Buda Castle, Budapest: All Year

Buda Castle is considered by some as the most significant building in all of Budapest.  Situated on the hill where the city of Buda appeared, this majestic palace in the baroque style was the residency of the royal family of Hungary in the past. 

The main attraction atop Budapest’s Castle Hill [Várhegy] is the Royal Palace. This grand building has a deceptive appearance of stability. In fact, it’s just the latest castle to be built on the site over Budapest’s tumultuous history.

The first castle here was erected in the Middle Ages, by King Béla IV. When the Hungarians retook Budapest from the Ottomans in 1686, Béla’s darling was razed. A much bigger, more opulent project went up in the 18th century, on the orders of Queen Maria Theresa. Several more demolitions followed, up to the Second World War. What you see today was only restored in the 1970s.

The fresh-faced palace has nonetheless kept its original majesty, complete with domes, pillars and white stone. On the inside you’ll find several of Budapest’s leading attractions, including the Hungarian National Gallery and the Historical Museum of Budapest, as well as the National Library. At the National Gallery you can learn more about the city over the last 2,000 years, in exhibitions spread over four floors. These include rooms dating back to 1480, and the even older Tower Chapel.

When you’re done, make a beeline for the nearby Matthias Church, a survivor from the castle’s medieval days and topped with an imposing spire. The church’s interior is something to behold, more than a match for Notre-Dame or Florence’s Duomo.

The best approach to the Palace is through the Corvinus Gate, which gives a taste of the coming grandeur. A less authentic but easier route is up the escalator in the Castle Garden Bazaar.

Advice from Divento…

Don’t forget the climb to the Buda Castle with the ancient cable car.  The wooden cabins climb up the hill, giving you a breathtaking view of the Danube and the Chain Bridge.  Also, the gardens inside the castle will not disappoint you: between the statues and flowerbeds you could admire the magnificent Fountain of Mattia, situated in the back of the palace. 

Buda Castle

Szent György tér 2, 1014 Budapest

Buda Castle, Budapest: All Year
Buda Castle, Budapest: All Year
Buda Castle, Budapest: All Year
Buda Castle, Budapest: All Year
Buda Castle, Budapest: All Year
Buda Castle, Budapest: All Year

Opening Hours

Monday:
Open 24 Hours
Tuesday:
Open 24 Hours
Wednesday:
Open 24 Hours
Thursday:
Open 24 Hours
Friday:
Open 24 Hours
Saturday:
Open 24 Hours
Sunday:
Open 24 Hours
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