St Stephen's Basilica
On Gingerguide's self-guided Budapest audio tour, St Stephen's Basilica is a stop worth about ~30 min. Stand in front of it, press play for a short narrated story, and put any follow-up question to the built-in AI guide.
- Type religious
- Suggested visit ~30 min
- Budapest Budapest guide
About St Stephen's Basilica
Behind the altar of Budapest's grandest church rests the mummified right hand of King Stephen, a thousand-year-old relic of the man who founded Hungary, lit up when you drop in a coin.
St Stephen's Basilica (Szent István-bazilika) is a neoclassical Roman Catholic co-cathedral in the Lipótváros district, named for Stephen I, Hungary's first king and patron saint. Construction began in 1851 to a design by József Hild; after the partly built dome collapsed in 1868, Miklós Ybl redesigned much of the building, and József Kauser completed it. It was consecrated in 1905, more than fifty years after work began. The dome rises 96 metres, matching the Hungarian Parliament and, by long tradition, the informal height limit for buildings in the city centre. Inside, a chapel behind the main altar holds the Holy Right (Szent Jobb), the mummified right hand of King Stephen, carried in procession through the city each 20 August. One of the largest churches in Hungary, it seats roughly 8,500, and a gallery around the dome offers panoramic views over Budapest.
Did you know? The mummified right hand of King Stephen I, kept in a reliquary here, is close to a thousand years old. Each 20 August it is paraded through Budapest in a national holiday procession.
How much time do you need at St Stephen's Basilica?
Around ~30 min works well for St Stephen's Basilica — time to look properly and listen to its story on the spot. Linger if you like; nothing on a self-guided walk is on a clock.
Should you stop at St Stephen's Basilica?
Yes — St Stephen's Basilica made the cut as one of 31 places the Gingerguide team researched and narrated across Budapest. The story tells you why it is worth the stop, and the AI guide fills in anything you still wonder.
Nearby stops in Budapest
Day 1 of the Budapest in 2 days itinerary →Day 1 of the Budapest in 3 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of St Stephen's Basilica
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