this small country is one of the oldest European countries, situated in the middle of the continent in Central Europe. It has become easy for almost all European countries to get easy access. People can use the flight, train, car, and bus facilities to get to Hungary. This country is the birthplace of world-famous inventors, scientists, explorers, composers and sports stars.
Hungarians speak a language and form a culture unlike any other in the region: this distinctiveness has been a source of pride and an obstacle for more than 1100 years.
is easy to access via Ferihegy International Airport, which is continuously being enlarged and supplemented. Several daily flights from all major European cities are available to the Hungarian capital. As the capital of Hungary, Budapest serves as the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre and is considered an important hub in Central Europe. The city attracts international meeting planners and delegates with its unique heritage, individual and cultural charm, and professionalism in its hotels, convention facilities, and visitor amenities.
Budapest — with the majestic Danube in the middle. Buda, with its romantic atmosphere, on one side, and Pest, a dynamic cultural centre, on the other. One must be sharp to find another city with such beautiful natural settings and rich architectural and historical heritage, offering an unparalleled combination of culture, fine cuisine, and thermal baths.
Budapest's climate is humid continental. Highs can stay above 20°C until the end of October. Nights get colder, and the first frost usually arrives in the second week of October. Short, cool spells vary with the Indian Summer and can last several weeks. November brings abundant rain, sometimes snow, and a drastic fall in temperature (a ten °C fall throughout the month).
The official currency of Hungary is the Hungarian Forint. (sign: Ft; code: HUF)
All major credit cards are generally accepted throughout Hungary, and ATMs are widespread.
The country code for international calls to Hungary is +36.
220 V
Central European Time (CET)
Address: 1055 Budapest, Kossuth Lajos tér 1-3.
The Hungarian Parliament Building, designed and built in the Gothic Revival style, is one of the most significant buildings in Hungary and is home to hundreds of parliamentary offices. Although the impressive building looks fantastic from every angle, seeing it in its full glory is worth viewing from the other side of the Danube.
Tours of certain building areas are available daily and run in different languages. You will need identification to enter, and your bag may be searched.
Address: 1051 Budapest, Szent István tér
This basilica is one of the most important religious buildings in Hungary. Visitors to the reliquary can see the (reported) right hand of Stephen, the first King of Hungary. As this is a holy site, visitors who plan on entering the church are asked to keep their knees and shoulders covered.
Those with a head for heights can travel to the dome's base and look over the city. On a clear day, this is a great vantage point from which to survey Budapest from the air. Classical music concerts and organ concerts regularly take place inside the Basilica and sometimes spill out into the square outside.
Address: 1074 Budapest, Dohány u. 2.
This synagogue is currently one of the largest in the world outside of Israel, even though Hungary's Jewish population was significantly depleted during World War II.
The interior and the garden were restored in the 1990s, with much of the funding coming from the Hungarian Jewish diaspora population worldwide.
In the garden, there is a weeping willow memorial whose metal leaves bear the names of some of those killed during the war.
There is also a memorial to Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who helped to save hundreds of Hungarian Jews from concentration camps and ghettos.
Address: Budapest, Andrássy út 22, 1061
This Neo-Renaissance building was first opened in 1884, following a commission from Emperor Franz Joseph. Outside the building, you can see statues of Ferenc Erkel (composer of the Hungarian National Anthem) and Ferenc Liszt (Hungarian composer).
The 1200-seat auditorium is considered one of the best in the world for operatic performances. If you are still looking for time to see a show, guided tours of the Opera House are available during the day, although these usually need to be booked in advance.
Address: 1146 Budapest, Hősök tere
Heroes Square, which marks the end of Andrássy Avenue, is home to an iconic monument featuring depictions of the Seven Chieftains of the Hungarians, believed to have led the Hungarian people from central Asia to the Carpathian basin.
Atop the central pillar is the Archangel Gabriel, holding the Hungarian crown. At either side of the central column are two matching colonnades depicting various other historical Hungarian figures. The impressive buildings on either side of the square are art galleries. Take care when crossing to the statue because traffic around the monument can be erratic.
Margaret Island is a 2.5 km-long island in the middle of the Danube. It is covered in parkland and recreational facilities.
Several companies rent pedal carts, golf carts, and other self-powered vehicles so that you can explore the island properly.
A rubber-coated 5.5 km running track encircles the island and is a popular jogging spot for runners who want to escape the city's hustle and bustle. One of the island's most famous features is the “music fountain”, from which water regularly “dances” in time to classical music.
Address: 1013 Budapest, Clark Ádám tér
This funicular, which first opened in 1870, is the second oldest of its kind in the world. A weight and counterweight system helps raise the carriages up and down the hill. The funicular is the fastest way to the top of Castle Hill and is exceedingly popular because of its panoramic views across the Danube.
As of 1988, the speed of ascent was slowed down to give passengers more time to enjoy their ride. The track is open daily until 10 p.m., so it is also a great way to enjoy views of Pest at night.
The Castle Quarter is part of Buda, the capital of Hungary, that lies within the defensive walls of the Buda Castle complex. It corresponds to the medieval royal city of Buda. It is located on Castle Hill, Budapest's oldest part, continuously inhabited since 1247. The centre of the neighbourhood is the streets between the Royal Palace and Matthias Church.
Although the Fisherman's Bastion looks like a medieval monument, it was built in the early 20th century in a neo-Gothic style. It is a panoramic viewing platform across the Danube, Margaret Island, and Pest.
It is named after the Guild of Fishermen, which defended that stretch of the city walls during the Middle Ages.
The seven towers of the Bastion represent the seven Hungarian tribes that helped settle the Hungarian people in the Carpathian Basin. Come at sunset for a breathtaking view of the city.
Address: 1146 Budapest, Állatkerti krt. 9-11.
The Széchenyi Baths complex is Europe's largest “medicinal” bath centre. Its waters are rich in sulphates, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, and fluoride, believed to help patients with degenerative joint illnesses and other medical issues.
There are various thermal pools on-site, saunas, and steam rooms for those who want to enjoy their relaxing powers.
Massages and beauty treatments are also available at an additional fee.
The two outdoor pools are fantastic places to visit in cold weather and at night, as the steam rising from the hot water makes the whole place seem wonderfully mysterious.
Address: 1093 Budapest, Vámház krt. 1-3.
The Great Market Hall in central Budapest is Budapest's most famous marketplace.
While many locals still use the market hall to buy groceries, the market is also incredibly popular with tourists.
The lower floors feature locally grown fruits and vegetables and locally sourced meats, while the upper floors offer souvenirs, including lace, chess sets, and leather goods.
In addition to individual ingredients, the food stall upstairs sells homemade local delicacies like goulash and langos.
It's almost impossible to think of Budapest without its ruined bars, but in the long span of the city's history, Szimpla and Co are just a blip in its historic lifetime. But even in the last 15 years, Budapest's ruin bars have evolved into an attraction that is perhaps as popular, if not more so, than Buda Castle and the Hungarian Parliament Building.
Add some light projections, maybe a bare firewall for films, and a DJ booth, keep opening hours dauntingly extensive, and there you have it: the ruin bar as we know it today.
Alexandra Szalma
