Our journey begins where our country’s most clever and wise people work. The Academy was founded by Count István Széchenyi after whom the Széchenyi Chain Bridge starting from the square was also named. There are numerous temporary exhibitions held in the building and in its ceremonial hall classical concerts are organized.
Guidance
HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
SYNAGOGUE
The second sight to see on the RiverRide tour is the Dohány (Tobacco) Street Synagogue which holds 3000 people. Hollywood star, the late Tony Curtis who was of Hungarian descent has made a contribution to its renovation.
OPERA HOUSE
On Andrássy Avenue, among the world’s leading fashion brands we can see the Opera House which is where an inn of dubious fame used to be. It was built with permission from Austrian Emperor Franz Josef on condition that it must be smaller than the Vienna Opera House.
HEROES’ SQUARE
Leaving the Oktogon and Kodály Circus, at the end of Andrássy Avenue we arrive to the Millennium Monument on Heroes’ Square, which was built in the place of a fountain at the time of the Budapest World Exhibition.
SPLASH
RiverRide’s amphibous bus provides an interesting experience not only for its passengers but also for onlookers by the banks of the Danube. Many people are attracted to the moment when at the end of the 70 meter long ramp the floating bus splashes into the water.
PARLIAMENT
After everyone has appreciated the beauty of Margaret Island, listened to interesting facts about the Danube and the RiverRide amphibious bus, leaving Margaret Bridge behind we arrive to the building whose price and number of bedrooms was jokingly asked by Queen’s legendary singer, Freddy Mercury in 1986. By the way from the costs of the Parliament Building a city of 35.000-40.000 people could have been built at the beginning of the 20th Century.
ROYAL PALACE
While those sitting on the left side of the bus take delight in the Parliament, people sitting on the right won’t be bored either. They can admire the part of Budapest that was besieged by Tartars, Austrians, Soviets and Hungarians, whose citizens excommunicated the Pope, was occupied by the Turkish using tricks and stayed for 150 years after which they settled Germans there, and was bombed during World War Two. Besides all this its citizens and kings have built and embellished the Royal Palace, which of course can be seen by our left side passangers after the floating bus has turned around.