the dilapidated palace was a long time coming, with work only beginning in the 1960s. The Hungarian National Gallery moved into the palace complex, which was converted for museum purposes, in 1975.
Budapest History Museum Castle Museum
The Castle Museum is located in the wing of the former royal palace facing Gellért Hill, in a historic setting.
Visitors can tour the restored halls of the medieval palace, the former castle chapel and Gothic hall, and see the museum's unique treasures: the silk tapestry with the Hungarian-Anjou coat of arms, the Gothic sculpture of exceptional artistic value, or the marble carvings that decorate King Matthias' palace.
In addition to the history of the palace, the Castle Museum's exhibitions also showcase the most important events and personalities in the history of Budapest.
Labyrinth
The labyrinth at the bottom of Castle Hill has been used for many purposes since the Middle Ages: as a refuge, a hermitage or a prison. In its winding corridors and vaulted halls, you can visit Gothic and Renaissance stone monuments and Turkish tombstones.
From St. Stephen the Founder to King Matthias, the statues of the most famous Hungarian kings bring medieval Hungary to life.
The Cave Exhibition features photographer and adventurer's accounts of some of the world's most beautiful caves.
Rock hospital and nuclear bunker
Until 2002, the top-secret history of the Rock Hospital Nuclear Bunker Museum - formerly an air hospital and nuclear bunker located deep in the V.rhegy, is a fascinating story to tell, but an unparalleled experience to see in person. Nearly 200 life-like wax figures, original equipment and hospital equipment help you experience the events and atmosphere of World War II, 1956 and the Cold War. In the latest exhibition section, the current state of war medicine is illustrated through the lifesaving actions of special operations forces. The Rock Hospital Bunker Museum is open all year round, but can only be visited on a guided tour.
House of Houdini
With the opening of the House of Houdini, a cultural centre of outstanding importance has been created in Budapest, a meeting point for magic lovers and practitioners from all over the world.
The institution is located in the heart of Budapest, in the magical atmosphere of the Castle District in the first district, on D.sz Square, in the immediate vicinity of the city's main sights: the Buda Castle, Matthias Church and the Fisherman's Bastion.
The House of Houdini commemorates the greatest escape artist of all time, the Hungarian-born Harry Houdini. The permanent exhibition on show here is the only and largest Houdini exhibition in Europe. The House of Houdini aims to preserve the memory and art of its namesake for posterity.
Restaurants in Buda Castle that are already open
21 Hungarian Restaurant
Peaceful Hungarian cuisine in a 21st century way: concentrated on preserving all the original traditional flavours, yet lighter than old-fashioned Hungarian dishes. To achieve this, we buy the best ingredients, get to market early and use new techniques and processes.
Jamie Oliver's Italian
Jamie Oliver's first restaurant in Central Europe. Authentic Italian cuisine, tasty, delicious Italian food with a Jamie twist. Don't forget to book a table!
Hotels in Buda Castle
Pest-Buda Design Hotel
Budapest's oldest hotel, the Pest-Buda Hotel dates back to 1696. Find out more about this magnificent landmark building in Pest-Buda, to book a room visit our hotel page.
Baltazár Boutique Hotel
The 11-room Baltazár Boutique Hotel offers individually decorated rooms with cool modern and vintage decor. Find out more about the rooms and suites at this wonderful hotel. Book a room at the Baltazár and stay in Buda Castle!