St. Stephen's Basilica
Szent István-bazilika
The largest church in Pest, at 96 metres tall and equal in height to the Parliament. It enshrines the holy relic of the right hand of St. Stephen, the founding king, and its dome viewing platform offers 360-degree views of the inner city.
St. Stephen's Basilica was begun in 1851 and completed in 1905. It went through three architects, and its dome collapsed in 1868 and had to be rebuilt. The result is a blend of neoclassical and neo-Renaissance styles. It can hold 8,500 people and is one of Hungary's most important Catholic churches. The interior is decorated with marble and gold mosaics. The main altar features a statue of St. Stephen, and the side chapel on the right displays his 'Holy Right' (Szent Jobb), a mummified right hand. You can view it up close by inserting a coin to light the glass case. Every year on 20 August, the national day, the relic is carried in procession.
Entry to the church costs about 2,400 forints (church included). Climbing the 364 steps, or taking the lift, to the outer ring of the dome viewing platform requires a separate ticket, and the combined ticket costs about 6,000 forints. The platform is at the same height as the Parliament, and from it you can see the full panorama of Buda Castle, the Danube and the rooftops of Pest. It is the most convenient high vantage point in the inner city.
The basilica often hosts organ concerts around 20:00, with tickets costing about 6,000 to 10,000 forints, and the dome has excellent acoustics. The square in front is the busiest dining area in the inner city. In December it hosts one of Budapest's two major Christmas markets, and at night the façade is lit by a 3D light show. Visitors must dress appropriately, with shoulders and knees covered.
Getting there: a 3-minute walk from Metro M1 Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út station or Metro M3 Arany János utca station, or an 8-minute walk from the Chain Bridge. It can be arranged on the same day as the Parliament and Váci Street.
Opening hours
Church Mon–Sat 09:00–17:45, Sun 13:00–17:45; viewing platform about 09:00–19:00 (shorter in winter)
Nearby sights
- Dohány Street Synagogue
- Szimpla Kert
- Hungarian State Opera House
- Hungarian National Museum
- Váci Street & Vörösmarty Square
- Great Market Hall
- New York Café
- House of Terror