Today, the site of Aquincum has much to offer sightseers and history enthusiasts alike, including the ruins of a city wall, an amphitheatre (1 of 2 in Budapest), temples, homes and burial grounds. There is also the modest Aquincum Museum housing artefacts from the site to explore.

Aquincum history

Aquincum was originally settled by the Celtic Eravisci tribe, but later became a Roman border military base or castrum around 41 to 54 BC. A legion of 6,000 men grew into a city around the fortress, and when Pannonia was reorganised by the Romans in 106 AD, Aquincum became the provincial capital.

Aquincum was occasionally the headquarters of Rome’s emperors because it was the centre of the Roman frontier operations. As such, the city obtained municipal status under Hadrian and became a colonia under Septimius Severus. By the end of the 2nd century AD, the city boasted 30,000 inhabitants and was the centre of commercial life in the province.

The city’s status was reflected in the archaeological remains excavated, which include central heating in the houses, public baths, palaces and a temple to Mithras (a Mithraeum). Aquincum also boasted 2 amphitheatres built in the 1st century AD for gladiatorial and animal fights.

Christianity came to Aquincum around the early 3rd century, and it was not until 350 AD when the city was largely destroyed, suffering attacks from the Sarmitians to the north and in the 5th century, German and Hun invaders.

Aquincum today

Today, you can visit the ancient city of Aquincum, much smaller than the important Roman province it once was. Highlights of wandering Aquincum include a stone tile with a sewer grate, a beautiful mosaic-covered thermal bath and an underground heating system. You can also see the ruins of a 3-level aqueduct.

Aquincum Museum boasts a small collection of Celtic and Roman artefacts, providing a fascinating visual timeline through the 17 milestones of the site: from a Celtic period urn to a bejewelled 5th century AD diadem. You can also see a reconstruction of the hydraulic system. Be aware that the English translations in the museum are not always thorough and the ruins are closed during the winter months. Standard entry otherwise costs 1,900 Ft (£4.70).

Getting to Aquincum

Via public transport, the buses 34, 134 and 106 from Szentlélek Square in Obuda will stop at Aquincum. For those driving, Aquincum Museum and Roman site are along the Szentendrei street off road 11, a 10 minute drive north of central Budapest.

History of Buda Castle

In the 13th century, the then separate cities of Buda and Pest were endangered by Mongol raids, to which Pest succumbed in the 1241-1242. A few years later, King Bela IV decided to fortify Buda, a project completed in around 1265, offering his subjects defensive walls within which to shelter.

The first incarnation of Buda Castle dates to the 14th century, when it was built by Stephen, Duke of Slavonia (younger brother of the king) but since then it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times, including by King Sigismund, and later altered by the Ottomans in the 16th century when they repurposed the castle as gunpowder storage and a magazine.

The castle was destroyed in the late 17th century during the great siege of Buda, and rebuilt as a much smaller Baroque palace in the 18th century. Construction was halted due to a fire and only finished significantly later for the Queen of Hungary. It was never really used as a royal residence – the Queen spent little time in Buda. Instead, it was temporarily used as a nunnery and university

In 1791, the castle was once more used as a royal residence for the new palatinate of Hungary. Several rebuilds happened during the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly following severe damage during the Second World War.  As a result of the constant changes to Buda Castle, it’s difficult to identify the periods to which each part of the site dates.

Buda Castle today

The castle is often under layers of scaffolding, and parts of it are still undergoing major restorations. The building houses the Hungarian National Gallery, the Castle Museum, and the National Széchenyi Library, all of which are open to the public. The Castle Museum also has a short history of the city of Budapest which is interesting. All parts of the castle are closed on Mondays. 

Getting to Buda Castle

The site overlooks the city, on top of a hill: you’ll probably spot it from elsewhere in the city before you visit. There are multiple steep winding roads to access, or you can hop on the funicular  which runs from Alagut up to the castle itself. Come over the Danube via the Széchenyi Chain Bridge to tick off several sites in one.

The base would have formed part of the Roman city of Aquincum, which served as the capital of the Roman province of Pannonia, reaching its peak around the 2nd century with as many as 40,000 inhabitants.

Budapest Bath Museum history

Originally settled by the Eravisci Celtic tribe, Aquincum later served as a Roman military camp (a castrum) within the border protection system called limes. The Romans established a base around 41-54 AD, with 500 cavalry and a legion of 6,000 men stationed there by 89 AD. The city grew around the Roman fortress, becoming the capital of the province Pannonia Inferior until the reforms of Diocletian, over 100 years later. Aquincum also became a colonia and headquarters for emperors travelling the frontier.

Within the military camp was a large complex of public baths, including some 50 rooms such as a gymnasium, sweat chamber, hot and cold water pools for the soldiers and their supporting community. An inscription found within the baths dates to the year 269, and refers to the Thermae Maiores meaning ‘Great Bath’. The baths were situated at the intersection of the fortress’ two main roads, their entrances stepping straight out onto the thoroughfares.

The ruins of these great baths were first uncovered in 1778, with one of the halls found during other excavations of Aquincum. The complex was further excavated in the 1980s to be preserved for display as part of the Roman Baths Museum in the Óbuda district of Budapest. The baths originally would have been around 15,000 square metres large, supplied with underfloor heating and plenty of soldiers eager to exercise and bathe.

Budapest Bath Museum today

Today, this archeological gem can be found just beyond the shore of the Danube, nestled within a concrete tangle of overpasses between massive Soviet-built housing blocks. Visitors will find information boards describing the history of the baths and their plan, and you can spend up to 2 hours wandering around the complex free of charge.

Approaching the baths, you can see the remains of Roman columns within the grassy slope leading into the nearby train station. Head down through the underground passage, lined with Roman stelae and busts, to travel back in time. You’ll reach a raised boardwalk from which you can access the bath complex.

Getting to Budapest Bath Museum

If using public transport – by far the easiest way to get around the city – from central Pest, take the Soviet-era Metro Line 3 to Tram 1. Flórián tér is a stop on the Tram 1 line. From Flórián tér, Aquincum Archaeological park is about 1 km north and the Aquincum Military Amphitheater is about 1 km to the south.

The castle which houses the museum has been part of the Budapest World Heritage Site since 1987.

History of Budapest History Museum

The museum is located within the famous Buda Castle, a historical palace complex which once served the Hungarian kings of Budapest.

It is located on the southern tip of Castle Hill, and is surrounded by the tourist-oriented area known as Varnegyed (Castle Quarter.) The castle was first completed in 1265; however, the Baroque palace in its current state was built between 1749 and 1769.

Budapest History Museum Today

Budapest History Museum is located within the southern wing of the castle, spanning four floors which explore the city’s 2000-year history.

The collection features items which relate to every day Hungarian life, and recreates living spaces and traditional Hungarian-styled rooms.

Other exhibitions feature pottery and ceramics dating from prehistoric times to the late Bronze Age, including Roman Hungary. The ground floor showcases exhibits from Budapest during the Middle Ages, with Gothic statues of courtiers, squires, and saints which were discovered during excavations in 1974 being an interesting feature.

A highlight of a trip to the palace includes a descent to the two-level basement, where visitors can enjoy the Royal Chapel as well as three 15th century rib-vaulted Gothic halls, which date back to when a castle previously stood on the site before the Royal Palace was built. Indeed, the only surviving interior from the pre-war Royal Palace, and the Palatial crypt, belongs to the museum.

There is an excellent audio guide available, and for those who wish to make the most out of the exhibitions available within Buda Castle, the Hungarian National Gallery is also well worth a visit. It features artwork which dates from the 11th century until the present, and highlights include an exhibition on Gothic altarpieces. Within the palace is also the National Széchényi Library, which houses a collection of rare and antique books.

Getting to Budapest History Museum

From the centre of Budapest, the museum is a 9 minute walk via Lánchíd u. By car, it takes around 7 minutes via Palota út, while a connecting (and sometimes rather complicated) bus service takes around 50 minutes to reach Buda Castle, which depart every 15 minutes from Budapest Nyugati Palyaudvar.

A number of boat tours along the nearby river Danube are also popular.

While its exhibits of weaponry, armour, flags, uniforms and coins is impressive, it is very much something for the military enthusiast, especially since all of the explanations are only provided in Hungarian.

History of Budapest Museum of Military History

The building that now houses the museum was originally built as an army barrack in the 1830s. The museum itself was established in the early 1920s with the aim to research, organise and exhibit artefacts related to Hungarian military history.

The building was damaged during World War Two and much of its contents were destroyed.

Budapest Museum of Military History today

The MoD Military History Institute and Museum’s principal aim is to research, uncover and organize the material heritage of Hungarian military history and related international military history, in close cooperation with local museums and organizations, in Hungary and abroad as well.

Despite the damage sustained in World War Two, the museum now has a varied collection covering a range of periods of Hungarian history..

Its main attractions include a remarkable collection of historical weaponry from before the 150-year Turkish occupation to the recent past; uniforms, maps, shells, flags, a coin collection containing about 28,000 items,

Exhibits focus particularly on three periods: 1815 to 1867, including the 1848–49 War of Independence; 1868 to 1914; and 1914 to 1948, including both words wars, the Hungarian Royal Army under the command of Admiral Miklós Horthy (1918–43) and early years under communism.

There is a particularly moving collection that describes and displays the events of the Revolution of 1956, a nationwide uprising against the government of the Hungarian People’s Republic and its Soviet friendly policies, lasting for less than a month and bloodily suppressed by the Soviet troops.

In addition to the story of Hungary’s history of warfare, there are some cannons by the entrance in the beautiful courtyard along with a few cannonballs in the wall (dating back to the Revolutions of 1848-49) and there is an outdoor statue and memory park providing a magnificent view of the River Danube.

The institution is also a research centre with a library and archives, housing national and international conferences, events. The museum welcomes over 100,000 guests a year.

Getting to the Budapest Museum of Military History

The imposing building of the MoD Military History Institute and Museum is located in the north-western corner of Buda Castle, one of the most popular spots amongst tourists in Budapest. It is easily accessible by public transport, such as bus route 16.

With a distinctive Moorish exterior and ornate interior, the restored Dohany Synagogue is open to the public and is also the place from which tours of the Jewish Quarter of Budapest begin. Next door to the Dohany Synagogue is the Budapest Jewish Museum and birthplace of Theodor Hertzl – the father of modern Zionism.

Dohany Synagogue history

The Dohany Synagogue was built between 1854 and 1859 in the Moorish Revival style. The Moorish architectural style was chosen because while no distinctive Jewish design could be identified, the Arabic and Israelite peoples share many aspects of Middle Eastern culture. The influences primarily came from Islamic buildings in North Africa and medieval Spain, such as the Alhambra.

The synagogue was built in a residential area by the Jewish community of Pest, with a capacity for 2,964 worshippers, and was consecrated in 1859. A Jewish Museum was built in the same Arabic style in 1931 on the remains of Theodor Hertzl’s Classicist house stood, holding the Jewish Religious and Historical Collection. In the same year a Heroes’ Temple was also added to commemorate Hungarian Jews who died during World War One.

The synagogue was bombed by the right-wing Hungarian nationalist and pro-Nazi Arrow Cross Party in February 1939. During World War Two, the synagogue remains were occupied by Germans for a radio base while doubling as a stable. The leafy Dohany street where the synagogue stood constituted the border of the Budapest Ghetto during the Holocaust.

Dohany Synagogue also suffered further damage during air raids and the Siege of Budapest, when Romanian and Soviet forces surrounded Budapest to drive out the Nazis towards the end of the war. Under the communists, the damaged building reverted to a prayer house for the much-diminished Jewish community.

Restorations began in 1991 financed by the state and private donations and were completed in 1998.

Dohany Synagogue today

Today, the synagogue remains a beautiful symbol of the continuing Jewish-Hungarian presence in Budapest, flanked on either side by ornate towers topped with black and gold domes. Inside, the synagogue boasts a stunning arched gallery within which visitors cannot fail to feel great reverence.

Just behind the museum you will find a memorial sculpture depicting a weeping willow with the names and tattoo numbers of the Jewish peoples who died and disappeared as a result of the Nazi regime. It is not customary to have a cemetery beside a synagogue, according to the Torah, however the demand after 1944 was so high that many of those who died in the ghetto were buried there.

The museum also includes a Holocaust room for visitors to deepen their knowledge of the Jewish experience during the 20th century.

Getting to Dohany Synagogue

The easiest way to reach Dohany Synagogue on a street of the same name is via Budapest’s extensive public transport network. The Astoria transit stop only 2 minutes from the synagogue serves trams 47, 48 and 49 as well as buses 9 and 916 and trolleybus 72M.

Resplendent with turrets and towers that resemble a fairytale, the Fisherman’s Bastion is one of the city’s most iconic sites and has 7 towers in all, each representing one of Hungary’s tribes.

Whilst the name implies some sort of coastal fortification, Fisherman’s Bastion is not coastal nor a defensive structure. The name actually refers to the fisherman’s guild, which once protected this part of the medieval walls.

Today, the Fisherman’s Bastion is part of the city of Budapest UNESCO World Heritage site.

Fisherman’s Bastion history

Under King Bela IV of Hungary, Castle Hill became a more prominent fortification as the administrative centre of the country. The original walls of Fisherman’s Bastion were built in the 18th century, forming part of the walls for a castle over the former circular Híradás.

During the Middle Ages, these walls were protected by a guild of fisherman and overlooked the fish market – thus earning the structure its name, ‘Fisherman’s Bastion’. The fisherman lived under the walls in the Fishtown or Watertown.

Over the centuries, the walls deteriorated as rain loosened the rocks and Austrian military leadership refused to spend more money on the area as the castles (Fisherman’s Bastion and Buda Castle) did not meet the modern standards.

However, architect Frigyes Schulek, who was at the time restoring the Matthias Church, made Fisherman’s Bastion part of his plan: the castle should be restored to match the newly glorious church. The structure as we see it now was therefore built between 1895 and 1902 in the Neo-Romanesque style over the base of the Buda Castle walls.

During World War Two, the Fisherman’s Bastion was damaged during sieges yet was once again restored.

Fisherman’s Bastion today

Open all year, day and night, the 7 turrets of the Fisherman’s Bastion stand tall and proud against the Budapest skyline representing the 7 tribes of Hungary. The chapel inside the bastion is particularly stunning, and in the centre of the plaza do not miss the sculpture of St Istvan, the king who brought Christianity to Hungary.

After having a look around the castle, stop at the cafe on the terrace for a coffee and snack. From there you can also enjoy a beautiful view across the Danube river, especially in the evenings, and visiting the balconies are without charge. Alternately, viewing the Fisherman’s Bastion from the other side of the river at night is a great chance to appreciate its impressive architecture.

Getting to Fisherman’s Bastion

You can reach the Castle District via buses 16, 16A, 116 and 916, all stopping at Szentháromság tér. Trams 17, 19, 41, 47, 49 and 56 also run along the riverbank on Bem rkp., only a 7 minute walk from Fisherman’s Bastion.

History of Heroes’ Square

The central feature of Heroes’ Square is the Millennial Monument (Millenáriumi Emlékmű), which was commissioned in 1896 to mark the foundation of the Hungarian State through the Magyar conquest of the Carpathian Basin. This was not the only building project undertaken at this time: Andrássy Avenue was also expanded and the first metro line was added to the city.

By 1900, the majority of the square’s construction was completed, and it was dubbed Heroes’ Square for the first time. In 1906 it was officially inaugurated

The Millennial Monument, consists of a semicircle of Doric columns, several statues representing important historical Hungarian figures and an obelisk crowned with a statue of the Archangel Gabriel. Spaces were left for future members of the Habsburg dynasty, who at that point in time ruled Hungary. During the Second World War, the monument was damaged and during rebuilding, the Habsburg figures were replaced by contemporary political figures.

Also located at Heroes Square is the Hungarian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is marked by a stone cenotaph surrounded by an iron chain. Unlike its European counterparts, there are no human remains interred there.

Heroes’ Square today

The square remains a focal point in Budapest and celebrations, ceremonies and the occasional protest are known to take place here. It’s a popular place for tourists to visit in the summer, and its giant proportions remain impressive.

Getting to Heroes’ Square

Hősök tere metro station opens out onto the square, making it easy to access from anywhere in the city. The Szchenyi baths are located in the park beyond the square. Heroes’ Square is about 30 minutes walk from the Parliament buildings – not far, but it can be hot and sweaty in the summer.

History of the House of Terror

From 1937, the building of the House of Terror slowly became the headquarters of the pro-Nazi Hungarian Arrow Cross Party. When the party took power in 1944, the House of Terror, then known as the House of Loyalty, was used as a prison. Victims, many of whom were Jewish, were tortured and executed.

Even once the Nazis had left Hungary, The House of Terror maintained its notoriety and brutal reputation as the prison and headquarters of the Soviet Political Police (the AVH). It remained as such until 1956, when evidence of the horrors inflicted within its double-thickness walls (designed to muffle screams) was erased and, the building of the House of Terror later became offices.

The museum was created in 2000, under the directive of Viktor Orban’s center-right government, as a memorial to the suffering of the victims of both regimes, known as the ‘Double Occupation’. Today, the House of Terror stands in commemoration of its horrific past, with exhibitions about its history, that of its owners and its victims.

The House of Terror today

Critics have claimed that the atrocities committed under the Communist regime get far more space and detail than those under the Fascists, but in truth, everything detailed is pretty grim. The museum provides a window into a lesser-talked about period of Hungarian history, and is certainly a sobering site. Allow a couple of hours for a visit as there’s a lot to read and take in.

Getting to the House of Terror

The House of Terror is in central Budapest, at 60 Andrássy út. It’s a 20 minute walk from Budapest’s Parliament building, otherwise the nearest metro stop is Vörösmarty utca, a 1 minute walk away, or Oktagon, a 5 minute walk away (if that).

Located within Buda Castle, the Hungarian National Gallery is also home to the Habsburg Palatinal Crypt (Nadori kripta), the burial place of the Hungarian line of the Habsburg Dynasty. Note that the crypt can only be visited by prior arrangement and is located on the ground floor of Building C.

History of Hungarian National Gallery

Located in several wings of Buda Castle, the Hungarian National Gallery was established in 1957 as the country’s national art museum. The aim in establishing the museum was to present Hungarian art across a range of its history, from the settlement of the Magyars in the 10th century, through medieval ages, until the present day.

The collection is extensive, being formed of more than 6000 paintings and 2100 sculptures, as well as 3100 medals, 11,000 drawings, and 5000 prints.

There is a range of more historic art, with Medieval, Renaissance, Gothic, and Baroque Hungarian art being a part of the exciting works that the museum features. Paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries are among the most popular that the museum features, as they visualise the turbulent experience of Hungary during the Turkish and then Austrian occupations.

The collection also includes wood altars from the 15th century, as well as more contemporary works by Hungarian sculptors, painters, and photographers.

Hungarian National Gallery Today

Today, the gallery is enjoyed by tourists and locals alike who wish to delve into Hungarian art and history. There is a regular schedule of rotating exhibits, as well as permanent exhibits which display paintings by old masters such as Cezanne, Pissarro, and Monet.

There is also a Dome Terrace, from where visitors can enjoy breathtaking views over the Pest side of the city and the river Danube.

For those who wish to expand upon their knowledge of Hungarian artists, the primary museum for international art in Budapest is the Museum of Fine Arts.

Getting to Hungarian National Gallery

The gallery is reachable in around 5 minutes by car via the Palota út road. There is also a regular schedule of buses which depart every 15 minutes from Budapest Nyugati Palyaudvar, and take around 45 minutes to reach the museum. By foot, the museum is around 7 minutes from the centre via Sikló u.

A number of boat tours along the nearby river Danube are also popular.