Castle District: Unveiling Budapest’s Historic Heart
THE BUDA CASTLE PALACE DISTRICT
Located in the heart of Budapest, the picturesque Buda Castle Palace District was home to a royal residence esteemed throughout Europe in the early 1900s; the one-time royal palace’s contiguous ornate halls were rivalled only by those of the Palace of Versailles.

The regeneration of the area, which had been remodelled and partially neglected for ideological reasons in the communist era, began in 2014 with the reconstruction of the Castle Garden Bazaar, to recreate this historic Hungarian site in a manner befitting its World Heritage status. Buildings, public spaces and monuments have been rejuvenated each and every year, and new life has been breathed into the district once more with countless cultural events. In addition to tourist facilities to meet today’s needs, artistic programmes showcase the preservation of Hungarian traditions, and visitors have a chance to meet cavalrymen on horseback and be entertained by first-class gypsy music. Proof of the international recognition for these developments came in 2023, when TIME magazine put the reborn St Stephen’s Hall, the Royal Guardhouse and the Karakash Pasha Tower on its list of the world’s greatest places to visit.
VISIT ST STEPHEN’S HALL, THE MARVEL OF BUDA CASTLE REBORN!
St Stephen’s Hall, one of the most important locations in the turn-of-the-century Palace of Buda Castle, is once again open to visitors. Fittings and ornamentation in the chamber, which won the Grand Prix at the 1900 Paris Exposition, were made by the greatest Hungarian craftsmen of the age. Built by the designs of Alajos Hauszmann, the grand hall elicited the sincere admiration and praise of not only the general public of the day but Franz Joseph, too. St Stephen’s Hall was completely destroyed in the Second World War and left unrestored after 1945. Experts and applied artists have worked for years to recreate in every single detail the superb treasure that is now open to all within the framework of the National Hauszmann Program.
RESERVATION:
info@szentistvanterem.hu
szentistvanterem.hu/en
CASTLE GARDEN BAZAAR
Arts, fun and entertainment at the Castle Garden Bazaar A tourist attraction with its historic walls, its scenic view of the Danube — a must-see selfie spot — and its green oasis in the heart of the city, the Castle Garden Bazaar is also host to numerous events organised by our staff and our external partners all year round. Our music, dance, literary and film-screening series, as well as our open-air exhibitions enjoy great popularity, as do our events related to Hungarian national holidays and family celebrations. More than 60,000 visitors attend our nearly 200 events every year.
We are continuously enhancing our venues and expanding our programme offer in order to attract a public as broad as possible, including tourists from all over the world, so that we could offer them a most diverse cultural experience of Hungary.
BUDA CASTLE WALKS
Themed walks in English
On the Buda Castle Walks, a previously unknown side of the Buda Castle District can be discovered. The walk guides will talk about the history of 800 years of Buda Castle, and will show its unique cultural and artistic values. We shall wander around the Buda Castle Palace District and in the civilian town, admire the panorama on Buda’s top, and even venture below ground in search of secrets. Only with us you can also gain access to the spectacular development areas of the National Hauszmann Program.
Reservation:
info@budacastlewalks.com
budacastlewalks.com
BUDA CASTLE HIGHLIGHTS
A Unique Guided Tour at Buda Castle
Including St Stephen’s Hall
Join a walking tour of the Buda Castle District and uncover 800 years of fascinating history. Hear interesting stories, marvel at breathtaking views, and visit the opulent St. Stephen’s Hall, all in the company of a knowledgeable guide. Head to the meeting point and get ready to discover one of the main symbols of the city of Budapest.
Wander through the Castle’s outdoor courts, see statues and fountains, and admire panoramic views of the city below. Listen as your guide takes you on a journey through the past, from the Golden Age to the siege of Budapest during the Second World War. Learn about the communist era that followed and find out how the Palace was restored.
Finally, make your way inside St. Stephen’s Hall, the only part of the Palace interior that has been fully and faithfully restored to its former glory after being looted and destroyed during World War II. End your tour with a deeper appreciation of the importance of Buda Castle and understand why the Buda Castle District has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
52 DAYS IN HELL
The Siege of Budapest 1944–45 – A Tour of Buda Castle and Underground Bomb Shelter
On Christmas Eve 1944, the Soviet Red Army encircled German-occupied Budapest, and the 52-day siege of the Hungarian capital began. In Buda Castle, tens of thousands sought refuge, including German and Hungarian soldiers, the wounded, and civilians. During these hellish weeks — completely unimaginable today — they all experienced a common terror of death, but also an instinctive desire for survival in the underground spaces of the Royal Palace and the globally unique cave and cellar system of the historic residential quarter. They suffered immensely from the cold, the lack of water and food, darkness, overcrowding, and disease, while trying to save their lives, possessions, and the treasures of the Royal Palace.
During our tour, we will recount the horrors of the siege of Buda based on diaries and memoirs as we take a walk through an underground labyrinth, visiting an original Second World War bomb shelter. By the end of the tour, you will understand why the siege of Budapest is often compared to that of Stalingrad, one of the bloodiest and most destructive encirclement battles in world history.