Budapest

Jul 2023

As a benefit of my credit card I got two return flights within Europe so decided to head to Budapest for a long weekend as I've never been to Hungary.

The city, sat on the Danube, is split into two - Buda on the westerns side of the river and Pest on the Eastern side. There's loads to see and do and some great restaurants as well. And although it was a little hot to just walk around when we were there, Budapest has a great public transport infrastructure of Trams, Buses and the Metro so its easy to get everywhere.

Castle View — Castle View
A view down the Danube from Buda Castle walls to the Chain Bridge and the Hungarian Parliament building beyond

St Stephens Basilica — St Stephens Basilica
Night view of the large Roman Catholic church on the Pest side of the Danube

Hungarian Parliament at Night — Hungarian Parliament at Night
Night view of the Hungarian Parliment all lit up, from the opposite side of the river.

Patterned Tiled Roof — Patterned Tiled Roof
Buildings and Lutheran Church next to the Vienna Gate at the Northern end of the Castle district

Zsolna Decorative Fountain — Zsolna Decorative Fountain
Called Ősforrás, a gift from the city of Pécs and Baranya county in 1973 for the centenary of the unification of Pest and Buda.

Fishermans Bastion — Fishermans Bastion
The seven high-pitched stone towers symbolize the seven chieftains of the Hungarians who founded Hungary in 895.

View from Fishermans Bastion — View from Fishermans Bastion
A view through the columns, down to the Danube and Parliament building

St Stephen and Matthias Church — St Stephen and Matthias Church
The status of St Stephen sits outside the late Gothic Roman Catholic church

Matthias Church Aisle — Matthias Church Aisle
View down the aisle inside Matthias Church

Golden Artwork — Golden Artwork
Religious artwork inside Matthias Church above the doorway

Matthias Roof Detail

Altar and Stained Glass — Altar and Stained Glass
The stained glass windows behind the altar in Matthias Church

Statue and Stained Glass — Statue and Stained Glass
More detail from inside Matthias Church

Flag Raiser — Flag Raiser
Old Soviet era statue in Momento Park in the South of Budapest

Soviet Frieze — Soviet Frieze
Art from the Soviet era now found in Momento Park

Bust — Bust
Statue in Momento Park

Running Man — Running Man
Huge Soviet era brutalist statue in Momento Park, Budapest

Stalin's Boots — Stalin's Boots
The main status of Stalin was cut off just below the knees when it was toppled. All that remains is his boots!

Castle Guard — Castle Guard
Two guardsmen on horseback infront of Buda Castle

Fountain — Fountain
An ornate fountain within the Buda Castle grounds

Buda Castle at Night

Parliament Decoration — Parliament Decoration
Statues inside the Hungary Parliament building made of an ornamental ceramic called Pyrogranite.

Parliament Main Entrance — Parliament Main Entrance
The official entrance into Parliament used during state visits and special occasions

Debating Chamber — Debating Chamber
The Debating Chamber within the Hungarian Parliament building

Shoes on the Danube Bank — Shoes on the Danube Bank
A memorial to honour the Jews who were massacred by fascist Hungarian militia belonging to the Arrow Cross Party in Budapest during the Second World War.

Traim and Parliament — Traim and Parliament
One of the yellow trams passes infront of the Parliament building

City Park Castle — City Park Castle
A small castle sits by the lake in City Park.