The Best of the Buda Castle District in Budapest, Hungary

On June 25, 2019 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Hungary7 Comments

Doing a tour, whether self-guided or with a guide, of the Buda Castle District is one of the most popular things to do when visiting Budapest, the capital of Hungary. We decided to tour the district on our own and found the history and architecture to be fascinating. There is a lot to see in the Buda Castle District, so expect to spend the majority of a day enjoying the sights. The castle district is basically the castle complex which includes the palace grounds, churches, and fortifications. Today, it is also home to many small hotels, restaurants, as well as pubs, which will give you plenty of options to grab a meal during your tour. In addition to all of the sites within the complex, castle hill on which the complex sits, also provides amazing views of the Parliament Building and St. Stephen’s Basilica. These are the important places to see when taking a tour of the Buda Castle District.

Royal Palace from the Danube River Cruise

The Royal Palace (Buda Castle) – Some of the best views of the palace are actually from the Danube River below, but the palace is obviously the main attraction within the complex. Unlike many other palaces that offer a glimpse into the lives of the people who lived there, the palace buildings today house the Hungarian National Gallery and the National Library.
Matthias Church and the Holy Trinity Statue
Matthias Church – With its colorful roof, Gothic architecture, and Holy Trinity Statue, Mattias Church offers a lot to see. Located in the heart of the Buda Castle District, the church’s bell tower rises high above the buildings in the complex. Like the palace, Matthias church can easily be seen from the river, but it is much more impressive up close.
The Largest Tower of the Fisherman’s Bastion
Fisherman’s Bastion – Located behind Matthias Church, Fisherman’s Bastion is made up of a fortress wall and seven towers. Built in the 1800’s, the combination of neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque architecture make it quite interesting. Some of the best views of the Pest side of the Danube River and the Parliament Building can be seen from the walls and towers of the Fisherman’s Bastion.
Magdaline Church Bell Tower
Magdaline Church Tower – As you reach the end of the Buda Castle District, you’ll find this wonderful church tower. The Church of Mary Magdaline was originally built in the 13th century, but suffered major damage over the years. Today visitors can climb the 170 stairs to the top of the tower to enjoy panoramic views.
One of the Many Restaurants
Restaurants – Although obviously catering to the throngs of tourists who visit the Buda Castle District daily, there are wonderful choices of restaurants in the area. We actually had some of the best wine of our trip while touring the district. Whether enjoying a local dish such as Hungarian Goulash or choosing another cuisine, there are plenty of food options available.
Riding the Funicular
Funicular and Castle Stairs – The funicular is the easiest way to get to the top of Castle Hill and start your tour and also provides wonderful views along the way. We recommend taking the funicular up to the castle complex and then walking down the castle stairs when your tour is complete.
Walking the Castle Stairs

The Buda Castle District is certainly one of the highlights to any trip to Budapest. With hundreds of years of history that extend back to beginning of Hungary’s history, it is an important cultural location. The Buda Castle District was home to Hungary’s royalty and wealthy aristocrats, which looked down upon the more humble dwellings in Pest. The Chain Bridge now extends across the Danube River at the base of Castle Hill and served to not only bridge the river, but also to blend the cities of Buda and Pest into the city of Budapest that we know today.

Matthias Church in Budapest, Hungary

On June 13, 2019 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Hungary4 Comments

Located in the heart of the Buda Castle District in Budapest is the historic Matthias Church. The current church was built in the 1400’s in the Gothic architectural style, but it was extensively remodeled in the 19th century. The original church was built around 1015, but nothing remains of the original Romanesque architectural style. The Matthias Church sits in front of the Fisherman’s Bastian, which is the wall with towers that surrounds the Danube River side of Castle Hill. The church is clearly visible from the Pest side of the river, especially with its colorful roof.

As Seen from the Pest Side of the Danube River

The church is named after King Matthias, who ruled Hungary in the 19th century. The church has been the site of several coronations as well as royal weddings, including both of King Matthias’ weddings. Unfortunately, there was actually a wedding at the church when we toured the Buda Castle District, so we weren’t able to go inside. The church itself has had as tumultuous of a history as Hungary itself. The church has had several names before becoming the Matthias Church, including The Church of Mary and The Church of Our Lady. After Hungary was conquered by the Turks, most of the church’s treasures were transferred to Bratislava and the Turks converted it to a mosque. It was later then restored and many of the Gothic features restored.

During World War II, the church was badly damaged by both the Germans and the Soviet Union, so work was done in the 1950’s and 1970’s to again restore it to it original grandeur. In addition to the church, there is also the Holy Trinity Statue that is near the main entrance of the church with wonderful details. Regardless of its history, Matthias Church is certainly one of the most important features in the Buda Castle District. The diamond patterned roof, gargoyles, and the raven with a ring in its mouth make it very interesting to see. Apparently the raven with the ring symbolizes a story of when King Matthias took off his ring and a raven grabbed it and flew off with it. King Matthias then chased down the raven and slew it in order to get his ring back.

Matthias Church and the Holy Trinity Statue

St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest

On May 28, 2019 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Hungary2 Comments

One of the focal points for any visit to Budapest is the St. Stephen’s Basilica. Located in the Inner City District, it is in the heart of the old town region with all of the restaurants and shopping. Visiting the basilica is free, but there is a recommended donation of 200 Ft (~2 euros) for entering the cathedral. The inside of the cathedral is quite beautiful with all of the ornate gold arches and wonderful domes. Another highlight of the basilica is the observation deck, which has spectacular panoramic views of the city from a different perspective than those of the Castle District or the Citadel.

The Front of the Basilica with the Bell Towers

We actually visited St. Stephen’s Basilica twice, once on a rainy day to see the interior of the cathedral and then a second time when the weather was better to go to the observation deck and take photographs of the city. Due to its central location, the cathedral can be quite crowded with tourists, so you’ll want to be patient as you walk around the cathedral. Depending on the time of year, there can also be long lines waiting to get up to the observation deck, but we didn’t have too long of a wait while we were there.

Walking Towards St. Stephen’s Basilica on a Rainy Day

Looking Down at the Pedestrian Street that Leads to the Basilica

The Giant Wheel Viewed from the Top of the Basilica

St. Stephen’s Basilica also offers organ concerts at different times during the week and a schedule is available if you are interested. The cathedral is named after St. Stephen I, who was the first king of Hungary. Construction began in 1851 and it wasn’t completed until 1906. The domes of the basilica and the Parliament Building are the same height and they dominate the skyline of the Pest side of the Danube River. They were purposely created to be of equal height in order to symbolize the balance between church and state in Hungary.

Matthias Church in the Castle District from the Top of the Basilica

It is possible to get guided tours of St. Stephen’s Basilica, but we found that most people just tour the cathedral on their own. The basilica is one of the most important sites to visit during a trip to Budapest and we would definitely recommend taking the time to go the observation deck for the views.