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Sándor Palace

Sándor-palota

Built between 1803–1806 in Neoclassical style according to plans of Mihály Pollack and Johann Aman architects as the home of the Sándor family. In 1867, following the idea of Prime Minister Gyula Andrássy, the Hungarian state first rented it out, and in 1881 bought it permanently as a government residence. Between 1867 and 1945 (with minor interruptions) it served as the residence of the current Hungarian Prime Minister, and was also the site of several government meetings. It was almost completely destroyed in World War II, after that it was used as a museum warehouse for a long time. Its external image was only repaired in 1989–1990, and its complete (external, internal) restoration was carried out between 2000 and 2002. The interiors are original from 1806, and the furniture reflects the conditions between the two world wars. It has served as the official residence and workspace of the President of Hungary since 2003.

Address: I, Szent György tér 1
Hours: Only from outside

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Listing from Wikivoyage: Budapest/Budavár, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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Carmelite Monastery, Castle Theatre
Karmelita kolostor, Várszínház
The Baroque monastery was built in 1736 by the Carmelite order on the former site of a mosque that was destroyed in 1686 during the siege that liberated Buda from Ottoman occupation. The order received the real estate in 1693 and completed the new monastery and church by 1736, but it was consecrated only in 1763. Two decades later, Emperor Joseph II disbanded the order and converted the property into a theatre by imperial order in 1786, "for the delectation of high-ranking court officials". Some notable performances included Beethoven and the premiere of Bánk Bán. It is the current seat of the Prime Minister of Hungary.
Only from outside
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Remains of Archduke Joseph's Palace
József főhercegi palota maradványai
Built between 1787–1789 and was significantly remodeled in 1902. The classicist Teleki Palace, completed in 1789, became the property of Archduke Joseph Karl in 1892, who transformed it in Historicizing style. It was badly damaged during the siege of Buda in 1945, demolished in 1968, and replaced by a medieval ruin field and a museum below ground level in the 1980s.
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Habsburg Gate
Habsburg-kapu
The ornate Neo-Baroque gate separating the Royal Palace and the Castle Quarter. It was built between 1903 and 1905 according to plans of Alajos Hauszmann. The iron lattice of the gate was made by Gyula Jungfer. It was seriously damaged during the siege of Buda, but it was restored in 1981, together with the broken coat-of-arms of the Kingdom of Hungary on the plinth. On the eastern side of the ornamental gate, overlooking the Danube, a statue of Gyula Donáth depicting the Mythical Turul of the Ancient Hungarians. It is not, as you might think, an eagle, but the mythical turul bird (which is believed to be a kind of falcon). This bird is a part of the story of how the Magyars settled the Hungarian homeland. This bird appeared in a dream to the wife of the Magyar leader and told her that she would be the founding mother of a new nation.
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Fountain of Fishing Kids
Halászó gyerekek-díszkút
This is the work of sculptor Károly Senyei from 1912. It depicts two children grappling with a fish. The fine workmanship of the fishing net is remarkable.