If you plan to visit Budapest, the capital of Hungary, this page will provide you some useful information on the accessibility of important historical and heritage sites and of other facilities. First of all it must be stated that Budapest does not belong to the cities with high level accessibility in Europe, it is probably at medium level. This means, a part of the transportation, most parts of the built historical environment, most five and four star hotels, a few three star hotels, few restaurants, coffee shops and churches, some of the wellknown medical baths and museums, as well as all shopping centers have an access or are adapted to the needs of people first of all with physical disability, using wheelchair. Attention has been more and more devoted to people with visual, mental and other disabilities as well. Our aim is to create tourism for all in Budapest.
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| Covered market in Budapest, wheelchair access. |
Historical and heritage sites and buildings in the Buda Castle
Situated on a hill at the river Danube, the town Buda (Buda Castle) used to be the capital of Hungary between cca. 1250 and 1873. The historical town including the Royal Palace, surrounded by medieval walls – today 1st district of Budapest, generally called the Castle area – offers the most important sights, the most beautiful places to visit. The river side and the Castle area belong to the UNESCO World Heritage.
Access to the area:
- Cars are banned from the Castle District in order to protect historical built environment from pollution: only people who live or work in the area, guests of the hotels, taxis, bus nr.16, 16A, 116 as well as cars or microbuses taking persons with physical disability – placing their blue parking card (valid all over Europe) under the windscreen – have permission to drive in free of charge. Bus nr.16 has also a low-floor bus with ramp. Other vehicles will be charged or must be left in the parking place up in the Castle area. At the entrance gates in Hunyadi János Street or Várfok Street the button of „Hotel” must be pushed and the provided ticket taken from the equipment. When leaving the Castle area (on Palota Street) the ticket should be put into the equipment.
- The Funicular (Budavári Sikló) take people from Clark Ádám square (at Chain Bridge) up to the Royal Palace. It is the fully accessible, please see the wheelchair logo. One way costs 1.000 HUF, two ways cost 1.700 HUF. For further information please see www.bkk.hu. (Valid in 2014)
- The Elevator (Gyorslift) take people from Palota street at Dózsa György Square up to the western side of the Royal Palace (National Széchenyi Library). One way costs 200 HUF (0,6 EUR). It is fully accessible and free of charge for people using wheelchair.
Mátyás Church (1014 Budapest, Országház u. 14.) – In 2013 fresh renovated.This is the main parish church of the Castle area, a historical building, a symbol of Budapest. People with disabilities can visit the Church with a free ticket. The entrance which is close to the Fisherman Bastion can be used barrierfree. The free ticket can be obtained at the ticket office next to the Church, and at the same time it can also be requested to open that barrierfree door, which is otherwise not always open. In front of the Church the tactile modell of the Mátyás Church and Fisherman’s Bastion with braille inscription is placed. For more information please see: www.matyas-templom.hu
Fisherman’s Bastion (Halászbástya) – near Mátyás Church: from the ground floor people can enjoy the beautiful view to the river Danube, the Margaret Island and the City of Pest.
