Nestled along the banks of the Danube in northern Hungary, Budapest is often cited as one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. Where once two contrasting cities existed on opposite sides of the river, Buda and Pest merged in the 1800s to form a rambling urban district whose fascinating culture remained divided by the postcard-worthy waterway.
From the Buda Hills of the west to the Great Plain of the east, Budapest’s cityscape is one of immense variety of intrigue. Traverse one of the city’s seven historic bridges, and it’s easy to discern the cultural variances between the two banks. Where Buda is a tapestry of it’s easy streets, ancient structures and green spaces, Pest is the urban heart of the city, home to the Opera, the Central Market, the National Theatre, the Palace of the Arts and the Hungarian Parliament Building.
Like other global cities to have flourished on the banks of a river, Budapest comprises a handful of distinct neighbourhoods, each offering its own blend of historic, cultural and architectural gems. For those visiting the city for the first, second or even third time, the diversity of these quarters ensures there is always something new and exciting to see.
Discover the highlights, hidden gems and cultural significance of this great European city in our in-depth Budapest city guide.
Overlooking a Parisian-style boulevard in the heart of the
former Pest district of the city, the Hungarian State Opera House is one of
Europe’s most architecturally lavish concert venues – so you should catch a show
there if the opportunity arises. Despite its grandeur, tickets for Budapest’s
Hungarian State Opera House are relatively inexpensive. For those not keen on
seeing a show, hour-long tours operate throughout the day.
Visitors interested in learning more about Budapest’s
communist past should pay a visit to Memento Park – an open-air museum housing
the monumental statues which dotted the city during Hungary’s Communist period.
Located beyond the western hills of Buda, the part contains statues of several
communist figureheads, including Vladimir Lenin, Karl Marx and Friedrich
Engels, as well as other plaques, sculptures and monuments dedicated to the
People’s Republic of Hungary at the time of Soviet occupation.
If you are interested in the art of photography, then the
Hungarian House of Photography deserves to be your next port of call after
visiting the Hungarian National Gallery and the Museum of Applied Arts.
Featuring a fine selection of contemporary and historical photographs from
numerous national and international photographers, this excellent art centre
regularly changes its exhibits.
As a city whose foundations are awash with thermal hot springs,
Budapest’s bathing heritage dates back to the Romans. Thousands of tourists and
locals alike regularly frequent the city’s thermal bathing spots, with the most
popular baths being Gellért and Széchenyi. If you’d prefer somewhere quieter,
then we’d recommend Veli Bej, a unique Turkish bathhouse first built in the
1570s, which tends to attract more locals than visitors.
Sampling some of Budapest’s best culinary delights could not
be easier at the Great Market Hall, where you’ll find hundreds of independent
food vendors housed under one roof. Located at the end of the pedestrian
shopping street of Váci utca, this grand market offers an impressive array of
local produce – from caviar and spices, to pastries and confectionary. The
building itself is a delight to explore, having been restored to its former
neo-Gothic glory.
One of the great cultural icons of Europe; the Hungarian
Parliament Building is the most recognisable landmark of the Budapest skyline,
and perhaps the entire Danube River. Built following the unification of Pest,
Buda and Óbuda in 1873, the Parliament Building is the biggest building in
Hungary and the tallest building in Budapest. In total, over 100,000 people
were involved in its construction, and half a million precious stones were
incorporated into its design.
One of the world’s oldest museums dedicated to faith,
Budapest’s Jewish Museum is a historic exhibition celebrating the religious
objects and scriptures of Judaism. Located beside the Dohány Street Synagogue
in Pest, the museum was established in 1896 as a means of recording and showcasing
historic objects of Jewish origin. The museum serves as both a reference
library of Jewish artefacts and a place to remember those who lost their lives.
Folk music
has long been associated with Hungary, emerging from Budapest’s working classes
in the 1700s. Known locally as Magyar
népzene, Hungarian folk music combines musical traditions from several
countries in central Europe, including Austria and Poland. There are several
places to experience Hungarian folk music in Budapest, including Fono and the Hungarian
State Folk Ensemble.
A moving
memorial on the banks of the river; Shoes on the Danube Bank is a sculptural
tribute to the thousands of Jews murdered in Budapest during WWII. Designed by
sculptor Gyula Pauer, the Shoes on the Danube Bank depicts several pairs of
shoes left on the banks of the river, in memoriam of the thousands who were
shot by the Arrow Cross Party in 1944.
Nourishing
the people of Budapest for centuries, goulash is a traditional peasant dish
that became Hungary’s national dish during the Soviet years. Traditionally made
using beef, goulash contains a mix of spices, with paprika being the primary
flavour. Eaten straight from the pan with a hunk of bread, there’s no heartier
dish on the continent.
Try it: You’ll find goulash on the menu of
many traditional Hungarian restaurants in Budapest, but one of the best – and
most unique – places to sample it is the Vagon Restaurant, which is housed
inside a turn-of-the-century train car.
Try it: The M10 restaurant in Buda is a
wonderful place to try traditional Hungarian dishes, all within a stone’s throw
of the majestic Buda Castle.
If you’re looking for lunch on the go, it has to be lángos.
This street food favourite is beloved by locals, who enjoy it as much as the
Italians do pizza. Lángos is essentially deep-friend dough, served with a
mixture of sweet or savoury toppings. Perfect anytime of the day, it’s a
classic Hungarian treat you have to try.
