The area of Hungary is barely about 100,000 km2. The unique language is spoken nowhere else in the world and the folk songs bear no resemblance to those of other language. Yet, Hungarian people have been living in the centre of Europe for over 1,100 years and despite the frequent tragic upheavals which spread nothing and nobody, the country boasts a heritage that attracts people from all over the world.
Citing the city`s unparalleled panorama, UNESCO declared the Hungarian capital, Budapest, as ˝The Pearl of the Danube˝, a World Heritage Site. After Iceland, Hungary has the world`s largest thermal water reserved surface with hundreds of springs that help thousand in recovering.
Budapest offers a variety of sights and activities that can be seen and enjoyed. Have a delightful time travelling and exploring the country and many unforgettable experiences in the heart of Europe!
Many fall in love with Budapest at first sight, others only become devotees after a longer stay, but no one denies that it is one of the most beautifully situated cities in the world. The wide stream of the Danube divides the metropolis of about two million inhabitants into two, the hilly Buda and the flat Pest. The panorama over the Danube and the radial avenue of Andrássy út are also part of the UNESCO World Heritage list. Once you have seen them flood-lit, you will appreciate why.
Budapest looks at its most beautiful at dawn. As the sun slowly rises over the eastern plains, bathing Pest in soft pastel hues, it radiates back from the buildings of Buda as if they were a giant mirror and the windows on Castle Hill positively glisten in golden jubilation. But, Budapest is also spectacularly appealing at night. The Chain Bridge is festooned with white lights and the main public buildings like the Parliament, the Opera House and the Royal Palace, as well as the entire panorama of the Castle District, are imaginatively and sensitively floodlit.
It's easy for Budapest to play with light in the manner as of an elegant lady trying on her jewels and which for everything looks good. This is a vibrant city: it throbs with morning, noon and night life; visitors arriving from other countries get the feeling that something interesting is happening round every corner.
It's no exaggeration to say that Budapest is one of the finest capital cities in Europe, and also one of the best situated. Among the several places in Hungary that have been granted the classification of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the first were the Danube Panorama (on the Buda side from the Gellért Hotel all along Castle Hill to Margaret Bridge, and on the Pest side from the Parliament back down to Petőfi Bridge), and Andrássy út (along its entire length from the centre of Pest to Heroes' Square, where the Millenary Monument stands on the edge of the City Park).
History all around
Explore Roman ruins, ornamental Gothic churches, broad Parisian boulevards and Art-Nouveau palaces dripping with colourful motifs.
Places which can’t be missed:
Europe’s largest Parliament building and its largest synagogue, Castle District with Royal Palace, and the Great Boulevard, Matthias Church overlooking the river and Andrássy Avenue (UNESCO World Heritage Sites).
Spa in Budapest
Choose the capital of spas for a city break that eases aches and pains. A staggering 80 natural thermal springs emerge in and around the capital, feeding a dozen mineral-rich baths.
Enjoy a warming dip and take advantage of the water’s healing power – it is said to alleviate a range of medical problems, from sports injuries to skin complaints.
Dining, entertainment and festivals
Brimming with energy and rich in culture, Budapest offers fine dining, fantastic shopping and entertainment galore. Hungary has a proud culinary tradition, so tickle your taste buds with stuffed pancakes, meaty goulash, creamy cakes – and much more. The capital has a plethora of restaurants serving cuisines from all over the world.
Savour fine traditional foods, the epitome of distinguished dining and high culinary art are present in every restaurant in Budapest. Enjoy Budapest’s ambience of coffee shops, some with the last-century elegance and others offering a contemporary spin on the café culture.
If you’re a culture vulture, head for the city during the spring or autumn festivals and revel in their lively celebrations of the very best in classical music and traditional dance.
Join the audiences at top-class performances of music and dance in venues across the city, including the opulent State Opera House. Arrive during autumn and experience the annual international wine festivals. Take in some of the 200 fascinating museums and galleries, from master paintings in the Museum of Fine Arts to interactive displays for children in the Palace of Miracles.
Did you know?
- The Castle District, the Danube embankments and Andrássy Avenue have been officially declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Budapest’s metro was founded in 1896, making it the first underground railway in continental Europe.
- An extensive system of caves lies beneath Buda Castle; in the past the labyrinth was used as wine cellars and even as an air-raid shelter.
- The Western Railway Station (opened in 1877) was built by the famous Eiffel Company.
- The Great Synagogue is the second-largest synagogue in the world.
Top that! Experiences not to be missed
- Join a riverboat cruise and make the best of the Danube panorama
- Pop off to play a round of golf at one of the excellent nearby courses.
- Go back in time and witness medieval tournaments in historic castles and open-air theatres.
- Spend an afternoon wine tasting under the guidance of qualified experts.
- Relish an evening’s performance at the exquisite State Opera House.
- Climb up to the Basilica’s outer gallery and take a bird’s eye view of the city.
- Take a trawl past the city’s highlights aboard an open-top sightseeing bus.
- Fulfil those dreams of driving a steam train in the Hungarian Railway History Park.
- Take advantage of a really tasty bargain the country’s restaurants.
- Visit the Budapest International Wine Festival in autumn, a chance for wine lovers to sip and sniff to their hearts’ content!
