Budapest: A Critical Guide

From the top of Hegyalja út (Gellért Hill), toward Pest

The oversize hotels in the Pest riverbank ruined cityscape for centuries. You can "remove them", if you take a picture while descending from Gellért hill. Then the hotels are just the right size, and Basilica can flaunt its majestic dome, not dwarved by its immediate neighbourhood.

The bridges one behind the other

A favourite subject of coffee table book photographers. Possible to take a photo like that from the panorama section of the Royal Castle, from the front of the equestrian statue, pointing to your right: Elisabeth, Liberty and Petőfi bridges. The other option is the lesser known Árpád Lookout Tower. Best to get there by Bus 11 and then walk up Látó hegyi út from the terminus. Then even Chain bridge is in focus.

The "Drop" on the roof of Andrássy No. 9, from the panorama deck of Budapest Cathedral

This lesser known lookout point is a great photo opportunity. A not obvious focus for you is a most unusual roof structure that was added to a Neo-Renassaince building in 1993, Andrássy út No. 9. As if the Lord let a large Drop fall from heaven, saying: "Let there be a Board Room" - and there was a board room on the top of the building. (By Eric van Eggeraat, Rotterdam and Budapest based architect.)

The St. Gellért Monument from Pest, framed by Elisabeth bridge

A classic shot, but a dangerous one to take. You should stand on the middle divide at the Pest end of the bridge, right in the middle of traffic. Only feasible before 5 a.m. in the summer.

Napoleon in Hajós utca

This art nouveau block, with three façades, should really be seen from a distance, but it is built in a very narrow street. High above, in the middle of the façade, the figure of Napoleon looks down on the passers-by of the pedestrian street. (VI. Hajós utca 25., near the Opera.) 

The "third bank" of the Danube, from the "elbow" of Margaret bridge

Not very original, but always enchanting. Not for the faint-hearted photographers, since there is an amount of urine smell there on most days, unless the wind is intensive enough, and comes into your face.

The ground floor crowd in WestEnd Shopping Center, from the top floor, the cinema foyer

Not a cliché, yet. More people in sight then the population of a village. The complex shows more originality than most others of the kind. Curves, unusual angles, ever changing design in the incessantly changing shop interiors. And the happiness on the faces of people. They still cannot get used to the fact that everything is available.