Sándor Palace

The Sándor Palace, in Budapest

The Sándor Palace is one of the most important monuments of Budapest, an elegant neoclassical dwelling of the castle district, today the official residence of the president of Hungary. The Budapest audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this palace built at the beginning of the nineteenth century for a rich aristocratic family, become the residence of the heads of government, ravaged by the war then restored.

The residence of Hungarian power

Given its appearance, its name and its position, doubt is not allowed: we are indeed in front of one of the most important monuments of Budapest. The Sándor Palace, built between 1803 and 1806, was originally the private property of a rich aristocratic family. Their financial means were such that all the luxurious follies were envisaged for their manor: hall of mirrors, sumptuous baroque salons, marble stables. Sold to the State after having passed between owners each wealthier than the last, the dwelling changed status and became, from 1867, the residence of the heads of government. In total, nineteen prime ministers worked and lodged there over time, making these walls a high place of Hungarian power. With the outbreak of the Second World War, the Sándor Palace was severely tested: the bombardments left it completely in ruins, and it long remained abandoned. It is only from 1989, at the time of the democratic transition, that its restoration was seriously envisaged, and the palace recovered its former splendour. Since 2003, it is the official residence of the president of the Republic of Hungary. Of neoclassical style, adorned with bas-reliefs and columns, it stands facing the Budavár Palace, guarded by a changing of the guard appreciated by visitors. A presidential palace and an aristocratic dwelling, the Sándor Palace is a fine stop of the discovery of Budapest.

What to see

Here you discover one of the major monuments of Budapest, an elegant neoclassical palace built between 1803 and 1806 for a rich aristocratic family, become from 1867 the residence of the heads of government, where nineteen prime ministers followed one another; ravaged by the Second World War then restored, it is since 2003 the residence of the president of Hungary, guarded by a changing of the guard. The Sándor Palace is a high place of power in Budapest. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Sándor Palace stands on the castle hill, in the district of Buda, facing the Budavár Palace, in Budapest, reachable on foot or by funicular. It is the residence of the president: you admire its façade from the square and you can attend the changing of the guard, but the interior is generally not visited. You discover it during a walk.

What is the role of the Sándor Palace in Budapest today?

Since 2003, it is the official residence of the president of the Republic of Hungary; built between 1803 and 1806 for a rich aristocratic family, it became from 1867 the residence of the heads of government, where nineteen prime ministers followed one another, before being ravaged by the Second World War then restored after 1989. You can see there the changing of the guard.

Where is the Sándor Palace in Budapest?

On the castle hill, in the district of Buda, facing the Budavár Palace, in Budapest, in Hungary.