Travel to Budapest, Hungary and find the top things to do on the Pest side.
Budapest is Hungary’s capital city and is divided by the Danube with Buda on one side and Pest on the other. The most stunning view you can have in Budapest is of the Hungarian Parliament at night, which is on the Pest Side, when it lights up the whole city and Danube River.
If you think the outside is stunning, wait until you see the pictures below of the interior.
There are so many other interesting, beautiful, sad, tragic and memorable things to see on the Pest side of Budapest. We share them all with you below.
The Hungarian Parliament Building
This is the biggest Parliament building in Europe and covers 18,000 square metres. It was built between 1885 - 1902.
The building has 691 interior rooms, 10 courtyards, 88 statues of Hungarian rulers on its facade and just over 29 staircases which total around 20km. Its main facade faces the Danube.
It is 268 metres long and 123 metres wide. It has 365 towers, one for each day of the week.
The main entrance and grand staircase is absolutely breathtaking and is saved for VIP’s only.
The most famous part of the building is the 16 sided central hall which houses the Holy Crown of Hungary.
The parliamentary chamber is as stunning as the rest of the building with its lavish decorations, stained glass windows and timber features.
Below is a link to the tour we did. (if you book through this link we will receive a small commission at no cost to you). It was an amazing and informative tour. Make sure you book ahead as they only let in a set number of people each day.
Shoes on the Danube Bank
The Shoes on the Danube Bank is a memorial to thousands of Jewish people that were shot on the edge of the Danube my Hungarian Militia during World War II. They were shot here because their bodies would fall into the river and be take away by the current. Before they were shot, they were ordered to take their shoes off, as shoes were expensive to buy and the shoes left behind would be sold. The memorial is just out the front the Hungarian Parliament Building.
Streets of the Pest side
The Ruin Bars of Budapest
The ruin bars are in the Jewish Ghetto of the historical Jewish quarter. This area became dilapidated in the decades following WWII after the deportation of 10,000’s of Jews.
The first bar, Szimpla, began as a small experiment. It was set up in an abandoned building offering affordable drinks for the young and creative people.
It really kicked off in 2004 and it still very popular today, not just among the young, but for people of all ages.
St. Stephen’s Basilica
St. Stephen’s Basilica is the largest and most loved church in Hungary. It is where you can find the mummified right hand of King Saint Stephen (see picture 3 above).
The interior is lavishly decorated and contain many marble columns as well as two enormous organs. There are often concerts held in the church where you can hear sound of the church organs.
You will learn so much doing a tour of the Basilica. You can see the one we recommend by clicking the button below. (we may receive a small commission if you book through this affiliate link - at no extra cost to you).
There are many sites to admire on the Pest side of Budapest. One of the most impressive is Hero Square (picture 3 above). This is where you can see the Millenium Monument of 1896. It features the seven Chieftains and other important Hungarian leaders.
You will also see the memorial Stone of Heroes and the tomb of the unknown soldier.
There is also a 36 metre high pillar topped by a golden archangel Gabriel, holding the Hungarian Crown and a cross.
Danube River Cruise
There are many options to do a cruise on the Danube. We highly recommend the one we did. You can book it by clicking the link below (we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you as an affiliate). The reason we recommend this particular tour is it was so easy to get on board, the crew were amazing. You receive a glass of wine as you step on the boat. You find a seat. There is plenty of seating, both outside and undercover. The cruise lasts for just over an hour and you will see some of the most spectacular sights of Budapest up nice and close. If you are going to book a tour, make sure you do it ahead of time, as they book out quickly. We would recommend you do a night time tour so you can see the stunning light displays of the historic buildings along the Danube.
We loved the cruise - so if you want to see the one we did click the button below.
Two of the traditional foods we tried were the langos (pronounced lan-gosh) and the chimney cakes. The langos used to be cooked in a clay oven and they were eaten hot for breakfast. The chimney cakes are the oldest Hungarian pastry. These are made by rolling dough around a spool and cooking over an open flame. You then sprinkle them in sugar and cinnamon. These days you can choose many different toppings including ice-cream and Nutella. They were both delicious - and you should definitely try them if you are visiting Budapest.
We really loved the Pest side of Budapest. There is so much and to and do. It is a very lively and stunning part of the city. If you would like to see the pictures and information about the Buda side of Budapest then click the button below for all the information.