The Hungarian Parliament in Budapest towers unmistakably on the banks of the Danube and is one of the most imposing buildings in the world. In the course of guided tours, the impressive interior of the neo-Gothic magnificent building can be visited.
The Hungarian Parliament building is located in the center of Budapest, directly on the bank of the Danube. It is one of the city's landmarks and one of our top 10 Budapest sights. Together with the Danube embankment and the Buda Castle District, it was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1987.
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PICTURES: Parliament building in Budapest
Photo gallery: Parliament building in Budapest
Figures and data about the parliament building
The Parliament Building was constructed from 1885 to 1904, modeled on the Houses of Parliament in London. The Hungarian architect Imre Steindl was entrusted with the construction management, but he went blind shortly before completing his masterpiece.
With a length of 268 and a width of 123 meters, it is the second largest building in the Hungarian capital after the Castle Palace. 40 million stones, including half a million gemstones, were incorporated into the neo-Gothic facade of the Parliament.
Its 365 turrets and numerous gables give the Hungarian parliament building an absolutely distinctive exterior, which miraculously suffered relatively little damage during World War II.
Like St. Stephen's Basilica, the dome of the Parliament is 96m high, together the two residences of secular and spiritual power thus hold the title of the tallest buildings in Budapest.
Ice for the parliament
The architect of the parliament building already realized that the summer heat would cause problems for the deputies inside, so he put an ingenious idea into practice. Under two fountains in front of the building, hidden openings led into a tunnel system that transported cooled fresh air throughout the structure. Today, some of the openings are still used for air conditioning, but cooling is done - much more effectively - with ice.
Visit to the Hungarian Parliament
The parliament can be entered via 27 different entrances. Among other things, 40 kilograms of gold were used for the classicist interior design of the 29 staircases and 691 rooms.
Artful frescoes and murals tell the history of Hungary and also the largest knotted carpet in Europe - 7 by 21 meters - can be found in an anteroom of the meeting hall. All the building materials of the Parliament come from Hungary, except for the eight marble columns on the main staircase, which were imported from Sweden.
Tour of the Imperial Insignia
Under the dome, in the imposing domed hall, one of the most important imperial insignia is kept - the Crown of Stephen. The precious crown still dates back to King Stephen I, Hungary's first Christian king.
The crown jewels with the orb, sword and scepter are also kept in the domed hall and protected from theft by the crown guard in traditional uniforms. The rooms around are used for representative purposes and by the President, the Prime Minister and the National Assembly.
Guided tours of the Parliament are held in several languages and provide a glimpse into the democratic heart of Hungary. Open to visitors are the impressive domed hall with its national treasures, the imposing main staircase and the famous meeting hall.
Tip: The number of participants in guided tours is limited and usually only remaining tickets are available for the same day. If you want to take part in the guided tour of the Hungarian Parliament on a certain date, you should reserve tickets in advance.
Kossuth Lajos Square
In the eastern part of the park around the Parliament, Kossuth Lajos Square with both statues of the famous independence fighters Ferenc Rákóczi II and Lajos Kossuth forms a gathering point for tourists and visitors of rallies.
The victims of the 1956 Hungarian National Uprising are also commemorated with an eternal flame on a granite block. Significant demonstrations took place here in the course of the Hungarian Revolution. Since the renovation in 2014, there is an underground parking lot and a visitor center with a small café surrounded by beautiful green areas.
Related links:
Official website of the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest with opening hours and entrance fees
