There is a fee to reach the lookout from the top level of the bastion, but the lower levels are free and the view is just as beautiful
Fisherman’s Bastion is located just behind Matthias Church in the Castle District of Buda. A very, very long stairway, adorned with reliefs of coats-of-arms, links the bastion to the streets below — scale it if you dare. Built in a combination of neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque styles, with a twist of fantasy, the turrets and parapets look like something from a fairytale. In fact, the whole bastion looks rather like the Disney logo.
The bastion was built as a viewing platform in 1905 by Frigyes Schulek, the same architect who helped restore Matthias Church to its former splendour after centuries of decay, and it offers one of the best views in Budapest — a city that is not lacking in magnificent panoramas. Perhaps only the views from Gellért Hill and Buda Castle can challenge it.
From the bastion there is a spectacular view of the Danube river and Pest on the other side. You can clearly see some of Budapest’s iconic landmarks, such as St Stephen’s Basilica and the Parliament, the two tallest buildings in Budapest, as well as the famous Chain Bridge. By night the buildings on the riverbank are floodlit, and the effect is tremendously dramatic.
The great and the small
The bastion’s seven dazzling milk-white turrets represent the seven chieftains of the Magyar tribes who brought their people into the Carpathian Basin in the 9th century and founded Hungary, but the monument owes its name to rather more modest men: the medieval guild of fishermen who were responsible for defending this stretch of wall during the Middle Ages.
On your private walking tour of Budapest, your expert local guide will take you to some of the most important historical and cultural sites of Buda. Once the capital of Hungary, the Buda area of the town contains monuments that define the city’s legacy.
On your private tour, you will:
Budapest is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, home to an incredible array of World Heritage Sites and stunning architecture that draws millions of tourists yearly. The Danube River splits the Buda side of the city from the Pest which, having both been independent cities originally, were unified to become Budapest in 1873. The multitude of hot springs has made the city famous for its public baths which come in a variety of architectural styles from the Turkish era to Art Nouveau.
Your private guide will begin your tour on Castle Hill, which stands more than 100 m above the Danube and offers outstanding panoramas of the city. Here you will find the stunning Matthias Church, dating back five centuries. The Fisherman’s Bastion is also worth your attention, a terrace with stunning views dedicated to the fisherman who defended the city walls in the Middle Ages. Buda Castle is the historical residence of the Kings and Queens of Hungary, an imposing building that has undergone a series of transformations since the mid-13th century, on this tour, you will explore the gardens with your guide.
As you wander to Gellért Hill, enjoy yet another stunning vantage point to admire the city in all its glory. The hill was named after Saint Gerald, who was thrown to his death here. Built with impressive Art Nouveau architecture dating back to the 20th century, the Gellért thermal baths are the quintessential place to spend the rest of your day. Your guide will depart with you here, so you can visit the bathhouse and enjoy the Gellért spa at your leisure. Please note that children below 15 years are not allowed to enter the Thermal Pools.
Budapest, Hungary’s capital and the largest city on the River Danube became famous for its spectacular architecture, rich cultural heritage, vast Parliament building, impressive synagogues, delicious local cuisine, and for being the world’s top Spa destination! The 19th-Century Chaine Bridge connects the hilly Old Town of Buda with the flat but vibrant district of Pest. On your full-day tour, your expert local guide will show you some of the most important historical and cultural sites of Budapest - not to mention some truly breathtaking views.
On your private tour, you will:
Explore the beautiful city of Budapest, a great city of the Renaissance, situated majestically on the Danube River. Budapest is famous for its stunning array of architecture and fairytale towers displayed extravagantly all over the city from the castle to the opulent parliament building; for its abundance of luxury thermal spas and vast network of underground caves; for its gastronomy; and its rich artistic and cultural heritage.
Budapest is the cultural, political, and economic hub of Hungary. The mighty Danube River neatly dissects the city, with the old town of Buda extending into the hills on the west bank and Pest sitting in the lowlands to the east. As Hungary’s largest city, Budapest is multi-cultural and multi-ethnic thanks to its long and complex history beginning with the Romans, and the legacies of the Asiatic conquest, Mongol invasion, Ottoman siege, German control, and Soviet rule. Your guide will talk you through the many trials and tribulations of the city, and the story of how Buda and Pest were eventually united as one city.
Enjoy exploring both sides of the city; start at the Heroes' Square and learn about the iconic Millennium Monument with statues featuring the Seven Chieftains of the Magyars and the Memorial Stone of Heroes. Walk around trendy Pest home to the largest Parliament building in the world, its height is matched by the imposing St Stephen’s Basilica, and the Great Synagogue is also one of the largest places of worship for the Jewish faith in the world.
Then head across the river to the old town of Buda, with spectacular views from the castle. Enter Matthias Church and end your tour at Fisherman’s Bastion where you can admire the panoramic views at your leisure.
Explore the highlights of the beautiful Hungarian capital of Budapest, on this half-day walking tour around the city's main highlights.
On your private tour, you will:
Considered one of Europe’s most strikingly beautiful cities, Budapest contains an incredible array of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is an amalgamation of two independent settlements of Buda and Pest that were joined in 1873.
Learn about Hungary’s complex political history outside the magnificent Neo-Gothic Parliament building, admire the stunning St. Stephen’s Basilica and enjoy the relaxed and famously friendly atmosphere of Trinity Square's lovely 13th Century Matthias Church.
Budapest is split by a wide sweep of the mighty River the Danube, Europe’s second-longest river (the Volga is the longest) that stretches from the Black Forest to the Black Sea. The city is rich in geothermal water resources, with thousands of subterranean pools spouting mineral-rich waters dating back over 2,000 years. Using 20 million litres of water, Budapest’s grand, mosaic-clad bath-houses are open to the public, earning it the title of ‘World's Spa Capital’! From the Ottoman Empire of the 16th Century through to the tragedies of World War 2 and the thriving modern city it is today, your guide will show you the major monuments, and the hidden gems, and tell you the many stories that have shaped the city over many centuries.
Also experience the buzz of Pest, the vibrant cultural hub on the eastern banks of the Danube. You’ll also walk around Castle Hill with its sweeping vista overlooking the city – the money shot! Your tour ends at Fisherman's Bastion terrace, to enjoy the best views of the city at your leisure!
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