Buda Castle Buda Castle, Budapest
Take a tour inside and outside the Buda Castle to enjoy the Royal Palace experience: St Stephen’s Hall can be visited at a pre-booked time with a guide. Your guide will show you around the Buda Castle building, courts followed by an inside live guided tour of the recently restored opulent St Stephen’s Hall in the Royal Palace in a 90 min tour (guide and headset included). The daily English tour is available in limited numbers, pre-booking is essential (booking calendar dates gradually available 3-4 weeks in advance, new dates become available closer to the date)
Please be advised that St. Stephen’s Hall and Buda Castle Museum will be closed on May 18, 2025.
Inclusions in Buda Castle Tour
- 1.5 hour walking tour
- Professional English guide (live guide)
- Entry inside the Buda Castle (at a set time)
- Indoor Guided Tour (inside the Royal Palace: St Stephen’s Hall, which can only be visited in a timed guided tour)
- Outdoor Guided Tour (on the open air courts of the Royal Palace)
- Interactive Small-Group tours
- Audio Guide available in other languages (inside only)
- Bookable on our partner site (you will be redirected for Reservation)
- Group reservation available
- Open on Mondays!
Dates & Hours of Tour
Duration: approx. 1.5 hours
Days and Hours:
Daily tour: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (older sources may mention Mon closed)
Dates in Calendar: The booking calendar opens from month to month. Later dates will become available approx. 4-6 weeks before a given date. Please make sure to check back if in doubt.
Hours: depending on the given day, most guided tours start at approx. 11 am or 4pm or 4.30 pm
Groups (15 or more guests): Please send us a group booking inquiry for the Buda Castle visit, St Stephen’s Hall and guided tour at info [at] budacastlebudapest.com. Group reservations need to be placed possibly 4 weeks in advance due to the tours in high demand.
Prices of Buda Castle Royal Palace Experience Tour
Approx. €17.5 – €18 / Adult or Student (subject to Currency rates)
No discount for Children (Tour not suitable under 12)
Book online now to secure your place on this popular walking tour including a Tour inside and outside, plus a Castle Ticket.
Highlights of Buda Royal Palace Experience Tour
- Buda Castle area, concise history
- Fun facts and intriguing stories about the Royal Palace
- Visiting St Stephen’s Hall (tour inside the Royal Palace)
- Visiting the Royal courts of Buda Castle (live guided tour)
- Visiting the Matthias Fountain (tour outside the Royal courts)
- Photo Opportunity with Panoramic View (Savoy Terrace)
- Interactive tour with a small group
Be immersed in the incredibly rich history of the Buda Castle and take in the most opulent and intricate designs of the peak of the Habsburg empire in the fascinating wealth of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. St Stephen’s Hall is the gem of the Buda Castle district: your scheduled guided tour in the museum inside the Royal Palace will give insights into the turbulent history of Hungarian nobility and the fortress/ castle atop the Buda Castle Hill. The Castle tour includes professional commentary from the live guide and you will also get a headset to improve audibility throughout the group visit. Kindly note that this Castle tour does not allow self exploration as the museum has a designated path with pre-booked time slots for each visitor (visits with tablets also available if you would rather visit the museum at your own pace). In the Royal Palace Experience tour, you will be guided in a group tour (similarly to the Hungarian Parliament visits) and you will have a chance to ask your own questions from the guide.
Note: Booking Calendar dates open month by month. Please check back if the date is not available yet.
Exclusions in Buda Royal Palace Experience Tour
- Entry to National Gallery inside the Buda Castle
- Entry to Budapest History Museum inside the Buda Castle
- Entry to Szechenyi Library inside the Buda Castle
- Entry to Palatine Crypt in the Buda Castle
- Entry to Panorama Terrace in the Buda Castle
- Pick up before Buda Castle Tour
- Drop off after Buda Castle Tour
- Gratuity
- Food and Beverages (you can buy food and drinks at the Cafe in the Museum)
Miscellaneous Details of Buda Royal Palace Experience Tour
Days of Castle Tour: every day except for Mondays (please note that most museums are closed in the Buda Castle district on Mondays)
Drop in: not accepted, please book in advance in the tour reservation form
Meeting point: the Tour starts at the Castle building. Kindly check your confirmation for the updated meeting point for the given date which of the below meeting point you are supposed to meet the guide.
- Meeting Point 1, at the Matthias Fountain (Mátyás kút) on Hunyadi Courtyard (Hunyadi udvar)
- Meeting Point 2, Tourist Kiosk near the Eugene of Savoy statue on Savoya Terrace / Court (Savoy terasz)
Address: 3 Szent Gyorgy Street, District I, in the Buda Castle, Royal Palace. Please make sure to double check the Meeting Point information in your confirmation as there might be an updated place for a modified starting point. The Visitor Centre is called the Buda Castle Palace Information point as shown in the map above.
Tour finishes at Dozsa Gyorgy Court at Buda Castle, Royal Palace at the St Stephen’s Hall
Weather: the tour is in all weather conditions, rains or shines
Discounts: no discounts available on Buda Castle Highlights tour (places are limited and often overbooked)
Refund – Cancellation Policy: 24 hour Cancellation policy
(please check your confirmed tour details how to request a refund more than 24h in advance, e.g. we cannot accept a comment or a phone call). Note: the tour fee is non-refundable if the Customer cancels within 24 hours. If you miss the tour or arrive late to the meeting point, unfortunately, there will be no refund as the tour has been booked for you, excluding other guests interested in the same tour with limited group size.
Suitable for: tourists who are older than 12 years old and fit for 1.5 hour light walking
Accessibility: Due to the cobblestone covered courts, the Buda Castle Highlights tour is in part inaccessible for wheelchair users and visitors with limited mobility. The guided tour inside the Castle is accessible via the ‘accessible elevator’
Useful Information: Before starting your Tour of the Buda Castle Royal Palace Experience you can visit the Cafe inside the building. In the Gift Shop of the Buda Castle History Museum you can buy memorable gifts. Lastly, there is a Cloakroom for visitors (for coats, backpacks etc.) as well as Toilets (incl. an accessible toilet)
The Royal Palace of Buda Castle Experience tour organiser, Varkapitanysag Zrt, reserves the right to change the content of the tour and the cancellation policy. Before making a payment for the booking you will be informed about the up-to-date details, including the cancellation policy and general Terms and Conditions. Please make sure to read the updates before finalising your Buda Castle booking.
Last Updated Marc 29, 2025
Hello, may I ask for reservation or ticket for a group od 40 persons for 10th of May to the Buda Castle? Thank you very much. Tomas Cech
Hello,
My party of 4 is very eager to reserve a WWII Buda Castle Cave
tour on either May 2nd or 3rd. The GetYouGuide website doesn’t
appear to have availability or it has not yet released the dates.
How can we reserve a tour?
Thank you,
Holly
Hi, is it possible to wonder the grounds of the castle district without any entry ticket? Thank you
Dear Michaela,
Thank you for reaching out.
Yes, it is possible to explore the grounds of the Castle District without an entry ticket. You can freely wander around the outdoor areas, including the courtyards, gardens, and public spaces.
Hi. Is there any ticket that includes several buildings? Is it possible to visit without being on a tour?
Thanks
Dear Lília,
Thank you for your inquiry.
Currently, there isn’t a combined ticket that grants access to multiple buildings within the Buda Castle District. Most attractions—such as the Fisherman’s Bastion, the National Gallery, and the Budapest History Museum—sell individual entry tickets, and advance booking is generally not required. Visitors are welcome to explore these sites independently, as guided tours are optional.
Please note that St. Stephen’s Hall is an exception, where advance booking is necessary and guided tours are part of the experience.
Hello, I’m trying to confirm the author of the lion statues in the Lion Courtyard. Some online sources attribute them to János Fadrusz, but others claim this is a mistake and that the originals (destroyed in WWII) were by János Marschalkó. Given that the current statues are replicas, could you provide a link with reliable information to confirm the authorship? Regards.
Dear Pablo,
Thank you for your inquiry. The statues were made by Janos Fadrusz, all four lion statues.
The lion statues on Lions Court have seen their share of history. During the brutal Siege of Budapest in 1944–45, three were slightly damaged, while one was completely broken in two. Fortunately, all four sculptures were painstakingly restored, preserving Fadrusz’s powerful expression of realism and symbolic strength. Today, they remain a favourite photo spot and symbolic threshold between the public spaces of the castle and the once-private inner palace courtyard. Whether you’re admiring their regal stance or their fearsome growl, the lions remain timeless emblems of the Buda Castle’s grandeur.
Hi, there doesn’t seem to be any availability for the guided tour tickets in May or beyond through the Get Your Guide booking link. Are the tours all sold out or is there another reason for this? I’m looking for two tickets the morning of 23-May. Thanks!
Hello Mary,
Thank you for checking the tickets to the Buda Castle Royal Palace with guided tour: the tour tickets are not sold out. At the moment, the May dates have not been released yet and are expected to open up for sale online approx. 4-6 weeks in advance from around early – mid April for the current and the following month.
Even if the tablet guided tours in St Stephen’s Hall would be sold out due to their popularity, you are more than welcome to visit the Buda Castle Royal Palace in the rest of the building where you can also see fine art exhibitions in the National Gallery (and walk up to the panorama dome weather permitting) or take a look around the Castle Museum and the Budapest History Museum for historical exhibitions spanning from the ancient Roman times through the Gothic Palace and Ottoman Turkish rule to the Habsburg times and up to the modern ages, WW2, and then later on the Communist times and more.
For those seeking an indoor tour inside the Buda Castle Royal Palace you can also book a private tour combined with an outdoor tour walking through the whole Buda Castle District from the Holy Trinity Square then Matthias Church, Fisherman’s Bastion, historical squares, the Presidential Palace, Habsburg Gate, fountains and statues – the terraces and courts of the Royal Palace etc. Visitors can send us a private guided tour inquiry to the following email address: info budacastlebudapest com
Please check the alternative tour options for Castle visits as there are more Buda Castle District tours scheduled. However, currently this remains the only Buda Castle public tour exploring the inner areas of the Royal Palace of Budapest.
Buongiorno, siamo 2 coppie di amici (una persona con la Budapest Card di anni 60 , e gli altri di 68, 71 e 74) vorremmo visitare tutto ciò che è possibile nel quartiere del Castello nel giorno di martedì 25 Marzo 2025,
desidererei sapere, se possibile , ciò che è visitabile gratuitamente per gli ultra 65 anni e gli ultra 70 e ciò che non lo è così da poter programmare le prenotazioni da fare on-line ed escludere le eventuali gratuità. Grazie e cordiali saluti.
Hello, can you book self-tours for Buda Castle?
Dear Usha,
Thank you for reaching out to our customer service team at Buda Castle Budapest. We have emailed you several options for your consideration to offer self guided and guided tours in both the Buda Castle District and the Royal Palace.
Wishing you a wonderful time in Budapest!
Can you please send me details of the self guided tours as well Am confused between castle district and royal palace tour.
Dear Sadhana,
Thank you for your message.
We have contact you via email. Please check your inbox for the details.
Hi!
We are also planning a trip to Budapest and would be interested in self guided tours of the Buda Castle complex- thank you
Hello! We wish to visit the Caves on the 19th of April this year however it seems the cave tours are sold out. Is it possible to visit the caves without a guide? We’re also interested in visiting the Military Museum on the same day, we’ve noticed that it’s temporarily located on another address however, there’s no link to buy tickets. Can we buy on the spot or we need to prebook?
Many thanks in advance for your assitance.
Dear Georgia,
Thank you for your inquiry.The cave tour dates have not been confirmed yet for April (will become available towards the last third of the month). However, we do have some availability for other cave tours in April.
We have sent you additional information via email.
Wishing you a wonderful time in Budapest!
Hello,
From what age do children need a ticket?
Dear Morteza,
Thank you for your inquiry. The castle area, unlike the museums inside the castle buildings, can be visited free of charge (You can find restaurants and shops etc. In the Castle District, which is a hilltop residential zone of the city).
Children under 6 years old can visit most of the attractions in the Buda Castle District free of charge. For children aged 6 to 14 (EU) and students (EU) aged 15 to 26 there is usually a 50% discount on tickets.