Matthias Church
Budavári Nagyboldogasszony-templom47°30′ N 19°02′ E
Matthias Church, the Church of Our Lady of Buda Castle, is the church on Buda's Castle Hill where you can hear a sung Christmas Mass, as on Christmas Day 2025 when the 10:00 high Mass used Beethoven's Mass in C major. Sightseeing needs a ticket and modest dress, and the visiting hours move around the services.
Photo Arian Zwegers · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 and others, credited in the gallery
The church has stood on Szentháromság tér for close to 800 years and carries a choral tradition its trusteeship traces back over 300 years. Visiting choirs and ensembles from Hungary and abroad give concerts here through the year, from Gregorian chant to 20th-century church music. The parish posts its services day by day on a calendar, and the big feast days fill in late, so check it in December for the 2026 Christmas Masses.
Worth knowing
- Bring a scarf or shawl in case your top leaves your shoulders bare; the church turns away visitors it judges underdressed.
- An audio guide in Hungarian, English, Italian and Polish plays on your own phone over the church's free Wi-Fi, and the first three chapters cost nothing.
Quick answers about Matthias Church
How much does it cost to enter Matthias Church in Budapest?
An adult ticket to Matthias Church costs 3,400 HUF in 2026, and a student or pensioner ticket costs 2,700 HUF. Children under 6 go in free, and the tower is a separate ticket at 4,000 HUF for an adult.
Is there a dress code at Matthias Church?
Yes. Matthias Church asks visitors to cover their shoulders and knees, and staff can refuse entry to anyone dressed otherwise.
Is there a Christmas Mass at Matthias Church?
Yes. On Christmas Day 2025 Matthias Church held a solemn high Mass at 10:00 with Beethoven's Mass in C major, and the 2026 times will appear on the parish calendar.