The Budavár Synagogue, reopened after 400 years, is once again welcoming the Jewish community in the historic Buda Castle Quarter. Tucked away at 1014 Budapest, 26 Táncsics Mihály Street (Táncsics Mihály utca 26), the venue is back on the cultural map with regular Friday teachings and a neighborhood full of world-class sights, stays, and flavors on the banks of the Danube.
Dates and what to expect
On Friday, 2025-12-05, Rabbi Faith Asher presents The Map of the Soul, a weekly talk series held at the Budavár Synagogue. The program repeats on Friday, 2025-12-12, again in Budapest, continuing the tradition of Friday teachings that explore spiritual themes and community life. Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs, so planning ahead is wise.
Staying by the Danube
If you’re coming for the synagogue programs and want to stay nearby, you’re spoiled for choice at the foot of Buda Castle along the Danube. A 4-star boutique hotel offers panoramic rooms in the heart of Budapest, just a 10-minute walk from the Castle District, Matthias Church, and Fisherman’s Bastion—UNESCO World Heritage favorites that also rank among the city’s most photographed views. From here, the Chain Bridge leads you across to the Pest side with its business district, buzzing shopping streets, cafés, and wine bars.
The Buda Castle Hotel sits on the Buda side of the Danube in the gorgeous Castle Quarter, close to major landmarks yet tucked into a quiet side street. The area has been on the UNESCO list since 1987 and brims with curiosities, culinary specialties, cultural experiences, and irresistible views for anyone visiting Budapest.
Budavár Guesthouse (Budavár Panzió) places you right in the UNESCO-listed historical core, at the foot of Fisherman’s Bastion and just steps from Matthias Church. It’s a rare mix: exclusive, peaceful, and central. Exe Carlton Budapest, meanwhile, is a calm, friendly base in the middle of the city—ideal for both leisure and business travelers.
If value matters most, Gold Hotel Budapest delivers with comfortable, elegant, quality rooms equipped with air conditioning, LCD TV, minibar, hairdryer, and free Wi‑Fi. For a splash of grandeur, Hilton Budapest stands beside Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church, marrying modern interiors with preserved elements of a 13th-century Dominican monastery. The historic Dominican Courtyard hosts open-air events, concerts, receptions, and weddings, and the rooms look out over the Danube, its graceful bridges, Margaret Island, the Parliament Building, the classic Pest skyline, and the Buda Hills.
Hotel Castle Garden sits at the entrance to the UNESCO-listed Castle Quarter, moments from Matthias Church, Fisherman’s Bastion, and Buda Castle. Prefer leafy calm? Hotel Charles mixes green surroundings, tasty food, and comfy rooms for an easy city break. For a boutique vibe and knockout views, Hotel Clark Budapest lines up right by the Chain Bridge on the Buda riverbank, framing the Danube, Buda Castle, and other iconic sights.
Travelers can also choose from 30 tastefully furnished, air-conditioned rooms in another nearby property, each with a private bathroom, hairdryer, free high-speed Wi‑Fi, minibar, coffee and tea maker, TV, desk, and more. Whether you want quiet elegance or contemporary boutique energy, the Castle Quarter has a room with your name on it.
Eat and drink around the Castle
More than a synagogue stop, this is a mini culinary tour. 21 Hungarian Kitchen (21 A Magyar Vendéglő) was founded to revive the long-missed Szindbád-style Hungarian gastronomic experience. Think old-world Hungarian cuisine done in a 21st-century way—classic flavors kept intact, dishes lighter than the heavy traditional plates your grandparents knew.
Craving specialty brews and clean treats? You’ll find Goosebumps coffee, Zhao Zhou teas, raw, vegan, and gluten-free cakes, cold-pressed fruit and vegetable juices, and ice cream. For Hungarian staples with a twist, another spot plates reimagined dishes paired with quality wines, right inside historic walls in the heart of the Castle Quarter.
Angelika is more than a café: it’s an international restaurant with touches of Hungarian flavor, mood, and culture. Yes, it serves traditional classics, but the stars are the unique house-made desserts and specialty coffees. With home-style breakfasts and a capacity of 350 guests—200 on a Danube-view terrace and 150 indoors—it’s a crowd-pleaser with a view to match.
If you’re after a panoramic dinner, a refined venue promises elegant surroundings on a historic site with one of Budapest’s most beautiful vistas. The kitchen leans into bold flavors, carefully crafted desserts, and drinks that rise to the occasion. The Golden Barrel Restaurant (Arany Hordó Étterem) once housed the king’s cupbearer right in the heart of the Castle Quarter. Its stone-lined cellar wine bar, carved from a branch of the 500‑year‑old Buda Labyrinth (Budai Labirintus) beneath the building, sets the stage for wine shows, dinners, and tastings that feel like a time hop to King Matthias’s court.
Arany Kaviár, a fine-dining fixture for more than two decades, melds robust tsarist splendor with modern elegance. It has earned one chef’s hat from Gault&Millau since 2010 and continuous recommendations from the Michelin Guide since 2009.
For fast, fresh flavor, Arriba Taqueria is a gourmet Mexican mini-chain in Budapest founded by American-Hungarian partners who care about friendly service and generous plates in a family-style atmosphere. On Bem Quay (Bem rakpart), an art bistro-bar serves an international kitchen alongside bistro and bar favorites. Nearby, the city’s first Belgian beer pub offers comfort food, great brews, and a panoramic summer terrace—perfect after a synagogue talk or a sunset stroll.
Organizers reserve the right to change the program and schedule.
