Budapest Parliament

The Hungarian Parliament, also known as the Budapest Parliament, has become one of the city’s main symbols. It is also one of the best-known structures in Europe. It is the third largest assembly building in the world, after the Parliament of Romania and the National Congress of Argentina.

Founded between 1884 and 1902, the seat of the National Assembly of Hungary was the biggest building of its time. It has 691 rooms and is 879 ft (268 m) long and 404 ft (123 m) wide.

The vastness of the Parliament was a sign of the economic power of Hungary at the beginning of the twentieth century.

Visiting the Parliament

The tour that takes approximately 50 minutes will take visitors through the most spectacular rooms in the building, including:

• Staircase XVII: The tour of the House of Parliament begins by walking up the main staircase of the building, covered with red carpet. Visitors will come upon the building’s most impressive floor, where a high relief of Imre Steindl, the structure’s architect welcomes the visitors.
• Dome Hall: The Dome hall is 88 ft (27 m) tall and from where you can see the inside of the dome. It houses several statues of the kings of Hungary, such as Stephen I. The Hungarian Holy Crown and the Coronation Insignia are also held in this room.
• The Old Upper House Hall: The Old Upper House Hall is currently opened to tourists and is exactly how one would imagine it to be; with beautiful oak furniture and gold-plated decorations. The Council of Deputies is identical to the Upper House Hall and is located in the south wing.

Ways to visit the Parliament

If you want to visit the parliament, as well as enjoying a tour of the city, you can reserve our free tour of Budapest.

• Guided tour of Budapest and Parliament