Széchenyi Chain Bridge
Széchenyi Lánchíd
Budapest's first permanent bridge, completed in 1849. Its lion statues and iron-chain structure link Buda Castle with inner Pest, and it is the city's symbol of unity.
The Chain Bridge was initiated by Count István Széchenyi and designed by the English engineer Adam Clark. It opened in 1849 and was one of the longest-span suspension bridges in the world at the time, at 375 metres long. It was blown up by German forces at the end of World War II, and rebuilt in 1949 for its centenary. After another major renovation in 2021 to 2023, it reopened in August 2023. It now allows only buses, taxis and bicycles, and its wide pavements are ideal for walking.
At each end stands a pair of stone lions, and the legend that 'the lions have no tongues' is a must-tell for guides. It takes about 10 minutes to walk across, from Széchenyi Square on the Pest side (near the Gresham Palace, now the Four Seasons Hotel, an Art Deco masterpiece) to Clark Ádám Square on the Buda side, where you can connect to the castle funicular up the hill. The middle of the bridge offers a panoramic view of the Parliament, Buda Castle and Gellért Hill.
After the lights come on at dusk, the bridge and the castle light up together. They look best from the Pest embankment or a Danube cruise, and many sightseeing boats depart from piers near the bridge. A regular sightseeing boat takes about 1 hour, and with a drink it costs 4,000 to 6,000 forints.
Getting there: a 5-minute walk from Metro M1 Vörösmarty tér station, or tram line 2 to the Széchenyi István tér stop. No admission fee. On some summer weekends the bridge is closed to motor traffic for street events, so check municipal announcements.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Buda Castle
- Danube River Cruise
- Shoes on the Danube Bank
- Hungarian Parliament Building
- Fisherman's Bastion / Matthias Church
- Váci Street & Vörösmarty Square
- Rudas Baths
- Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum