The Boulevard
An approximately 4 km long boulevard was built at the turn of the century and runs right by the Western Railway Station and Nyugati Square (which is a social hot spot of the city). The detailed architecture of the railway station was a product of the Eiffel Company.
Margaret Island
The massive park in the heart of the capital is a popular place for both locals and visitors to enjoy all kinds of sports. Whether you want to go for a jog along the Danube or take a dip in one of the island’s many swimming pools, this is the perfect place for you. It features many attractions, such as the “music” fountain, the romanesque Szent Mihály Chapel, the ruins of the church of the Dominican Sisters from the XIII. century, the very popular outdoor pool complex called Palatinus, or the home of the Hungarian swimming elite, the Alfred Hajós indoor and outdoor swimming pool.
The Parliament
This extraordinary building gives home to the governing parties and offices of Hungary. It was built to commemorate the millennium of the Hungarian Conquest in 896 and after an epic 22 years of construction, the compelling building was completed in 1904. It is home to the Hungarian Holy Crown – the only crown used throughout our history – and the coronation jewels, which are a must-see if you are a history buff.
Besides the Parliament, other buildings that may be of interest on Kossuth Square are the Museum of Ethnography and the former Palace of Justice.
Szabadság tér (Liberty Square)
After a one-minute walk south from Kossuth Square, you can stroll along or sip a cup of coffee in Liberty Square and enjoy the sight of the great architecture of the former Stock Exchange Palace, currently the building of the Hungarian television network. Keep walking on Hold street and you will find yourself looking at one of Budapest’s most ornate and unique roofs of ceramic tiles on the top of the Postal Savings Bank.
Szent István tér
Not far from Szabadság tér stands St Stephen's Basilica. It is the highest and largest church in the city and one of the most visited sight in Budapest. There is a lot to admire about this church and it is unique in many ways. Not only the interior is rich in artwork but it exhibits the most important relic of Christian Hungarian statehood, King Stephen's mummified right hand, which is kept in the Chapel of the "Holy Right Hand" (Szent Jobb-kápolna) located behind the sanctuary. Make sure you don’t miss taking a look at it.
Roosevelt tér
The next stop of your visit might be the square on the Pest side of the Chain Bridge (the oldest bridge in the city) which contains the spectacular Gresham Palace, a masterpiece of Hungarian secession style. This building of the former Gresham Insurance Company has been turned into a luxury hotel. On the north side of the square stands the main building of the Academy of Sciences, designed by the Berlin architect Friedrich August Stühler.
Vörösmarty tér- Vigadó
Head towards Elisabeth Bridge along the Danube promenade and you are now walking on a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can admire the compelling vista of the Buda hills on the other side of the river with the Buda Castle and Matthias Church, and the line of five-star hotels on the Pest side. The Vigadó is a unique venue for entertainment with all kinds of concerts and performances and is a great example of Hungarian Romanticism. Right behind the Vigadó is the busy Vörösmarty square with the famous Café Gerbeaud and a station of the oldest underground subway on the European mainland – built in 1896. The square is also the starting point of Vaci street, the main shopping street with lots of luxury shops.
We wish you a pleasant stay!