Metro M2 to Kossuth Lajos tér is the fastest route from anywhere in Pest, and the exit puts you on the square, about 5 minutes’ walk from the Visitor Centre entrance at its north end. If you can spare the time, ride tram 2 along the riverbank instead. It is the city’s most scenic public transport ride and stops directly outside.
Driving and parking are difficult, and Kossuth Lajos tér itself is closed to private cars. From most central Pest hotels you can walk in under 15 minutes.
Location and address
By public transport
Budapest’s BKK public transport network covers the Parliament from every direction. The M2 metro stops at the square, scenic tram 2 stops at the riverbank, and several buses stop on Kossuth Lajos tér or the streets immediately around it.
By metro
The M2 (red) line stops on the square:
- M2 (red line), Kossuth Lajos tér: follow the “Parliament” exit signs from the platform. The exit puts you on the south side of the square, with the Parliament dominating the riverside view. The Visitor Centre entrance is underground at the north end of the square, at the end of Balassi Bálint utca, about 5 minutes’ walk across it.
- From Deák Ferenc tér (the M1/M2/M3 interchange) it is just 1 stop, 2 minutes.
- From Keleti train station it is 6 minutes direct on M2.
- From Széll Kálmán tér on the Buda side it is 4 minutes under the river.
Buy a single ticket, a 24-hour travel card, or a Budapest Card before boarding; tickets must be validated at the platform machine before you travel.
By tram
Tram 2 runs along the Pest bank of the Danube and stops directly outside the Parliament at the Kossuth Lajos tér M stop:
- Tram 2 runs the full Pest riverbank from Jászai Mari tér in the north to Közvágóhíd in the south. Sit on the river side for views of Buda Castle, the Chain Bridge, and the Liberty Statue on the way.
Even if you would normally take the metro, ride it once in either direction for the views. Buy your ticket before you board.
By bus
Bus 15 stops at Kossuth Lajos tér or on the streets immediately around the square, with the same short walk to the Visitor Centre. From the Kossuth Lajos tér bus stops, the walk is on level ground and well signposted.
Bus diversions in the Parliament area are common during state events, foreign visits, and major public holidays. Check BKK FUTAR (the Budapest transport app) on the day of your visit. All buses use the same BKK single ticket as the metro and trams.
By car and taxi
If you do need to arrive by car, your best options are:
- Parking: there is none at the Visitor Centre. Street parking on Széchenyi rakpart along the river is very limited; the underground garages further into the centre, such as Vigadó tér, are about 15 minutes’ walk away.
- Taxi and ride-hailing drop-off: the square itself is closed to traffic. Ask for the Kossuth tér end of Balassi Bálint utca, the street that ends at the Visitor Centre entrance.
- Bolt works in Budapest if you would rather book a car on an app than hail a taxi.
On foot
The Parliament is well within walking distance from most central Pest hotels. The riverside approach from St. Stephen’s Basilica or Deák Ferenc tér makes a pleasant short walk, with the dome ahead of you for the last part.
From Deák Ferenc tér (about 17 minutes, 1.3 km)
Head west along József Attila utca to Széchenyi István tér at the Pest end of the Chain Bridge, then turn right and walk north along the riverbank. You arrive at the south end of Kossuth Lajos tér, with about 5 minutes more across the square to the Visitor Centre. The simplest walking route from the city centre.
From St. Stephen’s Basilica (about 13 minutes, 1 km)
Walk west on Zrínyi utca, cross Széchenyi István tér, and follow the river path north. A direct route with the Parliament in view for the second half. This is the natural pairing if you are combining the Basilica with the Parliament in a single morning.
From Buda Castle via the Chain Bridge (about 20 to 25 minutes)
Descend the Castle Hill via the Funicular or the steps next to the Hungarian National Gallery. Cross the Chain Bridge, turn left along the riverbank, and walk north to the Parliament. The full sequence (castle, bridge, riverside, Parliament) makes a classic Budapest half-day walk.
From the Inner City (Vörösmarty tér, about 17 minutes, 1.3 km)
Walk north on Váci utca to Vörösmarty tér, then west to the river. Continue north along Széchenyi rakpart with the Parliament rising ahead of you. A flat, level walk on cobbled and paved streets.
By hop-on hop-off bus
Accessibility
- Step-free route: the M2 station at Kossuth Lajos tér has lifts from platform to street, the square is flat, and the tours leave from an accessible Visitor Centre where the ticket office also is. The tour route is barrier-free for wheelchair users.
- For a car or taxi, the drop-off at the Kossuth tér end of Balassi Bálint utca is the closest point to the entrance (see By car and taxi above).
- What to arrange before the day, from emailing ahead to the printed guide for deaf visitors, is in the Accessibility tab of our Parliament guide.