Budapest

Overview

Budapest is the capital of Hungary and with a population of 1,8 million citizens it is by far the largest city in the country.

The city is often referred to as the Paris of the east, and deserves this name. It bears some resemblance to Prague, but  is larger and friendlier. The picturesque setting on two sides of the Danube, the nine connecting bridges and the villas and public buildings from the fin-de-siècle era really make Budapest one of the most enjoyable cities in Europe.

Budapest is composed of three cities: Buda, and Obuda on the west side of the river looking over the much larger Pest on the opposite side. To simplify it for tourist, Obuda and Buda are often just refered to as Buda. The three parts developed separately as the bourgeois Buda with its palaces and spas and the more commercial Pest. At first, the hills of Buda were the safe core of the twin cities, but as Buda and Pest were united with Buda (Ancient Buda) the plains of Pest became the centre of the growing metropolis.

Today, the most famous landmark of Budapest is the Parliament building on the banks of the Danube. From a distance it looks a lot like the English Houses of Parliament, with Big Ben conspicuously absent. The best view of the Parliament can be had from Castle Hill, a Budapest highlight itself. This collection of palaces, churches and monuments has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is a must see for...more

History