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Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, lies on either side of the river Danube. Popular attractions include the Parliament, Széchenyi Chain Bridge and Margaret Island. Budapest is famed for its shopping with the WestEnd City Center being widely regarded as the largest shopping centre in Central and Eastern Europe. The Great Market Hall is a very large indoor market and another of the city's major tourist attractions. Budapest is widely considered to one of the liveliest and most beautiful cities in the whole of Europe. The city is a conurbation, made up of three distinct districts on opposite banks of the River Danube. On the western bank the "Budavari Siklo" funicular railway climbs to height of over 150 feet up "Varhegy" or Castle Hill where the settlement of Buda was originally founded. Just to the north of Buda, Obuda ("Old Buda") is nowadays a largely residential district but is also the site of the Roman town of Aquincum. Enough of the town, including a huge military amphitheatre, remains to give a fair indication as to its original layout. On the eastern bank of the Danube where the topology is flatter lies Pest, the centre of commercial and cultural activity in the capital.

Budapest Attractions

The Royal Palace which dominates Castle Hill was originally founded in the 13th century by King Bela. The Palace itself was built during the reign of King Louis I of Hungary (otherwise known as King Lajos the Great) in the 14th century. It was subsequently reconstructed in various guises in the 15th, 18th and 19th centuries and finally damaged by fire at the end of World War II. Substantial restoration work, however, has restored the Palace to its former glory and its 200 plus rooms now house the Budapest History Museum and the National Gallery. The Budapest History Museum, or Castle Museum, has three floors of exhibits and traces the history of the region from prehistoric times to the modern day. The oldest exhibits in the Museum date back more than forty thousand years but there are also permanent exhibits dedicated to the Royal Palace itself including objects found during its restoration. It also covers Budapest in the Modern Age.

Sunset over the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest

The 19th century Basilica of St. Stephen is the largest church in Budapest with the capacity for over 8,000 worshippers. It is named in honour of King Stephen, the first Christian king of Hungary and houses his mummified right hand. The building has something of an unusual history insofar as the original building partially collapsed and the remainder was demolished, before construction could be completed. The Basilica also suffered substantial damage from bombing during World War II.

Although there is much to see and do in Budapest, the temperate climate with an average summer temperature of 23 degrees Celsius means that relaxation is a popular pastime. Thermal springs right in the city centre provide numerous spas and elaborate bathhouses with over 15 million gallons of naturally hot water every day. Parks too are plentiful, not least Margaret Island which offers an open air theatre; a swimming pool; a Franciscan priory; and a Dominican convent amongst its attractions.

Holiday Rental Accommodation

Holiday rental accommodation is available for short or long term let in many prestigious locations in and around Budapest. One bedroom studio or two bedroom apartments, suitable for a single person or a couple, for example, are readily available right in the heart of the city. Locations in Hajos Utca ("Street") and Andrassy Utca in the vicinity of the Hungarian State National Opera House and Oktogon Square are ever popular, as are those in Ujpest Rakpart to the west of the city centre. Larger groups and families are also well catered for. The Romai Part or "Roman River Bank" of the Danube, for example, features new developments in a quiet green area suitable for families and overlooking the Danube, itself.

Budapest (Ferihegy) International Airport, situated less than 20 miles from the city centre, is well served by direct low cost flights from the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe. The budget carrier Easyjet, for example, operates daily flights between Budapest and London Gatwick and London Luton even during the winter months.