Two Days in Budapest: The Paris of the East

The Hungarian Parliament is a magnificent Neo-Gothic structure on the banks of the Danube River and is a sight to behold in Budapest. Filled with stunning architecture such as this. Nicknamed “The Paris of the East.” Yet its most popular features are the thermal baths. Enjoyed even in the Roman era. We will only have two days to scratch the surface of this amazing city founded by the Maygars from the Ural Mountains in Asia.

Orszaghaz (Hungarian Parliament)

The largest building in Hungary and the second-largest parliament building in Europe. The idea for a new parliament building came after the unification of Obuda, Buda, and Pest in 1873 forming Budapest. Completed on the 1000^th anniversary of the founding of Hungary.

It is home to the Crown Jewels, which were stored at Fort Knox in the U.S. for protection from the Nazis and the Soviets until President Jimmy Carter in 1978 had them returned.

The Domed Hall honors 16 Hungarian kings depicted on the pillars that hold the dome, which is decorated in Neo-Gothic gilding.

You can also see the Prime Minister’s Office, Congress Hall, Grand Staircases, and the work of art The Conquest, which represented the meeting of the Maygars and the Pannonian tribes.

Hours: April –Oct. Monday- Sunday, 8 am – 6 pm; Nov. – March, Monday – Sunday 8 am – 4 pm. Visits to the House of Parliament are restricted during weeks in which the National Assembly is in session.

Admission: Adults 6000 HUF (Hungarian Forint), and children under 6 free of charge, half off for EU citizens.

Address: Budapest, Kossuth Lajos ter 1-3, 1055 Hungary

Szent István Bazilikah (St. Stephen’s Basilica)

A neoclassical structure with a 315-foot dome, it was constructed from 1851 to 1905. The mosaics of the dome can be seen closer by a viewing platform above the cupola reached by elevator or stairs. The main site to see is the Holy Right Hand (mummified) of St. Stephen. The hand has been handed around a bit, a stint in Dubrovnik to protect it from the Tartars and it spent time in Vienna before being returned on Aug. 20, 1945, St. Stephen’s Day. The basilica also includes a number of beautiful paintings, a treasury, a 5,898 pipe organ, and a main altar with a marble statue of St. Stephen.

Hours: Church — Monday – Friday, 9 am to 5 pm; Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm; Sunday, 1 pm – 5 pm. Treasury – daily, 9 am to 5 pm. Tower – April – May and Sept. – Oct., 10 am -4:30 pm daily; June – Aug., 9:30 am – 6 pm, daily.

Admission: Church is free. Treasury 400 HUF; Dome viewing platform 500 HUF.

Address: Budapest, Szent István tér 1, 1051 Hungary

Magyar Nemzeti Galeria (Hungarian National Gallery)

The art museum in Buda Castle contains Hungarian art from medieval times to the present day. The museum is huge and covers 4 floors. Highlights include the Hapsburg Crypt, which can only be visited in a guided tour. The Great Throne Room is devoted to 15th and 16th-century Gothic altarpieces. Artwork includes The Yawning Apprentice by Mihaly Munkacsy, Birdsong by Karoly Ferenczy, Women bathing by Karoly Lotz, and Picnic in May by Pal Szinyei-Merse. Buda Castle also holds the Budapest History Museum — a museum that focuses on the 2,000-year history of what was once Buda, Pest, and Obuda.

Hours: Gallery – Tuesday – Sunday 10 am – 6 pm, closed on Monday. History museum — Tuesday- Sunday 10 am- 6 pm, March 1- Oct. 31 and Tuesday- Sunday 10 am – 4 pm, Nov. 1 – Feb. 29.

Admission: Gallery – Permanent Exhibit- Full Price 1800 HUF and free admission for children under the age of six. Prices vary for other exhibitions. History Museum – low and high season prices — Adults 2000/2400, Ages 6-26, 1000/1200 HUF, and ages 65-70, 1000/1200.

Address: 1014 Budapest, Szent György tér 2., 1013 Hungary

Magyar Nemzeti Muzeum (Hungarian National Museum)

Temple-like museum with Corinthian columns was built in the neoclassical style. Inside the entrance, a central rotunda was designed like the Pantheon in Rome with richly decorated paintings. Museum artifacts include Throne Carpet for King Matya, Mozart’s clavichord, a funeral crown from the 13th century, and the child armor of King Sigismund II.

Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm.

Admission: 1600 HUF and children under 6 are free. The website has information on discounts and admission for temporary exhibits.

Address: Budapest, Múzeum krt. 14-16, 1088 Hungary

Memento Park

Displays 42 pieces of art from the Communist era between 1945 to 1989. The park includes allegorical monuments such as “Hungarian- Soviet Friendship” and “Liberation.” Statues of famous personalities from the labor movement, soldiers of the Red Army, and other gigantic pieces: Lenin, Marx, Engels, Dimitrov, Captain Ostaponeko, Bela Kun, and others.

A Liberation Army Solder includes a hammer-and-sickle flag in its hands and a cartridge-disc machine pistol hanging in its neck to make the statue complete. This 6-meter tall statue of the evil-eyed Soviet soldier once stood on the top of Gellert Hill in central Budapest, well-seen from every direction.

The designer of Memento Park Akos Eleod said the park is about dictatorship and at the same time because it can be talked about, described, and built up, this park is also about democracy.

Hours: Monday – Sunday, 10 am to sundown.

Admission: Adult 1500 HUF, Student 1000 HUF. Children under 14 years of age 600 HUF and Family Tickets (2 adults and children) 2000 HUF. English-language tour: 1200 HUF (tour fee is in addition to the entrance fee). The 45-minute tours run from 11:45 am several times a day.

Address: Budapest, Balatoni út – Szabadkai utca sarok, 1223 Hungary

Margaret Island

A park in the middle of Danube River in Budapest, that has a number of interesting sites to see. Centenary Monument was built to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the unification of Buda, Obuda, and Pest. The Water Tower was built in 1911 and has a gallery that offers panoramic views. The Bodor Well produces music on the hour. The park also has a Japanese Garden, ruins of Franciscan and Dominican churches, a large pool complex called the Palatinus Strand, St. Michael’s Church, and the Danubius Grand Hotel Margitsziget, which opened in 1872 and was very fashionable in attracting aristocracy across Europe.

Address: Budapest, 1138 Hungary

Baths:

Here is a list to choose from starting with two family-friendly ones:

Palatinus Bath: Found on Margaret Island, it is family friendly and they recently installed an indoor thermal pool. It also has a children’s pool, two immersion pools, saunas, and an outdoor swimming pool.

Aquaworld Resort Budapest: Welcomes families and has 15 pools and 11 slides. Two fun pools include slides, drift-current, and river rides. It is located outside of the city center.

Rudas Baths: Turkish bath, men-only during the week but mixed at nights and on weekends. It also has a sundeck with panoramic views and a Danube view restaurant.

Gellért Baths: Art Nouveau style, open for both men and women at all times, beautiful indoor setting, like a cathedral. The facility includes an outside wave pool.

Széchenyi Baths: Huge, boasts 15 thermal baths and three swimming pools, the water temperate is up at 38 degrees Celsius or 100.4 Fahrenheit. Open for both men and women and you can keep your bathing suit on in areas that are not reserved for clothing optional.

Veli Bej Baths: Turkish bath, renovated in 2011, has five thermal pools. The minimum age for the bath is 14 years of age so it is not for children.

Király Baths: Ottoman-era baths, open to both men and women, ancient and very Turkish.

Lukács Baths: Waters meant to cure what ails you, meant for spa fans.

Danubius Health Spa Margitsziget: Found on Margaret Island, modern and known for special spa treatments.

Other sights include Millennium Monument, Széchenyi Chain Bridge and the Buda Castle Funicular, and Magyar Allami Operahaz (Hungarian State Opera House).