On your first visit to Budapest you scaled the stairs of the Panorama Lookout of St. Stephen’s Basilica, wandered the elegant Andrássy Avenue, went ice-skating in City Park Ice Rink, pampered yourself at Széchenyi Baths, marveled at the Hungarian Parliament, hiked Gellért Hill and probably got up-close and personal with the Liberty Statue.
Now you’re fortunate enough to be returning to Budapest this year and you’re looking for new things to do here. I have good news for you. In the recent years there were many developments in Budapest that have slightly transformed the cityscape of the Hungarian capital.
Here I round up ten new attractions from vamping of City Park and the Castle District to the MOL skyscraper that have changed the city’s life in 2022. Discover these hot new openings and fresh experiences. I guarantee you will love them.
City Park and its surroundings
Liget Budapest Project is Europe’s largest and most ambitious urban cultural development. The aim is to create a new museum quarter in Budapest’s largest and most iconic public park with the total renovation of the park, the reconstruction of historic buildings, and the construction of new ones for existing and new cultural institutions.
House of Music Hungary
After 3 years of construction, the House of Music Hungary opened its doors on January 22, 2022 in City Park featuring “a roof perforated with 100 or so cavities that allow natural light, trees and sound to infiltrate the two performance venues, exhibition spaces and library, which are linked by magnificent spiral staircases, and a complete glass exterior to aid reliance on renewable energy”. The glass-walled building, designed by the Japanese star architect Sou Fujimoto, fits harmoniously into the park environment.
Panoramic Balloon Lookout
This spectacular attraction was added to the City Park in the spring of 2022. Thanks to the Liget Budapest Project, the hot-air balloon – which enjoyed great popularity even 120 years ago –returned to the park and offers a panoramic view of Budapest 150 meters above the city. The balloon is fixed with cords to the ground, so it works like an open-air lift to the sky. The balloon was modeled after the one depicted by 19th-century painter Pál Szinyei Merse in his famous oil-canvas “The Balloon”. It looks similar to the one that you can find at the playground nearby.
Museum of Ethnography
The new home of the Museum of Ethnography opened its doors to the public on May 23, 2022. The former venue of the museum used to be home to the Hungarian Curia and didn’t meet the requirements to serve as a museum. This new modern building will surely satisfy professional requirements while catering to the needs of the collection and visitors alike. As sixty percent of the structure is hidden underground, its grass-covered rooftop hosts a recreation park which will probably be a pleasant community place for visitors of the City Park.
Museum of Fine Arts
The comprehensive renovation and modernization of the building of the Museum of Fine Arts started in 2015. After reopening of the Renaissance Hall and the Romanesque Hall of the museum in 2018, the Baroque Hall was opened to the public in June 2022. The Baroque Hall was used as a “warehouse”, now you can admire here some 40 sculptures and 30 paintings have been selected from Italian, Spanish and German collections. These three large museum halls were last opened simultaneously 80 years ago.
Hungarian State Opera House
After almost 5 years of closure, the Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest returned to its former glory and opened its gate to the delight of opera fans on March 12, 2022. It is esteemed as one of the most beautiful European opera venues both outside and in, this structural masterpiece was renovated with careful attention to every detail. If you are an architecture lover like me, guided tours of the Opera House are for you. They are available in multiple languages every day.
Change Bridge
Chain Bridge was the first permanent bridge in Budapest. Its renovation started in spring 2021, and it was handed over to temporary traffic in December 2022. Only public transport vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and taxis can drive on the bridge. Chain Bridge is scheduled to open to pedestrians at the end of summer in 2023. What about cars? It will turn out in the near future.
Buda Castle District
Buda Castle District is one of Budapest’s most famous tourist attractions. Unfortunately some of its buildings were damaged during World War II or were demolished during the communist era. The National Hauszmann Programme, launched in 2014, aims to restore these iconic sites to its former glory.
St. Stephen Hall
St. Stephen Hall is one of the most remarkable rooms of the Royal Palace. It was completely destroyed in World War II, and it was not restored after 1945. Experts and applied artist worked for several years to reconstruct authentically this jewel box into its former splendor. It was opened to the public on August 20, 2021.
Royal Riding Hall and Csikós Courtyard
It’s worth taking a long walk through the restored buildings of Buda Castle and visiting real gems like the Royal Riding Hall. It is located in Csikós Courtyard, was damaged during World War II and later demolished. The building seen today is a faithful replica of the original building, but equipped with the most modern technical solutions in order to become the most modern and elegant event centre in Budapest.
The Neo-Renaissance Stöckl Staircase, demolished in 1971, was also rebuilt and now connects Csikós Courtyard with Hunyadi Courtyard with its former glory.
Skydeck – MOL Campus
The first skyscraper in Budapest opened its doors on December 8, 2022 in the southern part of the city at the Kopaszi Dam neighborhood. MOL Campus is the new headquarters for MOL Group, a global oil and gas company based in Hungary. The skydeck at the top of the building (on the 29th floor), having a great view to the picturesque Budapest, will be accessible for visitors.
Wishin you a nice stay in Budapest!
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