The Fat Policeman Statue
The Fat Policeman Statue
4
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience The Fat Policeman Statue and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Belváros-Lipótváros
How to get there
- Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út • 5 min walk
- Arany János utca • 5 min walk
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
3,735 within 5 kms
Attractions
937 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.0
350 reviews
Excellent
95
Very good
170
Average
79
Poor
6
Terrible
0
TheShis
Tel Aviv, Israel42,744 contributions
Feb 2020
This is a fantastic and whimsical statue of a fat policeman - as simple as that.
What makes the statue extremely appealing is his belly, which is probably the most petted belly in Budapest, as everyone believes it would give them good luck.
You cannot and should not miss this iconic little statue while strolling near the cathedral.
What makes the statue extremely appealing is his belly, which is probably the most petted belly in Budapest, as everyone believes it would give them good luck.
You cannot and should not miss this iconic little statue while strolling near the cathedral.
Written 12 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vadim
Murmansk, Russia34,574 contributions
July 2022
Although the sculpture is called "Fat Policeman" on Tripadviser, the real name of the sculpture is "Guardian of Order". Sculptor Illyés Andras executed a life-size sculpture in the form of a Hungarian policeman of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, in a characteristic uniform and helmet. A bronze policeman has been standing on Ziniyi Street with a view of St. Stephen's Cathedral since 2008. Tourists use such sculptures for two purposes. Either do a sit-down, or rub something for luck. What should a law enforcement officer rub? A shiny belly signals the preferences of tourists. However, it is believed that happiness brings the visor of a helmet. However, who keeps these statistics?
Written 5 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tessa
Tempe, AZ172 contributions
June 2022 • Solo
Budapest is covered in statues like this. As our tour guide put it, if you throw a stone in Budapest, you are likely to strike a statue. There isn’t much to say about this attraction, except that it wasn’t erected to honor anyone or commemorate anything, it was simply built as part of a city project to beautify and attract tourists. It is worth a visit, if only to touch the belly of the policeman and chuckle at its pointlessness.
Written 27 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CassimaSK
Bicester, UK233 contributions
Dec 2022
A great statue to stop by for a few minutes for some positive photos/selfies. You will probably be visiting the area in any scenario as the policeman ('Rendőr') is located on a very popular tourist route - on the way to St. Stephen's Basilica. Don't just go past!
Written 3 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Apple C
259 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
When walking around Budapest, be sure to note for yourself a large number of interesting sculptures and monuments. Some of them are very memorable and unusual, for example, a monument to a policeman, his colorful figure attracts attention. This life-size bronze sculpture depicts a policeman who calmly observes order and traffic on the street. The famous Hungarian architect Andrasz Elesch created the sculpture of a policeman in 2008.
Written 19 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelingSoccerLoon
Saint Paul, MN5,795 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
Fun statue near vibrant St Stephen's Square and along the pedestrian street Zrinyi Utca of a policeman circa early 1900s. Unveiled in 1987. It's a bit random but it has become quite a popular photo stop. It is said to bring luck if you rub his belly as obviously countless others have done.
Written 18 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tiberiu_Baranyi
Timisoara, Romania17,107 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
As you are walking in the area in the vicinity of the St. Stephen cathedral you shall this landmark on the Zryinyi street ... looking in the direction of the St. Stephen cathedral.
So you will see a life size statue of the a policeman from the past century in full uniform that was typical for the late 1800 early 1900 (now there is always a question mark if he is a policeman or more like bobby - and to be honest I lean towards the second "booby").
Now the visitor can clearly see the humor of the artist who's envisioned this "Guardian of Order" being overweight ...and the tourist are rubbing the belly of the statue ... hence it's shiny looks.
Overall a nice statue and fun to see - definitely a spot to stop for a few pics.
So you will see a life size statue of the a policeman from the past century in full uniform that was typical for the late 1800 early 1900 (now there is always a question mark if he is a policeman or more like bobby - and to be honest I lean towards the second "booby").
Now the visitor can clearly see the humor of the artist who's envisioned this "Guardian of Order" being overweight ...and the tourist are rubbing the belly of the statue ... hence it's shiny looks.
Overall a nice statue and fun to see - definitely a spot to stop for a few pics.
Written 23 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KodoDrummer
Buenos Aires, Argentina70,623 contributions
June 2018 • Solo
Is his stomach area shiny because a lot of people like rubbing it? Oh yes, they say that rubbing his tummy will bring you good luck. Is he really a fat policeman, or is it a sign that he very much enjoys Hungarian cuisine. Many of my Hungarian friends have similar stomachs. I love Hungarian cooking, and at times my stomach challenges the outer bounds of my shirt. Oh well, I prefer the Hungarian food, even if it decreases my life expectancy.
Since he was unveiled in 2008, he has been standing there guarding St. Stephen's Basilica (Szent Istvan Bazilika)?
No sooner did I say that I have three favourite bronze statues in Budapest than it has changed to four. They are the Little Princess statue, Ronald Regan statue in Liberty Square (Szabadsag Square), and the Fat Policeman on the street leading to the main entrance of St. Stephen's Basilica (Szent Istvan Bazilika), and the monument Imre Nagy, the Prime Minister who together with the vast majority of Hungarians revolted in 1956 against rule by the USSR, and who was executed in 1958.
Way to go Budapest. I love your bronze statues.
Since he was unveiled in 2008, he has been standing there guarding St. Stephen's Basilica (Szent Istvan Bazilika)?
No sooner did I say that I have three favourite bronze statues in Budapest than it has changed to four. They are the Little Princess statue, Ronald Regan statue in Liberty Square (Szabadsag Square), and the Fat Policeman on the street leading to the main entrance of St. Stephen's Basilica (Szent Istvan Bazilika), and the monument Imre Nagy, the Prime Minister who together with the vast majority of Hungarians revolted in 1956 against rule by the USSR, and who was executed in 1958.
Way to go Budapest. I love your bronze statues.
Written 15 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KodoDrummer
Buenos Aires, Argentina70,623 contributions
Sept 2023 • Friends
The Fat Hungarian Policeman is an adorable statue that brings a smile to one's face. Rub his belly for good luck and make it shine even brighter.
Written 11 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharon M
Abingdon, MD4,224 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
There are so many interesting statues in Budapest but this one is a stand-out. You could almost walk right by him, not realizing that it is a statue. You can find him near St. Stephen's Basilica at the corner of Oktober 6 and Zrinyl Streets. He is a policeman from the early 1900s, life-size. Some say if you rub his belly, he will bring you good luck. From the looks of the statue, lots of people have already rubbed his belly.
Written 29 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The "good soldier" I assume you have read the book? I have. Given to me by a Czech couple. Wasn't Czech and Slovakia at the time. I wonder if you actually know what you are talking about,and if you grasp the meaning of the book? Have you read Sven Hassel? His books are horrendous. Been to Auschwitz? Been to the sidings in Berlin? Times numbers and dates on the platforms. Guess not. Been to Russia? Where the ultimate irony is a monument/memorial to the dead. To the dead of dictatorships.That is ironic. St Petersburg and Moscow.
Written 22 December 2017
I have not read the book. Sorry, you did not like my review and you wanted to sound off. My father escaped Hungary during the Hungarian revolution in 1956-57. He left behind his entire family. I visited Hungary during the 1960's and 70's during the Iron Curtain and say first hand the trauma it caused the Hungarian people and my family. My father shared his horror stories with us. The statue is still where it is. Tourist will take pictures and rub the belly. Of course you can opt out.
Written 22 December 2017
ciao, ho letto da qualche parte che la leggenda vuole che chi tocchi la statua con l'ombelico non prenderà più peso, qualcuno ne conosce l'origine?
Written 15 December 2017
BarbieMegaTraveller
6,915 contributions
I wish that was true! I touched the Fat Policeman's belly and have since put on weight - maybe the opposite is true?
Written 29 December 2017
Showing results 1-2 of 2
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing