Heroes’ Square Budapest: Travel Guide for Visitors (2025)
Planning to visit the Heroes’ Square, Budapest?
I am originally from Budapest and the Heroes’ Square (‘Hősök tere’ in Hungarian) is an iconic monument near the city center. My favourite time to visit it is in the evenings, as it looks so beautiful in the evening lights!
A bit of history is that the Heroes Square was built to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the Hungarian tribes arriving and settling down in the Carpathian Basin in 895. So, it is also referred to as the Millennium Monument.
The monument at the Heroes’ Square includes statues of prominent Hungarian kings, chieftains and statesman that played an important role in Hungary’s history.
The entry is free and you can walk around the whole square without having to pay for any fees. It is open all throughout the day, as it is an open square, it can be visited at any time.
There are also other attractions near the Heroes’ Square that are great to explore, such as museums, the City Park, Széchenyi Thermal Bath, and the Budapest Zoo. There are also some nice restaurants where you can try Hungarian dishes!
Information for Visiting the Heroes’ Square in Budapest
How to Get to Heroes’ Square
The Heroes’ Square is located close to the center of Budapest, just at the end of Andrassy Avenue.
You can get to the Heroes’ Square either by taking Metro Line 1 or by a 30-minute walk from the city center. The Andrássy Avenue goes from the city center up till the Heroes’ Square and it is possible to walk it, if you don’t feel too tired.
The Andrassy Avenue has lots of shops and famous landmarks, so it makes it a nice walk when the weather is good.
The Best Time to Visit the Heroes’ Square
The Heroes’ Square can be visited anytime all throughout the year, however it can get very busy in high tourist seasons, such as the summer.
So, if you visit during summer in Budapest and want to avoid the crowds, I recommend that the best time to visit the Heroes’ Square is early morning.
The evening is also a great time to visit the Heroes’ Square as it looks really nice with the evening lights on. It is one of my favourite times to visit the square!
Heroes Square Entry Fee
It is free to visit the Heroes’ Square in Budapest, there is no entry fee. The entire area of the Heroes’ Square and surrounding area can be accessed for free.
I always found it is a great thing about Budapest, as many attractions in the city can be accessed for free!
Heroes’ Square Opening Times
The Heroes’ Square is open all the time throughout the year. It is located in an open space (the square!) and can be visited at any time of the day.
✈️ Budapest Trip Planning
Ready to book your trip to Budapest? Plan your trip with my favourite travel resources:
✔️ Booking.com: Book accommodation here!
✔️ GetYourGuide: Book activities here!
✔️ SafetyWing: Get travel insurance here!
History of Heroes’ Square, Budapest
The Heroes’ Square represents important milestones in Hungarian history!
The Heroes’ Square is also called as the Millennium Monument as it was built to commemorate the 1000th year of the Hungarian Conquest of the Carpathian Basin. The Hungarian tribes migrated from the Ural region (today’s Russia) and settled down in Central Europe by 895-896.
So, in 1896 (1000 year after the Hungarian tribes migrated to Central Europe), Budapest planned to build the Heroes’ Square as a commemoration. Due to delays, it was only fully completed by 1929.
After World War I, they added a memorial for those who died in the war, called as the Memorial Stone of Heroes (‘Hősök emlékköve’ in Hungarian). Ultimately, it led for the Millennium Monument to be called as the Heroes’ Square.
The Heroes’ Square has been a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2002 that signifies its historical and cultural importance.
Heroes’ Square Statues
The monument at Heroes’ Square includes statues of Hungarian kings, chieftains and statesman that played an important role in Hungary’s history.
Once you get to the Heroes’ Square, there is a 36 meters high central column that has archangel Gabriel on its top, holding the crown of St. Stephen, the first king of Hungary.
The statue of the archangel is currently being renovated but it is supposed to be back on top of the column in 2025.
Right around the column, there are the leaders of the seven Hungarian tribes, including Árpád that led the conquer of the Carpathian Basin in 895.
Behind the central column, you can find two colonnades in a semi-circular shape that include 14 statues of Hungarian kings and statemen. Each colonnade has 7 statues each.
The statues include King Stephen I, Bela IV, and Lajos Kossuth. Below every statue, there is a smaller stone-carving depicting a historical event related to the specific king or statemen.
On top of the colonnades, there are 4 symbolic figures on top of the corner pillars depicting war, and work and wealth (left colonnade), and peace, and knowledge and glory (right colonnade).
Interesting Facts About the Heroes’ Square in Budapest
Prior to building the Heroes’ Square as it is today, there used to be an artesian well in the square. The well was a project by a Hungarian mining engineer, Vilmos Zsigmondy, in the late 1860’s. He believed that if they dug a well, they could find thermal water under ground.
Beforehand, there were only thermal springs on the Buda side of the city, and through this project, they planned to find thermal water on the Pest side as well.
The mayor of Budapest back then didn’t fully believe that they could find thermal water, but the project was approved to go ahead as it had the potential to be an additional drinking water resource to the city’s population.
They dug to 970 meters deep, and it took around 10 years (1868-1878) to dig the well deep enough to get water, and indeed, it was thermal water! This is the thermal water source that led to the building of the famous Széchenyi Thermal Bath – just a short walk from the Heroes’ Square!
Heroes’ Square Guided Tours
The Heroes’ Square can be visited for free and it is possible to explore the area on your own. However, having a guide has the advantage that you get to learn things about the square you may not hear otherwise.
Guruwalk runs a free guided tour of the Heroes’ Square, including nearby attractions such as the City Park and the Castle of Vajdahunyad. It’s a great way to learn more about Hungarian culture and history.
The tour by Guruwalk is free, but you are recommended to tip your guide at the end of the tour. You can tip your guide any amount you feel comfortable, but generally it should be at least USD 10.
✅ Book a guided tour of the Heroes Square here!
Things to Do Around the Heroes’ Square
There are many attractions near the Heroes’ Square that you can also see while you are in the area! The closest attractions are museums, the City Park, Széchenyi Thermal Bath, and the Budapest Zoo.
The Andrássy Avenue leads up to the Heroes’ Square from the city center of Budapest. It is a pretty avenue with trees and well-built sidewalks, so you can even walk from the city center to the Heroes’ Square in around 30 minutes. Otherwise, you can take the Metro Line 1.
There are many museums near the Heroes’ Square. The Museum of Fine Arts and the Hall of Arts are right next to the Heroes’ Square. About 5 minutes’ walk from the Heroes’ Square, there is also the Museum of Ethnography and the House of Music.
Behind the square is the City Park, which is a great place for walks or having a picnic. The City Park has a small lake where you can go boating in the summer or ice-skating in the winter.
What to See Near Heroes’ Square
- Andrássy Avenue: shops and famous landmarks, such as the Hungarian National Opera, House of Terror Museum, and the Museum of East Asian Art.
- Museum of Fine Arts (‘Szépművészeti Múzeum’ in Hungarian): collections of paintings and Egyptian objects.
- Hall of Arts (‘Műcsarnok’ in Hungarian): Contemporary art exhibitions
- Museum of Ethnography: Ethnographic artefacts, manuscripts and photographs
- House of Music: exhibitions on the history of music, and concerts
- City Park: great for relaxing or going for a picnic when the weather is good. In the summer you can go boating, or ice-skating in the winter
- Vajdahunyad Castle: It is located within the City Park and it now houses the Hungarian Agricultural Museum
- Széchenyi Thermal Bath: The biggest and most popular thermal bath in Budapest
- Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden
Map of Heroes’ Square Map and Nearby Attractions
Here is a map of the Heroes’ Square in Budapest and nearby attractions that you can see while in visiting the square, including museums, the City Park and suggestions for restaurants.
Restaurants Near the Heroes’ Square
There are many restaurants near the Heroes’ Square but two of the best restaurants nearby are the Paprika Restaurant and the Gundel Cafe and Restaurant.
The Paprika Restaurant is one of the most famous restaurants in Budapest serving traditional Hungarian food. It is about 10 minutes’ walk from the Heroes’ Square, so it can be reached easily. It has a unique interior design that takes you back to old times!
The Gundel Cafe and Restaurant is located behind the Heroes’ Square and it serves tasty Hungarian food. It is a bit more upscale and the restaurant is designed very beautifully – it’s great for celebrating special occasions or to treat yourself!
Both restaurants serve traditional Hungarian food and you can try dishes such as the goulash soup, pörkölt (beef/pork stew), and stuffed cabbage.
FAQs: Heroes’s Square, Budapest
What is the significance of the Heroes’ Square in Budapest?
The Heroes’ Square is a historic monument in Budapest and it commemorates the 1000th anniversary of the Hungarian Conquest of the Carpathian Basin (known as “Honfoglalás” in Hungarian).
It includes statues of Hungarian chieftains, kings and statemen that played a significant role in Hungary’s history, such as St. Stephen I, Bela IV, and Lajos Kossuth.
Is Heroes’ Square worth a visit?
Yes, the Heroes’ Square in Budapest is definitely worth a visit! It is one of the most iconic landmarks in Budapest and it showcases statues of kings and rulers that contributed significantly to Hungary’s history.
There are also many other attractions nearby that are worth exploring, including many museums, the City Park and the Széchenyi Thermal Bath.
Is Heroes’ Square in Budapest free?
Yes, it is free to visit the Heroes’ Square in Budapest. The square is located in an open space and it is free to visit and walk around every day at any time of the year!
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Heroes’ Square (‘Hősök tere’ in Hungarian) is a historic monument near the city center of Budapest.
It was built to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the Hungarian Conquest of the Carpathian Basin that led to Hungarians settling down in Central Europe. Thus, the Heroes’ Square is also referred to as the Millenium Monument.
The monument at the Heroes’ Square includes statues of prominent Hungarian kings, chieftains and statesman that played an important role in Hungary’s history.
The entry is free and you can walk around the whole square without having to pay for any fees. It is open all throughout the day, as it is an open square, it can be visited at any time.
There are also other attractions near the Heroes’ Square that are great to explore, such as museums, the City Park, Széchenyi Thermal Bath, and the Budapest Zoo. There are also some nice restaurants where you can try Hungarian dishes!
Like This Post? Pin It!
