Bridges are literally and in essence a crossover; they are a link over a mass that is otherwise divided. We have already written about the historical bridges of Budapest that have been burned and torn down, only to be resurrected and rebuilt. They represent man’s ambition to connect not only the lands but also the people. Budapest’s bridges link the historical bounty of Buda and Pest, sewing its past to its present. The Danube River severs Budapest in two, dissecting a city that via bridges and Hungarian vision refused division.
Margaret Bridge
The Margaret Bridge connects a boisterous Pest with a tamer Buda. By day, the access point to Margaret Island is coveted by its island goers. Parliament being sandwiched between the Margaret Bridge and the Chain Bridge becomes an excellent photo opportunity, making picture takers plentiful. With such a vantage point, you can’t be surprised when tourists ask you to take their picture, nor can you deny stopping to blink a memory of your own. The iconic pieces of this bridge are the stone angels and crowns that peer at Parliament, the Royal Palace and the Buda Castle as if in memory of the weight of the history that connects them all.Chain Bridge
The Chain Bridge is by far the most visually enchanting to cross in the evening, as it’s outlined in lights. By day, you can get a better look of the lion heads that preface the bridge itself. It’s the oldest bridge in Budapest and the feat of its engineering in 1839 was monumental. Either by footsteps over the top by night or cruising underneath during the day, the bridge imprints an epic impression. Whichever path you choose to witness this bridge, offer a toast to this Budapestian treasure.Elizabeth Bridge
The Elizabeth Bridge, nicknamed the ’White Bridge', is more elegant than any other of Budapest’s bridges. Back story of this bridge includes that it was dedicated to Queen Elizabeth, the assassinated wife of Franz Joseph I of Austria. This speaks to why the bridge appears innocent within its white poise against the backdrop of the city’s turmoil. During the day, take the White bridge away from Pest toward Gellert Hill for a quick nature getaway and find an impressive view of it from where Saint Gerard statue stands.Liberty Bridge
The Liberty Bridge is another bridge to experience during evening hours. The variety of Budapest’s bridges keeps one visually stimulated. The Liberty Bridge’s green color breathes life even within darkness. Liberty Bridge delivers you peacefully on the Buda side at the historic Gellert Hotel and Baths as well as the Rock Church. On the Pest side, it drops you off at the Market at Fővám Square as well as the Great Market Hall. The royal crest and Hungarian turul birds perched atop the bridge gives it a one of a kind seal of approval.Megyeri Bridge
The Megyeri Bridge is the longest bridge in Budapest and the newest. It stands with a unique cable stay structure that seems like a huge loom in the sky as the bridge itself weaves together the northern districts of Újpest with Békásmegyer and Budakalász. Any bridge engulfed in mist feels utterly mysterious and this one in particular will leave you breathless if you cross it when it’s foggy. It’s not a walking friendly sort of bridge but one that is best embarked upon within a larger journey. Whether by night or light, the Megyeri Bridge is a classy contemporary contribution to Budapest’s impressive collection of bridges.
