Earlier this year, Budapest stole my heart away. I had a feeling I might like the city but I didn’t expect it to crawl under my skin the way it did. Walking down the streets of Budapest, I couldn’t stop smiling. I found so many magical places in Budapest and thought I would share them with you. The splendor of Hungarian architecture is palpable in every corner of Budapest. Overflowing with extraordinary edifices, it’s a city whose history is written on its magical buildings. There are so many unique places scattered throughout Budapest and I thought I would share some of my favorite ones!
Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library
Szabó Ervin tér 1, 1088 Budapest
One of the most magical places in Budapest is also one of the most popular spots in the city. The Metropolitan Ervin Szabo Library is the largest library network in Budapest and one section of it looks too beautiful for words. The main branch housed in the Neo-Baroque Wenckheim Palace looks splendid. A succession of remarkable reading rooms, alike one another but ultimately unique. I took so many photos while strolling through this place that you can expect a separate blog post about it!
MassolitBudapest Books and Café
Nagy Diófa utca 30, 1072 Budapest
The very first place I visited upon arriving in Budapest, the Massolit Books & Café is a diverse place. Both a bookstore, café, gallery, and garden, this snug hideaway is overflowing with books. The selection of English books is impressive and perfect for souvenirs since it features many Hungarian writers. I’m a huge fan of Hungarian literature and had to fight very hard not to purchase too many books on the first day of my trip! Delicious pastries, cozy reading nooks, and endless bookshelves make Massolit Books & Café one of the most magical places in Budapest.
Párisi Passage Café & Brasserie
Ferenciek tere 10, 1053 Budapest
Inside the renowned Párisi Udvar Hotel Budapest, you will find a majestic café that is open to everyone. I arrived here early in the morning right when it opened. For an hour or so, I had this dazzling space all to myself. This Art Nouveau building used to be the first modern department store in Budapest. The interior is a unique mix of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, neo-Gothic, and Moorish elements. Whether you want drinks or an amazing dining experience, you’ll find both at Parisi Passage Café & Brasserie.
New York Café Budapest
Erzsébet korut. 9-11, 1073 Budapest
The iconic New York Café Budapest is one of the most popular places in Budapest. With its lavish interior, it’s quite a magical place! When it opened in 1894, it quickly became the center of artistic and literary life. I found it so inspiring and took many photos while there. I also wrote a separate blog post about it if you want to see more!
BME OMIKK Library
Budafoki út 4-6, 1111 Budapest
One of the most magical places I visited in Budapest was the library at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. Dating back to 1848, this magnificent reading room is among my favorite spots in Budapest. I would come back here to study, only to let my eyes wander all over this palatial room. It’s an absolute dream and I reminisce about this place much too often.
Vajdahunyad Castle
Vajdahunyad stny., 1146 Budapest
In the City Park, you’ll find the stunning Vajdahunyad Castle. It contains buildings from different periods which makes for an eclectic castle complex. One of those buildings is the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture, which I photographed to no end. The Baroque facade covered in ivy looked spectacular. I could only imagine how captivating it might look during October!
Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest
Széchenyi István tér 5-6, 1051 Budapest
While I wasn’t lucky enough to actually spend the night inside this splendid hotel, admiring its facade was impressive enough. Gresham Palace was originally an office and apartment building whereas today it houses the Four Seasons Hotel. You’ll find this striking Art Nouveau palace alongside the Danube. Today this is the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, the famous luxurious hotel chain. One can only dream of spending the night inside these impressive Art Nouveau walls!
Fisherman’s Bastion
Szentháromság tér, 1014 Budapest
A classic but still something you shouldn’t miss out on in Budapest. The Fisherman’s Bastion is at its most magical during sunrise. Especially if you prefer having it all to yourself. Sunsets are often beautiful but even more so, overcrowded. So if you want to witness Budapest waking up from this enchanting place, make sure to wake up early!
Royal Postal Savings Bank
Hold utca 4, 1054 Budapest
Obviously, many of these magical places in Budapest had to include Art Nouveau buildings. My favorite architectural style that Budapest is replete with, it was hard to pick only a handful of examples. But the Royal Postal Savings Bank looks like something straight out of an Art Nouveau dream. Brimming with ornamental details in vibrant colors, it’s impossible to miss this building. Today it houses the Hungarian State Treasury and I hope one can drop by for a quick visit of the interior!
Habsburg Gate at Buda Castle
Szent György tér 2, 1014 Budapest
The Buda Castle is an enormous palace complex, and an obligatory stop while visiting Budapest. But I wanted to include the Habsburg Gate on this list of magical places in Budapest. This grand entrance looked majestic in the early morning sun. Twinned columns, an intricate wrought-iron fence, and Baroque elements define this symmetrical entrance. You’ll find it at Szent György Square and at the end of it, you’ll find a slightly hidden but wonderful view of Budapest.
Matild Palace Hotel
Váci utca 36, 1056 Budapest
The resplendent Matild Palace is another Art Nouveau building that is a hotel today. Situated on one of the most famous streets in Budapest, Váci utca, it’s impossible to miss it. This luxurious hotel and its twin building across the street were built in 1902. Offering incredible views of Budapest, this is one of the many magical hotels in the city. Another bucket list hotel in Budapest, if you ask me!
I’m already certain that I won’t find as many magical places in other European cities as I did in Budapest. It’s as if this city caters to all of my dreams. Everything I love about Art Nouveau, about architecture in general, about history reflecting onto the city itself, I have found all of that in Budapest. I hope you’ll feel inspired to visit some of these enchanting places. They’ve all preserved an old-world charm that makes you feel like you traveled back in time!
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[…] Ervin Szabo Library is the most famous library in Budapest. It already made it onto my list of most magical places in Budapest but I thought it deserved a post of its own. And not only because I took an inordinate amount of […]
[…] city bursting with extraordinary buildings, it deserved a first post featuring the most magical places in Budapest. I had to separate this visit into a few blog posts, otherwise, this one would’ve been […]