Buda Castle in Budapest: Free Areas, Viewpoints & Landmarks
Buda Castle in Budapest is on the west bank of the Danube in the Castle Quarter. Here, you will find palace courtyards, gardens, viewpoints, and historic landmarks. Much of the district is free to wander, while museums and attractions such as Matthias Church charge an entry fee.
Buda Castle is one of my favourite places to visit because there are many beautiful buildings. A special time to visit is at sunrise, when the views and architecture look special, and it’s also pretty quiet. For a first-time visitor, I recommend putting this near the top of your itinerary.
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If you wish to go inside many of the city’s attractions, you might want to purchase the Budapest Card.
What to See at Buda Castle
You can walk through most of the complex for free and enjoy the architecture and the splendid views. They completed the original castle in 1265. They built lots of the Baroque buildings in the area during the 17th century.
Large maps dotted around the site help you find the various points of interest.
Bazaar & Gardens
Entering the castle quarter through the Bazaar is a splendid starting point for touring the area. The bazaar entrance features an ornamental garden and is great to walk through.
To reach the higher areas, there are stairways, a lift and escalators. They built this garden and its features in the late 19th century.
Déli Rondella
Above the gardens, along the walkway, is Déli Rondella, a significant part of the castle’s fortifications. The rondella was the southernmost peak and one of the largest fortifications in the castle’s outer belt. They reconstructed this part in the 1950s. The Mace Tower, next to the Ferdinand Gate, is one of the site’s iconic structures at the south end.
You can then climb the slopes that follow the fortification walls to the main site at the top.
Statue of Prince Eugene of Savoy
The gardens to the front of the main castle are stunning. You can take it in from many angles, enjoy the garden and see the statue of Prince Eugene of Savoy. The castle houses the Hungarian Art Collection.
Hunyadi Court
Hunyadi Court is a beautiful terrace with interesting features. An archway leads from the Eugene of Savoy statue to Hunyadi Court.
Highlights include the lion statues, a fountain and the guards’ house. The low sun really enhances this place, and it is ideal to visit during the golden hour.
Oroszlános Udvar
The Lions Court, or Oroszlános udvar, is a stunning part of Buda Castle. It was named Oroszlános udvar because four stone lion statues guard the courtyard entrance. You enter via an ornate gate in Hunyadi Court.
Fountain of King Matthias
The Matthias Fountain is another iconic landmark at the site’s western end. This Neo-Baroque fountain is one of Budapest’s most photographed landmarks. The fountain features a hunting party led by the former King of Hungary, Matthias Corvinus.
The Guard House
The Főőrség, or Guard House, is a newly rebuilt feature. Inside is a cafe and an exhibition of the 260-year history of the Hungarian Royal Guards. Originally built in 1903, the building served as the headquarters of the palace and royal guards. The guardhouse is at the western edge of Hunyadi Court. One outstanding feature is a 3-metre-high, 7.2-metre-wide bronze gate depicting the 27 most important events in the site’s history.
The Royal Riding Hall
You can see the Royal Riding Hall up close or from the balcony above. During the golden hour before sunset, the colours of the Neo-Baroque building are rather striking.
They completed the original Royal Riding Hall in 1900 and the current version in 2021; the current version is a replica of the original.
Fisherman’s Bastion & Matthias Church
The Fisherman’s Bastion is an iconic landmark with a viewpoint offering panoramic views across the River Danube. It is one of Budapest’s most famous tourist attractions. The area is open to visitors 24/7; early morning or late at night is ideal to avoid the crowds.
The Fisherman’s Bastion is a decorative fortification made up of some towers, steps, arches and more. They built the monument between 1895 and 1902. It has 7 distinctive turrets, which they built to represent the 7 Hungarian tribes who founded the country in 895. Nearby is the beautiful St. Matthias Church and a statue of St. Stephen.
Habsburg Gate and Turul Statue
Another place of interest is the Habsburg Gate and Turul statue. You can climb the stairs in the Habsburg Gate when walking around the complex. The Turul statue is part of the gate and looks like an eagle in flight.
At the bottom of the Habsburg Steps, in a pleasant garden next to the royal palace, is the Fountain of the Fishing Children. The Fountain of the Fishing Children dates from 1900.
Sándor Palace
The Sándor Palace is a nice place to explore the building and its front gardens. The palace has served as the official residence and workspace of the President of Hungary since 2003. Sándor Palace is open on Cultural Heritage Day, the third weekend in September.
The Vienna Gate
The Vienna Gate once connected the castle to the highway to Vienna. During the 19th century, they demolished the gate. Then, in 1936, they restored it to commemorate the 250th anniversary of recapturing Buda from the Ottomans. It’s a handy entrance to head towards if arriving on the M2 underground. You can access the fortress walls here, which are rather pleasant and perfect for a dog walk.
Mathias Rex Monument
The statue of Mathias Rex is a memorial to Matthias Corvinus, who was king of Hungary from 1458 to 1490. The monument is on a wall of a church tower.
Labyrinth
Labyrinth is a historical labyrinth of caves and tunnels under the hill. It is where they supposedly imprisoned Vlad the Impaler and a fair few others.
Throughout the Labyrinth, you learn about Hungary’s history, particularly its former rulers. One part of the Labyrinth features pitch-black tunnels that visitors navigate using their other senses.
House of Houdini Museum & Magic Venue
The House of Houdini is a museum and venue for live magic. The museum is devoted to the greatest magician and escape artist of all time, Harry Houdini, who was born in Hungary. It has the only collection of original Houdini artefacts in Europe.
Colourful Streets
While exploring, there are colourful side streets. One of these buildings is the Koller Gallery, the oldest private art gallery in Budapest. Their opening hours and current exhibitions are on their website.
Hadtörténeti Múzeum
The Hadtörténeti Múzeum, AKA the Military History Museum, is located on the fortifications’ walls. The museum covers the period from the Magyar Conquest through to the present day. The museum has military equipment, weapons and uniforms.
Pénzügyminisztérium
Another recently restored building is the Pénzügyminisztérium, a Gothic-style landmark that looks pretty special. It has had many purposes and is now being used by the Ministry of Finance.
At the building’s entrance on Trinity Square stands the Holy Trinity Statue. It commemorates victims of plague outbreaks in Buda in 1691 and 1709. The monument reflects the belief that such columns could offer protection from future epidemics.
Church of Saint Mary Magdalene
The Church of Saint Mary Magdalene has a restored Gothic tower which you can pay to climb. The grounds have features such as the Coronation Mantle and the Relief of the Coronation Robe. Find out about visiting and climbing the tower on their website.
Buda Castle Funicular
The Buda Castle Funicular is another popular route up the hill, starting from Clark Ádám Square near the Chain Bridge. It’s a steep 95-metre ride up the hill that takes about two minutes to complete. Opened in 1870, it is the second oldest passenger funicular railway in Europe.
Bars & Restaurants
Throughout the grounds are a selection of restaurants, including those serving traditional Hungarian cuisine. We enjoyed meals at a few places; a standout option was 21, Magyar Vendéglő. You can also find cafes for drinks and stalls serving snacks, such as the delightful Kurtos.
Is Buda Castle Worth Visiting?
Buda Castle is a wonderful place and well worth visiting. In fact, I consider it a must-see sight when in Budapest. There are so many interesting facets to the site. Walking around to see the free parts is great fun and an opportunity to learn some Hungarian history. You can also find plenty of places nearby for drinks or food.