St. Stephen’s Basilica
St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest is one of the largest religious buildings in Hungary, where it's said the basilica can hold over 8,500 people inside it.
History of the Basilica
The Name of St. Stephen's Basilica was given this name in memory of Stephen I of Hungary (975-1038), the country’s first king. The temple houses the Holy Right Hand of St. Stephen, one of Hungary’s most sacred relics.
The dimensions of the church are extremely impressive; it is 180 ft (55 m) wide and 285 ft (87 m) long. The dome stands 314 ft (96 m) tall, making it the highest building in Hungary’s capital, along with the Hungarian Parliament building.
The construction of St. Stephen’s Basilica was completed in 1905. It took over half a century to build, partly because the dome collapsed in 1868, due to inadequate construction works.
Climbing to the top of the towers
Visitors can climb to the top of the church’s right tower, where there is an impressive observation deck with beautiful views over Budapest. The tower is open from 10 am – 4:30 pm (from October to June) and from 10 am to 6:30 pm (from July to September).
You can climb to the top either by taking the stairs or an elevator for just 500 Ft (students and pensioners: 400 Ft).
Schedule
Monday – Friday: 9 am – 5 pm.
Saturday: 9 am – 1 pm.
Sunday: 1 pm – 5 pm.
Price
Basilica: free entry (200 Ft (US$ 0.60) donation)
Dome: 500 Ft (US$ 1.40)
Treasury: 400 Ft (US$ 1.10)
St. Stephen's Basilica Organ Concert € 29 (US$ 31.30)
Transport
Metro: Bajcsy Zsilinszky út, line M1 (yellow) and Arany János utca, line M3 (blue).
Bus: Hercegprímás utca, lines 15 and 115.
Nearby places
Rajkó Folk Ensemble (385 m) Danube Folk Ensemble (385 m) State Opera House (401 m) Great Synagogue in Budapest (717 m) Váci Utca (772 m)
