Gellért Hill and the Citadella

Gellért Hill rises 235 metres above the Danube on the Buda side and gives the widest views of Budapest, taking in the bridges, the Parliament, Castle Hill and the long sweep of Pest. The hill is named after St Gerard (Gellért), a bishop who, according to legend, was killed here in 1046 during a pagan uprising. Its slopes are covered with paths, steps and woodland, and they make a rewarding walk up from the river.

At the top stands the Citadella, a fortress built by the Habsburgs after the failed Hungarian revolution of 1848 to 1849, positioned to command both Buda and Pest. Beside it is the Liberty Statue, a woman holding a palm leaf, erected after the Second World War and now one of the city's most recognisable silhouettes. After more than a decade of closure and reconstruction, the Citadella reopened to the public in spring 2026.

The renovated fortress now has a public park in its courtyard, with lawns and planting, viewing terraces including a rooftop lookout, a café, an ice cream counter and a gift shop. A new staircase climbs from the Liberty Statue to the fortress, and lifts and step-free paths make the top more accessible than before. Inside, the exhibition A Szabadság Bástyája (The Bastion of Freedom) uses film and installations to tell the story of Hungary's struggles for independence; it requires a ticket, which can be bought online. The exhibition opens from 10:00 to 18:00 on most days and from 12:00 to 20:00 on Fridays, and the park stays open late into the evening, so check the official website for the current season.

Walking up takes around 30 to 40 minutes from the Buda end of Elisabeth Bridge, past the St Gellért Monument and its waterfall, or from Liberty Bridge past the entrance to the Cave Church. The paths are steep in places, so wear good shoes. Bus 27 runs to a stop near the top for those who prefer not to climb. Sunset is the most popular time to come, and the view of the floodlit bridges after dark is just as good.

At the foot of the hill are Liberty Bridge, the Gellért Hotel and the Cave Church, and across the river is the Great Market Hall. Allow two hours for the walk, the views and a look at the fortress.