Gellért Hill

Gellért-hegy

A 235-metre hill on the Buda side of the Danube. The hilltop fortress and the Liberty Statue overlook the whole city, making it Budapest's first stop for sunset and night views.

Gellért Hill is named after Saint Gellért, an 11th-century bishop who was martyred. Legend says pagans sealed him in a spiked barrel and rolled it down the hill into the Danube. Near the river at the hill's base, a statue of him holding a cross stands beside a waterfall. The hilltop Citadella was built in 1854 after Austria crushed the Hungarian Revolution. In front of it stands the 14-metre Liberty Statue, erected here in 1947. She holds aloft a palm frond. The statue was originally a Soviet liberation monument and is now one of the city's landmarks. Parts of the Citadella have reopened after recent renovation, and the hilltop viewing terrace is free. From here you can take in Buda Castle, the Chain Bridge, the Parliament, Margaret Island and all of Pest to the north. To the south lie Liberty Bridge and the Central Market. It is the most complete panorama in Budapest, and the 30 minutes after sunset, when the city lights up, are well worth waiting for. Route up: walk 20 to 25 minutes on stone steps and paths from the Gellért Thermal Bath (an Art Nouveau spa where you can also soak) or from the Buda end of Elisabeth Bridge. The gradient is moderate. If you'd rather not climb, take bus 27 from Móricz Zsigmond körtér to the Búsuló Juhász stop, then walk about 10 minutes. The Cave Church (Sziklatemplom) is a Pauline church carved into the rock face, and entry costs about 1,000 forints. When walking down at night, stick to the main path, which has street lights. A torch makes the descent feel safer.

Gellért Hill

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