Getting married in Budapest: a step-by-step plan for a Buda Castle wedding
To marry in Budapest you give notice together, in person, at least 31 days before the wedding, bring your documents with a certified Hungarian translation, and get a permit if the ceremony is outside the register office. Buda Castle is in District I, where a ceremony at a venue costs HUF 80,000 plus VAT.
What you need for a legal wedding in Hungary
Only the civil ceremony is legally binding in Hungary. Both partners give notice of their intention to marry together and in person before a registrar (Act I of 2010, section 17). You do not need a Hungarian address (Hungarian Consulate General, Manchester).
- Passport or ID card, and your birth certificate.
- If you were married before: the divorce decree or the death certificate.
- Foreign citizens: proof that nothing prevents the marriage under your own country's law. US citizens get this certificate at the US Embassy in Budapest (US Embassy); British citizens bring their Certificate of No Impediment.
- Foreign documents usually need an Apostille or consular legalisation, and a certified Hungarian translation.
- Two adult witnesses, whom you bring yourselves.
- An interpreter at every stage if one of you does not speak Hungarian. You arrange the interpreter for the ceremony.
The 30-day rule, and how far ahead you can book
The registrar can set the wedding no earlier than 30 days after the notice (Civil Code, section 4:7). The district notary can waive this for a good reason; both partners ask in writing. The notice stays valid for one year, so the wedding can be any time from day 31 to the end of that year.
If one of you lives abroad, that partner can give notice at a Hungarian consulate, but only one of you can do so. The Manchester consulate says forwarding the papers to Hungary takes at least four to six weeks, and the 30 days start when they arrive (Hungarian Consulate General, Manchester).
There are no weddings on Sundays, public holidays or 24 to 26 December.
A ceremony at a venue in District I
Buda Castle belongs to District I (Budavár). The register office is at Kapisztrán tér 1, 1014 Budapest, and the date is first agreed with the registrar by phone (budavar.hu). For a ceremony outside the office you need the notary's permit, decided within five days. You also bring the witnesses and the interpreter, cover the registrar's travel, and name a backup place in case of bad weather (Act I of 2010, section 18).
Outside office hours, ceremonies in District I are held on Fridays from 14:00 to 19:00 and on Saturdays from 10:00 to 19:00. The fees are set by District I Decree 11/2020:
| Place | Fee |
|---|---|
| Register office, office hours | free |
| Úri utca 58, small hall | HUF 15,000 + VAT |
| Úri utca 58, large hall | HUF 40,000 + VAT |
| Kapisztrán tér 1, atrium | HUF 75,000 + VAT per hour |
| A venue in District I | HUF 80,000 + VAT |
The fee is due no later than the 10th day before the wedding, and is refunded if you cancel in writing by the 8th day (Decree 11/2020). The amounts have not changed since 2020; confirm them when you book.
Where to say yes in Buda Castle
- Aranybástya: on the 28 m² Private Terrace of the Hanging Garden, facing Parliament and the Chain Bridge.
- Fisherman's Bastion Restaurant: on the Danube Terrace, or on the Margaréta Terrace for up to 50 guests.
- Royal Palace courtyards: the Lion Courtyard, Hunyadi Court and the Turkish Garden.
- Hilton Budapest: on request, the District I registrar conducts the ceremony in the hotel.
- Ida Bistro: in the riverside garden of Várkert Bazár.
For a church wedding, apply to Matthias Church at least five months ahead; only the couple can book the date (Matthias Church parish). The Buda Castle Lutheran Church asks couples to apply about six months ahead (Lutheran parish). A church wedding has no civil effect, so the civil ceremony comes first. Venues for the wedding dinner, by guest numbers: Buda Castle wedding venues.
A countdown that works
- 12 to 6 months before: venues for the ceremony and dinner; church date if you want one.
- 4 to 3 months before: start the foreign documents, the Apostille and the translations. Add six weeks if one of you gives notice at a consulate.
- At least 31 days before: give notice together in person, and ask for the permit for an outside venue.
- 10 days before: pay the fee.
- The last week: final guest numbers to the venue, witnesses and interpreter confirmed.
Questions
Can foreigners get married in Budapest?
Yes. Neither partner needs a Hungarian address. You give notice together at least 31 days before the wedding, with your passports, birth certificates and proof that nothing prevents the marriage under your own law, translated into Hungarian.
How much does a civil ceremony in Buda Castle cost?
At the District I register office during office hours it is free. At a venue in District I, such as a terrace or courtyard in Buda Castle, the fee is HUF 80,000 plus VAT, on top of the venue's own price.
Is a church wedding legally valid in Hungary?
No. A church wedding has no civil effect, so couples hold the civil ceremony first and the church service after it.
Can we get married on a Saturday in Buda Castle?
Yes. In District I ceremonies outside office hours are held on Fridays from 14:00 to 19:00 and Saturdays from 10:00 to 19:00. There are no weddings on Sundays or public holidays.
Last checked: 27 September 2026 · Sources: the official pages and trade press linked in the article