Buda Castle Tickets in Budapest
Explore Buda Castle's Royal Palace, museums, St Stephen's Hall, and enjoy Danube views. Book skip-the-line tickets.
Buy TicketsBuda Castle (Budavári Palota) crowns Castle Hill on the Buda side of the Danube, a vast Royal Palace complex first built by King Béla IV between 1247 and 1265, expanded into a Renaissance court by King Matthias Corvinus, blown apart in the 1686 Christian reconquest, rebuilt in Baroque under the Habsburgs, gutted again in the 1944–45 Siege of Budapest and reconstructed in the post-war decades. UNESCO listed the entire Castle Quarter in 1987. Today the palace houses the Hungarian National Gallery, the Budapest History Museum and the National Széchényi Library — and the cobbled courtyards and ramparts outside are free and open day and night. See our visitors guide, the latest opening hours and the best time to visit page to plan ahead.
Available Tickets
- E-bike guided tour
- Bike, helmet and water
- Buda Castle guided tour
- Entrance tickets to Matthias church
- River cruise on Danube with drinks and Margaret Island stop
- Hotel pick-up
Ticket prices breakdown
- Courtyards, ramparts & lion gates: Free, 24/7 — the outdoor spaces of the Royal Palace and the Castle District are public, no ticket required.
- Hungarian National Gallery (permanent collection): 3,800 HUF (≈ €10) — adults, all four floors of Hungarian painting and sculpture from the medieval period to the 20th century.
- Budapest History Museum (Castle Museum): 3,200 HUF (≈ €8) — adults, the medieval royal apartments and palace archaeology in the historic south wing.
- St Stephen's Hall: 3,900 HUF (≈ €10) — timed-entry guided ticket for the spectacular reconstructed gilded ceremonial hall.
- Castle Hill Funicular (Budavári Sikló): 4,500 HUF one-way / 5,500 HUF return — adults, runs daily 8:00–22:00 from Clark Ádám tér.
- Under 6s: Free at all palace museums with a free timed ticket.
- EU residents under 26 / over 70: Free at the Hungarian National Gallery and Budapest History Museum with ID — see free & reduced tickets.
- Guided tour add-on: from €15 per person with a licensed English-speaking guide, 90 minutes covering the palace exterior, courtyards and ramparts.
Why book with us
The smartest way to visit Buda Castle and Castle Hill
Skip the Line
Walk past the queue at the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum with a pre-booked timed-entry ticket. Both museums sell out on weekends and during the summer high season — booking ahead is the only reliable way in.
Audio Guide
Add the official audio tour in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Hungarian — guided commentary on the palace history, the royal apartments and the masterpieces inside the National Gallery.
Free Cancellation
Plans change. Cancel up to 24 hours before your visit for a full refund — no questions, no fees, no fine print.
Mobile Tickets
Show your ticket directly from your phone at the museum entrance on Szent György tér. No printing, no paper, no queueing at the box office.
St Stephen's Hall — the gilded centrepiece of the Royal Palace
Of all the spaces in Buda Castle, the most arresting is the recently reopened St Stephen's Hall. Designed by Alajos Hauszmann at the turn of the 20th century, with neo-Gothic gilded panelling, an emerald-green tiled fireplace and seven monumental Zsolnay-tile portraits of medieval Hungarian kings, it was destroyed in the 1944–45 Siege of Budapest and lay in ruins for almost 80 years. After a meticulous 15-year reconstruction using the original blueprints, it reopened in 2021 — and stepping inside is now the unanimous highlight of any visit to the palace.
Access is via a timed-entry guided ticket of around 30 minutes; tickets are limited and sell out days ahead in summer. The hall sits within the western (Habsburg) wing of the palace, a short walk from the Lion Courtyard and the entrance to the Budapest History Museum.
How It Works
Visit Buda Castle in 3 simple steps
Choose Your Slot
Pick a date and 30-minute timed-entry slot at the Hungarian National Gallery, the Budapest History Museum or St Stephen's Hall. Add an audio guide, a guided palace walk, or a combo ticket bundled with the Castle Hill Funicular at the foot of the hill.
Book Online
Secure checkout with instant email confirmation. Your mobile ticket arrives in minutes, ready to scan at the museum door — no waiting in any queue, no printing required.
Show at Entry
On the day, head up Castle Hill — by funicular, on bus 16 from Deák tér, or on foot via the Király lépcső steps from Clark Ádám tér — and show your mobile ticket at the museum entrance on Szent György tér. Drop large bags at the cloakroom and walk in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before your visit