Buda Castle: tickets, tours, tips...

One of the things that catches the eye when studying what to see in Budapest is its division into two large areas: Pest and Buda. In the case of the second sector, the complex formed by the so-called Buda Castle is a must-see.

The complex itself does not require the payment of an entrance fee, although they are necessary to enter the different sites that are inside it, such as the National Gallery and the Museum of History of Budapest, among others. To get to know this area in the best possible way, I recommend you hire a guided tour of the area around Buda Castle.

The gardens, the main courtyard and the surroundings of Buda Castle are free of charge, so you can wander around for as long as you like. However, the three wings of the main building house different institutions that do require an entrance fee to visit.

You can get to know the Buda Castle quarter by booking a guided tour of Budapest or by taking a sightseeing pass. In that case, I recommend buying the Budapest Card, which includes entrance to several of the interior buildings.

Here is some information about the attractions that, in my opinion, you should not miss if you visit the castle and its surroundings:

• Hungarian National Gallery: about 9 € for the permanent exhibitions, with a 50% discount for EU young people between 6 and 26 years old, as well as for over 62 years old.
• Budapest History Museum: about €6.5 per person, with a €50 discount for young people and seniors.
• Széchenyi National Library: free admission.
• Buda Labyrinth: just over €8 for adults. Students, teachers and pensioners pay around €6.80 and children under 12 pay just €1.6. Budapest Card holders pay around €6.20 for admission.

The best way to make the most of your visit to Buda Castle and the surrounding neighbourhood is to book a guided tour of Budapest and visit the area. The main advantage of this option is the presence of an expert guide who will explain the history of the complex, as well as the narrow cobbled streets that surround it. You'll feel like you've travelled back in time to the Middle Ages.

These tours usually cover the entire castle complex, although entrance fees to the museums and different buildings are not normally included.

• Duration and price: the tour usually lasts about 2 hours and costs from about €48. It starts at Buda Castle itself and usually also takes you through the streets to buildings such as the National Dance Theatre and Sandor Palace, the official residence of the Hungarian president.
• When choosing a tour,I recommend that you consider whether a visit to the Matias Church is included. I recommend you try to see it as it is a truly impressive monument with its neo-Gothic exterior and towers.
• Other points of interest that are usually visited during the tour are: the Fisherman's Bastion with its seven towers and the magnificent panoramic views of the Danube, Pest and Gellért Hill, and the Vienna Gate, from where you can see the so-called Old Buda (Obuda), the place where the Romans founded the first settlement of the city.
• The groups are very small, which makes the experience more personalised. Along the way there is usually a stop for a coffee and some of the cakes you will have heard about if you have taken one of the best gastronomic tours of Budapest.

In principle, both the gardens and the courtyards are open 24 hours a day. It is advisable to check if there are any concerts or festivals taking place there, as they are usually paid for.

The National Gallery is open every day except Mondays, from 10:00 to 18:00. The History Museum has the same opening hours as the gallery. In both cases, the closing time in winter is brought forward to 16:00.

If you want to visit the National Library, you will have to book in advance by telephone, as it is not possible to visit it on your own.

Finally, the Buddha's Labyrinth is open every day between 9.30am and 7.30pm, as well as at night between 8.30pm and 8am.

Joaquín's Traveller Tip

I recommend that you always have your camera ready to capture the beautiful views that can be seen from various points in the castle quarter.

To save money during your visit to the Buda Castle (and other places in the city) you can buy the Budapest Card.

There are three different types of this card, which allows you free or discounted entry to the city's main attractions. You can choose between a 24, 48 or 72-hour card, ranging in price from around €23 to €45.

To calculate whether you should buy the card, you not only have to take into account the price of each museum, but also the price of public transport (included in the card) and a free thermal bath.

The first thing to know is what you can visit at Buda Castle, also known as the Royal Palace. Given its history, this castle has suffered attacks that meant the destruction of much of its structure, although it has always been rebuilt every time this happened.

Today, the exterior of the castle is quite austere, especially if we compare it to the exuberance of the decorations present inside and that are able to make the visitor travel back in time to its greatest splendour.

The first thing that stands out is its position within the city: on a hill some 300 metres high with breathtaking views of the Danube.

The main building, the castle or Royal Palace itself (so called because it was the residence of the Magyar kings for a time) is made up of several wings built around the so-called Lion's Courtyard.

The vast majority of tours and individual visitors usually enter the grounds via St. George's Square, as this is where the funicular stop is located, linking the hill to the Chain Bridge and thus to Pest.

To enter you must pass through a beautifully ornate gate dating from the early 20th century. Next to it you will see a bronze statue of a bird on a pedestal, the symbol of the Kingdom of Hungary.

• Lion's Courtyard: it is worth walking through this courtyard to see the exterior of the various museums now housed in the castle.
• National Gallery: this great museum occupies no less than four of the wings into which the palace is divided. Here you can see the works of Hungarian artists from the Middle Ages onwards. One of its most interesting rooms is the former throne room.
• National Library: opposite the gallery is the wing of the palace occupied by the National Library, founded at the beginning of the 800's. It is said that today it contains at least one copy of all the books published in the country.
• Budapest History Museum: The last part of the castle is occupied by the Budapest History Museum. Inside you can learn about the history of the Hungarian capital from prehistoric to modern times. If you go inside, I recommend you don't miss the Gothic Chapel and the Hall of Arms.

Joaquín's Traveller Tip

If you go in winter and, as happened to me, it has snowed, I recommend you try a good mulled wine from one of the stalls set up in the courtyard. Nothing better to warm up a bit before continuing with the visit.

When we talk about visiting Buda Castle, we usually include the neighbourhood around it. In its streets, really interesting, you will see some of the most famous monuments of the city, without forgetting the great views of the Danube that can be seen from some of its viewpoints.

• Fishermen's Bastion: there is possibly no better place to see the whole city from the heights. The building was built on the site of an old fortress and you can admire seven towers symbolising the seven chiefs of the Magyar tribes. You will also see a large statue of St. Stephen.
• Matthias Church: built in the 13th century in gothic style, the continuous remodelling has not made it lose any of its great prestige. Its interior is divided into three naves, in which the decorations of the chapels stand out. Several Hungarian kings were crowned in this temple and, if you are lucky, you may be able to attend one of the concerts that are held here today.
• Vienna Gate Square: located in the upper part of the Buda Castle quarter. It used to be the place where the market was held and nowadays you can see a beautiful gate with a rich ornamentation.
• Buda Labyrinth: One of the great attractions of the area is this labyrinth of natural caves and tunnels that crosses a large part of the hill. In total, there are 4 kilometres of these tunnels, although only the first kilometre can be visited. Exhibitions and guided tours are held inside the tunnels.

Joaquín's Traveller Tip

If you like contemporary history you should not miss a visit to the Rock Hospital and Nuclear Bunker Museum located in the tunnel system of the neighbourhood.

If you want to go to Buda Castle on your own, there are several ways to get there. My recommendation is that you should at least walk up or down the hill so that you can explore the streets of the neighbourhood at your leisure. To do so, you can use one of the two main entrances to the Royal Palace.

The first entrance is through a decorated gate (located a few metres from the funicular station) that leads to the Habsburg Staircase. The other option is to go to the Corvinus Gate from Dísz Tér, near the Buda Labyrinth.

. This gate is easily recognisable by an ornament in the shape of a raven holding a golden ring representing Matthias Corvinus.

As well as walking up (or down), you can also get to the Castle via the Budavári Sikló funicular. The fare is around €3.30 each way, with a discount if you buy a return ticket. This means of transport usually runs between 7.30am and 10pm.

Finally, bus lines 16, 16A and 116 also drop you off at Buda Castle so you can start your visit.