The Best Lookout Towers In & Around Budapest

Budapest is known for its beautiful scenery, amazing architecture, and culture. It's a popular destination for both tourists and locals alike. With such amazing and diverse scenery, it’s easy to see why it’s best viewed from above!

A great way to witness all the city has to offer from up above is by visiting one of its many lookout towers. Plus, these are perfect places to take great pictures of Budapest and its sweeping scenery.

From viewpoints perched atop iconic landmarks to a non-traditional hot air balloon, lookout points dotted across the city offer some of the most stunning vistas on offer. This article will take a closer look at some of Budapest’s most incredible lookout towers and how to get the most out of them during your cozy vacation rental stay in Budapest!

Citadel

You won't have to journey far from our flats to access this 360° viewpoint atop Gellért Hill. An important part of Hungarian history, this Citadel (Citadella) fort was built in the mid-1800s while Hungary was still in the grips of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Later, during the Soviet occupation, the Soviets used the fort during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. Once a symbol of a foreign military's might, the Citadel is now a popular lookout point to enjoy a 360° view of the city.

Put on your walking shoes and enjoy the modest walk up Gellért Hill. When you reach the top, also take some time to appreciate the towering form of a woman with outstretched arms, Hungary's Freedom Statue.

Initially a tribute to "liberating" forces of the Soviets, it now stands as a tribute to peace in Budapest. It is one of the only Soviet-era sculptures to remain in the city instead of being moved to Memento Park.

Getting There

Gellért Hill is in the city's center and adjacent to the Danube River on the Buda side. The fort and monument are accessible via several easily identifiable walking paths. While you're there, check out the Garden of Philosophers and the observation deck at Kilátópont.

Budapest Eye Ferris Wheel

Every city needs its own Ferris wheel, and this city is no exception. The Budapest Eye is one of the tallest mobile Ferris wheels in Europe. This uplifting experience located in Pest is about 8-10 minutes long and will give you a panoramic view of the entire city, with all of its landmarks and spires.

The wheel's 36 gondolas can each accommodate up to eight people. Keeping accessibility in mind, the Budapest Eye has a larger cabin suited for wheelchair users. The Eye is open 365 days a year, so it's a great place to see Budapest from above if you're in town for the holidays when the rest of the city is quiet.

Getting There

Get to Deák Ferenc Square by tram or metro, then walk five minutes to the neighboring Elizabeth Square.

City Park BalloonFly Lookout

This may very well be the most whimsical of options in this list. If you travel to City Park, you'll have the chance to see all of Budapest from the BalloonFly Lookout. This 30-person observation deck rises 150 meters into the sky on a scheduled basis (although tickets are twice as expensive during the sunset ride).

Grab your ticket and hop onto this hot air balloon for an exquisite view of City Park and the rest of the Hungarian capital. A relatively new attraction, the airship was part of the rejuvenation project, which transformed City Park into an even more entertaining place to be.

If you need something close by to do once your balloon lands, visit the centuries-old Széchenyi Thermal Baths, ponder high art at the Fine Arts Museum, take in the incredible architecture at the new House of Music, or have a fairytale moment walking through Vajdahunyad Castle.

Getting There

Take the historic M1 Metro (the first subterranean metro in all of Continental Europe) to Heroes Square. From there, it's approximately a 10-minute walk.

Elizabeth Lookout Tower

Find a view to rule them all at the highest point of Budapest! Elizabeth Observation Tower sits atop János Hill, and some say this imposing edifice that looks more like an ancient church rather than a customary outlook point.

If you want to bask in nature, you can take the 524-meter hike up to the top or take part in a beloved Hungarian weekend activity and take the Zugliget Chairlift (you can even just take it one-way if you want to shorten your journey but still enjoy a nature walk.)

The Elizabeth Lookout tower was finished in 1911 to celebrate the eternally popular Empress Sissi--Franz Joseph's wife and Empress of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Whether you hike or take the chairlift to the tower's base, you can climb its 134 steps for a far-reaching view of Budapest and beyond (you can even see the Tatra mountains on a clear day).

Getting There

From Gellért Hill, the journey to János Hill is just under an hour. You can take a combination of Tram 61 and Bus 291 to the Zugliget Chairlift; from there, it's just a short ride to the top of the hill, where you can climb the tower!

Hármashatár Hill Lookout Tower

The most recent lookout tower to open in Budapest in 2016, the Hármashatár Hill Lookout Tower, resembles a whimsical amusement park structure.

Located on Hármashatár Hill, where Axis troopers used it as an entrenchment during World War II to attack Allied aircraft, the tower presents an excellent opportunity to take in a spectacular view.

Reaching the tower demands a moderate trek, but your effort will be rewarded with stunning panoramic scenes of the town that surrounds the capital. In addition, the octagonal wooden tower permits 360-degree sights of the Budapest metropolitan region.

Getting There

Take bus 65 from Kolosy Square to the end station. You’ll then have an hour's walk up the hiking trail to the tower at the summit.

St. Stephen's Basilica and Panorama Lookout

St. Stephen's Basilica and Panorama Lookout is a popular viewing spot and is the tallest point in Pest, providing a 360-degree view of the whole city.

Located in the heart of Budapest, St Stephen's Basilica is an iconic and historically significant religious site with a special place in the heart of Hungarians. Its status as one of the most beautiful churches in the country is owed both to its rich history dedicating it to St Stephen, the founding leader of Hungary, as well as its stunning architecture and artwork.

Visitors can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the Danube River, Buda Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion, Parliament Building, and other iconic landmarks.

You can climb the 302 steps to the top or take the elevator for a more relaxing option. Pause for a moment between the two elevator levels at the Hall of Knights, where you can browse temporary exhibitions and performances.

Getting There

Located close to Deák Ferenc Square, take a bus or the metro and walk 10 minutes to the Basilica. You must purchase a ticket at the Basilica store across from the church.

Széchenyi Memorial Lookout Tower

This tower bears the name of Count István Széchenyi, who earned the title of "The Greatest Hungarian" due to his modernization efforts during the 1800s. To commemorate him in 1898, a miniature observatory was constructed in the hilly Svábhegy neighborhood above Budapest.

As you come closer to it, you will be greeted by his bust surrounded by a flight of stairs on either side that leads to a view of the city from the west. As you fascinate yourself with such beauty, make sure not to miss out on the Buda Hills behind you.

Getting There

This is a prime chance to hop on the Children's Railway and take it to the end of the Szechenyi Hill line. You'll soon see the tower as you walk up the hill.

Fisherman's Bastion

It's likely that the Fisherman's Bastion is already on your list of things to do in Budapest, as its snow-white fairytale turrets and spires are one of the best-known landmarks of Budapest.

A visit to Budapest is not complete without stopping by this monument, which has played an integral part in the city's history. Representing the seven tribes who occupied the Carpathian Basin in the Middle Ages, it contains seven turrets, a construct that unfortunately caused foundation damage to the 13th-century church standing next door.

Getting There

Hop on the historic Buda Castle Funicular up Castle Hill, then walk about 10 minutes to Fisherman's Bastion. If you have time, explore the majestic courtyards of Buda Castle along the way.

Matthias Church Bell and Lookout Tower

If the Fisherman's Bastion isn't high enough for you, all you have to do is walk two minutes to Matthias Church, one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Budapest. Long-admired for its colorful tile roofing, the church's bell tower recently underwent renovation and is now open to the public.

One of Budapest's most renowned historic landmarks, this Roman Catholic church is said to have been erected in a Romanesque style in 1015, though no archaeological evidence remains.

In the latter half of the 14th century, it was rebuilt in an ornate late Gothic style and received extensive restoration work in the late 19th century. During the medieval period, it was Buda's second-biggest church and ranked seventh among the churches of the Hungarian kingdom.

The observation balcony, 46.7 meters from the ground, can be reached by climbing 197 steps. The tower itself has a total height of 78 meters.

Getting There

Take the Buda Castle Funicular up Castle Hill and walk approximately 10 minutes until you see Fisherman's Bastion.

Enjoy the View and Your Stay in Budapest

Whether you want a vertical urban escape or a peaceful lookout in the middle of nature during your vacation rental stay in Budapest, there are many options for lookout points across the city.

So, cross your fingers for clear skies, and enjoy the beautiful view!