⛪【St. Stephen's Basilica Guide】The dazzling crown of Budapest's skyline｜Neoclassical architectural wonders × Top view × Musical feast

#MayGoodPlaces2025 #Budapest 🕰️ Historical allusions Construction process: Construction started in 1851 and completed in 54 years (1905), witnessing the heyday of the Austro-Hungarian Empire Origin of the name: dedicated to Saint Stephen, the first king of Hungary Architectural significance: 96 meters, the same height as the Parliament Building, symbolizing the 896 years of Hungarian settlement in the Carpathian Basin 🏛️ Architectural art highlights Dome structure: 22 meters in diameter, a double-layer design weighing 8,000 tons Main gate relief: depicting the life of Saint Stephen Reliquary: The "Holy Right Hand Relics" of the king's right hand Stained glass: created by Munich artist Max Schmalzl 🔭 Summit experience Choose from: Elevator (1840HUF) 364-step spiral staircase (1520HUF) Best time: before 10:00 or after 16:00 on a sunny day to avoid backlight View highlights: 360-degree panoramic view of Pest and the Danube 🎼 Music and art Organ performance: The third largest organ in Europe (6,500 pipes in total) Summer Music Festival: Classical concerts every week from July to August Acoustic experience: The echo in the hall lasts for 8 seconds ℹ️ Useful information Opening hours: April-September: 9:00-17:00 (Sunday until 19:00) October-March: 10:00-16:00 Tickets: Basilica: 2000HUF Ticket to the summit: 3200HUF Mass time: Weekdays: 7:00, 8:00, 18:00 Sunday: 7:00, 8:30, 10:00, 18:00 📸 Photography suggestions Wide-angle lens: Take pictures of the magnificent scenes of the main altar Telephoto lens: Capture the mosaic details of the dome Night photography: Turn on the lights after 21:00 until midnight in summer 🚶 Surrounding tours Andrassy Avenue (3 minutes walk) Hungarian State Opera House (8 minutes walk) House of Terror Museum (10 minutes walk) 💡 Visiting Instructions Dress code: No sleeveless tops or culottes shorter than the knee The elevator to the top runs every 15 minutes (limited to 8 people) Weddings are often held on Saturday afternoons, and some areas are temporarily closed It is recommended to take an audio guide (Chinese version available) This architectural masterpiece that combines faith and art, the cross on the dome shines like a crown jewel in the sun. When you reach the top and overlook the panoramic view of Pest, you can appreciate the original intention of the designer József Hild to "make the church a compass of the city." It is recommended to reserve 2 hours to appreciate this pinnacle of the neo-Renaissance style.