If you had to show someone Budapest in a single image, chances are that after the famous Parliament building, the Citadel and the iconic Liberty Statue would be next. Sitting high above the Danube on top of Gellért Hill, the old fortress crowned with a tall, graceful female figure feels like the city’s proud silhouette, watching over everything below.

The 235-meter high Gellért Hill is a peaceful retreat from the city streets below, and it’s also packed with stories, monuments, hidden gardens and amazing views. Here’s a deep dive into what makes this place so special.

Gellért Hill – the green heart above the city

Rising 235 meters above the Danube, Gellért Hill feels like nature’s balcony overlooking Budapest. The hill is named after Saint Gellért, a bishop who was killed here in 1046. He was a key figure during King Saint Stephen’s reign and legend says that rebellious pagans rolled him down the hill in a spiked barrel – a brutal story, but one that gave the hill its name and historical weight.

Gellért Hill formed about 1.8 million years ago along a tectonic fault line. This same fault gives Budapest its famous thermal springs and baths. The hill is mostly made of dolomite rock, just like nearby hills such as Sas-hegy. Its caves were shaped by warm water flowing through cracks in the rock. Even though it’s only 235 meters high – technically a hill, not a mountain – it still stands out enough to be called a “hegy” (which means mountain in Hungarian).

Citadel under renovation in 2025

People have lived around Gellért Hill since before the Hungarian conquest. The Celts and Romans both settled here. Over time, the hill had several names: Kelen Hill, Pest Hill, Gürz Eliáz Hill (named after a Muslim cleric buried there), and finally Gellért Hill, named after Bishop Gellért. His statue now stands on the hill, and he was later declared a saint.

In the past, poor people lived in makeshift homes around the hill, especially where the cave church is now. The southern slopes were once covered in vineyards, which were wiped out by a phylloxera disease in the 1860s. During the Turkish occupation, the area was turned into gardens with fruit trees – some fig bushes there today still come from that time.

Gellért Hill is a top spot for both locals and tourists. It offers one of the best views of Budapest – from the Parliament and the bridges to the Buda Castle and the Danube promenade. Because of its natural beauty and historical significance, it became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1987. The hill is also a protected natural area since 1997 and is managed by the Duna-Ipoly National Park.

The Citadel – Budapest’s watchtower

The Citadel, sitting on top of Gellért Hill, has a complicated and symbolic history. During the Turkish era, a small wooden fortress stood on the site. In 1815, the Csillagda (an observatory also known as Uraniae or the University Observatory) was built here after the university moved to Buda. However, it was severely damaged during the 1848–49 revolution and later demolished.

In its place, the Habsburgs ordered the construction of a new fortress to intimidate the Hungarian population after the revolution. General Haynau oversaw the project, and the structure – known as the Citadel – was completed in 1854. It featured cannon openings aimed at the city and quickly became a hated symbol of Austrian oppression. Though it was meant to be part of a larger military defense system, the rest of the plan was never carried out.

During World War II, the Citadel served as an anti-aircraft base for German and Hungarian forces. After the war, Soviet troops installed a statue of a victorious Russian soldier beneath the Liberty Statue. Locals disliked it, and during the 1956 revolution, the statue was torn down. The Liberty Statue itself nearly met the same fate but survived. The Soviet statue was reinstalled afterward and only removed for good in 1992.

Parts of the Citadel are currently under renovation, with future plans to turn it into a museum and cultural space. But the area around it is open and always buzzing with people soaking up the view.

Liberty Statue – a symbol reimagined

Right next to the Citadel stands the Liberty Statue. It’s one of the city’s iconic landmarks.The female figure holding a palm leaf was originally planned as a monument to István Horthy, who died in a plane crash, but after World War II, the new Soviet-backed government changed its purpose. In 1945, the Budapest National Committee ordered its construction to honor the “liberating” Soviet soldiers after the Siege of Budapest.

The statue was first meant to be placed in Horváth Garden and be only 10 meters tall. But under Soviet influence, it was moved to Gellért Hill and enlarged to a towering 35 meters. The full monument, created by sculptor Zsigmond Kisfaludy Strobl, was completed and unveiled in 1947. With its base, the central statue reaches 40 meters in height and stands above the Citadel. The model for the figure was 28-year-old Erzsébet Gaál, who posed holding a palm leaf with her dress blowing in the wind, helped by a large fan in the studio.

Originally, the statue included a Soviet soldier holding a machine gun and a flag. That figure was torn down during the 1956 revolution, then reinstalled afterward, and finally removed for good in 1992 after the fall of communism. After that, the entire monument was reworked – only three statues remained: the Liberty Statue, the torch-bearer and the dragon slayer. The torch-bearer is said to have been modeled after Hungarian pentathlete László Hegedűs.

Today, the Liberty Statue no longer represents Soviet forces. It stands in memory of “all those who gave their lives for Hungary’s independence, freedom and prosperity.”

Saint Ivan Cave and the Rock Church

The Rock Church inside Saint Ivan Cave on Gellért Hill has a long and unusual history. The cave itself is mostly natural but was later expanded by humans. It got its name from a medieval legend about a hermit named Ivan who once lived there.

In the early 1900s, the cave was used as shelter by poor families. Then in 1925–1926, it was turned into a church for the Pauline Order – the only existing monastic order that was founded by Hungarians. They still operate the church today. Their most important relic, a piece of Saint Paul’s shinbone, is kept here.

After World War II, the communist regime sealed the church entrance with a wall and took it away from the Paulines. It remained closed until the political changes in 1989–90, when the order got it back. Today, the church is open to visitors and still holds services during religious holidays.

Next to the Rock Church is the monks’ private living area (called a cloister), which can be seen from the Danube side but isn’t open to the public.

Learn more about the Rock Church >>

Garden of Philosophers – place of different worldviews

The Garden of Philosophers is on the western side of Gellért Hill, just above the water reservoir. It’s known for a unique group of statues created by artist Nándor Wagner in 1977. He made three identical sets – one for Budapest, one for New York and one for Tokyo. The Budapest statues were installed here in 2001.

The sculpture group features eight figures, each representing a major spiritual or philosophical tradition. Among them are Buddha, Jesus, Confucius, Gandhi, Bodhidharma and St. Francis of Assisi. The arrangement is meant to show the peaceful coexistence of different worldviews.

The Statue of Saint Gellért – a moment frozen in time

The Statue of Saint Gellért stands at the spot where the Venetian Benedictine monk, who baptized King Stephen, was thrown to his death. According to legend, Gellért was thrown in a spiked barrel from the hill in 1046 during a pagan rebellion. The martyr bishop was canonized as a saint in 1083.

The statue, unveiled in 1904, consists of two key elements: a bronze statue of Saint Gellért, created by sculptor Gyula Jankovits, and a bust of a converted pagan Hungarian warrior, designed by Aladár Gárdos. The statues are framed by a semicircular arcade designed by architect Imre Francsek.

Today, the area around the statue offers a stunning viewpoint over the Elisabeth Bridge and Pest, and during the summer months, an artificial waterfall flows nearby.

Gellért Hill Reservoir – a secret beneath your feet

Under the surface of Gellért Hill lies something most visitors don’t know about – a huge underground water reservoir, built in 1975. It’s part of the city’s drinking water system and helps serve the Buda side.

The idea for the reservoir came about in the early 1970s to help balance water pressure between Buda and Pest. It was built between 1972 and 1980, based on designs by Dr. József Janzó, and named after József Gruber, a mechanical engineer.

While the reservoir is usually closed to the public, it opens for guided tours a few days a year – most notably on World Water Day – when visitors can go inside and check out the fascinating structure. The rest of the time, the grassy rooftop is a popular spot for picnics, yoga, kite flying, community events and just relaxing with a view.

Gellért Thermal Bath – relax like royalty

At the foot of Gellért Hill is the famous Gellért Baths, one of the most beautiful thermal baths in the city. This art nouveau masterpiece offers indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs, steam rooms and even a wave pool. The water comes from natural hot springs under the hill, believed to have healing powers.

Originally, it was known as the Muddy Bath and served as a bathing facility for lower classes and local prostitutes. Over time, it evolved into one of Budapest’s first luxury establishments, becoming an elegant hotel and thermal spa in the early 20th century.

Even if you’re not a bath person, stepping inside is worth it just to admire the mosaic tiles, stained glass and grand halls. It feels like bathing in a palace.

Flora and fauna – a wild urban garden

Gellért Hill is like a green island in the middle of Budapest. Even though the city surrounds it, the hill is still full of life, with lots of plants and animals. Some are common, some are rare, and a few can only be found here in all of Hungary.

Over the years, people have changed the hill’s natural plant life, but parts of the original forests are still there. You’ll see lime and ash trees, shrubs that grow on rocky ground and oak-hornbeam woods. On the east side, where it’s rockier, you can spot protected plants like silver thistles, jointfirs and the very rare silene flavescens (sárgás habszegfű), which only grows on this hill in Hungary.

Most of the animals here are birds. Because the land is so varied and the Danube River is close by, it’s a great place for birds to live. You might see blackbirds, robins and small songbirds like wallcreepers or fire-headed kinglets. Even some birds of prey, like peregrine falcons, show up from time to time. The river brings in ducks, gulls and cormorants too.

On the south side of the hill, there’s an arboretum. It was built in 1860 on land that used to have grapevines until a phylloxera disease killed them off. Now it’s a public garden where you can walk among interesting trees, flowers, tropical plants in greenhouses and even a rock garden.

If you want to explore, there’s a hiking path called the “Budai Zöld” that starts at Gellért Square and goes all the way to Telki. There’s also a digital version called the Gellért Hill Nature Trail. Along the way, you’ll see signs with QR codes. Scan them with your phone to learn more about the plants, animals and history around you.

Fun for the kids and dogs

If you’re exploring Gellért Hill with kids, you’re in luck. There are several well-equipped playgrounds that make it a family-friendly destination. The most popular is the Gellért Hill Slide Park, a free playground full of slides, swings, climbing structures, a suspension bridge, trampoline, lookout point and more.

Close to the Citadel, you’ll find the Cerka-firka themed playground, which mixes fun with learning. Kids can even get a glimpse into composting and eco-awareness. Then there’s the Vuk Playground, located at the corner of Szirtes Road and Bérc Street, where little ones can play in the fox-themed “fox den” and enjoy the usual play equipment.

For dog owners and anyone looking for a peaceful green space, Jubilee Park – built in 1973 for Budapest’s 100th birthday – on the southern side of the hill is a great choice. It’s great for casual walks, dog-walking, or just chilling on a blanket.

The park is filled with trees, flower beds and open spaces. In summer, it’s a lovely escape from the city heat. In autumn, the colors are spectacular. It’s also a good spot for taking photos, doing yoga, or watching the city go by below.

How to get to Gellért Hill

Gellért Hill is easy to reach, especially by public transport. From the south, you can take Metro line 4 to Szent Gellért Square. Several trams also stop there – lines 19, 41, 47, 49, 56, and 56A – along with bus 7. Bus 27 runs across the hill itself, connecting Móricz Zsigmond Square with Sánc Street.

From Gellért Square, you can walk up to the Citadel – it’s not a long walk. Along the way, you’ll find great viewpoints overlooking the Danube and the city, especially facing southeast.

From the north, you can walk or bike up from Hegyalja Road or the Elisabeth Bridge area.

If you’re driving, there are parking spots near Gellért Square, on Kelenhegyi Road, Szirtes Street, or in nearby streets. Just note that since January 2023, parking on the upper part of the hill is paid.