Planning Our Visit to St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest
When I started planning our short trip to Budapest, I wanted to make the most of every hour. What was supposed to be just one day in Budapest quickly turned into two – and I’m so glad it did!
Our hotel turned out to be only a few hundred meters (about 300) from one of the city’s most famous landmarks: St. Stephen’s Basilica, dedicated to King Stephen, the founder of the Hungarian state. The moment I realized that, I knew we had to visit this stunning church.
My husband had work in the city that day, so it was just me and my 13-year-old son exploring – and we had an amazing time! In this article, I’ll share everything about visiting St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest: what to see inside, why the Panorama Terrace is worth the ticket, the best tips for first-time visitors, and a few fun moments from our day.
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St. Stephen’s Basilica, a magnificent church, is not only a place of worship but also an architectural masterpiece, a museum, and a viewing spot that offers some of the best panoramas of the city.
We spent a few hours here, and it was worth every minute. Let me take you through our experience and share everything you need to know if you’re planning to visit this iconic landmark.
Where Is St. Stephen’s Basilica and How to Get There – Practical Information for Your Visit
Here are a few of the things to know before visiting St. Stephen’s Basilica Budapest.
Address: Szent István tér 1, Budapest
How to Get To St. Stephen’s Basilica Budapest: The basilica is centrally located. Take Metro M1 to Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út or M3 to Arany János utca. Trams and buses also stop nearby.
For us, as mentioned, it was within walking distance of our hotel.
Opening Hours:
Basilica: Mon-Sat 9:00–17:00
Panorama Terrace & Treasury: Daily 9:00–18:30
(Check the exact schedule, as it may be updated, here)
Tickets: Entry to the basilica requires a small fee (around €/USD7). A combined ticket for the church, terrace, and treasury is about €/USD19. Discounts are available for children and seniors. Buy on-site or online.
Dress Code: Modest attire – keep in mind that it is a place of worship.
First Impressions: A Grand Welcome + a LOOOONG Way to Get the Tickets (Avoid This Mistake)
The basilica dominates Szent István Square, a lively pedestrian area filled with cafes, gelato shops, and street performers. As we approached, the sheer size of the church immediately caught our attention. It was visible from the hotel, but we had to use the crossroad to get to it.
Its massive dome, standing at 96 meters, makes it one of the tallest buildings in Budapest. My son stopped in his tracks, tilted his head back, and said, “Wow, this is huge!” And he was right – the symmetry and details of the neoclassical façade are stunning.
As we got to the entrance of the Basilica, we stopped, took a photo, and then climbed the stairs. There was a sign that we needed to buy the tickets first. And an arrow pointing to the right. We followed the sign, then saw another one showing us to take the stairs (NOT the ones we climbed, but the lateral ones – on the right side of the building, as we were looking at it.)
After that, we saw another sign to sort of go back.
Then to cross the street.
And then we saw the line.
It is a chiosc in front of the church – a bit to the right – on the other side of the street.
So, instead of just descending the first stairs and getting to the ticket shop, we took this loooooooooooong way, following the signs.
I would say that the good thing is that there were these signs and were visible, and in English!
The line was a bit long, but we spent 10 minutes and bought the tickets. It was well organised – paid by card.
As for the prices, you can choose if you want to visit the church alone, or if you want the panoramic terrace + the treasury or the complete access (basilica, terrace, treasury).
We opted for the full-access ticket – the price was 6200 HUF for me and 5000 HUF for my son. Helpful tip: Use an online converter to see how much this means in your currency.
I have internet (roaming) free, so I had a search engine open and was just typing convert this amount HUF to RON (my currency), and it would show me immediately the price.
6200 HUF is bit more than €/USD18, while 5000 HUF is almost €/USD15.
The Panoramic Terrace (Observation Deck): A View Worth the Climb (Do Not Worry: There Are Elevators And Only a Few Steps Remain)
We decided to visit this basilica in a different order than the usual one. We started with the Panoramic Terrace – so from the top to the bottom.
As a note, when we bought the tickets we saw – there are printed and hung on the wall – plans of the church. They also presented the conditions – and we saw that to get to the terrace, there is a looooong spiral staircase – but there is also an easier option: elevators. As I have a knee option, this was a must!
So you can either climb the 304 steps of a spiral staircase or take the elevators. We chose the elevator, which was a lifesaver for me – he actually descended on the stars!
As a note, the lifts were installed rather recently, during the renovation in 2003. And I say lifts (elevators) because there is a main one – and then a smaller one – and then a few steps – but really, just a few stairs (if I could do it, you get the picture).
View of the Hungarian Parliament Building
The observation deck at St. Stephen’s Basilica offers a 360-degree panorama of the city. It is the highest observation point in Pest, at 65 meters.
From here, you can see many of the famous attractions of Budapest as well as the city itself. You can see the city’s architecture, a bit of the Danube, the Hungarian Parliament Building, the famous Buda Castle on top of the hill, and more.
View of Buda Castle
We also saw a Ferris wheel and we immediately added it to our places to visit in one day in Budapest list (we went there after the basilica).
I have to tell you that the panoramic terrace at St. Stephen’s Basilica is quite narrow – a person can walk ok – if you want to get past another person… you can, but you get it. It will not be fun.
Nevertheless, I am grateful that this basilica had this amazing idea, during different renovations, to first create the best observation deck in Pest and then to add the elevators.
The Treasury and Museum: Sacred Art and History
Before visiting the church, we explored the Treasury.
It was a bit tricky to find it.
The idea is: after the first elevator, at the top, go to the staircase.
You will have to descend (a few steps, less than a floor, I think) – and then you get to the Treasury.
We missed the entrance twice – this is why I insist on telling you where to go.
The St. Stephen’s Basilica Treasury is not big, and it is focused on religious items (as you should expect).
You will see here a few relics of sacred art, ornate vestments, and liturgical treasures.
The good thing is that the items have an explanation in English, so you can learn more about them.
Inside St. Stephen’s Basilica: Highlights and Must-Sees
Finally, inside the church!
The basilica is imposing, I have to say that.
I am also adding that I did not know beforehand what to expect inside – so I just enjoyed the interior as I saw it. If you want
I looked – and liked – the ceiling
and I liked the side altars
I also liked the main altar – quite impressive.
The main altar is dedicated to St. Stephen, with the saint’s statue framed by towering columns and glowing golden accents.
You cannot get too close – but you can still enjoy the majestic, impressive main altar at St. Stephen’s Basilica.
We also admired the impressive pipe organ.
The ceiling here is also interesting and beautiful!
The Holy Right Relic: A Unique Experience
The Altar of Our Lady of Hungary (as I later found out it is called) has The Holy Right – the severed hand of King Stephen, a hand that is believed to have miraculous powers.
You can see it easily – you really cannot miss it. As a note: you have to get very close to observe the hand, as the are 2 sets of glasses. Also, everyone stops here.
What I did not know – and we did not have coins – apparently, you can illuminate the hand if you insert a coin. I saw people online mentioning a 1 euro coin, others saying it is a 100 forint coin. As I did not do that (we did not have coins) nor did someone when we were near it, I cannot confirm this.
Go to Gelarto Rosa Next
Don’t leave without trying Gelarto Rosa, the famous rose-shaped gelato shop right next to the basilica – it’s a hit with kids and adults alike!
I actually did not know it was famous. I discovered it by chance.
As we were got to the church, we saw people enjoying rose-like ice creams.
After the visit, we saw more people. And we decided we want one too.
We asked for directions – it is easy to get there – it is on a street near the basilica – and had our gelato rose immediately.
What you cannot see from the picture is that we had a FEW types of gelato, but my son chose flavours of similar colours. Imagine, however, a gelato rose with white, red, and yellow petals. Yes, it is possible (and there are pleeeeeeeenty of flavours to choose from!). Oh, and it is delicious!
Why This Visit Stood Out
For me, St. Stephen’s Basilica was more than a tourist spot – it was an experience and precious moments on my first trip to Budapest.
From the hushed beauty inside to the sweeping views above, and even sharing gelato in the sunlit square afterward, the visit gave us memories I’ll cherish forever. If you’re planning a trip to Budapest, put this basilica at the very top of your list – you won’t regret it.
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