Budapest is famous for many things - thermal baths, historical buildings and gorgeous skyline, ruin bars, wine and unique cuisine, yet only a few people takes the time to leave the city center and discover the natural sights of the outer area. Though climbing the Citadel on Gellert Hill is quite a beautiful sight, Buda Hills provide magnificent scenery to both the surrounding areas and Budapest. Here's our little guide to one of the top places in Buda Hills, the Elizabeth Lookout on János Hill.
About János Hill
Located on the Buda side of the city, János Hill is the highest point of Budapest. At 528 meters it's the fourth highest mountain peak of the Buda Hills mountain range. The area is part of the Duna-Ipoly National Park and a popular hiking destination among locals. The easiest way top the top is by the chairlift, but you can take the walking track as well, just follow the path under the cableway. Several hiking trails connect the mountains: Normafa is about 20 minutes from János Hill, the Kaán Károly-lookout is an hour on foot, while the remarkable "Tündér-szikla" is about a 40-minute walk away. You can wander around the protected forests on relatively easy trails, marked by signs.
Zugliget Chairlift
One of János Hill's most popular attractions is the Zugliget Chairlift or so called Libegő. This unusual mode of transport connects the top of the mountain with Zugliget. The Chairlift was opened on August 20th in 1970 after the design of István Hantos. The 1040-meter long cableway takes the 262-meter height in 12 minutes. We recommend choosing the chairlift over the walking since you can enjoy both the marvelous scenery and the peaceful ride to the top without a hassle! The double-seated carriages and the panoramic view of the Buda surroundings make the trip a very romantic experience.
At the upper station a recreation park awaits with buffets, food stalls, toilets, a playground and benches to take a rest before the walk to the lookout. The BKV operated chairlift costs 1200 HUF/ one way or 1600 HUF/return and tickets are available from kiosks at the stations. See the official page for opening hours. Accessible by Bus 291 from Nyugati Station or Bus 21A to Normafa and a 20 minute-walk from there.
Fun Fact: During the 50 years of operation, there were no accidents at the chairlift!
Elizabeth Lookout Tower
The Elizabeth Lookout is located on top of János Hill. It was named after Sisi, the beloved Hungarian Queen (Empress Elisabeth of Austria, wife of Emperor Franz Joseph I) who visited the site multiple times in 1882. The lookout was a wooden structure back then, the 23,5 meter-high limestone tower was built in 1910 after the design of Frigyes Schulek.
After WWII, a huge red star was flashing on top of the lookout, completely ruining the tower's structure. After a bigger renovation, it opened again in 2005.
Fun Fact: The Lookout got its floodlight in 1926, making the tower the first illuminated building in Hungary. After its success, the Fisherman's Bastion and Parliament got their night lights too.
The construction has four levels and takes a hundred step to reach the top. The view from above is really remarkable! You'll see as far as 80 km: the city of Budapest below, Budakeszi, Cegléd and the surrounding countryside. According to legends, on a clear day, you can see even the Tatra Mountains in Slovakia!
Visiting the lookout is free. There's a café at the bottom of the lookout but you can bring your own snacks too and eat them on the benches by the tower. The easiest way to get to the tower is by the Chairlift - from the upper station, it's a 5-10 minute walk to the lookout. Another way to the lookout is the Children's Railway (find prices here)- from Jánoshegy Station the tower is a 15-minute walk away to the hill.
If you wanna spend more time here, look for the signs and maps of the hiking trails on the area. There are different interesting sights and pleasant walks in the area under an hour.
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