Budapest Parliament: how to get inside and when to buy tickets
The parliament building in Budapest stands right on the Danube bank. You can't just walk in: tourists are only allowed inside as part of a guided tour or with an audio guide, and the number of spots per day is limited.
We've put together practical information about this place: when the parliament is open, how much tickets cost, how to get there from the airport, and what you actually see on a tour.
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Hours and admission (as of 09/2026)
💡 In short:
- You can only see the parliament from the inside on a tour, there is no self-guided entry.
- Tickets are sold online and at the visitor center ticket office, but daily spots are limited.
- Every visitor needs a passport or ID card, you won't be let in without one.
- Prices and hours: 09/2026, verified on the official website.
Opening hours depend on the season: from April 1 to October 31, the visitor center and tours are open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and from November 1 to March 31 the building closes earlier, at 4:00 PM. The schedule was verified on 09/12/2026 on the official parliament website.
There are no tours on major national holidays: March 15, August 20, and October 23. The parliament is also closed on January 1, Easter Sunday and Monday, May 1, November 1, and from December 24 to 26.
A ticket for EU citizens costs around 7,000 forints, while the rate for visitors from non-EU countries is roughly twice as high (as of 09/2026, official website).
You need a valid passport or ID card with you: security screening at the entrance is strict, bags are checked like at an airport, and it takes up part of the tour time. The catch: there is no separate fast-track entrance, you stand in the general line.
How to get to the parliament in Budapest
The address is simple: Kossuth Lajos tér 1-3, 1055 Budapest. Kossuth Square lies on the Pest side of the Danube between Margaret Bridge and the Széchenyi Chain Bridge.
From Ferenc Liszt Airport, express bus 100E runs to Deák tér. At Deák tér, transfer to metro line M2 to Kossuth Lajos tér station. The ticket costs 2,500 forints, and you can pay by bank card right on board (as of 09/2026, BKK).
Within the city, the most convenient option is metro line M2 to Kossuth Lajos tér station. The second option, tram 2, runs along the entire Danube and stops right at the square. Look for the group meeting point in the visitor center on Kossuth Square.
When to visit
You enter strictly at your tour time, there is no flexibility here. In season, there are two or three tours a day in German, and slots in other languages depend on the date (as of 09/2026, official website).
From the outside, the building looks best in the evening, when after sunset the facade is fully illuminated and reflected in the Danube. During the day, there is always a crowd with cameras at the fence.
For the trip itself, choose March to May or September to November. In these months the weather is mild, and there are noticeably fewer tourists in the city than in July and August. Arrive for your slot early, the security line moves slowly.
Tickets and tours: where to buy
The ticket office at the visitor center follows the seasonal schedule above, but the number of tickets per day is limited. In high season, some tours are sold out by the time the ticket office opens.
It's more reliable to book online in advance. The official website shows available slots and tour languages, including German, English, French, Italian, and Spanish.
If there is no official slot for your date, book a tour through a reseller. The parliament tour with audio guide on GetYourGuide runs in the language you choose, and prices start in the low double digits in euros per person, depending on the date and format. There are also group city sightseeing tours that include a visit to the parliament.
Below is a selection of tickets and tours in Budapest, including guided options, choose the one that fits your date.
Tours and tickets in Budapest Parliament
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How long the tour lasts and what you see
The standard tour takes about 45 minutes, including the security screening at the entrance. It is led by a guide or with an audio guide, and you choose the language when buying your ticket.
During this time, you walk through the state rooms and see the building's main treasure, the Holy Crown of Saint Stephen. Some rooms are closed to visitors, and the group is not taken there. The catch: there are no restrooms along the route, and photography is prohibited in the dome hall. Plan a break before or after the tour.
Route through the parliament halls
The tour follows a fixed route through the state rooms. Below, in order, is what you will see inside.
© Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA · CC BYPhoto: Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe 17th-century grand staircase
The tour starts at the 17th-century grand staircase: the steps and railings are decorated with gilding, and the walls feature stained glass and decorative frescoes. From here the group goes up to the main floor.
© Zairon · CC BY-SAPhoto: Zairon, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe former upper house chamber
Next you enter the former upper house chamber. The hall is decorated with gold and seats 453, with galleries and boxes along the sides. Behind the rostrum hang canvases with the coats of arms of Hungarian royal dynasties (as of 09/2026, Hungarian Parliament website).
© Adrian Grycuk · CC BY-SAPhoto: Adrian Grycuk, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/pl/deed.en), Wikimedia CommonsBefore Hungary switched to a unicameral parliament, the upper house met here. Today this chamber gives you an idea of what the house looked like in earlier years.
The upper house lobby
The upper house lobby is no less richly decorated. The ceiling is gilded and painted, and the main exhibit here is a handmade carpet covering the entire room. The columns are adorned with statues of Hungarian craftsmen and national groups.
The dome and the Holy Crown
The Holy Crown of Hungary, also known as the Crown of Saint Stephen, stands in the domed hall. The dome is spanned by ribs with stained glass in the windows, and statues of Hungarian rulers stand on the golden pedestals of the columns. The crown jewels are guarded around the clock, and photography is not allowed in this hall.
© Zairon · CC BY-SAPhoto: Zairon, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe grand ceremonial staircase
The grand ceremonial staircase connects the main entrance with the domed hall. It has 96 steps covered with a red carpet (as of 09/2026, Hungarian Parliament website).
The Hungarian Parliament museum
A small museum operates in the visitor center, and admission is free. The exhibition tells the story of the country and the history of the building's construction, and some rooms include audio and photo materials. Stone sculptures and a monument dedicated to the events of 1956 are shown separately.
© I would appreciate being notified if you use my work outside Wikimedia. More of my work can be found in my personal gall · CC BYPhoto: I would appreciate being notified if you use my work outside Wikimedia. More of my work can be found in my personal gall, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsInteresting facts about the building
The Parliament building stretches 268 m along the Danube and is 123 m wide. The dome rises to 96 m, the same height as the dome of the nearby St. Stephen's Basilica. Inside there are 691 rooms, 29 staircases, and 10 inner courtyards (as of 09/2026, Wikipedia).
© Source: User:Godot13 Derivative: User:MathKnight · CC BY-SAPhoto: Source: User:Godot13 Derivative: User:MathKnight, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe masonry required about 40 million bricks and almost 40 kg of 22-23 karat gold. The model for the neo-Gothic design was the Houses of Parliament in London. The facing stone turned out to be too soft, and repairs began just 23 years after completion (as of 09/2026, Wikipedia).
For a long time, the Hungarian parliament had no permanent building of its own. Construction of the current building began after Budapest was granted capital status.
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
Can you enter the parliament without a tour?
No, there is no free access to the building. You can only visit as part of a guided tour or with an audio guide. Tickets are sold online on the official website and at the visitor center ticket office, but the number of spots per day is limited.
How much does a ticket to the Hungarian Parliament Building cost?
For EU citizens, an adult ticket costs 7,000 forints; for visitors from outside the EU it is roughly twice as much (as of 09/2026, prices on the official website). Children under 6 enter free. Check current prices on the official website before your trip, as they change every year.
On which days is the parliament closed to visitors?
Tours are not held on the national holidays of March 15, August 20, and October 23. The building is also closed on January 1, May 1, November 1, on Easter Sunday and Monday, and from December 24 to 26. Individual days may be dropped from the schedule due to state events.
How do you get to the parliament from the airport?
Express bus 100E runs from Ferenc Liszt Airport to Deák tér; a ticket costs 2,500 forints (as of 09/2026, BKK). At Deák tér, transfer to metro line M2 to Kossuth Lajos tér station. From the stop, you can walk to the visitor center in a couple of minutes.
How long is the tour and what do you see?
The tour takes about 45 minutes including the security check. During that time you see the main staircase, the hall of the former upper house, the lobby, the dome hall with the crown, and the Grand Staircase. You cannot walk around the building on your own.
Can you take photos inside the parliament?
In the dome hall, where the Holy Crown of Hungary is kept, photography is prohibited. For the other halls, ask your guide at the entrance: the rules change depending on protocol.
In short: what to book
If you are visiting Budapest for the first time, book the parliament in advance. During peak season, morning slots sell out several days ahead, and the ticket office does not guarantee availability.
- You only need the parliament: compare tours and tickets.
- You are looking for accommodation in the center: choose a hotel in Budapest.
Before your trip, check the schedule on the official website: the building is closed during state events (as of 09/2026, official website).
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.