Parliament Building

Rising majestically on the left bank of the Danube, the Hungarian Parliament Building is probably Budapest’s most iconic landmark. Its striking Gothic Revival architecture, elegant spires, and grand central dome dominate the Pest riverbank, forming part of the UNESCO World Heritage–listed panorama that stretches across to Buda Castle. More than just a seat of political power, it is also a masterpiece of design and craftsmanship, filled with stories from Hungary’s past and present.

Equestrian statue of Ferenc II Rákóczi

Construction of the Parliament began in 1885, following a competition that called for a building to match the grandeur of the newly unified nation and the fast-growing capital. The winning design, submitted by architect Imre Steindl, drew inspiration from the Houses of Parliament in London, yet carried a distinctly Hungarian flair. Completed in 1904, the building was a colossal project: 40 million bricks, half a million precious stones, and 40 kilograms of gold leaf were used to bring Steindl’s vision to life. Sadly, the architect never lived to see it finished.

Construction of the Parliament in 1894

The Parliament Building boasts 691 rooms, 28 entrances, and 10 courtyards. The facade is adorned with 88 statues depicting Hungarian rulers, military leaders, and historical figures. The interiors are equally magnificent, featuring gilded surfaces, frescoes, and sculptures. he central dome rises to 96 meters—a symbolic number referring to the year 896, when the Magyars first settled in the Carpathian Basin. Inside, you can see the Holy Crown of Hungary, a national treasure that survived wars and revolutions, displayed beneath the great dome under guard.

View from the Fisherman's Bastion of the Kossuth Bridge and the Parliament in 1956
Photo credit: Fortepan / Heinzely Béla

For tourists, the best way to experience the building is through the Visitor Centre, located beneath Kossuth Square. Opened in 2014, it provides a modern and convenient gateway to the Parliament. Here, visitors can purchase tickets, browse exhibitions about the history of the building and Hungarian democracy, and join guided tours available in multiple languages. The tours lead you through the grand staircase, the Dome Hall with the Crown Jewels, and the stately session chamber still in use today. The Visitor Centre also features a souvenir shop and a comfortable waiting area, making the experience smooth even during peak tourist seasons.

The Parliamentary Museum (1055 Budapest, Kossuth tér 1-3.)

The Parliamentary Museum or Országgyűlési Múzeum is where the history of Hungarian parliamentarism is preserved, explored, and made vivid through both traditional and modern displays. Established in 2014, it re-invokes the spirit of the old Parliamentary Museum which was closed in 1949, adopting some of its most forward-thinking ideas while adding new, 21st-century approaches to how history is told. Spread over about 1,700 square metres of exhibition space, the museum houses four permanent exhibitions which use a blend of conventional artifacts, documents, architectural fragments and multimedia methods to draw visitors in. These exhibitions include “A Thousand Years of Hungarian Legislation”, which traces how lawmaking evolved in Hungary; “The History of the Parliament House”, telling the story of how the building itself came to be; Kőtár, a “stone treasury” which displays architectural elements and stone works from the Parliament; and In memoriam 1956. október 25, a memorial exhibition and site remembering the shootings on Kossuth Square on October 25, 1956.  Alongside the physical exhibits, it maintains a significant digital archive, both for preserving records and for making material more accessible.

A THOUSAND YEARS OF HUNGARIAN LEGISLATION
🕒Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 09:00-17:00.
Guided tours for groups: a group visit is considered a visit for a minimum of 10 people, requested and confirmed in writing 3 working days before the date to muzeum(at)parlament.hu. The maximum group size is 30 people, in case of a higher number of visitors, group splitting is required.

🎫The exhibition is free to visit.
Access: via the visitor center of the Parliament.

IN MEMORIAM 25 OCTOBER 1956. MEMORIAL AND EXHIBITION
🕒Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-18:00. with a  technical break: 14:00-14:45

🎫The exhibition is free to visit.
Access: in the middle of the south side of the square (in the direction of the Rákóczi statue).