Buda Castle (Budai Vár) Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Buda Castle, even if you're just passing by on a Danube cruise. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Budapest Danube Cruise and Dinner Options, Live Music and Dance

• Budapest Danube River Candlelit Dinner Cruise With Live Music

• Budapest Small-Group Guided Tour on MonsteRoller e-Scooter

• Budapest All-in-One Small-Group Walking Tour With Strudel Stop

• Buda Castle District Dark History, Legends, and Vampire Night Tour

You can visit the Buda Castle grounds and walk around for free. However, if you want to go inside the museums, you’ll have to pay admission. Tickets for the BTM Castle History Museum cost approximately 3,800 forints for adults and 1,900 forints for ages 6–26 as well as seniors. Tickets for the Hungarian National Gallery cost approximately 5,800 forints for adults. Children, students, and seniors who are citizens of countries belonging to the European Economic Area (EAA) get in for half-price.

Yes, Buda Castle is worth visiting because you can check off several boxes at once: architecture, museum, and city views. Learn about the history of Budapest, and Hungary, on a guided walking tour of the grounds, or step inside the BTM Castle History Museum and/or Hungarian National Gallery to peruse the exhibits and world-class art (there are more than 10,000 pieces).

Per one customer who booked the Buda Castle District Dark History, Legends, and Vampire Night Tour, "Worth every penny and more—especially if you're lucky enough to get Bernadette as your guide! An excellent and atmospheric walk through amazing surroundings with a guide that 100% commits to making your journey both creepy and funny."

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.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting Buda Castle. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Budapest:

• House of Parliament (Országház)

• Budapest Danube River

• Széchenyi Thermal Baths (Széchenyi Gyógyfürdo)

• Matthias Church (Mátyás Templom)

• Chain Bridge (Széchenyi Lanchid)

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Budapest.