Elisabeth Bridge over the River Danube Budapest

Elisabeth Bridge connects Buda (the foot of Gellert hill) and the Pest side inner city (March 15 Square), Buda and Pest were united in 1873. Get to know Elisabeth Bridge and all the riverside attractions of Budapest during a fun Danube boat tour, and visit Gellert Spa in the neighbourhood.

History of Elisabeth Bridge

Elisabeth Bridge in Budapest was named after the beloved queen and empress Elisabeth of Bavaria (Sissi) of the Austro Hungarian Empire who was murdered in 1898. She believed the Hungarian people deserved greater freedoms and respect, and collaborated with her close friend, the dashing Hungarian statesman Gyula Andrássy, to advance the Hungarian cause. She further alienated the Viennese aristocracy by filling her personal staff with Hungarian nationals.

The original suspension bridge was built 1897 and 1903, with a large corruption scandal. A rich nobleman managed to sell his riverside plot for a highly inflated price. Building Elisabeth bridge included many hardships and technical obstacles, such as a mudslides etc. The construction stopped a few times before it finally succeeded in 1903.

During World War II in 1945, the original eclectic flamboyant style bridge was destroyed by the German army along with the other bridges. Elisabeth bridge was the only bridge which could not be rebuilt in its original form as there was no financial support and technical ability.

Today’s modern white cable bridge was build in the 1960s. In 2009, Elisabeth Bridge has received special lighting designed by Motoko Ishii, the Japanese designer to re-establishing diplomatic links between Japan and Hungary.

Visit Elisabeth Bridge and get closer to the beloved night sights of Budapest, the pleasant Piano Dinner Cruise is scheduled to depart from a dock by the foot of Elisabeth Bridge.

Nearby attractions are Inner City Parish Church on the Pest side and Rudas Baths on the Buda Side.