Attraction
Buda Castle
The former royal palace on Castle Hill, rebuilt many times since the 13th century, now home to the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum.
Hungarian Parliament Building
Hungary's neo-Gothic seat of parliament on the Danube, completed in 1904, where guided tours lead to the Holy Crown and the domed central hall.
At a glance
- Type
- Parliament building and guided tours
- Area
- Lipótváros, Budapest, Hungary
- Official site
- parlament.hu
Good to know
- Guided tours
- Visitor centre
- Holy Crown display
- Step-free visitor centre
Why we recommend it
The Hungarian Parliament Building is the defining image of Budapest, a long neo-Gothic palace that runs along the Pest bank of the Danube with a Renaissance Revival dome at its centre. Imre Steindl won the design competition, construction began in 1885, the building was inaugurated for the millennium celebrations of 1896 and it was finally completed in 1904. Steindl went blind and died before it was finished. It remains the largest building in Hungary and is still the working home of the National Assembly.
The numbers explain why it looks so grand from the river: the building is 268 metres long, the dome rises to 96 metres, a height chosen to echo the year 896 when the Magyars are said to have settled the Carpathian Basin, and inside there are 691 rooms. The decoration includes hundreds of statues on the facades and gold leaf in the ceremonial spaces.
Inside, guided tours take visitors up the main staircase to the domed central hall, where the Holy Crown of Hungary has been displayed since 2000 together with the other coronation regalia. Tours also pass one of the two matching halls built for the former upper and lower houses. Tours run in several languages, including English, and start from the visitor centre, which is underground at the northern end of Kossuth Square and has step-free access.
Tickets are limited and popular tours sell out, especially in summer, so book online in advance rather than relying on the small number sold on the day at the visitor centre. Expect airport-style security checks, and bring identification. Tours can be cut back or cancelled during plenary sessions and state events, so check the schedule before you plan your day around it. Children are welcome, though the tour content suits older children best.
The exterior is free to admire at any time. For the classic view, cross to the Buda side and look back from Batthyány Square or the riverside by the Fisherman's Bastion, or take an evening boat when the building is floodlit. Kossuth Lajos tér, on metro line M2, is directly outside, and tram 2 runs along the embankment. The Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial is a few minutes' walk south along the river, and St Stephen's Basilica is about fifteen minutes away on foot.
Hungarian Parliament Building FAQs
Can you go inside the Hungarian Parliament Building?
Yes, by guided tour only. Tours start from the visitor centre under the northern part of Kossuth Square.
Do you need to book a Parliament tour in advance?
It is strongly advised. Only a limited number of tickets are sold on the day and English-language tours often sell out.
What do you see on the tour?
The main staircase, the domed central hall with the Holy Crown and coronation regalia, and one of the former chamber halls.
When was the Parliament built?
Construction began in 1885, it was inaugurated in 1896 and completed in 1904.
How tall is the building?
The dome reaches 96 metres, a figure linked to the year 896.
What is the nearest metro station?
Kossuth Lajos tér on metro line M2, right beside the building. Tram 2 also stops nearby.
Where is the best view of the Parliament?
From the Buda bank around Batthyány Square, from the Fisherman's Bastion, or from a river cruise after dark.
Are there security checks?
Yes, all visitors pass through security before the tour, so allow extra time.