Budapest Parliament Tickets
About seven hundred thousand visitors come to the Budapest Parliament annually. A historic building, which gives you access to one of the most important symbols of the political organization of Hungary. Do you want to visit it? I tell you all about it.
Hungarian Parliament Building | ©bvi4092
You will not want to miss the opportunity to enter this building full of historical and architectural details, while visiting Budapest, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The Parliament of Budapest is one of the largest in the world, so I want to tell you all about the different ways to know it, either buying tickets or taking a guided tour and recommendations to enjoy the experience to the fullest.
Budapest Tour with Parliament Visit
Entrance fees to the Parliament with tour included
The most economical option to enter the Budapest Parliament and explore it with an expert guide.
This option seems to me very complete because you can tour the city and its most important places, enjoy the panoramic view of Budapest from the Buda hills and finish touring the third largest Parliament building in the world, through a tour guided by an expert and with a duration of 45 minutes.
I recommend it especially if you have little time or a very tight schedule in your visit to Budapest. If you have 4 hours this tour will be ideal because it will take you to some of the most representative places of the city, ending with a tour inside the Parliament.
Ticket prices for the Budapest Parliament
The cost of the tickets starts at 9 euros approximately, but the price changes depending on whether you are a citizen of the European Union or not. Students also have some discounts to enter the parliament, and children under 6 years old enter for free.
Here I summarize the ticket prices for each category, prices that will be shown in the local currency of Hungary, the Hungarian forint. Please note that if you purchase your tickets online, you can pay by credit card and avoid queues and any problems with your payment method.
- EU adults: 3,200 Ft. (Hungarian Forint), about 8,60€ and 9€.
- EU students from 6 to 24 years old: 1,600 Ft. (Hungarian Forint), about 4,30€.
- Non-EU adult: 6,400 Ft. (Hungarian Forint), about 17,23€ and 17,50€.
- Non-EU students from 6 to 24 years old: 3,200 Ft. (Hungarian Forint), about 8,60€ and 9€.
Are there guided tours of the Budapest Parliament?
A guided tour is always worthwhile but if we talk about a building as culturally important as the Parliament of Budapest, even more so. The grandeur of the building makes it an essential monument of the city and what better way to discover it than touring its rooms and contemplating its statues, its frescoes or its coats of arms by the hand of an expert guide.
If you choose the tour of Budapest with tickets to the Parliament in addition to a route through the city with the best possible views you will have the opportunity to visit the most representative monument with the explanations of the guide in your language. This way you will forget about trying to find tickets at the ticket office.
Buy tickets for the Budapest Parliament at the ticket office
The first thing you need to know is that you can buy your tickets in advance through the official site offered by the Budapest Parliament itself, and although you can also purchase them at the Visitor Center, I recommend buying online because the daily tickets are limited, and unless you schedule your itinerary very well, you run the risk of running out of your pass.
To save you queues and have your ticket assured, the Parliament offers an official, authorized and secure website, where you can choose, among other things, the language in which you prefer to make your visit.
In this official site authorized by the Parliament, you can find the different tickets differentiated by language, so you can buy your tickets according to the language in which you want to make the visit.
Can I visit the Budapest Parliament with a tourist pass?
Unfortunately not. You can access the Budapest Card, which includes museums and other tourist attractions of the city, however, the Budapest Parliament is not included in this card.
With the tourist card you can visit monuments, museums and get discounts and unlimited public transport. This card also entitles you to guided tours in English language to Buda and Pest, the area of the city where the parliament is located.
Visiting hours of the Budapest Parliament
The Parliament building is open daily from 8 am to 4 pm. Group tours start at the Visitor Center. I recommend you always check the official website of the Parliament for news and updates on the schedules, which may change throughout the year.
By taking a guided tour you will have no major inconveniences as you can forget about many details and simply enjoy your tour of this majestic building.
How to get to the Budapest Parliament
Getting to the Parliament of Budapest is very easy and also entertaining because you will have to make a nice walk along the beautiful Danube. If you are staying in the center of Pest, you will only need 15 minutes walk from the Chain Bridge.
If your accommodation is in another area of the city or you want to get closer to the parliament by public transport, you have these options:
- Metro Kossuth Lajos tér, line M2.
- Streetcar Kossuth Lajos tér, line 2.
- Bus Kossuth Lajos tér, lines 15, 70, 78 and 115.
Other places of interest around
If you visit the Parliament do not miss some other places of interest nearby such as:
- St. Anne's Church
- Danube Art Ensemble
- Ethnographic Museum of Budapest
Is it advisable to go with children to the Budapest Parliament?
Yes, and the best thing is that visitors under 6 years old do not pay admission to the Parliament. Undoubtedly, this is one of the activities to do with the family and what you will enjoy the most of what there is to see and do in Budapest.
Keep in mind the regulations when scheduling your visit and consult with all information regarding safety regulations and requirements so you do not have problems and the little ones can spend a nice experience knowing this jewel of Europe.
What not to miss during your visit
Several stations take you through a tour full of history and tradition. The visit to the parliament begins at the dazzling side staircase of the 17th city. Statues of the monarchy, stained glass windows and decorative frescoes decorate this path where you can appreciate neo-gothic and baroque details. All designed by architect Imre Steindi.
This first glimpse of the parliament also offers a beautiful view of Kossuth Square, the nation's largest square and recently renovated. You will also see on your tour, the Grand Staircase, which has 96 steps covered with an exquisite red carpet.
This space features eight four-ton granite columns, a piece of which there are only twelve in the entire world. The stained glass windows surrounding this staircase show works of art from the workshop of Miska Róth.
Another place you can visit during your visit to the Parliament of Budapest is the Dome Hall, where since 2000, the Hungarian Holy Crown and the insignia of the Coronation, which are considered the oldest in the European continent, are kept. This symbolic place is about 27 meters high and you can see statues of Hungarian rulers throughout its history.
The Béla Neÿ Hall
A room that has several curiosities and enjoy a tour, which thanks to technology offers you an exhibition with details of spaces not included in the visit and hidden technical facilities.
The Council of Deputies, where currently meet the deputies of the Hungarian parliament, is also in these facilities but can not be visited by tourists.
How much time you need to visit the Parliament of Budapest
If you opt for the guided tour of the Budapest Parliament, you may need between 45 minutes and 1 hour. I always recommend taking the tour in the morning hours so that you can enjoy the day, and the other sights surrounding the parliament.
You can also choose to take the last visit of the day and enjoy the night in Budapest, with the incredible night views offered by the Parliament building and contemplate the majestic Danube. And why not, take a night cruise.
Even if you only have 1 day in Budapest, including a visit to the Parliament will be an unforgettable experience.
What is the best time of the year to visit the Parliament of Budapest?
In summer you will undoubtedly find more tourists, but you can enjoy an ideal climate, and complement your visit to the parliament with other plans. There are many things to do in Budapest in summer and enjoy one of the most active seasons of the year.
But if you want to enjoy the winter in this European city, there are also plans to enjoy the cold in Budapest, an idea that can give some magic to your visit, if the cold is your thing.
Do not forget to check before your visit the official opening hours of the Parliament, because being an official building, there may be restrictions or series according to the season of the year in which you want to visit it.
Tips for your visit to the Budapest Parliament
There are many tips to follow during your visit to Budapest. And if you decide to make your guided visit to the Parliament of Budapest, take into account some recommendations:
- Make sure that the guided tour you book is guaranteed and that you have all the authorizations for the entrance to the parliament and tour.
- Check in advance what is included in the visit, and what the tour will be so you can get an idea and prepare yourself with some basic information.
- Don't be afraid to ask questions. Take advantage of your guided tour to ask about curiosities and details. The best thing about taking a guided tour in a place like this is that you can learn from an expert.
Things to keep in mind
Whether you decide to take your guided tour of the Parliament or do it on your own, here are some other basic recommendations, since it is an official building:
- Keep in mind that tickets at the parliament box office are limited, so I recommend you to make the advance purchase through the official website.
- For the protection of the Holy Crown of Hungary, the parliament strictly forbids taking pictures in the Great Hall of the Dome. However, it is permitted to take photos or use video cameras in other parts of the building.
- Security control is strict in the parliament, so I recommend you to go as comfortable as possible, without large bags or suitcases, bags, packages or anything that may impede your access.
- The parliament has accessible areas for people with disabilities, so you can notify special needs prior to your visit so that the parliament staff can assist you upon arrival.
- Visitors to the parliament who are undergoing treatment with radioactive isotopes for curative purposes must also provide some medical documents prior to their visit.
- As it is an official building, security measures are strict. Also be sure to dress plainly and avoid T-shirts with political messages, flags or anything that might complicate your visit. Consult with your tour guide about any other measures you should be aware of.
Without a doubt, visiting the Budapest Parliament is a fascinating experience. In cultural terms you can get to know one of the most important official buildings in the world, while exploring one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
I highly recommend you to visit this city at night, because at both times of the day, the city will offer you a different atmosphere and you will discover corners that will surprise you.