Set out from one of the most beautiful spots of the city, from St Gellért Square where not very long ago Muddy Bath awaited guests with its mud bath therapies and where slopes of Gellért Hill rose directly from the river bed. Its current arrangement was formed when building Ferenc József Bridge, today known as Liberty Bridge in 1894 slopes were carved and Muddy Bath was pulled down. Gellért Spa, which replaced it, was the first luxurious facility in Budapest and was the most modern spa of Europe at the time. From the early 1920s Hotel Gellért was accessible not only by car but even airplane too as a floatplane station opened on the riverbank. A monumental plaque on the parapet next to the bridge commemorates this sensation of those times.

This long-standing square is an important intersection of Buda as well and you can find one of the most impressive underground stations of Line 4 here decorated with 2,800,000 pieces of glass mosaic tiles.

St Gellért Square St Gellért Square in District 11 is one of the most impressive public squares in Buda. The square named after Bishop St Gellért is a significant junction and hides hot springs below supplying Hotel Gellért with warm water.

After discovering the square start your tour on right side of Hotel Gellért, in Kelenhegyi Street. Before taking the stairs on the right to the top of the hill it is worth visiting the Cave Church just 50 meters uphill on the right. It represents a unique mixture of historic, national, cultural, religious and natural heritage and values. Open to public depending on holy mass schedule.

Our Grand Lady of Hungarians Cave Church The Cave Church on Gellért Hill played an important role in more historic and religious events. The church was built for the Pauline Order and their most important relic, a bone fragment of St. Paul is kept here. At the entrance a sculpture of King St. Stephen is displayed.

Return to the stairs and continue uphill. This is the natural reserve area of Gellért Hill. Its slope facing the Danube still preserves its natural character. Although the botanical value of the hill has decreased considerably by today, fragments of native fauna are still present. Hollowroots and fumeworts almost fully cover the slopes in spring. The eastern slope is the only habitat in Hungary for the yellow sophora.

The green marker and the green triangle marker will take you to the Statue of Liberty, however, feel free to take some of the offshoots to reduce stair climbing. Lookout spots and benches will await you to show a larger and larger view of the city as you are reaching higher.

First only the spa from above and the Liberty Bridge, then the Pest side of the Danube with Budapest Corvinus University, the Market Hall and the Whale (Bálna), just to name a few.

Right before the top the green marker splits to the right. Although that area is off this route plan, it is worth keeping in mind what points of interests it reveals: St Gellért Statue with a waterfall, the Gruber József Cistern, the allegoric sculpture of Prince Buda and Princess Pest and the sculpture group called Garden of Philosophy.

Continue up the stairs and you will soon reach one of the best-known symbols of Budapest, the female figure of the Statue of Liberty.

Statue of Liberty Th Statue of Liberty atop Gellért Hill towers over the Citadella and visible from nearly every point of downtown. The sculpture group was made to commemorate Soviet heroes, however, after the political change its image was transformed. By today it has become one of the landmarks of the capital.

Probably, this is the spot in Budapest where the most photos are taken of the city. No wonder as it provides a stunning view over the area.

Just behind the statue towers a large fort called Citadella. Despite its name sounds romantic it was built for military purposes and to terrify in 1854, although it was outdated even when finished. Although after the defeated Revolution of 1848 it became the symbol of suppression, similarly to the Statue of Liberty it has tapered off to a tourist sight.

Citadella The top of Gellért Hill had been used for military purposes for thousands of years. The Citadella as the last representative of this function was built by 1854. Although it had been the symbol of repression for a long time, it has been a popular tourist sight since the 1950s.

Walking past the fort on the right along Citadella Street turn left to the flower garden and then right to Szirtes Street. Going downhill you will find Restaurant Búsuló Juhász (Grieving Sheperd, named after the best-known 19th century statue of sculptor Miklós Izsó) at the crossroads open since 1937. Its legendary bar was the only entertainment facility in Budapest of the 1970s with opening hours until dawn.

Passing the restaurant continue along Kelenhegyi Street until you reach Somló köz (stairs on the right). Walk down the stairs and turn right to continue in Somlói Street and Szüret Street. On the left side Szüret Street borders the Arboretum of Buda open to visitors. It is divided into two parts. The Lower Garden is separated from Upper Garden by Ménesi Street.

Arboretum of Buda Buda Botanical Garden is one of the richest arboretums in the country with nearly 2000 woody plants, 250 kinds of perennials and hundreds of bulbous flowers. The garden gained a natural reserve status in 1975 with buildings listed in 2005.

Important note: Upper Garden is open on weekdays only. At weekends entrance to Lower Garden from Ménesi Street.

When reaching Villányi Street you can see three iconic buildings next to the botanical garden: St Imre High School, St Margaret High School

Crossing the street you can end your tour in a popular park of New Buda. Lake Feneketlen and surroundings is a perfect place for picnicking or just a rest with numerous attractions to discover.

Bottomless Lake and surroundings The underground spring that fed the Lake for a century was detected in 1877 while mining clay for a brickyard next to. Today the Lake Feneketlen and its surroundings are a popular recreational area with a modern playground as well as the restaurant and community area of the Park Stage of Új Buda.