Best for
History and architecture fans, anyone visiting the Castle District
Time needed
30-45 minutes
Worth it?
Yes — a genuinely unique roof and a real royal history behind it
Skip if
You've seen enough church interiors and would rather just photograph the roof from outside for free
About Matthias Church
The Church of Our Lady in the Buda Castle district — universally known as Matthias Church after the 15th-century king who added its distinctive south tower — has stood on this site since the 13th century, though almost nothing of the original Romanesque structure survives. What visitors see today is overwhelmingly the work of architect Frigyes Schulek, who carried out a sweeping, historically-inventive restoration between 1874 and 1896 that gave the church its current dramatically pointed spires and, most famously, its diamond-patterned roof of glazed Zsolnay ceramic tiles.
The church has crowned Hungarian royalty repeatedly across its history: Béla IV consecrated an earlier version, Matthias Corvinus married here twice (hence the name), and — after centuries as a mosque under Ottoman rule and later a Jesuit church — it hosted the coronations of Franz Joseph I in 1867 and Charles IV, the last King of Hungary, in 1916, right before the empire's collapse.
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Inside, the walls and ceilings are covered floor to spire in vivid Hungarian folk-inspired frescoes and stencilled patterns, a stark contrast to the plain stone Gothic exteriors of most Central European cathedrals — this interior decoration is also almost entirely Schulek's 19th-century vision rather than medieval original work. A small Museum of Ecclesiastical Art in the crypt, included with the entry ticket, displays royal relics and religious artefacts including a replica of the Hungarian coronation regalia.
Because it remains an active parish church, opening hours shift around Mass times and occasional concerts (the acoustics here are excellent, and organ concerts are held regularly) — check the schedule if you're planning around a specific time of day.
What to See: Highlights
- 1Diamond-patterned Zsolnay ceramic-tile roof
- 2Site of Hungary's last two royal coronations (1867, 1916)
- 3Vividly painted Hungarian folk-pattern interior frescoes
- 4Museum of Ecclesiastical Art in the crypt
- 5Regular organ concerts in a church with excellent acoustics
- 6Directly adjoining Fisherman's Bastion
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Insider Tips
Check Mass and concert times before visiting — the schedule affects opening hours
Buy tickets on-site or online; the queue moves reasonably fast outside peak midday
The roof is best appreciated from a slight distance — step back into the square
Consider an evening organ concert for a very different atmosphere
Combine with Fisherman's Bastion and Buda Castle in one Castle Hill visit
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Getting There
Szentháromság tér 2, 1014 Budapest
Open in Google Maps →- 1Bus 16 to Szentháromság tér, right outside. Funicular from Clark Ádám tér then a 5-minute walk.
Where to stay
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
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Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You want to see the famous tiled roof up close and go inside
- You're interested in Hungary's coronation history
- You appreciate colourful, non-traditional church interiors
- You're already exploring the rest of Castle Hill
Skip if...
- You just want the photo — the roof is fully visible (and free) from the square
- You're tight on both time and budget and have bigger sights left to see
Ready to Book Your Visit?
More to See in Budapest
Buda Castle (Royal Palace)
The sprawling former royal palace on Castle Hill — today home to the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum, with free-to-wander courtyards and some of the best views over the Danube.
Fisherman's Bastion
A fairy-tale terrace of white turrets and arcades on Castle Hill, built purely for the view — not a real fortification, but the single most photographed spot in Budapest.
Golden Eagle Pharmacy Museum
A tiny, atmospheric museum inside a genuine 17th-century Castle Hill pharmacy — alchemist's lab reconstructions, Renaissance and Baroque medical equipment, and a mummified crocodile.