The Hungarian Parliament Building is one of the symbols of Budapest. It was built between 1885 and 1904 according to the grand design of Imre Steindl. For his work, the Hungarian architect drew inspiration from the Houses of Parliament in London and Cologne Cathedral, but brought together elements of different styles in the building, creating one of the most beautiful and admired monuments in the country. It is located on the right bank of the Danube, in the district of Pest.
The external structure, with its sloping roofs enriched by spires, arches, windows and turrets, is an expression of Neo-Gothic architecture, while the interior spaces are linked to the Baroque and Renaissance styles, as shown by the beautiful grand staircase leading to the dome at the centre of the building.
A Parliament with a view of the river
The main façade overlooks the bank of the Danube, but the main entrance — the Lion Gate — is on the opposite side, on Kossuth Square. In terms of size, the Parliament Building is one of the largest in the world. It covers a total area of around 18,000 square metres, has 27 entrances and 10 courtyards, and consists of 691 rooms. The building houses the Parliament Library, which contains around 500,000 volumes.
The imposing central dome, with a hexadecagonal floor plan, rises above the two symmetrical wings of the building and is 96 metres high, a figure that is no coincidence but a clear reference to the year of the Magyar conquest of the Carpathian Basin, 896. Originally, the two Chambers were located to the north and south of the dome. With the transition to a unicameral parliamentary system in 1944, the interiors were reorganised: the northern section is occupied by the residence of the Prime Minister, the southern section by the residence of the President of the Republic, while the offices of the Speaker of the House are located in the north-eastern section.
What to see inside the Hungarian Parliament
The interior of the Budapest Parliament is rich in works of art. Frescoes, tapestries, sculptures and paintings by the most important Hungarian artists embellish the halls of Parliament.
Particularly interesting is the Dome Hall, which houses the Crown of King Saint Stephen, “for Hungarians a symbol of national identity, of their history and of the thousand-year culture of their kingdom … and venerated by the people as a relic”. Together with the Holy Crown, the Sceptre, the Orb and the Sword, which together make up the royal insignia, are also on display. In addition to the Dome Hall with the coronation relics and the grand staircase, the National Assembly Hall, the Congress Hall and the Tapestry Hall are also open to the public on guided tours.
Opening hours, ticket prices and other information for visiting the Parliament of Budapest
Address: Pest District, bank of the Danube
How to get there: on foot in the centre of Pest, along the bank of the Danube.
Metro: red line, Kossuth Lajos tér station
Tram: line 2
Bus: 15
Trolleys: 70 and 78
Opening hours: every day from 9 am to 3 pm.
Closed: 1 January, 15 March, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, 1 May, 20 August, 23 October, 1 November, and from 24 to 26 December.
Ticket price: HUF 2,200 for EU citizens. Tickets can be purchased at the visitor centre.
There is usually a 30-minute queue. Guided tours in Italian start at: 10:15 am, 1:15 pm, 2:15 pm, 3:30 pm.
Find out more about the Parliament Building of Budapest
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