Budapest is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It’s perfect for a city break although there’s so much to see and do here you’ll probably want to come back for another weekend as soon as you begin exploring! I definitely felt that and I’ve been back six times and I’m itching to go back again (despite being there exactly one week ago as I began to write this…oops).
One of the things that makes Budapest so beautiful is that it’s got views for days. Budapest was originally two cities with hilly Buda on the west of the Danube and the considerably flatter Pest on the east. This juxtaposition of the two sides with the (sometimes) blue Danube curving its way between them makes for some incredible birds eye views. Read on to discover the most epic viewpoints you can find in Budapest.
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1. Fisherman’s Bastion
First up is my most favourite view of them all and let’s be honest, most people’s most favourite view in Budapest! It’s also pretty likely that it’s the best known as well and many of the shots you’ll have seen of the city are from this location. In the photo above you can see the sparkling turrets of Fisherman’s Bastion. It’s from this wonderful vantage point that everyone crowds for their perfect Budapest shot.
Fisherman’s Bastion was built (in 1902) to commemorate the 1000th year of the origin of the Hunagrian State. It has a fairytale like air to it with its spiralling turrets and ornate windows. The viewpoint looks our from Buda across to Pest and frames the Parliament really nicely through the windows. The best time to visit is at sunrise and if you’re lucky you’ll be treated to a spectacular light show as the city basks in the fire of the sun’s rising glow.
2. Buda Castle Terrace
Make your way from Fisherman’s Bastion towards Buda Castle through the historic streets of the Buda Castle District and notice the interesting buildings along the way. As you make your way down the steps between the funicular and the Castle you’ll find another stunning view. At the Buda Castle Terrace you’re nearly right inline with the Chain Bridge and St Stephen’s Basilica in the background. On my visit at the end of September, the autumn colours were just starting to creep in and this made for a lovely photo with the orange and green of the leaves combining.
3. Virgin Mary Statue
Don’t miss the view from the Virgin Mary Statue which is located further along the Buda Castle Terrace and towards the lift that will take you down to the Gardens. The statue just out at the end of a narrow terrace and looks down over the river and across to Pest. It’s a great spot to get a feel for Budapest’s location across the Danube as you look up the river towards the mountains in the background and see how the river winds its way through the heart of Budapest.
4. Buda Castle Garden Bazaar
From the terrace above, make your way down in the elevator to the Buda Castle Garden Bazaar. There are a number of lovely viewpoints in these charming gardens. Where the Virginia Creeper clings to the columns you can frame a beautiful photo through their leafy window – even more lovely when it’s changing colours with the Autumn weather! You can also find the terrace which is just near here which is quite a peaceful spot to enjoy a moment with the Danube before you and the Parliament peaking behind the Chain Bridge.
5. Gellért Hill
At the end of the Chain Bridge and Opposite Gellért is the start of a route up to the top of Gellért Hill. This is probably the view on this list that will require the most amount of effort and leg work (it’s 235m high) but you’ll be rewarded with a fabulous panorama. The top of Gellért Hill features a Citadella Fortress and the Budapest Liberty Statue, both interesting to see as well as the vista. The Citadella was built by The Habsburgs as a fortification but never had to face its potential conflict. The Liberty Statue commemorates the liberation of Hungary in World War II.
6. Ősforrás Statue Terrace
Ok apologies, I did sort of start off my list in some sort of walking order but I’ve gone off track a bit here and taken you back up to the Castle District! This is one view of Budapest that you’re far less likely to see. That’s because it’s not got any of the big hitters in it. No Parliament, no Danube, no Chain Bridge, no Buda Castle. But what it does show you is a bit more of the Budapest that locals know and lets you think about what living in this city would be like. There’s some thing quite beautiful about seeing the houses dotted on the hillside beyond and thinking that you could live in a wonderfully busy European capital yet have all of that greenery on your doorstep.
7. Leo Rooftop Bar
This is a view that I’ve enjoyed at night time when the lights of the city are bright and dazzling. Leo Rooftop Bar is situated on top of Hotel Clark and it’s right opposite the Chain Bridge on the Buda side. With this great vantage point you can really see the beauty of the Chain Bridge and the details of the lions which the bar is named for! Grab a glass of wine and just enjoy watching the lights for a while. Discover more places to eat and drink in Budapest here.
8. Cave Church
As you begin your ascent of Gellért Hill, don’t miss the Cave Church and the view that you’ll find near its entrance at the statue of Saint Stephen. Behind the Saint is the unmistakeable green hue of the Liberty Bridge in all its glory. Test your patience (although it won’t really be very long!) and spot the perfect Budapest view of a cheery yellow tram crossing the bridge.
Top Tip – Booking Activities & Tours
My favourite app for booking tours, adventures and plenty of fun is Get Your Guide. There are so many epic memories that you can choose to make from food tours to entry tickets, laidback wine tasting to adrenaline filled adventures. Make sure you use my discount code CATTHOMSON5 for 5% off your first booking when you download the app as a new user 👇
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9. St Stephen’s Basilica
St Stephen’s Basilica is one of the iconic structures of Budapest and sits proudly at the end of Zrínyi Utca with its enormous green tinted dome and two towers that stand tall above the city skyline. The top of the Basilica is actually at the same height as the Hungarian Parliament Building which was intentionally designed into the plans to show the balance between church and state which exists in Hungary. After you’ve marvelled at the inside of the Basilica, climb the stairs to the top. When you exit out on to the panoramic terrace, the view really is breathtaking and fantastic to span a 360 degree view.
10. Danube River Cruise (Hungarian Parliament)
This view is one of a couple of Budapest views that I’m featuring which is not from a height. Instead, this is the view that you’ll enjoy if you take a Danube River Cruise. There are plenty of spectacular views on a cruise but the stand out really has to be the Parliament building. As you cruise past it, you really get an idea of its size and grandeur. It’s particularly impressive during a sunset cruise where the last of the sun’s rays leave the building glowing.
11. Danube River Promenade (Pest to Buda Castle)
When you stroll along the Danube promenade on the east bank of the river, there are some gorgeous buildings to admire. When you approach the Chain Bridge, however, this is when you’ll get one of the best views of Buda Castle. It’s nearly directly opposite and you are able to see its impressive stance on the hillside and how far the complex sprawls (even if it is elegantly). The viewpoint here is my favourite because you can capture two famous Budapest icons in one go, the Chain Bridge with its lions standing guard as well as the Castle in the background.
12. The Duchess Rooftop Bar
The Duchess is another rooftop bar with a view. Part of the view here is all about seeing the roof of the Matild Palace hotel which it is built around and proves an incredible location to sip a cocktail. The other part is that view of the lesser known Erzsébet Bridge which spans the Danube in between the more famous Liberty & Chain bridges. You can also see the lights of the Citadel and Gellért Hill from here.
The Duchess is a slick, hidden cocktail bar which was originally created on the rooftop of the (now hotel) Palace by Her Imperial and Royal Highness Maria Klotild who was (by the sounds of it) a bit of a party girl and wanted to impress her friends with her secret rooftop getaway. The cocktails are intriguing and you’ll get a feeling of the elusive nature of The Duchess up here above the city streets below. Discover more places to eat and drink in Budapest here.
13. Fisherman’s Bastion from Hungarian Parliament
In Pest, the Hungarian Parliament is a truly impressive building but take a glimpse past the statue of Count Gyula Andrássy and the view beyond is also quite incredible. You can see the brilliant white facade of Fisherman’s Bastion and how well it complements the historic church of St Matthias. The two really look as though they could be one structure and original design together. The tiles of St Matthias church are also wonderfully viewed from here and give a sense of how vibrant and colourful they are.
14. Buda Castle Funicular
One final view I’m sharing here is the one that you’ll enjoy from the funicular as it trundles its way up from the Liberty Bridge to the Castle District. As you can see form my photo, I took the funicular on a snowy trip to Budapest to enjoy a sprinkling of snow on the track and on top of the funicular passing in the opposite direction.
Bonus Elizabeth Tower Lookout! This is one viewpoint I haven’t yet made it to, but if you have time on your trip to Budapest then you’ll have fun taking the chairlift up and you’ll enjoy a far away view of the city.
✨ For more fabulous Budapest content make sure to check out my other blog posts ✨
Cat x