Parliament
.
You can't go to Budapest without seeing the Hungarian Parliament. In fact, it's barely possible, as the building rises 315 feet above the ground and is 938 feet long. The stately structure, completed in 1904, is built in the Gothic Revival style and stands in the center of Budapest overlooking the Danube. Rent a riverboat and take a closer look!
.
House of Terror
.
An intriguing, if somewhat eerie, attraction is the House of Terror. The museum depicts a tumultuous period when Hungary was ruled first by Nazis, and later by Communists. The House of Terror was a place where critics of the regime were imprisoned and tortured. Here you can visit the cell where Raoul Wallenberg was imprisoned. Despite all the horrors, the museum is a great experience and an important reminder of a dark time.
Elisabeth Bridge
.
Budapest's two districts, Buda and Pest, are connected by eight bridges, of which the Elisabeth Bridge is the most famous. The bridge spans the Danube, and on the Buda side you are met by Gellért Mountain, with the famous statue of The Woman with the Palm Leaf. At the Pest side bridge abutment is the city's oldest church, the Belvarosi Plebania Templom, dating back to the 11th century.
.
Slottshöjden
.
The Castle Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, is home to several of Budapest's most visited sights. The Matthias Church, built in the 14th century in neo-Gothic style, is a magical experience. But the most popular is the Fishing Bastion, a viewing terrace overlooking Pest. The bastion is recognizable by its seven towers, which extend like hands to the sky.
.
Buda Castle
.
On Slottshöjden you will also find the Buda Castle, or the 'Royal Castle', as it is also called. The castle is located at the top of Slottshöjden and to get up there you can either hike, or use the cable car that takes you the 167 feet up. To enter the Buda Castle you need to buy a ticket, and once inside you will find the Budapest Historical Museum. It's also an experience to wander around the castle's courtyards, and it's free.