Budapest city break - overview

• Essentials
  • Overview
  • Basics
  • Getting there
  • Getting around
• City sights
  • Top sights
  • Tourist trail
  • Offbeat sights
  • Nearby trips
• Things to do
  • Eating out
  • Cafe bars
  • Shopping
  • Nightlife
• Planning
  • When to go
  • Where to stay
  • Find a hotel

Budapest city break overview

Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, is dubbed both the "Paris of the East" and the "Pearl of the Danube" and makes a great city break destination. Divided by the mighty Danube, Europe's longest river, Budapest was two cities until 1873. Wooded Buda occupies the hills to the west and Pest lies on the flat east bank, with city avenues that rival Paris for grandeur.

The Castle area of Buda is a World Heritage Site while the nearby Citadella, topped by the so-called Liberty Monument - erected after the Soviet Union's Red Army occupied Budapest in 1945 - offers memorable views over the Danube.

Over in Pest, Andrassy Avenue, a glorious boulevard modelled on the Champs Elysée, is lined with boutiques, expensive apartments, embassies and the Opera House.

Budapest saw heavy bombing in World War II and Budapest's Jewish quarter suffered terribly. Communism followed and there are still reminders of the 1956 Budapest uprising against Soviet occupation. Thankfully, many of Budapest’s finest buildings have been carefully restored.

Elegant cafés are a reminder of bohemian Old Europe while the cuisine is both distinctive and tasty - assuming you like paprika! Hungarian wines are excellent with the famous Tokay much revered. Budapest is famed for its music - classical, operetta and gypsy - while there are museums to suit all tastes.

An excellent public transport system makes Budapest easy to navigate, with trams a cheap and pleasant way to enjoy the city's sights. Check out Dealchecker.co.uk - cheap holidays to Budapest, Europe and beyond.

Budapest is also a city of spas. Steamy Turkish baths are sprinkled liberally around the city, many built in the 16th century under Ottoman occupation. And Budapest is a well-mannered city. It's said a Hungarian gentleman can usher a lady through a revolving doorway and be there to greet her as she steps out. It can be done by mere mortals too - try it at the historic Gellert Hotel.

Trips out of Budapest include the scenic Danube bend to the north, Lake Balaton to the south and the great Hungarian plain, the Alföld, to the east. Packed with fine buildings, great art and a distinct culture Budapest is a fine city break destination set at the very heart of Europe.