Budapest

The Hungarian capital is divided by the mighty Danube into two distinct areas: Buda, the historic centre built on a hill, which overlooks Pest, the commercial heartland of the city.

Budapest, the Hungarian capital, is steeped in history, acquiring layers of cultural identity spanning many centuries, empires, conflicts and regimes. Destroyed and rebuilt several times over, the centre of the city nowadays is dominated by early nineteenth century architecture while gems of its earlier character remain.

This majestic city has an imperial past; more and more of the 19th century grandeur of the Hapsburg Empire is being revealed as the city is restored.

The wide boulevards and magnificent bridges which straddle the Danube add to the air of a wealthy, cosmopolitan city. Budapest was originally two different cities, one on each side of the river. Historic Buda and modern Pest are linked by seven bridges to form one city, perhaps the most beautiful on the Danube.

They were legally unified in 1873 but the two cities retain their individuality. The hills of Buda give the best views of the city and contain ancient buildings such as the Royal Palace and Matthias Coronation Church. Pest, in contrast, is a flat, modern metropolis. Renowned the world over for its bath houses, Budapest is blessed with thousands of natural hot sources for which it has gained the title of the City of Spas. The health giving thermal springs form the basis of its hydrotherapy culture.

The traditional Gellért Baths with its stunning art deco architecture and the Széchenyi Spa with its neo-Baroque courtyard pools, come highly recommended for all visitors. Elegant hotel spa retreats and family-oriented thermal water parks lie on the outskirts of the city.

For the more active visitor, Budapest offers sightseeing tours by boat along the Danube, by bus, by air in a helicopter as well as themed tours of the city, churches, folklore and so on and bike trails and walking tours. A short trip to the edges of the city offers world class golfing, horse riding and watersports on the great Lake Balaton. The climate and volcanic soil come together to produce some of the best wines in Europe, most notably those of the Tokaj region. Wine tasting and vineyard tours are popular options for the oenophile.