Budapest Bridges

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Árpád Bridge (Árpád híd)

Situated at the northern end of the Margaret Island, this bridge is a relatively modern structure that lacks any aesthetic qualities, being functional rather than graceful. However, it does provide the only access to Margaret Island by car (and thankfully, even then, scope to drive on the island is limited). Pedestrians may also find the vibrations caused by heavy traffic rather disconcerting at times.

Elizabeth Bridge (Erzsébet híd)

Almost a complete rebuild of the original built between 1897 and 1903 which was too badly damaged by the Germans in 1945 to be reconstructed in its original form. Only the old piers were used as bases for the two towers holding the suspension cables. Taking four years to build, this modern looking span was opened in 1964 and has since become a great favourite with tourists and locals alike.

Chain Bridge (Lánchid)

This bridge was the first permanent span across the Danube being built between 1842 and 1849. Designed by English engineer, William Tierney Clark, with construction overseen locally by Scot, Adam Clark (the Square at the Buda end of the bridge is named after him), one of its first uses was to allow the Hungarian Army of Independence to retreat from the advancing Austrians in 1849. The Austrians then tried to blow up the bridge with explosives, but luckily the charges failed to detonate.

Sadly almost 100 years later, the German army succeeded in collapsing the centre span during fierce fighting towards the end of World War II. The bridge was quickly rebuilt and has been periodically renovated (which makes driving in Budapest an even greater chore as the bridge usually has to be closed).

On the plus side, it's a good place take photographs and is beautifully floodlit at night. Shame about the unsightly graffiti though.

Liberty Bridge (Szabadság híd)

This bridge was the third to be constructed in Budapest and was originally called Franz Joseph Bridge after the Habsburg Emperor. Opened in 1896 as part of the Millennium celebrations, the design is elegant but simple and the bridge vies with the Chain bridge for the accolade of the most beautiful river crossing in Budapest. Elegant ironwork and the inclusion of several Turul birds (a mystical symbol in Magyar history) perched atop the bridge's pillars enhance its attractiveness all the more.

Margaret Bridge (Margit híd)

The second bridge over the Danube was built between 1872 and 1876 by a firm of Paris based engineers. Unusual only for the fact it turns at an angle in the middle to continue along the line of the Nagykörút. At the turn, a connecting branch joins the bridge to the Margaret Island (Margit Sziget), while tram Nos. 4 and 6, which go across the bridge, also stop near the branch to the Island.

Petőfi Bridge (Petőfi híd)

This bridge, downstream from the Liberty Bridge was constructed during the depression in the 1930s. Because of tight funding it has little decoration and is merely functional.

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