Budapest · Lipótváros and the Parliament
Chain Bridge
The first permanent bridge over the Danube in Budapest, opened in 1849, linking Pest with the foot of Castle Hill. Stone lions guard each end, and crossing on foot takes a few minutes.
- 30 min
- Free
- Booking: not needed
- Lipótváros and the Parliament
Data checked on October 5, 2026
Count István Széchenyi pushed for the bridge after he was stuck in Pest for days by drift ice on the river. It opened in 1849 and was the longest span of its kind at the time. The bridge was blown up at the end of the Second World War and rebuilt, and a full renovation finished in August 2023. Both pavements are wide, and the middle of the bridge gives the best view of both banks.
What to look for
- The stone lions at the bridgeheads
- The iron chains and the two towers
- The Parliament seen from the middle of the span
- Castle Hill rising above the Buda end
Opening hours
Always open.
Source: Budapest Info (official tourist website of Budapest), checked October 5, 2026
Tickets and booking
Free. Crossing is free.
Getting there
Take tram 2 to Széchenyi István tér at the Pest end, or walk about 8 minutes from Vörösmarty tér (M1).
Tip
Walk it from Pest to Buda in the evening, when the bridge is lit, and take the funicular up from the Buda end.