Fresco by Károly Lotz of Alexandra Bookcafé
Alexandra Bookcafé is not only a great place to enjoy coffee in Budapest, but it is also home to stunning frescoes by Hungarian artist Károly Lotz. Lotz Hall, where the cafe is located, is also named after him. While enjoying your coffee here, just look up and you will see the Renaissance-style paintings decorating the entire ceiling.
Address: Lotz Hall, Andrássyút 39, Budapest
The dome of Párizsi udvar
A master of stained glass, Hungarian artist Miksa Róth showcased his talent in many locations around the city, including the hexagonal dome of Párisi Udvar, a covered walkway in the heart of Budapest. Part of the city’s architecture and not found anywhere else, it’s a truly unique masterpiece! More of Miksa Róth’s work can be found in his former home, now transformed into the Miksa Róth Memorial House, which showcases some of his finest work from mosaics to stained glass.
Address: 2-4 Petőfi Sándor utca, V. kerület Budapest
"The Butter-Churning Woman" by Mihály Munkácsy
Born in 1844 in the Hungarian town of Munkács, Mihály Munkácsy is one of the country's most famous painters. His work focuses on art and realism; he often depicts peasant life with exquisite technique and the ability to convey strong emotions in his works. "Woman Churning Butter" was painted in 1873, during a dark period in the artist's life: the woman's bleak colors and expression convey a sense of despair. Today, the painting is housed in the Hungarian National Gallery, along with several of his other works.
Address: Hungarian National Gallery, Szent Gyorgy tér 2., Budapest
Gresham Palace Hotel
Now the Gresham Palace Four Seasons Hotel, this Art Nouveau building is one of the city’s masterpieces of architectural style. Designed by architects Szigmond Quittner and Joszef Vago in 1906, it was refurbished in the 1990s, retaining all of its original Art Nouveau features.
Address: Széchenyi István tér 5-6, Budapest
"May Picnic" by Pál Szinyei Merse
Known as a painter of the movementplein air(Painting outdoors), Pál Szinyei Merse is famous for many works, one of which is "The May Picnic", now located in the Hungarian National Gallery. However, when the painting was presented to the public in 1873, it was criticized and rejected by the Hungarian National Museum. It was not until the 1890s that the painting received the recognition and popularity it enjoys today.
Address: Hungarian National Gallery, Szent Gyorgy tér 2., Budapest
Budapest Zoo and Botanical Gardens
The Budapest Zoological Garden, founded in 1866, is one of the oldest zoos in Europe. Hungarian architect Károly Kós designed many of the zoo's buildings in the Art Nouveau style, making it one of Budapest's most notable architectural works, but it is often overlooked by visitors due to its remote location.
Address: 6-12 Állatkerti köút, XIV. kerület Budapest
Budapest Chain Bridge
If you haven’t visited the Chain Bridge, you haven’t been to Budapest! It connects Buda and Pest, was the city’s first bridge across the Danube, and was considered a masterpiece of engineering when it opened in 1849. The pillars are the only part of the original bridge: the rest were rebuilt after it was blown up in World War II.
Address: Széchenyi Lánchíd, Budapest
Hungarian Parliament Building
As one of the largest Parliament buildings in the world, this architectural wonder is worth a visit to admire its overwhelming scale. Its Gothic Revival architecture is also worth admiring: its design and construction was overseen by architect Imre Steindl, who beat off stiff competition to design the Hungarian Parliament Building in 1885.
Address: 1-3 Kossuth Lajos tér, V. kerület Budapest
Dohány Synagogue
The second largest synagogue in the world, this impressive building in Budapest’s Jewish District boasts an ornate exterior, a lavish interior and a grand scale. It functions as both a place of worship and the Hungarian Jewish Museum and was built in the Moorish style in 1859 under the supervision of the Viennese architect Ludwig Förster.
Address: 2 Dohany utca, VII. kerület Budapest
