ART NOUVEAU IN BUDAPEST, A COMPLETE GUIDE

Art Nouveau was an architectural idea that spread throughout Europe in the late 19th century, and each country had its own version. This movement was the inspiration of artists, disillusioned by the lifeless imitation of historical styles, who sought to create something fresh, organic, and original. This desire for newness sparked the birth of Art Nouveau. From the playful modernism of Gaudi in Barcelona to the refined Art Nouveau of Guimard in Paris, Budapest was no exception.

The Szecessio, a national artistic movement here, was powerful and coincided with the Hungarian Millennium of 1896. This celebration marked 1,000 years since the Magyars’ arrival in the region and was a time of greater consciousness of the nation’s history, arts, and architecture.

This occasion, coupled with the period of immense transformation in the 19th century — technological, industrial, and urban — created a trinity of opportunities that allowed the city to employ the greatest Hungarian architects of the era.

They erected, in train stations, museums, private and public buildings, and palaces, playful buildings designed to make a statement through their stunning façades, curved windows and doorways, Hungarian folk motifs on tiled roofs, and richly decorated interiors. Today, these masterpieces are spread across the city, standing as proud symbols of Budapest’s rich artistic heritage.

Let me show you some of my favorite Art Nouveau buildings in Budapest — be sure to check them out on your next visit to the Hungarian capital!

GRESHAM PALACE

Located on the banks of the Danube, facing magnificent Pest and imposant Chain Bridge, Gresham Palace embodies the elegance of Budapest’s Belle Époque. At the beginning of the 20th century, when the city was booming and attracting major international companies, the British company Gresham Life Assurance built its imposing headquarters on the site of the former residence of a wealthy Serbian family.

Sold to the Four Seasons group at the beginning of the 21st century, the building was transformed into a five-star luxury hotel. Meticulous restoration work has preserved its original features, such as the grand staircase, colorful stained glass windows, refined ironwork, and majestic wrought iron doors adorned with peacocks, crafting a space of pure Art Nouveau aesthetic.

• Adress : Gresham Palace Four Seasons | Budapest, Széchenyi István tér 5-6, 1051 Hungary

ROMAN HALL OF THE MUSEUM OF FINE ART

The creation of the museum is closely linked to the Hungarian Millennium of 1896, which celebrated 1,000 years since the founding of the Kingdom of Hungary. On this occasion, Hungary sought to assert its national identity and cultural greatness. The government decided to create a national art museum that could rival the great European institutions. The building was designed by Hungarian architects in an eclectic style combining neoclassical and romantic influences, and opened its doors to the public in 1906.

The museum aimed to exhibit collections of European and Hungarian art, and the decorations in some rooms, such as the Romanesque hall, reflected the nationalist and religious idealism of the time, exalting the Hungarian nation, its provinces, the Catholic religion, and even the signs of the zodiac.

Strictly speaking, this is not Art Nouveau as it is Romanesque Style. However, it is a Romanesque style from the Art Nouveau period, so it does count a bit! After being damaged during World War II, the hall was used as a warehouse for several decades before undergoing a complete renovation in 2019, which restored its original frescoes and decoration.

• Adress : Museum of Fine Art | Budapest, Szépművészeti Múzeum, Dózsa György út 41, 1146 Hungary
• Opening hours: 10h-18h (extended until 20h on Fridays). Closed on Mondays.

MUSEUM OF APPLIED ARTS

The Museum of Applied Arts is a must-see if you are an art and history lover. This iconic building is the work of artist Ödön Lechner, nicknamed the “Hungarian Gaudí.” It was built between 1893 and 1896 to celebrate Hungary’s Millennium Celebrations.

Although the museum is currently closed for renovation, you can still admire its exterior, decorated with magnificent glazed tiles from the Hungarian factory Zsolnay. Its curved lines, arches, and patterns perfectly embody the Art Nouveau aesthetic in Budapest, known as the Szecesszió style (the Hungarian variant of Art Nouveau).

The interior architecture is equally impressive: a vast hall with a glass roof, exposed steel structures, and Hungarian folk motifs mixed with Eastern influences illustrate the innovative use of materials at the time of its construction. The museum has a collection of around 100,000 objects, including furniture, textiles, glassware, ceramics, metalwork, and contemporary design creations.

• Adress : Museum of Applied Arts | Budapest, Üllői út 33-37, 1092 Hungary

CAFE NEW YORK

Built in 1894 by Hungarian architects Aladár Gárdos and Gyula Papp, it is a jewel of Art Nouveau architecture. It is even considered the most beautiful café in the world.

Almost all Hungarian writers, artists, and intellectuals have frequented it at one time or another. On the evening of this literary café’s opening, playwright Ferenc Molnár threw the key into the Danube so that it would never close. Therefore, it remained open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for decades. Today, it is one of the few establishments to have survived periods of crisis and the post-war communist regime, even though it has lost the warm and erudite clientele of traditional cafés.

Admire its wrought-iron facade, enhanced with elegant details. Inside, marble columns, imposing chandeliers, gilding, and velvet armchairs compete for opulence. It’s very busy & expect to pay 11€ for a simple cappuccino.

• Adress : New York Café | Erzsébet krt. 9-11, 1073 Hungary
• Opening hours : everyday from 7h to midnight or 1h du matin.

HUNGARIAN STATE TREASURY

You can’t go inside, but you can admire the building from the street, from the Intermezzo Rooftop, or from the top of St. Stephen’s Basilica, where your gaze is immediately drawn to the green and yellow roof of the Hungarian State Treasury.

When Ödön Lechner, the father of Hungarian Art Nouveau, designed the headquarters of the Postal Savings Bank in 1901, he had no idea that the authorities would marginalize him to such an extent, suspending funding for his style and limiting his public commissions. Despite these obstacles, Lechner completed his work, elevating Hungarian craftsmanship to a unique level with folk motifs and Hungarian tiles from the Zsolnay factory.

The richly decorated roof combines symbols of productivity and prosperity—such as beehives and snakes—with references to the treasure of Attila the Hun, considered the ancestor of the Magyar tribes who came from Mongolia in the 9th century.

• Adress : Hungarian State Treasury | Budapest, Hold u. 4, 1054 Hungary

PARISI UDVAR

Parisi Udvar was designed as a covered Parisian courtyard and built in 1909, originally with open entrances for pedestrians. Those entrances are now closed with glass doors, and the former arcade houses a café at street level with luxurious rooms above.

The fusion of Venetian Gothic and Moorish-inspired details, combined with the eclectic Art Nouveau style and the unique crystal dome that took 1.5 years to assemble, fills the interior with natural light and highlights its intricate details. You must stop by and enjoy a coffee there, if only to admire this hidden gem of Budapest.

• Opening hours : 7h to 23h everyday.
• Adress : Parisi Udvar Restaurant | Budapest, Ferenciek tere 10, 1053 Hungary