Budapest’s Castle Hill
See the Royal Palace and Fishermen’s Bastion while looking over Hung
Dec 14, 2006
The first thing you learn about Hungary's capital city of Budapest is that it’s really two towns: Buda and Pest. The historic, hilly side to the west of the Danube is Buda, and it’s here that you’ll find the medieval excitement of Castle Hill.
Castle Hill or Varhegy not only gives you great views over the rest of Budapest, but contains enough sights to spend most of a day there – most of Budapest’s medieval era buildings can be found here.
What to See at Castle Hill
The Royal Palace (Kiralyi Palota) is the most stunning building on Castle Hill, right on the southern end, and it includes the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum.
In the middle of Castle Hill is a collection of monuments and Gothic and neo-Gothic architecture. The Fishermen’s Bastion (Halaszbastya), an arcade built on the fort wall, is a good place for scenic views (and our tip is that the café underneath is a good spot for a rest – and you can get the views for the price of a cup of coffee instead of the admittance fee). Nearby, the Matthias Church (Matyas Templan) is also worth seeing, particularly its multi-colored tiled roof.
At the other end of the hill, you’ll find the majestic old Magdalen Tower and the Military History Museum, and gardens to walk around and relax in.
How to Get to Castle Hill
If you’re traveling independently, the nearest metro stop is Moszkva ter on the red line. You can walk up the hill from there, or if it’s rainy (or your feet won’t cooperate) take the “Var” shuttlebus (recognize it by the pictogram of a castle). You can also take the funicular train up the hill from its start opposite the Chain Bridge.
Nearby: Also on the Buda side of the river, a short work further south of Castle Hill, you’ll find the Gellert Hill and at its base, the impressive Gellert Baths.
