Best for
First-time visitors, architecture and history fans
Time needed
1-1.5 hours including security and the tour
Worth it?
Yes — Budapest's single most iconic interior and exterior
Skip if
You can't get a timed ticket and don't want to just view it from outside
About Hungarian Parliament Building
The Hungarian Parliament Building (Országház) was completed in 1904 after a design competition held to mark the 1896 millennium of the Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin. Architect Imre Steindl won with a symmetrical Neo-Gothic design modelled loosely on London's Houses of Parliament, though he went blind before construction finished and never saw the completed building. At 268 metres long and 96 metres high, it was — briefly — the largest parliament building in the world, and it remains the largest building in Hungary.
The exterior alone took a reported 40 kilograms of gold leaf and around 100,000 people working on its construction and decoration, with a limestone facade that has required near-constant restoration ever since (Budapest's air pollution eats into soft limestone fast). Inside, the building holds 691 rooms, 10 courtyards, 13 elevators and nearly 20 kilometres of corridors and stairways — of which visitors on the standard tour see only a fraction.
Read the full storyShow less
The two set pieces on every tour are the Grand Staircase, an explosion of gilding and frescoes leading up to a domed hall, and the Hungarian Crown Jewels — the Holy Crown of Hungary, sceptre, orb and sword — displayed under guard directly beneath the central dome, at the exact symbolic midpoint between the building's two legislative chambers (only one of which, the National Assembly hall, is still in active use since Hungary became a unicameral parliament).
Because it's still a working government building, access is only via guided tour and only through pre-booked timed tickets — security and space are both limited, and same-day walk-up tickets routinely sell out, especially in summer.
What to See: Highlights
- 1The Hungarian Crown Jewels displayed beneath the central dome
- 2The gilded Grand Staircase and domed entrance hall
- 3268-metre Neo-Gothic riverfront facade, illuminated at night
- 4Guided-only access — 691 rooms, only a handful open to visitors
- 5Best photographed from the Buda-side embankment or a Danube cruise
- 6One of the largest parliament buildings in the world
Skip the Queue — Book Tickets Online
Same admission, instant confirmation. Compare prices across platforms.
Affiliate disclosure — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Insider Tips
Book timed tickets online days or weeks ahead in summer — walk-up tickets sell out fast
Bring passport ID — it's checked against the ticket at security
Non-EEA citizens pay roughly double EEA-citizen prices — check which rate applies to you when booking
Tours run 45-50 minutes and move as a fixed group — arrive at least 20 minutes early for security
The building is at its most photogenic from across the river at dusk, when it's lit gold
Book a Guided Tour
Get the most from your visit with a local expert guide.
Affiliate disclosure — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Getting There
Kossuth Lajos tér 1-3, 1055 Budapest
Open in Google Maps →- 1Metro M2 (red line) to Kossuth Lajos tér, exit directly onto the square. Tram 2 also stops right outside, running along the Danube embankment.
Where to stay
Hotels in Budapest
Compare prices across hundreds of hotels near this attraction — from budget hostels to luxury stays. Free cancellation on most rooms.
Affiliate disclosure — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Powered by Booking.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
Is Hungarian Parliament Building worth visiting?+−
How long does a visit to Hungarian Parliament Building take?+−
Who is Hungarian Parliament Building best for?+−
Do I need to book tickets in advance for Hungarian Parliament Building?+−
Is Hungarian Parliament Building included with the Budapest city pass?+−
Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You want to see the Hungarian Crown Jewels up close
- You appreciate grand 19th-century civic architecture
- You planned ahead and already booked a timed ticket
- You want Budapest's most photographed building from the inside, not just outside
Skip if...
- You're only in Budapest for a few hours and it's already sold out
- You have mobility concerns — the tour involves stairs and standing
- You'd rather see it lit up at night from the river than tour the interior
Ready to Book Your Visit?
More to See in Budapest
Chain Bridge
Budapest's oldest and most famous Danube crossing — the first permanent bridge to physically unite Buda and Pest, guarded by stone lions and lit gold every night.
St. Stephen's Basilica
Budapest's largest church, home to Hungary's most sacred relic — the mummified right hand of King (later Saint) Stephen — and a dome-top terrace with 360-degree city views.
Shoes on the Danube Bank
Sixty pairs of cast-iron shoes on the Pest riverbank, marking where Arrow Cross militia shot thousands of Jews into the Danube in the winter of 1944-45 — one of Europe's most understated, powerful memorials.