Have you ever been to Budapest? Budapest is the capital of Hungary and commonly known as the “Paris of the Middle East”. Although, humans are living here from stone age time so the city is well famous for its old culture. This beautiful capital has two sides Buda and Pest along the bank of the river Danube which represents the two different characters of the city. The Buda and its historic castle offer medieval streets and houses, museums and caves. While on the other hand, Pest boasts the largest parliament building in Europe, riverside promenades, flea markets, bookstores, antique stores, and café houses. Book your tickets via expedia and get amazing discounts by using expedia coupons. Here are top 5 amazing places to visit in Budapest which makes your trip rememberable.
- Buda Castle hill:-
Buda Castle was the first royal Castle build in the hills of Buda around the time of 13th century. After the marriage of King Matthias Corvinus and Beatrix of Naples in 1476 in this Castle, the Budapest becomes an important European city. During world war 2, the Buda Castle was badly damaged to ground by bombs which were further restored again. Today, the Buda Castle is recognized as the World Heritage Site and has many must-see attractions, Gothic arches, eighteenth-century Baroque houses, and cobblestone streets. Though Castle has changed so much now since building began in the 13th century. But, there are some houses date back to the 14th and 15th century which gives the idea about how the Castle was looked like back then.
In front of the castle overlooking the Danube stands a bronze equestrian statue of Prince Eugene of Savoy, a hero of Turkish attacks on the city. Buda Castle Hill is also home to a large interconnected cellar system that consists of natural caves created by thermal waters and man-made passageways. The earliest traces of human life found here are 500,000 years old. You can reach the castle on the restored historic Castle Funicular Railway, which departs from the Buda end of the Chain Bridge.
Things to do and see on Buda Castle-
Your best option is to walk along the cobblestone streets and discover Castle Hill at your own pace. If you don’t have much time, visit Trinity Square, Matthias Church, and Fishermen’s Bastion. Various events are held at Castle Hill year-round.
- Parliament building:-
The Parliament building (also called as Parliament building of Hungarian) is more than 100 Years old and fits to be a perfect example of Non-Gothic architecture. The construction of this Parliament building was begun in 1885 and the building was inaugurated on the 1000th anniversary of Hungary i.e. in 1896 but the construction was not finished till yet and it completed in 1902. The most amazing thing about the Budapest parliament building is that it is the third largest parliament building in the world. The building has 691 rooms, 20km long stairs and 315 feet height which is almost same as the height of St. Stephen Basilica.
A highlight of a walk around Budapest’s lovely pedestrian-friendly cobbled streets is the area around the country’s architecturally pleasing Parliament building, and its neighbors, the Museum of Ethnography and the Ministry of Agriculture. The parliament’s legislature is the unicameral National Assembly, which has 386 representatives, elected for a four-year term. The election system is said to be one of the most complicated in Europe. Half of the representatives are elected in single-seat constituencies, half of them on party lists.
Things to do and see in Budapest parliament building-
Guided tours are available when the national assembly is not there and the tour almost takes 45 minutes to complete. The Hungarian Crown Jewels were lost and stolen numerous times. After World War II, they were transported to Western Europe and eventually given to the American Army for safekeeping from the Soviet Union. Best views of the Parliament are from the Danube (take a Danube cruise) or from across the river, especially from Batthyány Square, which is only one stop by subway from Kossuth square on the M2 line.
- The Hungarian National Museum:-
The Hungarian National Museum (Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum) is the oldest public museum in Hungary. The museum’s present building was built between 1837 and 1847, and it stands as a great example of Neo-Classicist architecture. The Museum houses the nation’s most important collection of historical relics in an impressive neoclassical building. The museum was founded in 1802 when Count Ferenc Széchényi donated his personal collection of more than 20,000 prints, maps, manuscripts, coins and archaeological finds to the state. The permanent exhibition includes furniture, textiles, weapons, metalwork, and ceramics. One of the most valuable items is the Coronation Mantle.
The garden, surrounding the National Museum, is a beautiful green spot in the center of the city. There are a few statues along with some beautiful townhouses, built by the aristocracy in the 19th century, overlooking the garden. The museum Exhibits trace the history of the Carpathian Basin from earliest times to the end of the Avar period, and the ongoing story of the Magyar people from the conquest of the basin to the end of communism. Other highlights include Celtic gold and silver jewelry, a huge 2nd-century Roman mosaic and memorabilia from socialist times.
Things to do and see in the National Museum-
The place is best to see the nation’s most important collection of historical relics. Also, don’t miss King Stephen’s crimson silk coronation mantle and the Broadwood piano, used by both Beethoven and Liszt.
- Fisherman’s Bastion:-
The bastion is located right behind the Matthias Church in the Castle District. It’s one of the most popular points in the city for tourists, with its views over the city and the Danube. The Fisherman’s Bastion was built at the site of an old rampart that, during the Middle Ages, was defended by the guild of fishermen, who lived nearby in Vízívaros at the foot of the hill. In the south courtyard stands a bronze equestrian statue of St. Stephen, the first King of Hungary.
The construction of the Fisherman’s Bastion was started in 1899 by the famous architect Frigyes Schulek and the construction was completely finished in 1905. The white-stoned Fisherman’s Bastion is a combination of neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque architecture and consists of turrets, projections, parapets, and climbing stairways. The bastion is made up of seven towers – each one symbolizing one of the seven Magyar tribes that, in 896, settled in the area now known as Hungary.
Things to do and see in Fisherman’s Bastion-
The Fisherman’s Bastion is mainly famous of Margaret Island and you can clearly see landmark buildings such as St Stephen’s Basilica, the Parliament, the Academy of Sciences, Gresham Palace, and, in the distance, the Inner City Parish Church.
- Museum of fine arts:-
The Museum of fine arts is the Budapest’s most important and amazing art gallery which was founded in 1896. But, the Museum of fine arts was officially open in 1906. It houses one of the largest collections of works by the Old Masters to be found in Europe. Dedicated to paintings, drawings, and sculptures of European origin, one of the highlights of its permanent exhibit is the horseman sculpture carved by Leonardo da Vinci. The extensive array of Italian, Spanish and Dutch paintings are on display in a spectacular, classically influenced 19th Century building with long rooms for the larger paintings, cabinets for smaller and more intimate items, together with architecturally interesting space such as the Renaissance Hall.
The museum is divided into six excellent departments: Egyptian Art, Ancient Art, the Old Sculpture Gallery, the Old Painter Gallery, the Modern Collection, and the Graphics Collection. The museum also has an extensive collection of 19th and 20th Century paintings and it has the second largest Spanish art collection outside of Spain.
Things to see and do in Museum of fine arts-
There are many ancient sculptures to view. These sculptures include Italian works dating back to the 4th century, as well as French, English, German, and Dutch artworks from the 13th century. Egyptian and ancient art, Medieval drawings and Late Gothic paintings ar
