The views from the top of Buda hills are magnificent. There are some great spots to watch sunrise or sunset from, one of my favourite spots is on top of Gellért hill, by the Statue of Liberty. Don’t miss the views during your stay in Budapest!
The Citadel on the top of Gellért hill is being renovated, and unfortunately the entire area is closed because of the construction works. It also means that a truly popular tourist attraction of Budapest is closed and it’s impossible to enjoy the most magnificent views over Buda and Pest. The very bad news is that it remains closed for another few years and it’s impossible to estimate when it reopens. It’s just my personal opinion that they could have left a little path open for the tourists to enjoy the view, but that’s not the case.
You can still take a walk on Gellért hill, and you can climb to the statue of Saint Gellért from where you’ll have a great view over the Pest side of the river.
High above the Danube, on Gellért Hill, stands one of Budapest’s most poetic and quietly emotional statues: Prince Buda and Princess Pest. Unlike grand monuments celebrating power or victory, this sculpture tells a story of distance, longing, and separation.
This statue is part of my ongoing Statues of Budapest series, which explores how the city expresses its history and identity through symbolism rather than spectacle.
A love divided by the river
Prince Buda and Princess Pest represent the two historic halves of the city, once separated by the Danube River. In the statue, they face each other — close enough to see one another, yet permanently apart.
The story is often interpreted as a sad love tale, but it also reflects Budapest’s geography and history: two cities growing side by side, divided by water until their unification in the 19th century.
Where can you find the statue?
The sculpture is located on Gellért Hill, near the Garden of Philosophy, a peaceful and contemplative area overlooking the city. The setting adds to the statue’s emotional tone — quiet, reflective, and slightly removed from the bustle below.
Many visitors walk past without realizing the meaning behind the figures, yet once you know the story, it’s difficult to see them as anything other than symbols of the city itself.
Why this statue matters
Prince Buda and Princess Pest are not historical figures, but they express something deeply real: Budapest’s identity as a city shaped by division, connection, and eventual unity.
It’s a reminder that some of the city’s most meaningful statues are not the most famous ones — but those that quietly echo its soul.
Explore more: This statue is part of my Statues of Budapest collection, featuring famous monuments and hidden gems across Buda and Pest.
Bathing and bathing culture have always been an important part of our everyday life. According to a survey I’ve just read 30% of the locals go to the baths regularly. It’s fun, very relaxing and has healing effects, too. I can show you some of the most authentic Budapest baths if you join me for a tour.
The Gellért bathhouse is the most elegant bath complex of Budapest. The building is one of the most amazing pieces of the Budapest Art Nouveau and opened in 1918. When you have a look at the richly ornate facade of the building its hard to imagine that before the construction of the elegant hotel, the place had been referred to as to the muddy baths, where both people and animals had their regular bath.
The thermal baths are fed by the mineral hot springs of the Gellért hill. The water is rich in calcium, magnesium, hydrocarbonate and sulfate. The water temperature varies from 35 °C to 40 °C.
Don’t miss the Turkish section where the walls are so nicely decorated with colorful mosaics. The bath can be visited throughout the year, if you happen to be in Budapest in the summer, you can also take advantage of the outdoor wave pool.
