Visit elegant Lipótváros, one of the six royal neighborhoods of Budapest. It spreads along the eastern shores of the Danube River with a network of tree-lined boulevards framed by prominent landmarks, regal squares and pavement cafés. Lipótváros, otherwise known as Léopold Town, takes its name from the Habsburg king and Holy Roman Emperor, Léopold II. It forms part of the District V neighborhood, on the Pest side of Budapest.
Looming imperiously over the Danube is the neo-Gothic Hungarian Parliament Building. Admire the artistic exterior, which was influenced by London’s Westminster Palace. Attend a plenary meeting or take a guided tour of the room when there is no parliamentary session. Browse the monuments decorating the lawns of nearby Liberty Square and visit St. Stephen’s Basilica.
Go to the Museum of Ethnography and scrutinize a comprehensive exhibit of objects related to Hungarian folk traditions. Find displays of antique medical artifacts at the Kresz Géza Ambulance Museum. Watch a ballet or opera performance at the beautiful Hungarian State Opera House. Take a break from sightseeing and people-watch from the outdoor terraces of bars, cafés and restaurants.
In the southwestern area of Lipótváros is a section of the Danube Promenade. Enjoy exquisite panoramas across the river to Buda Castle and the Citadella. Appreciate other great views from the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, which connects Pest with Buda.
Walk along the waterfront to the neighborhood’s northern edge and cross Margaret Bridge, another access point to Buda. A road leads from the center of the bridge onto Margaret Island. Come here to stretch your legs in a park located in the middle of the river. During the warmer summer months this is a great place for having a picnic or taking a nap.
Get to Lipótváros by using public transportation such as the metro, passenger ferries and trams. Reach the major attractions easily on foot. Lipótváros is particularly magical at night when illuminated by the lights of the Parliament Building and the Danube bridges.
