Enchanting and graceful, Budapest charms its visitors with stunning architecture, breathtaking panoramas, and a vibrant energy.  Originally 2 cities divided by the great Danube River, Budapest was formed by the amalgamation in 1873 of the cities of Buda and Pest.  Easy to get around, Budapest is well served by a network of trams, buses and underground trains.  Buda, situated on the hilly right (west) bank, is home to Buda Castle and overlooks the vast and flat Pest.     

See:

• Buda Castle – On Castle Hill, this UNESCO World Heritage listed castle complex houses interesting museums, churches and lookout points. 
• St Stephen’s Basilica – Dominating the skyline, this large church houses the mummified right hand of St Stephen.
• Citadella – Built by the Habsburgs in the mid 19th century, the Citadella provides beautiful views of Castle Hill and Pest.
• Heroes’ Square – Filled with monuments, this square at the end of Andrassy Boulevard and adjacent to the Museum of Fine Arts
• Parliament Building – Built on the banks of the Danube in 1902, this is a magnificent example of neo-Gothic architecture.

Experience:

• Thermal Spas – Large public complexes popular year-round are fed by natural underground hot springs.  Try the Kiraly Baths, built by the Turks in 1570 and still functioning today!
• Sziget Music Festival – Held every August on Margaret Island, it is Europe’s largest music festival attracting visitors from all over the world.
• Opera - the Hungarian State Opera House on Andrassy Boulevard was completed in 1884, and is breathtakingly beautiful inside and out. 
• The Great Synagogue and Jewish Museum – with one of the largest post-war Jewish populations in Central Europe, Budapest’s Great Synagogue is filled with history and harrowing exhibits dedicated to the Holocaust.

Secrets of the City:

• House of Terror – One of Budapest’s most unusual museums housed in the former headquarters of the secret police, showcasing brutal methods used during Hungary’s fascist and Stalinist periods.
• Obuda – Ancient Roman ruins are at the former settlement of Aquincum, further upstream from the city centre.
• Statue Park – The Soviet statues that once filled the streets of Communist Budapest were relocated to this park, a little out of the city but well worth the effort.