The Castle Hill on the Budaside with its breathtaking view over the Danube and Pest is one of the most spectacular sights of Budapest. Historically this site have always been the most important both strategically and culturally with all regents and kings residing here. Beside the amazing view the Castle Hill have many interesting experiences to offer. At the top of the hill with the Szentharomság statue in the center of the Castle hill you have a charming little old town with all the historically interesting and architecturally amazing buildings like:
Mátyás Church – Officially named “Church of Our Lady”, popularly called Mátyás Church after the great Hungarian king Mátyás Corvinus who held his two weddings in the Church. Mátyás Church was originally built in 1015 and have since been partly destroyed and rebuilt many times during its 700 year old history. It is still an active church with many concerts and musical performances.
Fishermans Bastion – The Halásbastya in Hungarian is a viewing terrace in neo- Gothic and Romanesque style with seven towers (the Magyars had seven tribes), many stairs and walkingpaths stretching alongside the Danube and surrounding the Mátyás Church.
Buda Royal Palace (a World Heritage Site) – The first Royal Palace was build by King Béla IV between 1247-1265. The present day Palace however is not that old. The oldest parts are from the 14 the century, but it was Sigismund of Hungary who made the palace to one of the largest Gothic palaces in the world during the middle ages.
Take a look at the Buda Royal Palace:
If you plan to to vist the Castle Hill and are interested in Hungarian Wine the House of Hungarian Wines is the place to visit. There you can taste 70 of Hungarian wines from the different wine regions of Hungary. It is in a cellar located just beside the Mátyas Church. Castell Hill also have the oldest confectionery and café of Budapest (Hungary), the Ruszwurm Confectionery (Szentháromság street 7), started in 1827 have been in business since.
Heroes’ Square (Hösök tere), at the end of Andrassy Avenue is one of Budapest most impressive sights built in 1896 for the world fair at the same year as the 1000 year jubilee of the settlement of the Hungarians. The square itself is a huge area flanked by the Budapest Museum of Fine Arts on the left and the Art Museum on the right.
The main attraction of Heroes Square is the Millennium Memorial, a semi circle made up of the leaders of the seven tribes (which later formed Hungary) and other important historic persons like:
Stephen I of Hungary
János Hunyadi
Matthias Corvinus of Hungary
Francis II Rákóczi
Lajos Kossuth
In the middle of the semi-circle stands the 36 meter tall statue of the Archangel Gabriel who according legend showed himself to St: Stephen, the first king of Hungary and instructed him to convert the people to Christianity and settle down in Hungary.
The Heroes Square is one of the top attractions and sights of Budapest well worth visiting. It is located on the border of the city nearby other attractions. For example behind the Heroes square you also find:
The 120 years old Hungarian State Opera House in the centre of Budapest, on the exclusive Andrassy ut, is one of the worlds most breathtaking opera buildings. Over the years it have been host for greats lik Ferenc Liszt and Gustav Mahler. The opera, built in neo-Renaissance style is the achievement of the great Hungarian architect Miklos Ybl and a contribution to Hungary’s unique national identity expressing the vibrant culture of Budapest, Hungary.
With its amazingly ornate interior, frescoes and statues of Beethoven, Mozart, Verdi, Wagner and other greats (both in and outside) Budapest internationally celebrated Opera House from 1884 is one of the city’s most interesting and beautiful buildings. Ornamentation’s like sculptures and paintings are the work of the prominent Hungarian artists: Bertalan Székely, Mór Than and Károly Lotz.
The opera season runs usually from september to june and holds 40-50 major productions.
The Budapest State Opera house is truly one of the most beautifyl sights of Budapest so if your only staying for a few days and have to chose between all sights then the Opera is one of the must-see sights of Budapest! If you cant get hold of any tickets to the opera be sure to take the guided tour inside the Opera House. There are guided tours in English every dag.
Daily tours: 2500 ft (10 Euro)
Just around the corner – more classic music in Budapest
If your into music and culture you have two other interesting attractions nearby in the center of Budapest:
Pesti Vigado at Vörös Marty tér just take the subway M1 (right outside the Opera) to “Vörös Marty tér” station.
Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music (Zeneakadémia) just walk down Nagymezö street on the opposite side of the opera to VI. Liszt Ferenc tér 8
One very comfortable and enjoyable way to see many of Budapest historic sights is by taking a slow boat trip on the Danube river.
The Danube divides the city in two parts: Buda – the older rocky west side of the Danube where the castle, and many of Budapest historic attractions is located and Pest the heart of the pulsating modern city.
The boat tours on the Danube costs between 3000 – 8000 Forint depending if you go by day or night (all historical sight are beautifully lit at night) if you choose to eat dinner or not. The tours last for about 1½ hour. The boat tours start from the Vigado Square on the Pest side.
