Getting there and visiting well
Getting to Budapest Parliament
Where the Parliament Visitor Centre is, how to reach it by metro and tram, what to leave behind, how long to allow and what the audio-guided visit covers.
Check dates and availability ↗Quick answer
Go to Kossuth Lajos tér on the Pest bank of the Danube. Metro line M2 and tram 2 both stop there. You do not enter through the grand river front: the Visitor Centre is underground in the northern part of Kossuth Square. Travel light, allow time for the security check and arrive before your entry time, because late arrivals may be refused. The tour itself takes about 45 minutes.
Where the Parliament is
The Parliament stands on Kossuth Square on the Pest side of the Danube, on the river's eastern bank. Its main façade overlooks the river, and the dome rises 96 metres. The official main entrance is on the east side, facing the square. The Parliament's own pages call the square the Main Square of the Nation. You can see the outside from the square and the riverbank without a ticket. The Parliament has been the seat of the National Assembly for over a hundred years. After the façades were renovated, new lighting was fitted to all of them, so the building is lit after dark.
By metro and tram
Metro line M2 has a station called Kossuth Lajos tér, and tram 2 stops at the same station. From there you walk onto the square and down to the Visitor Centre, which is underground in the northern part of Kossuth Square. The Parliament says that when the square was rebuilt the tramlines were moved and vehicle traffic was sharply reduced. Wikipedia notes that the building is almost always under renovation, so some part of the exterior may be under scaffolding when you arrive. The entrance is below the level of the square, so look for the way down to it rather than a door in the façade.
Which door to use
Use the Visitor Centre, not the grand river-facing front. It sits below the level of the square. The tour starts from the Visitor Centre, and you meet outside it. Security is there too, and so are the public toilets. After the check you receive your audio guide device. Tickets for the Parliament's own tours are also dealt with at this centre, and its ticket office sells same-day tickets in limited numbers.
Read next: Budapest Parliament tickets
Security and what to leave behind
Everyone passes a security check before entering. Large bags, packages and objects that could cause injury, such as knives and gas spray, are not allowed, and neither are weapons. In hand luggage you may carry only a colourless, non-alcoholic drink, liquid medication or baby food in an unbreakable plastic bottle of up to 0.5 litres, which must come out of the bag for the check. Other bottles go in the cloakroom. Bring your passport or ID card.
- Not allowed: large bags, packages, knives, weapons
- Not allowed: pets, apart from guide dogs
- Drinks: colourless, non-alcoholic, up to 0.5 litres, unbreakable bottle
- Bring: passport or ID card
How long to allow
The tour of the interior takes about 45 minutes, and the whole visit about an hour, including 15 minutes for check-in. Add time to find the Visitor Centre and clear security. If you do the mapped audio walk around Kossuth Square, which comes before you go in, add that too. The Parliament says that if you arrive late, entry may be denied without the ticket being replaced or refunded, so aim to arrive with a margin rather than at the last minute.
Season and time of day
Visiting hours are shorter from November to March than from April to October, so check the entry times on the booking calendar for your date. The Parliament says visits may be cancelled, even just before admission, because of parliamentary or state events, so keep the rest of your day flexible. The Parliament lists its Visitor Centre as open every day of the week, in both seasons. For the outside view, the Danube front is lit after dark, and you can see it from the river's far bank without a ticket.
What to wear and how to behave
The Parliament asks every visitor to be dressed appropriately and does not publish a more detailed dress rule. Expect standing and stairs: the Grand Stairway alone has 96 steps. Inside you may not eat, drink or smoke, raise your voice or sing, sit or lie on the stairs, or bring flags, whistles or megaphones. Follow the staff's instructions. The Parliament says visitors who do not will be escorted out by the guards, and that every visit is made on the visitor's own responsibility.
Children, access and language
Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. The Parliament says the building is accessible to people with disabilities, and it asks visitors in wheelchairs to tell its staff by email before they arrive. Guide dogs are the only animals allowed inside. The audio guide device is multilingual, so you can listen in your own language, and the Kossuth Square audio walk comes in English, Italian and Spanish. Email and WhatsApp support is part of the ticket.
What you see and hear inside
The Grand Stairway is covered in red carpet, with ceiling frescoes by Károly Lotz and stained glass from Miksa Róth's workshop. The Dome Hall is sixteen-sided, with statues of Hungarian rulers on golden pedestals, and the Holy Crown and coronation insignia have been kept there since 1 January 2000, guarded around the clock by the Crown Guard. The former Chamber of Peers has Slavonian oak panels, gilded decoration and a gallery, and the Parliament describes its acoustics as excellent. The two main chambers, built for the Lower and Upper Houses, are identical in size and sit on either side of the Dome Hall. About 40 kilograms of gold went into the decoration.
The Kossuth Square audio walk
The audio walk takes you round the square before you enter. It covers the statue of Francis II Rákóczi and the National Unity memorial, among other monuments. The Parliament says the square was rebuilt between 2012 and 2014, and that one of the former ventilation tunnels beneath it is now a memorial to the victims of the shooting of 25 October 1956. The audio guide for the walk is downloadable, so have your phone ready. It is available in English, Italian and Spanish.
Who this isn't for
If you cannot manage a security check and some standing, think about whether the visit suits you, and write to the Parliament first if you use a wheelchair. If you want a live guide, this audio-guided ticket is not it. If you need transport from your hotel, none is included. If you want to photograph the Holy Crown, you cannot: photography is forbidden in the Dome Hall. And if you only want to see the building from outside, you need no ticket.
Frequently asked questions
Which metro line goes to the Parliament?
Metro line M2 stops at Kossuth Lajos tér, and tram 2 stops at the same station. The Visitor Centre is underground on Kossuth Square, below the level of the square, so you walk onto the square from the station and then down to it.
Which entrance do I use?
The underground Visitor Centre on Kossuth Square, not the river-facing front. The security check and the start of the tour are there, and you meet outside it. Public toilets are inside the Visitor Centre.
How long does a visit take?
The interior tour takes about 45 minutes, and the whole visit about an hour, including 15 minutes for check-in. Add time for security and for the Kossuth Square audio walk.
What can't I bring in?
Large bags, packages and anything that could cause injury, such as knives or gas spray, are not allowed. Drinks must be colourless, non-alcoholic and in an unbreakable bottle of up to 0.5 litres.
Can I bring children or use a wheelchair?
Children under 14 must have an adult with them. The building is accessible to people with disabilities, and the Parliament asks wheelchair users to tell its staff by email in advance.
Are visits ever cancelled?
Yes. The Parliament says visits may be cancelled, even just before admission, because of parliamentary or state events. It also says late arrivals may be refused entry without the ticket being replaced or refunded, so keep the rest of your day flexible.
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