Many bridges in Budapest light up at night.
Including rail bridges, Budapest boasts a total of 10 structures spanning the historic stretch of the River Danube. Whether you take an organized tour, rent a bicycle (easy to do), rent a car, or simply stroll, the city’s famous bridges are well worth exploring. The following are a few of the most iconic.
1). Elizabeth Bridge. When it was inaugurated in honor Empress Elizabeth in 1903, this bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world, and it would remain so for more than 20 years (as with many of the bridges, the original was destroyed in WWII, and had to be rebuilt). With its beautiful snow-white coloring and elegant design, the Elizabeth is arguably the most beautiful bridge in Budapest.
2). Lagymanyosi Bridge. Constructed in 1995 for a planned World Exposition that never came to fruition, the Lagymanyosi is the southernmost bridge in Budapest. The cycle path along the roadway is popular with cyclists, particularly at night, when it is lit by five, striking red columns that produce light that is reflected upward by halogen panels.
3). Liberty Bridge. Constructed in 1894, the Liberty Bridge (known informally as the “Franz Joseph,” after the renown Emperor) was inaugurated in 1896 as part of a series of ceremonies organized to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of the arrival of the Magyars in the Carpathian Basin. Its Art Nouveau portals are topped by two, falcon-like Turuls with wings spread above golden balls. More than any other, this bridge exemplifies the aesthetic and architectural splendor that is typical of public structures undertaken during the reign of the aforementioned Emperor.
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