Budapest is a beautiful city, but not in the traditional way. It’s not perfectly restored like Vienna or straight from a storybook, like Prague. Budapest is unmistakably splendid. The city has become one of my favourites in Europe.
Located on both banks of the Danube River, the steep hills of Buda and the bustle of Pest give visitors a glimpse into the city’s grand and turbulent past. Budapest has undergone a lot of transformations in its long history. From the Turkish occupation to the Habsburgs, the Nazis and Communists, Hungary has copped it all. They’ve come out on top though, making the Hungarian capital one of the most picturesque and eclectic cities in Europe.
Graceful bridges join what were once the two cities of Budapest. On the hilly western bank of the Danube is Buda. A mostly residential area, where hot thermal springs rush under the miles of caves beneath the hills, feeding Budapest’s world-renowned thermal spas. On the eastern bank is the larger Pest, a bustling commercial area built on a plain. Along the Danube on the Pest side is the elegant Parliament building. Between Buda and Pest is Margaret Island, Budapest’s largest park.
During the day you can see people out shopping and dining while strolling gypsy bands and violinists play for you, once they recognize you as a tourist. But Budapest by night is the real treat. The lamps on the elegant Chain Bridge light up and are reflected off the river. Tour boats become dance boats and the sounds of the gypsy bands waft over the water to the shore.
Travco will take you to those captivating places…
Surrounding the Danube River are most of the significant sights of the city. The Chain Bridge joins the two very different halves of Budapest. Spending a day on each side is the best way to cover the city.
The Chain Bridge in Budapest
Castle Hill
The most prominent landmark in the landscape of Buda, Castle Hill is where the old castle used to reside. Dotted with great things to check out and has a real old town European feel to it.
View of Castle Hill on the Buda side of Budapest
Royal Palace
The palace is visible all along the riverside of Pest and is the most standout landmark atop Castle Hill. It’s been rebuilt many times over the centuries and is a great example of Baroque architecture. There is a fantastic fountain around the back that depicts a group of hunters and hounds with a killed deer, very dramatic and will be crawling with tourists trying to get the perfect photo of it.
The Royal Palace
Matthias Church
One of the most important churches in Hungary, the Matthias Church has seen many coronations and Royal weddings take place here. The church is adorned with incredible orange/green/white tiling on its roof and the way it reflects the sunlight is nothing short of dazzling.
The St. Matthias Church
Fisherman’s Bastion
Built to commemorate the seven founding Magyar tribes of Hungary, a big, white, stone structure was built where a fish market used to be. Climb its terraces for some great panoramic views of the Danube and the Pest side.
Fishermen’s Bastion at sunset
Gellert Hill
Named after St. Gerard, the Venetian noble who came to Hungary to convert all Pagans to Christianity. As per usual in those times, St. Gerard was brutally murdered by the natives and was then canonized for his sacrifice.
Liberty bridge and Gellert hill
Hungarian Parliament
Modeled after the Houses of Parliament in London, the Hungarian Parliament sits right on the bank of the Danube and forms an imposing profile on the river.
Hungarian Parliament at night on the Danube river
St Stephen’s Basilica and Andrassy Avenue
Located on the Pest side of the Danube, St Stephen’s Basilica is another very important church in Budapest, and without a doubt the most important in the entire country. Andrassy Avenue is the UNESCO World Heritage main shopping thoroughfare of Budapest. It’s kind of like the Champs Elysees in Paris and has the Royal Hungarian Opera on it about halfway down.
Zrinyi Utca street and Saint Stephen`s Basilica.
Thermal Baths
A reminiscent of the Turkish era in Hungary, Budapest has more than 100 thermal springs – more than any other capital city in the world. The capital has dozens of medicinal baths, bath therapies and steam baths scattered around the city. Thus giving you the opportunity to unwind in true Hungarian fashion.
A must-visit cafe is the 19th-century art nouveau New York Café. Entering this cafe means taking a step back into the past. Visitors of the cafe will be overwhelmed by the whim, opulence and refinement of this establishment. Don’t go for the food, go for the lavish interior: lamp lit, arched ceilings, huge chandeliers and fresh flowers — the height of elegance.
Panoramic view of Thermal bath in Budapest
Your vacation in Budapest starts here…..
Happy Travelling from Travco Holidays!
About the Author
Mahy Medhat
A storyteller with a wanderlust desire, who loves exploring the world with a penchant for culture and food. Mahy has been writing for numerous high-profile magazines and currently working on publishing her own book.
