Gellert Hill, the Citadella and Liberty Statue are one of the main attractions in Budapest. It’s a nice uphill walk, but it doesn’t have to be. Here you’ll find out how to get there by public transport and on foot, so you make the most of your precious time.
Where is Gellert Hill in Budapest
Gellert hill is a 140-meter-high hill of Dolomite rock, located by the Danube on Buda side (the western side), in Budapest. It is south of Buda Castle Hill, between Elizabeth Bridge and Liberty Bridge (the white and the green bridge).
The northern and eastern side toward the Danube and Pest is very steep and covered in forest, providing for beautiful pictures in spring and fall. Numerous paths zigzag from the base to the top, with terraces and benches.
The side towards Buda and the south-west, instead, rolls down gently in a park with meadows and trees, playgrounds, and residential houses and villas towards the base.
What to see on Gellert Hill Budapest – 2023 update
The main attractions of Gellert Hill are located on the top: the Citadella Fortress (closed for substantial renovations since 2022), Liberty Statue (also off limits but still visible), and a few viewpoints with excellent views of Budapest (accessible in 2023).
Near Elizabeth Bridge there is the Saint Gellert monument and Rudas Thermal Bath. Near Liberty Bridge there is Gellert Thermal Bath, a statue of King Saint Stephen, and the Cave Church. There is also a fun playground with very long slides (map here).
Here is my full guide on what to see on Gellert Hill 🙂
How to get to Gellert Hill Budapest
You can reach the Citadel on top of Gellert Hill on foot, by public transport, and by taxi:
- On foot in 15-30 minutes, from Elizabeth Bridge or from Freedom Bridge, depending on your level of fitness and how often you stop for pictures
- By public transport in 10 minutes, with bus 27 from Moricz Zsigmond Square to Busulo Juhasz stop, and then on foot for 5-10 minutes (cost: 1 ticket/way is 350 HUF/1 EUR as of July 2023)
- By taxi from Pest centre in less than 10 minutes for less than 3000 HUF/9 EUR (depending on traffic and location, according to Bolt taxi app)
Google Maps is quite reliable with regard to public transportation. The trails are quite clear as well, but your live location is approximate.
How to get to the Citadella on foot
If you decide to walk up to the Citadella, make sure you wear comfortable shoes with a good sole. The paths that climb Gellert Hill are part tar, part dirt, and can be a bit damaged by the weather.
It is a pleasant walk that anybody in good physical condition can make, children and elderly included. However, it can be quite tiring if you already walked for 3 days up and down Budapest and your feet are sore.
I do NOT recommend pushing a baby stroller up the hill. I think that even baby-wear would make parents tired and sweaty. I recommend that families with babies or toddlers take the bus or a taxi.
So, how to walk to the Citadella and Liberty Statue? You can walk up Gellert Hill starting from Elizabeth Bridge, or starting from Liberty Bridge. On the way down, take the other direction and complete the walking tour of Gellert Hill.
Walking tour starting from Elizabeth Bridge
The climb from Elizabeth Bridge starts with the large stairs that lead to the monument of Saint Gellert (map here). From there, the paths zigzag slowly up the hill, sometimes flat, sometimes with stairs. Try to keep the left, with the Danube on your left side.
It should take around 20 minutes to reach the top.
I recommend going straight up, first to the Monolit Viewpoint (map here) and then continuing along the top of Gellert Hill to this other viewpoint (map here).
Due to the construction, you have to choose the lower trails to reach Liberty Statue. Keep going with the Danube on your left, until the end of the hill: turn around and Liberty Statue will be right there behind and above you. You can get a nice shot through the construction barricades.
Walk down towards Liberty Bridge to finish your tour. Every other flight of stairs there’s a lovely viewing terrace.
Walking tour starting from Liberty Bridge
The walk from Liberty Bridge starts with the stairs right next to Gellert Hotel and spa. Right there is located the Cave Church, with a beautiful photo spot of Liberty Bridge (map here).
The path going up from the Cave Church to Liberty Statue is quite steep, with lots of stairs and beautiful views. It should take around 20 minutes.
Keep the Danube on your right as you approach Liberty Statue. You’ll reach the construction site on top of the stairs, a nice spot for a rest.
After admiring Liberty Statue, continue along the zigzagging trails, with the Danube on your right. Stay as much as possible at the top of the hill and aim for the Monolit Viewpoint (map here), the view is gorgeous from there.
Continue down to Saint Gellert Monument and finally at Elizabeth Bridge.
Since you’re looking for detailed instructions, check out my post on how to get to Szentendre (and spend a lovely day outside of Budapest) and find here all my useful and practical posts about Budapest and Hungary!
How to get to the Citadella with public transport
The easiest and nicest way to reach the Citadella by public transport is with bus 27 from Moricz Zsigmond Square (map here) to Busulo Juhasz stop (map here) in approximately 10 minutes. From there, it’s just 5-10 minutes on foot to the Citadella on a paved road, Szirtes út (map here).
Moricz Zsigmond Square is a large hub for public transport on Buda side. Reach it by Metro 4, by trams 4/6 from Pest, trams 19 or 41 on Buda promenade, tram 56 from Szell Kalman square (if you just finished with Castle Hill), trams 47 or 49 from Deak Square in Pest centre, or bus 7 from Astoria Square or Blaha Square on Pest.
Moricz Zsigmond Square has lots of crossroads and tram stops, but don’t let this confuse you. Find the stop of bus 27 by locating the shiny dome and the red-bricks building. Bus 27 departs every 10 minutes from the red-bricks building, approximately at Villanyi ut 3. If you arrived here by public transport, you will need another ticket for bus 27: one ticket for each means of transport.
Bus 27 takes a panoramic route up Gellert Hill, between cubic residential homes and beautiful classic villas.
Even though Google Maps may suggest to get off at Rezeda utca stop, the correct stop is Busulo Juhasz (Citadella). (Duh!) It takes approximately 10 minutes.
Once you get off from bus 27 at Busulo Juhasz stop, a large sign points at the Citadella. Walk along Szirtes út, a large paved road slightly uphill, with a pleasant park with trees and grass on the right. In just 5-10 minutes you will reach the first viewpoint (map here), and then the Citadella area will begin.
To get to the Liberty Statue on Gellert Hill, see above and follow the route from Elizabeth Bridge: start at the Monolit Viewpoint and continue along the trails to the right. I don’t recommend walking on the Buda side, with the Citadella on your left, because the views aren’t very panoramic.
To get down from Gellert Hill to Pest:
- either take the same route, bus 27 in the opposite direction from Busulo Juhasz to Moricz Zsigmond square, or
- take bus 27 in the same direction for just 2 more stops until Sanc utca stop, and from there take bus 8E, 110 or 112 to Pest side (map here).
Alternative route by public transport to the Citadella
There’s another way to get to Gellert Hill, but it doesn’t make much sense.
You can also take bus 8E, 110 or 112 from Pest side (Blaha square or Astoria), across Elizabeth Bridge, and partially up the hill until Sanc utca stop (map here). From there, take bus 27 for only 2 stops until Busulo Juhasz. This route is less panoramic than leaving from Moricz Zsigmond Square.
Why not going by bus until Sanc utca stop, and from Sanc utca stop on foot to the Citadella? Because it’s a quite steep street, so it defeats the purpose!
If you have the energy to walk up the hill, then enjoy the view on the Danube side. If you feel tired, then take the bus and get to the closest stop, Busulo Juhasz.
How to get to the Citadella by taxi
I recommend using the app Bolt, which also handles the payment with your chosen card. In my experience, Bolt taxis are reliable, and the drivers are friendly and usually speak English.
According to Google Maps, a Bolt taxi from the central square in Pest of Deak tér to the Citadella takes 7 minutes and costs 2300-2800 HUF (=approx. 6,5-8 EUR). I am not sure how close the taxi can get to the Citadella, but getting to the Busulo Juhasz bus stop is already very convenient.
Can you take a taxi with a small child? Well… I tried only once to call a child-friendly Bolt taxi, supposedly with a child car seat for 7-month-old Alexander, but it didn’t work out. In the end, I called a normal Bolt taxi, I sat down with Alex in my lap, the driver advised me to strap the safety belt around both of us, and off we went for our 10-minute drive home. I do not know if this is legal or not, if it’s the norm or not: it is just what happened to me.
Frequently asked questions about how to get to Gellert Hill
What are the opening hours of Gellert Hill? Gellert Hill in Budapest is a public area that is always open. However, I do not recommend going there in the night, because the trees make the trails quite dark and it could be easy to trip. As of 2023, the Citadella and Liberty Statue on top of the hill are not accessible due to renovation (it will definitely last for part of 2024 too).
Are there kiosks or restaurants on Gellert Hill? As of 2023, there is a kiosk called Raketa Pavilon among the trees near the Monolit viewpoint (map here) and the restaurant Busulo Juhasz (map here). There were many, but they are closed because of the reconstruction.
Are there restrooms on Gellert Hill? Yes, there is a restroom near the Raketa Pavilon kiosk, inside a container.
Final words on how to get to Gellert Hill Citadella in Budapest
Whether you climb up Gellert Hill on foot, or you get the bus straight up to the Citadella, it’s easy to spend a couple of hours in this beautiful area in Budapest. Enjoy the views!
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