Ready to discover the beautiful architecture, the best market places, the best bars and restaurants in Budapest? Then City Sightseeing Budapest is your No.1 partner. Get on board of one of the red Hop On Hop Off buses and the hidden treasures of the Hungarian capital will be unveiled. If you want to get the very best of Budapest, the Red Line is the most convenient way for you, including two UNESCO World Heritage sites. City Sightseeing’s Red Line starts at St. Stephen’s Basilica. Built between 1851 and 1906, this neo-renaissance basilica is one of the tallest (main dome is 96 metres) and best-recognised buildings in Hungary. The Basilica is wearing the name of the founder of the Hungarian state, St. Stephen (1000-1038) whose cult is living strongly in the memories of Hungarians. Climb the stairs to the tower beside the main entrance for a fantastic bird’s eye view panorama of the City – we promise it’s worth it! The Best of Pest The original Chain Bridge was designed and built by English engineer William Tierney Clark during the Hungarian reform age, and was opened for the public in 1848. This is the first steel bridge that connects the historic Buda side and the more cosmopolitan Pest side across the river Danube. The Chain Bridge is a memento to Baron István Széchenyi – also known as “The Greatest Hungarian,” – the leading figure of the reform movements in the mid-19th century. The bridge had been rebuilt after the bombings of WW2 and was reopened in 1948. Take a walk around Széchenyi Square and see the House of the Hungarian Science Academy (MTA) and the wonderful Gresham Palace. Through József Attila Street you get to Városháza Street where the Budapest City Council is operating from. You may change here to the Purple Line buses, too. The beautiful Synanogue in Dohány Street is the biggest such building in Europe. The Grand Synagogue is playing an active role in the rich cultural life of Budapest, embracing classical music concerts, organ nights and various festivals all year round. After this the Red Line bus is taking a detour around Astoria to reach Anker Lane. The neo-renaissance Hungarian National Opera is one of the most beautiful buildings in Budapest, and home to the largest opera choir in Hungary. Designed by the famous architect Miklós Ybl, its richly decorated halls are decorated by the secessionist paintings of Mór Than, Károly Lotz and Bertalan Székely. Despite the ongoing renovation works the Opera House is open for visitors (except Mondays). Next stop is Liszt Ferenc Square, named after the world famous Hungarian composer – no wonder that the Music Academy is also to be found nearby. You can find plenty of cafés and restaurants on the Square offering a wide variety of food, from Oriental to French cuisine, from Irish bars to typical Hungarian dishes. Through Andrássy Avenue – which, together with the Millenium Underground Railway running beneath it, is on the UNESCO’s World Heritage sites list since 2002 – you will be driven to Heroes’ Square. The ‘Hősök tere’ is one of the most popular places for selfies in Budapest, but you can also marvel at the life-sized statues of the most famous kings and princes from Hungary’s 1100-year-old history. In the middle of the square you’ll find the Millenium Monument, erected in 1896. Take a walk from here into the nearby City Park (Városliget) where you can feed the wild ducks, or have a refreshing bath at Széchenyi Baths. If you are with kids, then the Budapest Zoo and the Budapest Grand Cirque are also must-see destinations. Keleti Railway Station is the busiest railway station in Budapest, welcoming more than 100 pairs of trains every day. This eclectic building was opened in 1884 and was considered to be one of the most advanced railway stations in Europe at the time. Unique Panorama as Part of the World Heritage You can have a refreshing drink at the New York Palace, which obtained The Most Beutiful Café in the World accolade more than once. You may have a nice meal in one of the tiny restaurants at Ferenciek Square, where you can also take pictures with the stunning Klotild Palace in the background. The Red Line bus will take you over the Danube to the Buda side where you can take a walk in the Castle Garden (Várkert). Use the most unique feature of the local public transport system, the Funicular (Budavári sikló) that carries you up to Buda Castle. High up on the Citadel you will find the Statue of Liberty, one of the iconic markers of Budapest. Here you will find the most picturesque view over the Pest side, with the Parliament, the Basilica, the Great Market Hall and the National Theatre all in sight. On the way back to the Pest side (Március 15. Square), two of the most famous baths of Budapest – the Rudas and Gellért Baths – are to be found. Have a refreshing spa and a massage in one of them at a reduced price with your Guide.me Budapest Cupons. Upon returning to Pest you should hold your breath seeing the stunning Danube panorama, which – very uniquely – is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Stunning Architecture and History Feel like shopping? Then head to Fővám Square, where fresh fruits and vegetables, spicy Hungarian sausages and salami, as well wines and paprika can be bought in the Great Market Hall. This is the biggest market place in town, where former British PM Margaret Thatcher and Depeche Mode singer Dave Gahan paid a visit to, too. Through the Small Boulevard your way leads to Kálvin Square where you can visit to the old Calvinist Church, or take a short walk to see the Hungarian National Museum. If you get hungry, just walk into Ráday Street where you’ll find plenty of street food, as well as restaurants and lovely open-air bars. You can also change to the Yellow Line buses here. The next stop is Anker Lane (Anker-köz) where you may discover another typical feature of Budapest: the famous ruin pubs. Through Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Street the bus will carry you to another architectural gem, the Nyugati Railway Station. This beautiful building made of steel, glass and concrete was designed by the French architect Gustave Eiffel – who is most famous for the Eiffel Tower in Paris, – and was built from 1873 to 1877. The Red Line tour ends close the Parliament (but not quite at the Parliament). With a short walk you will get to Kossuth Square, right in front of the House of the Parliament. This iconic neo-gothic/eclectic building was designed by Imre Steindl and built from 1885 to 1904. You can visit the Parliament every day during the Summer season (1st April to 31st October) from 8 am to 6 pm. Should you wish to know more about the Prime Ministers and other historic figures of Hungary, you must see the Visitors Centre underneath the Parliament. 1/5 ×