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Budapest

Visit Budapest

Budapest is a city of massive scale where the Danube river flows between the rocky cliffs of Buda and the flat boulevards of Pest. It is the most impressive hub for road trips from Budapest because the city was built to be the co capital of an empire. You should visit the Cave Church inside Gellért Hill which was founded by monks in the 1920s and hidden away during the Cold War. The Pest side is home to the Jewish Quarter where you can find the Great Synagogue and the many courtyard bars that have been built inside the shells of pre war buildings. For a local experience take the yellow metro line which is the second oldest underground railway in the world and still features wood paneled stations.

The city is famous for its thermal springs and you can visit the Lukács baths which have been a meeting place for local intellectuals for decades. For a unique view of the Parliament building drive to the Batthyány Square on the opposite bank where the stone reflection in the water is perfect at sunset. The Margaret Island sits in the middle of the river and offers a two mile running track and gardens that are a favorite escape for the city residents. You can find the Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial which consists of sixty pairs of iron shoes as a quiet and powerful reminder of the city's history during the second world war.

Leaving the city toward the north takes you through the Roman ruins of Aquincum and toward the bend of the Danube at Visegrád. The highway system is a radial network that allows you to reach any corner of the country in less than three hours. You will notice the architecture shift from the grand stone palaces of the center to the smaller colorful houses of the suburban villages. Budapest is a city of bridges and hot water and red pepper that offers a grand and sensory start to your drive. It remains the dominant cultural and economic force of the region and a landmark of European history.

Top sights to visit

  • Gellert Hill Cave Church Walk into the hillside entrance to find a unique chapel built entirely inside a natural cave system. Experience the hushed atmosphere while looking at the intricate wood carvings and stone altars. It offers a mysterious and spiritual perspective of the city away from the grand cathedrals.
  • The Ruin Bar District Head to Szimpla Kert to see a massive abandoned factory turned into a labyrinth of art, neon lights, and mismatched furniture. Order a local herbal liqueur and explore the different themed rooms upstairs. This is the birthplace of the world famous nightlife of Budapest and a mandatory stop for any creative traveler.
  • Fishermans Bastion Towers Walk along the white stone ramparts for a fairytale view of the Danube and the Hungarian Parliament. Use the pointed turrets as frames for your photos of the red rooftops and bridges of the city. It is the most beautiful vantage point in Buda and feels like stepping into a storybook.
  • Margaret Island Run Drive to the center of the river and walk or run the five kilometer track that circles this park island. Watch the musical fountain show or explore the ruins of a thirteenth century nunnery in the middle of the gardens. This car free island is the perfect place to reset and breathe during a long road trip.
  • Szechenyi Thermal Baths Rent a towel and soak in the steaming outdoor medicinal pools while watching locals play chess on floating boards. Admire the grand neo-baroque architecture of the yellow palace that surrounds the water. This is a quintessential Budapest experience that is as much about the history as it is about relaxation.
  • The Shoes on the Danube Wander along the Pest riverbank to find sixty pairs of iron shoes fixed to the stone to honor the victims of the war. Take a moment of silence at this moving memorial located just steps from the Parliament. It is a simple but incredibly powerful tribute to the past of the city.
  • The Great Market Hall Walk through the massive ground floor to buy high quality Hungarian paprika, saffron, and salami. Head upstairs to find a stall selling Langos, which is a deep fried dough topped with garlic, cream, and cheese. This hall from the nineteenth century is the best place to experience the sights and tastes of Hungary.
  • Vajdahunyad Castle Park Go across the bridge to see this collage castle that features architectural styles from across the Hungarian Kingdom. Find the statue of Anonymous and rub his pen for good luck with your own writing. It is a stunning, scenic spot for a walk, especially when the surrounding lake is used for ice skating in winter.
  • Andrassy Avenue Walk Walk this grand boulevard to see the mansions and the stunning Hungarian State Opera House. Stop at a historic cafe like the Book Cafe for coffee under a frescoed ceiling. This street is a UNESCO World Heritage site and represents the peak of the Golden Age of Budapest.
  • The Hospital in the Rock Take a guided tour of the secret nuclear bunker and emergency hospital hidden deep under the Castle Hill. See the original medical equipment and wax figures that recreate the atmosphere of the Siege of Budapest. It is a chilling, fascinating look at the survival of the city during the twentieth century.
  • Elizabeth Lookout Tower Drive or take the chairlift up to Janos Hill and climb the stone tower for the highest view in the city. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the High Tatra mountains in Slovakia. It is a great way to see the lush, hilly side of Buda that contrasts with the flat Pest side.
  • The Yellow Metro Line Take a ride on the M1 line, the oldest underground railway in continental Europe, featuring tiny yellow cars and wood paneled stations. Get off at the Opera or Hosök tere stations to see the beautifully preserved tilework from the nineteenth century. It is a charming, nostalgic way to move through the center of the city.

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History of Budapest

Budapest is actually a tale of two cities, Buda and Pest, separated by the mighty Danube River and only united in 1873. Buda, on the hilly western bank, was the site of the royal castle and the seat of power for the Hungarian kings and Ottoman pashas. Pest, on the flat eastern plain, grew into a booming commercial hub during the Industrial Revolution. The construction of the Chain Bridge finally linked the two, creating a "Queen of the Danube" that rivaled Vienna in its splendor and scale.

The city reached its zenith during the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy, a period that gave Budapest its grand Parliament building, the second-largest in the world and the first underground railway in continental Europe. However, the 20th century was brutal; the city was devastated during the Siege of Budapest in 1944 and became the site of the heroic but tragic 1956 Uprising against Soviet rule. These scars are still visible in the "ruin bars" of the Jewish Quarter, where bombed-out buildings have become vibrant centers of nightlife.

Driving through Budapest today, you see a city that has reclaimed its imperial glamour without losing its gritty, rebellious edge. The thermal baths, which have been in use since Roman and Turkish times, remain the city's living rooms, where people discuss politics while soaking in medicinal waters. From the heights of Gellert Hill to the wide avenues of Andrassy, Budapest is a city of dramatic views and deep history, standing as a defiant and beautiful gateway between Central Europe and the East.