Buda Castle (Budai Vár) Tours and Tickets

Buda Castle (Budai Var) has two of Hungary’s most important spaces: the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum. Built in 1265, it has been home to the Royal Family and is a magnificent feat of architecture. Located right on the Danube, it looks impressive when illuminated at night.

Yes, you need to pay to enter Buda Castle, but you can walk around the gardens and courtyards for free, 24 hours a day unless there’s a festival going on. There are different tours to book in the castle, where guides take you around the premises and explain all the historical highlights.

Buda Castle (Budai Var) is open from 10am to 6pm Tuesday through Sunday. Get there when it opens to avoid crowds. Another preferable time to visit the castle and the grounds is just before dusk. You can see the sunset and then wait for the castle to be illuminated.

It’s up to you, depending on how much you want to see. The National Gallery and History Museum can take 2-3 hours to visit, and then there are the grounds themselves. Plan a half-day to be safe, and leave yourself plenty of time to take photos.

If your kids like castles, Buda Castle will be fun for them for a while. Kids can run around in the gardens, walk through the tunnel under Castle Hill, and watch the boats cruising along the Danube. In case of a meltdown, there are always pastries in the nearby cafes.

Yes, Buda Castle (Budai Var) is worth it. Its architecture is gorgeous, and there is a ton of art and history inside its walls. Go with a guide to fully understand all the layers of culture surrounding this building. Also, the location is the perfect backdrop for your European vacation photos.