• Buda Castle - Also known as Budim Castle, Budim, or City [1] (Hungarian: Budai Vár, Turkish: Budin Kalesi, Slovak: Budínsky hrad), this is a historic complex of Hungarian royal courts in Budapest, with origins dating back to 1265. Previously referred to as the Royal Palace (Hungarian: Királyi Palota) and the Royal Castle (Királyi Vár), it is situated at the southern end of Castle Hill, surrounded by the Várnegyed District, renowned for its medieval, Baroque, and 19th-century architecture. The castle is linked to Adam Clark Square across the Danube via a funicular and the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, offering stunning views of Budapest’s historic center.

The Budapest Castle, along with its surroundings, the Danube Shore, Andrássy Avenue with Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere), and the Millennium Underground Railway (Europe’s oldest), are UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Budapest.

• Hungarian Parliament Building - This Gothic Revival-style building features a symmetrical façade and a central dome in Renaissance Revival architecture.[9] Inside, it is also symmetrical, with two identical halls—one for politics and the other for guided tours. The building measures 268 m (879 ft) in length and 123 m (404 ft) in width, containing 10 courtyards, 13 elevators, 27 gates, 29 staircases, and 691 rooms, including over 200 offices. Standing at 96 m (315 ft), it is one of Budapest’s tallest buildings, alongside Saint Stephen’s Basilica. The number 96 commemorates the nation’s millennium in 1896 and the conquest of the Kingdom of Hungary in 896.

The main façade faces the River Danube, while the official entrance is on the east side. The building features 242 sculptures, both inside and out.

The façade showcases statues of Hungarian rulers, Transylvanian leaders, and notable military figures, with coats of arms of kings and dukes above the windows. The eastern staircase is flanked by two lions.

Visitors can ascend grand ornamental stairs, admire ceiling frescoes, and see a bust of architect Imre Steindl in a wall niche. Other statues include Árpád, Stephen I, and John Hunyadi.

A notable feature is the hexadecagonal central hall, with large chambers: the Lower House and the Upper House. The modern National Assembly meets in the Lower House, while the Upper House serves as a conference room. The Holy Crown of Hungary, depicted in the coat of arms, has been displayed in the central hall since 2000.

Additional features include stained glass and mosaics by Miksa Róth.

Due to its vast surface and intricate craftsmanship, the building is almost always under renovation.

• Heroes’ Square - Hősök tere is flanked by the Museum of Fine Arts on the left and the Palace of Art (or Hall of Art) on the right. It faces Andrássy Avenue, with a residential building and the Serbian embassy (formerly the Yugoslavian embassy where Imre Nagy sought refuge in 1956) on the opposite side.

The central feature of Heroes’ Square, a Budapest landmark, is the Millennium Memorial (Hungarian: Millenáriumi Emlékmű, also known as the Millennium Monument). Construction began in 1896 to mark the thousandth anniversary of the Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin and the founding of the Hungarian state, as part of a larger project that included expanding Andrássy Avenue and building Budapest’s first metro line (Hungarian: Földalatti). The square was named in 1900, with the four allegorical sculptures added in 1906, completing the monument as it appears today, alongside the surrounding museums, and it was inaugurated in 1906.

Originally, Hungary was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the last five statue spaces on the left colonnade were reserved for Habsburg dynasty members: Ferdinand I (relief: Defense of the Castle at Eger); Leopold I (relief: Eugene of Savoy defeats the Turks at Zenta), Charles III, Maria Theresa (relief: The Hungarian Diet votes support “vitam et sanguinem”), and Franz Joseph (relief: Franz Joseph crowned by Gyula Andrássy). The monument was damaged in World War II, and when rebuilt, the Habsburgs were replaced by current figures.

On 16 June 1989, 250,000 people gathered at the square for the historic reburial of Imre Nagy, executed in June 1958.

There are three other squares in Budapest named Hősök tere, located in Soroksár, Békásmegyer, and Rákosliget.

A lesser-known fact, even among Hungarians, is that the Memorial Stone of Heroes (Hősök emlékköve) is not a tomb and is mistakenly called the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.” Hungary lacks a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier like most European countries and has no memorial for unknown war casualties. No human remains are interred here; an artesian well lies beneath the tombstone-like memorial. The Memorial Stone of Heroes was erected in 1929 to honor those who defended Hungary’s 1000-year-old borders. It was removed in 1951 due to its politically unacceptable message for the Communist regime. The current memorial was built in 1956 at the same location. It is fenced off and inaccessible to Hungarian citizens, with the Ministry of Defence only opening the gate for foreign dignitaries and official state ceremonies.

Behind the cenotaph, within the decorative chain, is a flat bronze plate marking an artesian well completed in 1878 by Vilmos Zsigmondy. This well supplies water to the Széchenyi Baths behind the monument and the Dagály Baths in Népfürdő utca. The well reaches a depth of 971 meters and produces 831 liters of hot water per minute at 74 degrees Celsius.

The Heroes’ Square monument has a 90% replica in Shanghai Global Paradise, Shanghai. Since its opening in 1996, it has mostly degraded, with most statues removed.

• Széchenyi Chain Bridge - Designed by English engineer William Tierney Clark in 1839, following an initiative by Count István Széchenyi, the bridge’s construction was overseen locally by Scottish engineer Adam Clark (no relation). It is a larger version of Tierney Clark’s earlier Marlow Bridge over the River Thames in Marlow, England, designed in sections and shipped from the UK to Hungary for final assembly.

The bridge was significantly funded by Greek merchant Georgios Sinas[4][5][6], who had financial and land interests in the city, with his name inscribed on the base of the southwestern foundation on the Buda side.

Opening in 1849 after the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, it became the first permanent bridge in the Hungarian capital. At the time, its 202-meter (663 ft) center span was among the world’s largest. The stone lions at each abutment, carved by sculptor János Marschalkó [hu], were installed in 1852.[7] They resemble the bronze lions of Trafalgar Square (commissioned 1858, installed 1867).[8] The bridge received its current name in 1898.

The bridge’s cast-iron structure was updated and strengthened in 1914. During World War II, it was destroyed on 18 January 1945 by retreating Germans during the Siege of Budapest, leaving only the towers. It was rebuilt and reopened in 1949.[8]

The inscription on each side of the bridge reads “Clark Adam,” the bridge builder’s name in the local Eastern name order. A plaque on the Pest side commemorates the only two surviving bridges designed by William Tierney Clark: The Széchenyi Chain Bridge over the Danube in Budapest and the suspension bridge over the Thames in Marlow, England.

• Central Market Hall - The Great Market Hall, or Central Market Hall (Hungarian “Nagyvásárcsarnok”), is Budapest’s largest and oldest indoor market. The idea for such a market hall came from Budapest’s first mayor, Károly Kamermayer, and was his largest investment. He retired in 1896 and attended the opening ceremony on February 15, 1897.

Located at the end of the famous pedestrian shopping street Váci utca and on the Pest side of the Liberty Bridge at Fővám Square.

History

In the 1860s, it was suggested that the capital’s food supply should be improved by constructing market halls. A primary goal was to ensure only inspected food was sold. The retail network needed organization, and wholesale goods sales required regulation.

Due to worsening food supply conditions, a comprehensive plan for the capital was developed in 1879. General assembly resolution No. 852 of 30 December called for a Food Committee’s establishment.

The committee formed to prepare for market halls proposed in 1883 that the Central Market Hall be located at Fovám Square, on the Salt depot site.

On 28 October 1885, the market hall topic resurfaced in the capital. The Committee for Economics and Food discussed and accepted committee member Lajos Nyíri’s initiative. They agreed the Central Market Hall should be built in the 9th district, on land between Vámház Blvd, and Pipa, Csillag, and Sóház (meaning: salt depot) Streets. At the time, the plot belonged to the state treasury. According to an initial agreement, “the royal government relinquishes the plot for the capital’s sake.”

Plans for a market hall had stalled for years, with little progress. Conditions worsened due to disorganized food supply and rapid population growth. In 1890, events related to market halls accelerated. Public awareness of the need for a market hall increased.

After a seemingly final general assembly resolution in 1891, Prime Minister Kálmán Tisza, or rather Justice Minister Teofil Fabiny, relinquished the site to the capital in exchange for a site on Alkotmány Street.

The building, designed and constructed by Samu Pecz in 1897, features a large variety of stalls on three floors. The entrance gate has a neogothic touch.[1] A distinctive architectural feature is the roof, restored with colorful Zsolnay tiling from Pécs. The building covers 10,000 square meters and is supported by a steel structure. During World War II, the market was significantly damaged and remained in poor condition. A thorough renovation in 1991 restored its original splendor. The building reopened in 1997 to much acclaim and received the FIABCI Prix d’Excellence in 1999.[2] The Central Market Hall remains one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions.

Most ground floor stalls offer produce, meats, pastries, candies, spices, and spirits. Many feature tourist favorites like paprika spices, Tokaji wine, Túró Rudi, kolbász sausage, and salami. The second mezzanine floor has eateries and tourist souvenirs. The basement contains fishmongers, pickled vegetable stalls, and specialized butcher shops.

The market opens Monday through Saturday at 6 am, closing Monday at 5 pm, Tuesday through Friday at 6 pm, and Saturday at 3 pm.

• Citadel - The Citadella is a fortress located atop Gellért Hill in Budapest, Hungary. “Citadella” is the Hungarian term for citadel, a type of fortress. The word is used exclusively in other languages to refer to the Gellért Hill citadel, which held strategic military importance in Budapest’s history.

• Private transportation
• Dress code is smart casual
• On-board WiFi
• Bottled water
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Stroller accessible
• All fees and/or taxes
• Infant seats available

Many will argue Budapest ranks among the most stunning cities globally, and they wouldn’t be wrong. This enchanting Hungarian metropolis emanates a unique aura, steeped in culture and picturesque scenery, further enhanced by its delectable cuisine and reasonable costs. Budapest extends a welcoming sense of safety and comfort — not just a top pick for tourists, but also a coveted city of residence. Its agreeable weather, the soothing presence of the Danube flowing majestically through its heart, pose an allure few can resist. Budapest has evolved into an education hub attracting students worldwide, fostering a vibrant, youthful spirit. Varied cultures, languages, and aspirations converge here, marking the intersection of East and West. An destination well worth your time, whether you wish to explore or just visit.

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