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 (Lánchíd)
 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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