The Hungarian Parliament Building is without question the most iconic building in Budapest, and arguably one of the most beautiful parliament buildings in the world.
Stretching proudly along the Danube on the Pest side, this Neo-Gothic masterpiece dominates the city skyline and can be seen from almost every panoramic viewpoint in Budapest. Together with Kossuth Lajos Square, it forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and serves as one of the most important symbols of Hungarian statehood and democracy.
And yes – it is also one of the most Instagrammable spots in Budapest.
One of the most beautiful parliament buildings in the world
According to the British newspaper The Independent, the Hungarian Parliament Building ranks among the world’s most beautiful parliament buildings.
As the article puts it:
“This is it. This is the parliament. A legislative building without compare.”
And honestly? Once you see it illuminated at night from the Danube promenade or from the Buda side, it’s hard to argue with that statement.
Three parliament buildings were planned
Interestingly, the Parliament wasn’t meant to stand alone.
At the end of the 19th century, an international architectural competition was announced for the new Hungarian Parliament. Instead of choosing only one design, the decision-makers approved the first three prize-winning plans – all to be built on Kossuth Lajos Square.
The winning design became today’s Parliament building, while the other two prize-winning buildings later became the Ministry of Agriculture and the former home of the Museum of Ethnography, which moved to its impressive new building in City Park in 2022.
Construction of Parliament began in 1885, and although it was inaugurated in 1896 during Hungary’s millennium celebrations, the building was fully completed only in 1904.
Budapest’s most iconic landmark
Every time I walk by the Hungarian Parliament Building, I am mesmerized by the pristine façade of this colossal masterpiece. While it is no longer the tallest building in Budapest since the completion of the MOL Campus in 2022, its iconic 96-meter dome still dominates the historic skyline of the city. The height is no coincidence: both the Parliament and St. Stephen’s Basilica rise to 96 meters, symbolizing the year 896, when the Hungarian tribes arrived in the Carpathian Basin. For decades, these two landmarks defined Budapest’s skyline together.
A palace of gold, marble, and red carpets
The interiors of the Parliament are just as spectacular as the exterior. The highlight for many visitors is the breathtaking Grand Stairway, covered with red carpets and surrounded by marble columns, gold decorations, and enormous chandeliers.
In total:
- nearly 40 million bricks were used during construction;
- around 500,000 decorative stones were incorporated; and
- approximately 40 kilograms of 22-23 carat gold leaf decorate the interiors.
The famous red carpet running through the building is almost 3 kilometers long. Not exactly minimalist design.
The Library of the Hungarian Parliament
There is another beautiful space hidden inside the Parliament Building that many visitors don’t know about: the Library of the Hungarian Parliament. Located on the Danube side of the building, it has an elegant reading room with tall bookshelves, galleries, carved wooden details and original furniture. It is still a working research library, but visitors can register to use it. If you love historic interiors and books as much as I do, it is definitely worth knowing about. You can read more about this and other beautiful libraries in Budapest in my guide to Beautiful Libraries in Budapest.
The Holy Crown of Hungary
Under the magnificent central dome of the Parliament, you can see one of Hungary’s greatest national treasures: the Holy Crown of Saint Stephen together with the royal orb, scepter and sword. According to tradition, the crown was sent by Pope Sylvester II to Saint Stephen around the year 1000, marking the birth of the Christian Hungarian state.
The crown is one of the oldest royal crowns in Europe and countless legends surround its slightly tilted cross, although nobody knows for certain how it became bent.
During World War II, the crown was taken to the United States for safekeeping and was eventually returned to Hungary in 1978 during the presidency of Jimmy Carter – a deeply symbolic moment in Hungarian history. Today, seeing the crown inside the Parliament remains one of the highlights of any guided tour.
The “front entrance” is no longer the main entrance
Although the Parliament’s most photographed façade faces the Danube, the official entrance today is actually from Kossuth Lajos Square – technically the back side of the building.
Politicians and visitors alike enter from here, while the grand riverside entrance is reserved mainly for ceremonial occasions and official state receptions.
Visiting the Hungarian Parliament
Even if politics is not your thing, visiting Parliament is absolutely worth it for the architecture and history alone. Guided tours are available in several languages and take visitors through some of the building’s most impressive halls, staircases, and chambers.
You can also admire:
- the spectacular Dome Hall;
- the richly decorated Assembly Hall;
- historic statues and frescoes; and
- one of Europe’s most beautiful parliamentary interiors.
The underground Visitor Centre beneath Kossuth Lajos Square welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.
How to get there
The Parliament is very easy to reach:
- Metro M2 (red line) → Kossuth Lajos tér station;
- Tram 2 along the Danube; or
- simply on foot from the city center.
And trust me – seeing it appear suddenly along the river is one of those classic Budapest moments you never forget.
If you enjoyed this blog post, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media for more updates and behind-the-scenes content. For even more inspiration, check out my constantly updated Pinterest boards, where I share ideas, recipes, travel tips, and more!
This article was updated in April 2026 with the latest tips and information.
