Buda Castle
Buda Castle
4.5
About
Sitting atop Castle Hill and overlooking the river Danube is Buda Castle, a sprawling castle and palatial complex that dates back to the 1700s. Here, you'll find art and history museums, massive courtyards, churches and chapels, restaurants, and iconic attractions like the Fisherman’s Bastion, famous for its fairytale-like exteriors. Explore all this and more on a tour—there's even a night tour that gives you a glimpse into the dark side of Buda Castle. To get to the castle, you can walk up the hill starting from the iconic Chain Bridge. Otherwise, you can also ride the funicular—there's usually a line though, so get there early. – Tripadvisor
Duration: 2-3 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: District I / Buda
The historical center to a city with a multifarious and intricate past, Buda has some of the most outstanding buildings in Europe and an enviable natural landscape with stunning views onto the Danube. Centered around the Royal Palace, it provides a glimpse into the golden years of the Austro-Hungarian empire and the lives led by the aristocracy at the time. Matthias Church, beside the palace, hosted many events attended by the royal family and was the chosen place for the coronation of Franz Josef, one of the Hungarian Habsburg kings. Having admired the palace and the church, a visit to Buda will be unforgettable by the stunning and memorable panorama over Pest offered by the seven towered Fishermen’s Bastion.
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  • ladyerica
    Ketchum, Idaho199 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great outdoor activity
    Lovely outdoor excursion worth a visit for sure. We didn't pay to go inside anywhere we just walked around. We took the funicular up and that was a waste of money. The trip is two minutes. We should have walked. But whatever. The grounds are cool and lots of pretty architecture to check out. Good views from the top and a nice meander down back to ground level. We missed St Matthias when we were up there which was an error.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 23 September 2023
  • Mohi412
    80 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Impressive for a single visit only
    We knew beforehand that visiting the Buda Castle was going to be a day involving lots of walking to and from the buildings atop the Buda Hill. The taxi dropped us off at the Fisherman’s Bastion, a truly impressive edifice in white Neo Romanesque architecture which offers some of the finest views on the Danube and Pest. To get to the other buildings such as the palace or the National Gallery, it is a very lengthy walk and the directions not as clear. If you opt for the intertwined picturesque streets of Buda they tend to be quiet, without any traffic, pleasantly walkable but lacking in life. They do not have anything else to see such as antique or other quaint shops one might have expected at such a microcosm of culture and history. If not walking via these curvy streets you can walk through lots and lots of leafy walkways and paths that often have dead ends and you might discover you end up where you began! Reaching the national gallery was indeed a lengthy walk, with plenty of outdoor stairs and uphill walks. I would say it is beautiful to spend half a day max at the castle, but be prepared for expensive and poor quality coffee breaks in between at very touristy priced museum cafeterias.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 8 October 2023
  • WanderingOttersons
    Denver, Colorado1,468 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Plan ahead to do the museums
    Plan ahead for this. We did not on this occasion and found ourselves going in to purchase tickets to the museums on site and having a 2+ hour wait due to the slots being full. As such, we did not stay around for that as we would have liked but that is our own poor planning. There is not a lot to do in this area of the hill otherwise, but if you plan accordingly, then you should have no issue.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 15 October 2023
  • Molly1107
    United Kingdom483 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lovely views
    Lovely area to visit. The funicular was not operating but it was a quick 20 min walk to the top. It is steep so would not recommend to those with a disability. There are buses available. Plenty of cafes and restaurants at the top. Great views along the Danube and across to Parliament. There is a lot of construction going on so photos a bit spoiled by cranes, tractors etc.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 19 October 2023
  • Chris L
    Northampton, United Kingdom421 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful area in castle district
    The whole castle district is great for a walk around, particularly if you get a night where it's dry as we found it to be much quieter than daytime. We combined this with a vampire tour and this is a great way to explore the district as you get some more of the history and historical figures in the statues around the castle area. Surprising to see how much building work is ongoing and many buildings have had to be reconstructed; great location in a beautiful city.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 30 October 2023
  • Amy E
    25 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Breathtaking views over the Danube
    Spectacular views. Plenty of history. Adjoins president’s accommodation complete with guard change ceremony. Beautiful architecture. Leads on to small town and Fisherman’s Bastion. Home to a museum and cafe.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 11 November 2023
  • Neil K
    Liverpool, United Kingdom829,522 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Big tourist attraction
    The number one tourist attraction in Budapest is Buda Castle. Buda Castle ( Budavari Palota ) ,it's the historical palace of the Hungarian kings . Although this castle has stood here since the mid 1200's the huge Baroque castle we see today was actually built between 1749-1769 ,the castle is now home to the Hungarian National Gallery & Budapest Historical Museum. I love walking around this complex taking in the great looking buildings ,the statue's ,fountains and the stunning views looking out over to the River Danube ,it's a busy area and big crowds are common up here ,we were here on a freezing cold November afternoon and there were many tourists up here ,atmosphere was great ,loved it ,can't wait to go again ,if you're planning a holiday to Budapest it's most definitely well worth checking out.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 23 November 2023
  • ofeverythingpetite
    Singapore, Singapore28 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must visit when in Budapest
    It is free to walk around the castle grounds and you can pay for museums or churches along the way if you want to visit them. We visited the History museum and frankly found it boring. The castle grounds are vast and you can get a bird's eye view of Budapest from Fisherman's Bastion. The night views are especially lovely as you get to see monuments like the Parliament lit up.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 26 December 2023
  • CattyKy
    Israel2,321 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning view!
    Located on the top of the hill, Buda Castel offers best stunning view on the Denube river and the Pest side of the city. You can hang out there for a couple of houres, explore the complex, visit museum or grab a coffee in the cafe. You can get down to the river by the funicular Budavári Sikló or just walk throught the organized trails about half an hour, its not hard. Enjoy!
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 20 January 2024
  • SPSurat
    105 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful views from Buda Castle
    The climb to visit the Buda Castle has fantastic viewingspots along the route and from the balconies near the Hungarian National Gallery & Budapest History Museum. A walk along the obbled courtyards is fun. Dont miss the Change of Guards ceremony outside the President's office at noon
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 23 January 2024
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles8,257 reviews
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Robyn Sambell
8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Family
We stayed downhill from Buda Castle which was a very convenient location!
First day out we visited the Castle and bought ' The official Buda Castle bus' pass to take us to the top of the very steep hill. It's a hop on hop off system. Given time any restraints and if one is not fit I guess it seems a good idea. The cost was $13AUD per person. We soon discovered the #16 local bus does the same route! I had 7 day pass for $23 AUD! We visited again at night using the pass and it was fantastic! Make sure you have a validated ticket. A fine can ruin your day!
Written 12 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Eyekaytoo
Leverkusen, Germany3,146 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2021
We climbed up to the castle area from Bus Stop No. 15 on the Red Line of the Budapest City Sightseeing Hop On - Hop Off tourist double decker bus. Some of our large party decided to pay the extra money to take the touristy "train" up to the castle. The rest of us braved the walk on a grey, damp chilly December morning. By the way the Funicular railway was not working - in fact most of the castle buildings up on the hill also seemed to be closed for construction work. The most significant things up there were the excellent views across the river and the many construction sights with leering workers ogling the tourists crowds.

Anyway we spent a good period of time just walking around and taking in the spectacular views before heading back down and hopping back on the next tourist bus.
Written 20 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Briansivess
Edinburgh, UK237 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Couples
On our trip to Budapest we went to the castle the view from the top is amazing you can see from the top both buda and pest. The castle is to be found on the buda side of the river with amazing views of all the city .. from the bottom you can choose to walk up the steep hill or you can take the cable car up the side of the hill at a cost of €7 each return there is also a museum at the top which is an extra cost to go in .. on top you’ll find shops and restaurants. There is a cathedral there to which you can enter at an extra cost behind it is the most amazing view with a cafe on the highest part which give amazing photo opportunities.. it is a nice relaxing walk up there and if you want a bit of history you got to do it
Written 12 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MoonaMuslim
739 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
Depending on how much time is available, it is easy to spend a whole day there.
The heart of the castle district is the castle palace. It is the highest and largest building in the city. But not only that!
The history of the former Royal Castle (Királyi Vár) dates back to the early 14th century. Today's building
combines Gothic and Renaissance style elements into a magnificent overall picture. The dome of the palace is in the classicist style.
Great for walking, easily accessible on foot from the Fisherman's Bastion. It offers a great opportunity to look over Budapest and see many sights. The beautifully landscaped castle garden is at the foot.
Everything is wonderfully illuminated at night with spotlights. Impressive from the outside and well worth a visit.

The Castle Palace can be reached via the Széll Kálmán tér (Metró line 2). Also with the Várbusz (No. 10 or 110), or bus 16 from Déak Ferenc tér - depending on where you come from. The funicular offers another option from the banks of the Danube at the chain bridge.

Art exhibitions take place inside the palace and can be found out in advance. In addition, there are treasures such as the King Matthias Collection, the Hungarian National Gallery with Hungarian Art, and the Historical Museum (the Castle Museum) in the Castle Palace.
The Széchényi National Library is also located there

Definitely worth a visit, a must when visiting Budapest!
Impressive and beautiful during the day, gorgeous and romantic in the evening or at night. There are seating options to take a break and let the scenery work on you.
Great photo opportunities, I would go there once during the day and once in the evening / at night. It is worth enjoying both impressions.
Written 5 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rice76
Toowoomba, Australia67 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Family
Stunning views of the city and plenty to see up there. The furnicular doesn’t go every second Monday (in the morning) so we elected to walk up (rather than get little hop on/off cart thing) which was really quite quick and easy. Can explore buildings for minimal cost but don’t have to spend money to enjoy this area. Took us a good couple of hours to get around. Changing of the guard at noon so good to be there then.
Written 1 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alina E
Bucharest, Romania347 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Friends
It’s a long trip, you have to be very well dressed if you gon in the winter time because it’s very windy and cold. You can take from the bottom the official tour bus for buda, and for 6€ they get you from one point to another if you don’t want to walk all the way. Beatiful places to visit but expensive prices for everything.
Written 8 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mr_worldwide2
58 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022 • Couples
The funicular ride up to the castle ground is only short but well worth the price. We didn’t spend too much time here but the views across the river are amazing. The changing of the guard is well worth watching too if you happen to be there at the right time.
Written 3 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alessandra Funcia
Arisdorf, Switzerland374 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020 • Family
We took the electric car as we were with two kids being one of them 4yo, to grant we could see everything! It is one option worth considering in our case. It costs 5euro per person and you can hop on and out every 10min. We went back on foot though as we stayed longer and the service was over. It took us 7min to walk down with kids. We visited the castle gardens and had great views of the city from there. Really nice! We also managed to see the change of the guards twice which is simple but interesting, specially for the kids.
Written 29 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AJH
Cromwell, New Zealand37 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
The Buda Castle, overlooks the city of Budapest and is a must visit. Use the Big Bus tours to access the old town and learn the history and significance of this amazing sight. Photo opportunities aplenty both within the castle grounds and from the bronze falcon statute.
Written 1 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Taylor R
New York City, NY123 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2021
This is def a top attraction in Budapest and worth your time. Large complex with lots to look at (especially if the weather is nice!). I recommend also visiting the national gallery - they have a beautiful collection that is varied in era and artistic techniqie.
Written 14 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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BUDA CASTLE (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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