Get Inside the Opera House and other Budapest, Hungary Things to Do Tips

Even if your stay in Budapest is short, a visit to the beautiful Opera House is a must. Do your best to catch a performance, any performance, during your stay. The exterior is impressive although difficult to appreciate because of the difficulty in getting a good view. But it is the interior, and especially the performance hall itself that is most impressive. If you cannot catch one of the wonderful opera, ballet, or other performances during your stay, make sure to take the informative tour. The Opera House, built in 1884 in Renaissance style and designed by Miklos Ybl, has an interesting history, and is supposedly has the second most perfect acoustics of all Operas, to the one in Milan. Gustav Mahler, my favorite composer (!), was director of the Budapest Opera for a time. The performance ticket office is through the main entrance and to your left. Use the outer entrance to the right for tours, which take place at 3PM and 4PM daily.

A tip about seating at the Opera House: if you select box seats for a performance, make sure they are in the first row in the box. Unlike other opera houses, the second and third rows of seating in each box are not elevated, so your view will be obstructed by those in front of you. If you cannot get a front row of a box, you are better off anywhere in the orchestra section on the floor.

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Phone: +36 1 332 8197
Address: VI. Andrassy ut 22
Directions: Subway - Metro Line 1 (Yellow) to Opera
Website: www.opera.hu
Other Contact: fax +36 1 302 6481

Budapest has a good number of quality contemporary art museums and galleries, but if you want a special art-going experience and don't mind a little travel around Budapest, the MEO gallery is a great place to spend a couple of hours. Built in a more industrial area, the MEO has huge spaces for the showing of exhibitions from international and Hungarian artists, which change every couple of months or so. The second building keeps a permanent collection of contemporary art, and there is something special about viewing the art among the wooden rafters of the converted building. There is a posh café with a unique large graphic on the wall. The MEO is open until 10PM on Friday night and is a nice place to view art and socialize with friends.

One caveat: I took a group of colleagues there one evening to find the MEO closed. I see that there are regularly changing special exhibits, but I would suggest calling ahead to make sure it is open when you plan to visit.

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Phone: +36 1 272 0876
Address: 1047 Budapest, Joszef Attila ut 4-6
Directions: Take the #3 (blue) metro line to Ujpest-Varoskapu stop. Joszef Attila ut. is one street over.
Website: www.meo.org.hu

Contemporary art lovers will enjoy a visit to the Ludwig Museum at the Buda Royal Palace. The viewing spaces are a bit cavernous, and the central gallery is a little too dark, but it does have some impressive contemporary works in its permanent collection, including works by Jasper Johns, Roy Liectenstein, and a white chess set by Yoko Ono. There are also interesting temporary exhibitions, such as last year's ChinArt exhibition of contemporary Chinese artists. I like to check out the Ludwig every couple of months...there is always something to open my eyes and mind, and the location couldn't be more convenient.

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Phone: +36 1 375 9175
Address: I. Szent Gyorgy ter 2 (Wing A of Royal Palace)
Directions: Take the Varbusz or bus 16 to the Royal Palace on the Buda var.
Website: www.ludwigmuseum.hu

The former Royal Palace (Budvári Palota) dominates Castle Hill and defines the view of Buda from the Danube. The back of it also sits in my view every time I look out my window while working...quite the distraction! The original was built in the mid-13th century for the Hungarian kings and was later reconstructed by King Matthias. But the building was destroyed when Buda was recaptured from the Turks in 1686. The palace was rebuilt during the Habsburg reign to serve as their royal palace, but it was never occupied permanently, since they preferred to remain based in Vienna. (I'm not sure why!)

Now the former Royal Palace holds a number of museums, including the National Gallery, Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Budapest City History Museum, as well as the National Library. There is plenty to see and do during a visit to the palace, and the views of the Danube from in front of the building are great!

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Address: Castle District (Varhegy), Buda
Directions: Can be reached by the Castle bus (Varbuz) from Moszkva ter, bus 16 from Deak ter, or by the Gellert Funicular from Clark Ádam ter near the Chain Bridge.

The Liberation Monument at the Citadella on Gellért Hill was originally erected by the Communists in 1947 to pay homage to the Soviets who liberated Hungary from the Nazis. The figure of the woman holding a palm leaf over her head symbolizes the liberation, but also became an enduring symbol of Budapest. So the monument remained after the end of Communism in 1989. However, the statue of a liberating Soviet soldier is now "exiled" to Szoborpark (Statue Park). The text on the monument used to list the names of those Red Army soldiers who died during the liberation in Cyrillic. Now the text reads, "In memory of all those who gave their lives for the independence, liberty, and happiness of Hungary."

The one time I climbed the hill to get a closer look at the Citadella and Liberation Monument, the area was off limits due to the St. Stephen's Day celebrations on August 20. It turns out that Gellért Hill is the perfect place from which to launch fireworks!

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Address: Xi. Gellert HIll, near Szabadsag (Freeedom) Bridge
Directions: Can be reached by bus No. 27.

Hungary's most famous sculptor is Imre Varga, so famous that there is a small museum dedicated to his life and work. Two of his most famous Budapest works are the Raoul Wallenberg monument (District II) and the Holocaust memorial in the courtyard of the Great Synogague. This is a delightful small museum with many of his sculptures as well as paintings. And on a sunny day, the courtyard with more of his sculptures is a delightful place to look and contemplate.

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Address: III. Laktanya utca 7
Directions: Near the Arpad Hid HEV station

Beautiful architectural mammoth on the Danube, on the Pest side. Loosely modelled on the Houses of Parliament in London. Contains the Crown Jewels of Hungary: the Holy Crown and Coronation Insignia. As of this writing, visits by guided tour only. In English at 10:00, 12:00, and 14:00. German at 11:00 and 15:00. French 14:00. Admission fee around 2000+ forints for foreigners, free for Hungarians. Go to Gate X on the back and right of the building for the tours, which last about 45 minutes.

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Phone: 36 1 441 49 4
Address: Kossuth Lajos tér (square) 1-3
Directions: You can't miss it! You can take tram 2 or 2A or the metro line #2 (red) to Kossuth Lajos ter

After undergoing years of renovations with the requisite scaffolding covering much of the building, St. Stephen's Basilica (Bazilika) is finally restored to full glory for you to enjoy. Construction took much longer (1851-1905) than expected because the first dome caved in. A room to the side houses important treasures and relics, including the mummified right hand of King. St. Stephen, who brought Christianity to Hungary and founded the Hungarian state in 1000. On a clear day, it is worth climbing the stairs above the cupola for some great views of the city. Everyone tells me the Bazilika is the same height as the Parliament, easier to tell from the higher elevation! There are periodic concerts as well. Look for announcements in the renovated square in front. See my Hungary albums for more pictures.

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Phone: +36 1 311 0839
Address: V. Szent Istvan ter.
Directions: Centre of Pest near Metro station Deak Ferenc ter (all lines)

You will certainly come upon Vörösmarty tér during a stroll around Pest and the shopping areas on Vaci ut. In the center of the square is a statue to the Hungarian national poet of the same name. Most people use the statue as a meeting point or place to rest. But if you take a closer look at the statue, just under the poet's left foot, you will see a small round disc set into the material of the statue. It is actually a coin, which a beggar offered to the building of the statue. To commemmorate the beggar's generosity, the coin was included in the statue.

A funny sight is the statue enveloped in a plastic bubble during the winter months. This is to keep the statue from cracking due to the cold weather.

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Address: Vorosmarty ter
Directions: Inner City; beginning of subway line 1 (Yellow)

There are many wonderful spas and thermal baths in Budapest, but the most beautiful one has to be the Géllert, attached to the hotel of the same name. Built in 1918 in Art-Nouveau, the main hall with glass roof and Roman-style columns is the most striking. Stick your head under one of the stone lions out of whose mouth water rushes out. There is a warmer thermal pool in the main hall, plus there is an outdoor wave pool and thermal pool, plus additional thermal baths as well.

Bring your swimsuit, towel, cap, and pool shoes, and you can get a locker or cabinet to store your clothes as well. These items can be rented as well. You'll notice that the pros know exactly when the bubble jets turn on periodically because they always get the best places in the pools!

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Phone: +36 1 466 6166
Address: XI. Kelenhegyi ut 2-4
Directions: At the foot of the Szabadsag (Freedom) Bridge, you can take tram 18 or 19 there as well. The bath entrance is on the right side of the hotel.