{"id":862374,"date":"2025-01-15T13:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-15T11:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tourism.com.de\/?p=862374"},"modified":"2025-02-07T11:21:31","modified_gmt":"2025-02-07T09:21:31","slug":"pest-top-15-attractions-in-eastern-budapest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tourism.com.de\/en\/pest-top-15-attractions-in-eastern-budapest\/","title":{"rendered":"\ud83c\udfdb\ufe0f Pest: top 15 attractions in eastern Budapest"},"content":{"rendered":"

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<\/a> that you can\u2019t miss.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"Almost<\/a><\/p>\n

Great Synagogue of Buda<\/a> Pest<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Almost<\/a><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n

St. Stephen's Basilica<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Almost<\/a><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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<\/a> of the city opens for only 3 euros.<\/p>\n

\"Almost<\/a><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Almost<\/a><\/p>\n

No matter how much it costs to enter, it's worth stopping by. And not even for the sake of the beautiful interiors<\/a> 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.”<\/p>\n

Hungarian Parliament building<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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?\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Almost<\/a><\/p>\n

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<\/a>. It is believed that the architects used Westminster as a model when planning. By comparing images, you can really find a lot of similarities.<\/p>\n

\"Almost<\/a><\/p>\n

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<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

Freedom Square<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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<\/a>. Among the buildings, the buildings of the Hungarian Broadcasting Company, the National Bank and the US<\/a> Embassy are particularly distinguished by their exquisite architecture.<\/p>\n

\"Almost<\/a><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Vajdahunyad Castle<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Are you looking for the most romantic<\/a> place in the Hungarian capital? Don't have time to visit castles in other parts of Hungary? Always x hotels<\/a> to be a genius? These seemingly unrelated questions are united by one brilliant location in Budapest – Vajdahunyad Castle, located in V\u00e1rosliget Park.<\/p>\n

\"Almost<\/a><\/p>\n

The history<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

Vajdahunyad Castle is a mixture of different architectural styles: Gothic, Romanticism, Baroque, Renaissance. As conceived by the architect Ignaz Alp\u00e1r, it incorporated elements of 21 famous buildings of the Hungarian lands, for example<\/a>, the Corwin and Szegesv\u00e1r castles.<\/p>\n

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