🏛️ Pest: top 15 attractions in eastern Budapest
Having rested after a meaningful walk around Buda, we head to the Pest region. The eastern part of Budapest occupies 2/3 of the city and has a lot of wonderful sights that you can’t miss.
Let's start our review with religious objects. Hungary doesn't seem like a very religious country. There are not so many religious buildings. They often require payment to enter, which is blasphemous for those trying to join the faith. But what can you do, the sin of money-grubbing remains on the conscience of the city authorities.
Great Synagogue of Buda Pest
I recommend starting your hike around Pest from the Great Synagogue. Believe me, it is not named like that for the sake of saying anything. The synagogue is really big. It is the first largest synagogue in Europe and the second largest in the world. Despite the fact that Hungary was and remains a Christian state, the Jewish community in the city has always been an integral part of it. Before World War II, at least 800 thousand Jews lived in the city. Only every 4th person survived the war.
The synagogue was built in 1854-1859 and was designed for 3,000 worshipers. The height of the towers reaches 44 meters. The towers, like the entire image of the synagogue, are reminiscent of the Middle Eastern roots of Judaism. It is not for nothing that the synagogue was built in the neo-Moorish style. And they rebuilt it too. The Hungarian fascists blew it up in 1939. The building was completely restored only in 1998.
Visiting the inner halls of the synagogue is not a cheap pleasure. The ticket will cost 13 euros. In my opinion, these expenses are not worth it and it is quite possible to limit ourselves to an external inspection of the building. If you decide to get inside, then respect the feelings of the believers. You will not be allowed in wearing shorts or bare shoulders. Men are required to cover their heads, which can be done on the spot using a paper kippah cap provided.
St. Stephen's Basilica
From the key Jewish shrine we will move to the main Christian temple of the country – St. Stephen's Basilica. It is within walking distance of the Great Synagogue. Saint Stephen, aka King Stephen I (or in the Christian manner Stephen I) is a historical figure extremely revered by the Hungarians. Uniting the Hungarian lands into a single kingdom at the turn of the first and second millennium. And also baptized Hungary. The glorious deeds of King Stephen I led to him being revered as the patron saint of the state.
The cathedral, named after him, took 54 years to build, from 1851 to 1905. The neo-Renaissance temple rises 96 meters and is therefore one of the 2 tallest buildings in the city. A second building of similar height will be next in our review.
When visiting the cathedral, I recommend visiting its observation deck right under the dome. A breathtaking view of St. Stephen's Square and the main attractions of the city opens for only 3 euros.
The visit to the basilica itself is sometimes free, sometimes paid. City authorities cannot decide on their attitude towards the religious shrine. Either they offer to leave a donation, or they introduce tickets. In 2022, the second option was in effect. A visit to the cathedral without an observation deck cost 1.5 euros.
No matter how much it costs to enter, it's worth stopping by. And not even for the sake of the beautiful interiors that convey the genius of the architect. And first of all, for the sake of the main religious shrine of Hungary. In the church, the right hand of St. Stephen is displayed in a place of honor in a gilded shrine. The right hand, with which the first king baptized and united the state, is called “incorruptible.”
Hungarian Parliament building
The Hungarian Parliament is one of the most recognizable symbols not only of Budapest, but also of Hungary as a whole. Locally called Orsaghaz, the building adorns the Danube embankment. This building was supposed to represent the Hungarian Renaissance. And who would dare to say that it failed in its mission?
The construction of the parliament had several symbolic features. At the request of the Hungarians, it was built only by local workers. And they used only Hungarian construction materials. It is believed that the architects used Westminster as a model when planning. By comparing images, you can really find a lot of similarities.
The Parliament building is the largest building in Hungary. It consists of 691 rooms, of which only a small part is open to the public. And a visit will be expensive: a 45-minute tour costs 27 euros. No matter how much I would like to see the legendary 3-kilometer red carpet of parliament, and also see how 40 kilograms of gold were spent on decorating the rooms, such a price for a ticket seemed exorbitant to me.
Freedom Square
To the southeast of the parliament building is one of the largest squares in the city and country – Freedom Square. It is surrounded by luxurious mansions, which in themselves are worthy of the attention of any tourist. Among the buildings, the buildings of the Hungarian Broadcasting Company, the National Bank and the US Embassy are particularly distinguished by their exquisite architecture.
There is more than just ambiguity in the name “Freedom Square”. And if you can put it this way, even “triple meaning”. Firstly, an eternal flame burns here in memory of the victims of the Hungarian revolution of 1848-1849, which was suppressed by the Austrians. Secondly, after the end of World War II, a monument to Soviet soldiers, who died in large numbers for the liberation of Hungary from the fascist regime, was placed here. And thirdly, already in the modern period, the square on the square was replenished with a statue of American President Ronald Reagan, who did a lot to end the Cold War and, accordingly, the liberation of Hungary from the Soviet bloc.
Vajdahunyad Castle
Are you looking for the most romantic place in the Hungarian capital? Don't have time to visit castles in other parts of Hungary? Always x hotels to be a genius? These seemingly unrelated questions are united by one brilliant location in Budapest – Vajdahunyad Castle, located in Városliget Park.
The history of the castle began with just a historical pavilion, erected to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the Hungarians finding their land. The locals loved it so much that in 1904-1907, an entire castle complex was erected on the site of the pavilion and an artificial pond was dug.
Vajdahunyad Castle is a mixture of different architectural styles: Gothic, Romanticism, Baroque, Renaissance. As conceived by the architect Ignaz Alpár, it incorporated elements of 21 famous buildings of the Hungarian lands, for example, the Corwin and Szegesvár castles.
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Another feature of it is the historically absent ownership rights to it. Built at the whim of the people, Vajdahunyad belonged neither to monarchs nor aristocrats. A kind of “public abandoned building.”
What about the promised genius? In Városliget Park there is a statue of Monk Anonymous, the famous Hungarian chronicler. According to local belief, by rubbing the Anonymous pen, a person gains remarkable intelligence. Why not visit the park? If you don’t believe the legend, then just come here for guaranteed romance. The castle looks like it came straight out of a Disney fairy tale.
Heroes Square and Millennium Monument
Next to Vajdahunyad Castle there is another must-see location – Heroes' Square. Just like the castle described above, the Square owes its appearance to the Hungarians’ celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the acquisition of their land in 1896. As you already understand, the festivities in Budapest on this occasion were grandiose, unlike today's fairs.
One of the points in the celebration of the anniversary was the immortalization in stone of the most prominent Hungarian figures: monarchs, generals and educators. This is how the Millennium Monument appeared on Heroes Square. It is a composition of two semicircles of colonnades with sculptures and a central sculptural group.
On the central 36-meter column there is a statue of Saint Gabriel, especially revered in Hungary. According to legend, it was he who inspired King Stephen I to baptize the country and gather it into a single kingdom. These two epoch-making acts are evidenced by the cross and the Sacred Crown in the hands of the archangel. The base of the central column is surrounded by equestrian statues of the leaders of the seven Hungarian tribes (remember the riddle from the Buda guide?) led by the Hungarian prince Arpad, the founder of the royal dynasty. Which historical characters were honored to be placed in the semicircles of the monument – your homework. Be sure to visit this largest square in the city and check out the bas-reliefs.
Szechenyi Bath
For many tourists, the baths of Budapest are extremely attractive. The most famous of them is the Szechenyi Bath. It is located near Vajdahunyad Castle and the Millennium Monument. Thermal springs and artesian water absorb hundreds of thousands of tourist bodies, and with them the 18 euro entrance fee.
It is believed that the chemical composition of the Széchenyi springs is similar to the water in the Nile. This is why water is taken here to keep the hippopotamus in the Budapest Zoo.
But here's the problem. 10 years ago, the American magazine Life included the Széchenyi Baths in the list of the dirtiest places on the planet. True, he quickly removed the terms from it, encountering a barrage of criticism. It’s up to you to check which of Life magazine’s steps was more justified, to demonize the baths or to rehabilitate them.
Between 2 worlds – the common heritage of Buda and Pest
There are several sights in Budapest that support “neutrality” in the unspoken struggle between Buda and Pest. These are objects in the middle of the Danube and above the Danube.
The first of them is Margaret Island (aka Hare Island). I recommend visiting it for lovers of river walks. Especially if you have a Budapest card, since one river boat trip is free for you.
Margaret Island is an open-air botanical garden where you will find not only rare plant species and the ruins of a monastery, but also a break from the mundane bustle of metropolitan life. The island got its name in honor of Princess Margaret, daughter of King Béla IV. He gave the princess to the Dominican monastery as a sign of gratitude to heaven for saving the country from the Mongol-Tatar invasion.
No matter how hard you try, you cannot ignore several extremely useful capital attractions – the bridges connecting Buda and Pest. Each of them is a work of art with its own history and style. There are a total of 15 bridges within the city. The oldest of them, the Chain Bridge, opened in 1849. He was an engineering wonder of the world. It’s not a fact that you’ll be able to walk along it. In 2022, the bridge was under reconstruction.
Another record-breaking beauty is the Erzsebet Suspension Bridge. When it opened in 1903, it was the largest bridge of its kind in the world.
This is how it is “almost an imperial city.” Lacking the attention of aristocrats in the past, it more than makes up for it with the attention of tourists in the present. I hope you will be one of them. After all, Budapest is one of the most affordable, loyal and successful investments for your tourism capital.