Budapest is known as the home to one of the world’s largest and most beautiful parliaments. The Hungarian Parliament Building rises majestically from the banks of the Danube with a Gothic Revival exterior and a richly decorated interior.

Over 300 members of Hungary’s National Assembly gather in this phenomenal structure. When they are not in session, guided tours of the Parliament escort visitors through the main entry hall and staircase, lobby, the former House of Lords, and the illustrious Hungarian Crown Jewels. The building’s façade is every bit as much an attraction as what lies within, however. Excellent views can be found from Batthyany Square across the river and from Danube river cruises.

Line 2 of the Budapest Metro and line 2 of the local tram service both stop at the Kossuth Lajos Square station, which is immediately adjacent to the Hungarian Parliament Building. The Soviet War Memorial and Museum of Ethnography are within walking distance. The Parliament is a 15-minute metro ride away from the centrally located St. Stephen’s Basilica.

Hungary may be over a thousand years old, but Budapest is in its infancy, comparatively. The unification of three separate cities in the late 19th century created the modern Hungarian capital, and its Neo-Gothic Parliament was completed in 1902.