Budapest Parliament Tickets: how to buy and prices
About seven hundred thousand visitors come to the Budapest Parliament every year. A historic building, which gives you access to one of the most important symbols of Hungary's political organisation. Do you want to visit it? I'll tell you all about it.
Hungarian Parliament Building | ©bvi4092
The Budapest Parliament is one of the largest in the world, a building full of historical and architectural details. I will tell you about the different ways to visit it, either buying tickets or taking a guided tour and recommendations to enjoy the experience to the fullest.
Budapest Tour with Parliament Visit
Entrance fees to Parliament with tour included
The cheapest option to enter the Budapest Parliament and explore it with an expert guide.
This option seems to me very complete as you can tour the city and its most important places, enjoy the panoramic view of Budapest from the hills of Buda and finish touring the third largest Parliament building in the world, through a tour guided by an expert and lasting 45 minutes.
I recommend it especially if you have little time or a very tight schedule on your visit to Budapest. If you have 4 hours, this tour will be ideal as it will take you to some of the most representative places of the city, ending with a tour inside the Parliament.
Budapest Parliament ticket prices
Ticket prices vary depending on whether you are a citizen of the European Union or not. Students also get discounted admission to the Parliament, and children under the age of 6 are free.
Here is a summary of the ticket prices for each category, which will be shown in the local Hungarian currency, the Hungarian Forint. Please note that if you buy your tickets online, you can pay by credit card and avoid queues and any problems with your payment method.
- EU adults: HUF 6000, about €15,50.
- EU students aged 6 to 24: HUF 3000, about €8.
- Non-EU adult: HUF 12000, about €30.
- Non EU students 6-24 years old: HUF 6000, about €15,50.
###The option of a guided tour
If you decide to take a tour of Budapest, you will also have the opportunity to take a guided tour of the Parliament. And in 4 hours, you will have been able to visit the main points of interest of the Hungarian capital in a comfortable transport accompanied by an expert local guide, all without worrying about anything but enjoying yourself and for about £45
Throughout the tour, the expert guide will share with you historical facts and also curious facts about the monuments and landmarks visited.
Are there any guided tours of the Budapest Parliament?
A guided tour is always worthwhile, but if we are talking about a building as culturally important as the Parliament of Budapest, even more so. The grandeur of the building makes it an essential monument of the city and what better way to discover it than going through its rooms and contemplating its statues, its frescoes or its coats of arms with an expert guide.
If you choose the tour of Budapest with tickets to the Parliament in addition to a route through the city with the best possible views you will have the opportunity to visit the most representative monument with the explanations of the guide in your language. This way you will forget about trying to find tickets at the ticket office.
Buy tickets for the Budapest Parliament at the ticket office
The first thing you need to know is that you can buy your tickets in advance through the official website offered by the Budapest Parliament itself, and although you can also purchase them at the Visitors' Centre, I recommend buying online as daily tickets are limited, and unless you time your itinerary very well, you run the risk of running out of your pass.
To save you queues and to ensure your ticket, the Parliament offers an official, authorised and secure website, where you can choose, among other things, the language in which you prefer to make your visit.
On this official site authorised by the Parliament, you can find the different tickets differentiated by language, so you can buy your tickets according to the language in which you want to visit.
Anyway, the best way to optimise your visit to the Parliament is to hire a guided tour that includes it. This way you won't have to worry about running out of tickets, you'll always be accompanied by an expert guide and you'll have the chance to see the best of Budapest in one day.
Can I visit the Budapest Parliament with a sightseeing pass?
Unfortunately not. I recommend you to see what is included in the Budapest Card, such as museums and other tourist attractions of the city, although you should know that the Budapest Parliament is not included in this card.
But if you want to visit monuments, museums and get discounts and unlimited public transport, the best option is to buy the Budapest Card tourist card This card also entitles you to guided tours in English language to Buda and Pest, the area of the city where the parliament is located.
Visiting hours of the Budapest Parliament
The Parliament building is open every day:
- 1 January to 31 March: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
- 1 April to 31 October: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
- 1 November to 31 December: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
A guided tour is a great way to enjoy your visit to this majestic building without having to worry about many details.
How to get to the Budapest Parliament
Getting to the Budapest Parliament is very easy, here are the different ways to get there:
On foot
If you're staying in the centre of Pest, you'll only need a 15-minute walk from the Chain Bridge as you stroll along the banks of the Danube.
By public transport
If your accommodation is in another part of the city or you want to get to the parliament by public transport, you have these options:
- Metro Kossuth Lajos tér, line M2.
- Kossuth Lajos tér tram, line 2.
- Bus Kossuth Lajos tér, lines 15, 70, 78 and 115.
Remember that with the Budapest Card you have unlimited free use of public transport.
By Sightseeing Bus
Like many cities, in Budapest you have a tourist bus with free stops, so you can visit the most important places, getting on and off whenever you want. You can choose 1, 2 or 3 day tickets and explore the city at your leisure.
One of the obligatory stops is the Parliament, so you can include it in your itinerary and take advantage of the transport.
By electric scooter
You can get to the Parliament by renting an electric scooter andride along the Danube in an environmentally friendly and entertaining way.
Is it advisable to go to the Budapest Parliament with children?
Yes, and the best thing is that visitors under 6 years of age do not pay admission to the Parliament. Without a doubt, this is one of the activities to do with the family and what you will enjoy the most out of the many things to see and do in Budapest.
Keep in mind the regulations when planning your visit and consult with all the information regarding safety regulations and requirements so that you don't have any inconveniences and the little ones can have a great experience getting to know this jewel of Europe.
What not to miss during your visit
Several stations take you on a tour full of history and tradition. The visit to the Parliament starts at the dazzling side staircase of City XVII. Statues of the monarchy, stained glass windows and decorative frescoes decorate this pathway where you can appreciate neo-gothic and baroque details. All designed by the architect Imre Steindi.
This first glimpse of the parliament also offers a beautiful view of Kossuth Square, the nation's largest square, which was recently renovated. You will also see on your tour the Grand Staircase, which has 96 steps covered with an exquisite red carpet.
This space features eight four-ton granite columns, a piece of which there are only twelve in the whole world. The stained glass windows surrounding this staircase display works of art from the workshop of Miska Róth.
Another place you can visit during your visit to the Budapest Parliament is the Dome Hall, where the Hungarian Holy Crown and the Coronation insignia, considered to be the oldest in Europe, have been kept since the year 2000. This symbolic place is about 27 metres high and contains statues of Hungarian rulers throughout its history.
The Béla Neÿ Hall
The Béla Neÿ Hall is a room that has several curiosities and enjoy a tour, which thanks to technology offers you an exhibition with details of spaces not included in the tour and hidden technical installations.
The Council of Deputies, where the deputies of the Hungarian Parliament currently meet, is also in these premises but cannot be visited by tourists.
How much time you need to visit the Parliament of Budapest
If you opt for the guided tour of the Budapest Parliament, you may need between 45 minutes and 1 hour. I always recommend taking the tour in the morning hours so that you can enjoy the day, and the other sights surrounding the parliament.
You can also opt to take the last tour of the day and enjoy the night in Budapest, with the incredible views of the Parliament building and the majestic Danube at night. And why not, take a night cruise.
Even if you only have 1 day in Budapest, including a visit to the Parliament will be an unforgettable experience.
What is the best time of the year to visit the Parliament in Budapest?
In the summer you will undoubtedly encounter more tourists, but you can enjoy the ideal weather, and complement your visit to the Parliament with other plans. There are many things to do in Budapest in summer and enjoy one of the busiest seasons of the year.
But if you want to enjoy the winter in this European city, there are also plans to enjoy the cold in Budapest, an idea that can give some magic to your visit, if the cold is your thing.
Don't forget to check the official opening hours of the Parliament before your visit, as being an official building, there may be restrictions or series according to the time of the year you want to visit.
Tips for your visit to the Budapest Parliament
There are many tips to follow during your visit to Budapest. And if you decide to take a guided tour of the Budapest Parliament, there are a few recommendations to keep in mind:
- Make sure that the guided tour you book is guaranteed and that you have all the necessary authorisations to enter the parliament and tour.
- Check in advance what the tour includes, and what the route will be so that you can get an idea and prepare yourself with some basic information.
Things to consider
Whether you decide to take your guided tour of Parliament or do it on your own, here are some other basic recommendations, given that it is an official building:
- For the protection of the Holy Crown of Hungary, the parliament strictly forbids taking photographs in the Great Hall of the Dome. However, it is permitted to take photos or use video cameras in other parts of the building.
- Security control is strict in the parliament, so I recommend you to be as comfortable as possible, without large bags, suitcases, bags, parcels or anything else that might impede your access.
- People visiting the parliament who have any treatment with radioactive isotopes for curative purposes must also provide some medical documents prior to their visit.
There is no doubt that visiting the Budapest Parliament is a fascinating experience. In cultural terms you can get to know one of the most important official buildings in the world, while exploring one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
I highly recommend you to visit this city at night, because at both times of the day, the city will offer you a different atmosphere and you will be able to discover corners that will surprise you.