| The Pearl of the Danube, Budapest is the | | | | |
| capital and largest city of Hungary. Located | | | | Budapest is the city full of tourist |
| in the north-central part of the country, the | | | | attractions. The city has fine parks, |
| city of Budapest straddles on both banks of | | | | museums, theaters, pubs, clubs, restaurants, |
| the Danube River. It is the seventh largest | | | | and hotels. The city attractions are mainly |
| city in the European Union. | | | | divided in Buda, Castle Hill and Pest. Most |
| | | | of the popular attractions are concentrated |
| The city's name is portmanteau coined joining | | | | on Castle Hill on the Buda side, in downtown |
| the town names "Buda," "Ã"buda," and | | | | Pest and along the riverside walkways. Major |
| "Pest." The city was formed on 17 November | | | | attractions on Castle Hill include the Royal |
| 1873 merging the towns of Buda and Ã"buda | | | | Palace (Királyi palota), the National |
| on the right bank and town of Pest on left | | | | Gallery (Nemzeti Galéria), the |
| bank of the River Danube. The merger of | | | | Fisherman's Bastion and lookout terrace |
| towns made Budapest the single city occupying | | | | (Halászbástya), Matthew Church |
| both banks of Danube | | | | (Mátyás templom, aka Church of |
| | | | Our Lady), The Historical Museum of Budapest, |
| Buda, Ã"buda, and Pest were prominent | | | | The Music Museum, and The Military Museum. |
| towns that had always been center of power | | | | The attraction of Buda include Chain Bridge, |
| and governmental activities in Hungary. | | | | Margaret Island (Margitsziget), Aquincum, |
| Situated among a series of hills, Buda was | | | | Gül Baba Türbéje, and |
| traditionally the center of government | | | | Victor Vasarely Museum. |
| buildings, palaces, and villas belonging to | | | | |
| the landed gentry. It was the site of a Roman | | | | Pest too is plentiful of attractions |
| camp in the 2nd century AD. Pest was a flat | | | | including the Parliament Building |
| area that has long been a commercial and | | | | (Országház), St. Stephen |
| industrial center. | | | | Cathedral (Szent István Bazilika), |
| | | | Great Synagogue and the Jewish Museum |
| The city standing on the Celtic and Roman | | | | (Dohány utcai Zsinagóga), |
| ruins, Today's Budapest is the political, | | | | Museum of Ethnography, National Museum, |
| industrial, commercial, financial, cultural, | | | | Museum of Applies Arts, Natural History |
| and transportation hub of Hungary. The | | | | Museum, Ludwig Museum of Modern Art, |
| economy of the city is based on | | | | Holocaust Memorial Centre, and the |
| telecommunications and electronics | | | | Andrássy út boulevard. |
| manufacturing industry. It's the wealthiest | | | | |
| and most cosmopolitan city in Hungary and | | | | The Andrássy út boulevard in |
| very popular with tourists. The city was | | | | Pest stretches from Downtown |
| inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List | | | | (Belváros) to the City Park |
| in 1987 for the cultural and architectural | | | | (Városliget). It is listed on UNESCO's |
| significance of the Banks of the Danube, the | | | | World Heritage List and has some of important |
| Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy | | | | sights including the State Opera House, the |
| Avenue. | | | | House of Terror (Terror Háza), the |
| | | | Hopp Museum of East Asian Art, the City Park |
| Budapest is divided into XXIII districts that | | | | (Városliget), Heroes' square |
| are always written in Roman numerals. The | | | | (HÅ'sök tere), Museum of Fine Arts |
| city is an ethnic delicatessen made up of | | | | (Szépművészeti |
| Serbs, Croats, Hungarians, and Turks. | | | | Múzeum), and Vajdahunyad Vára. |
| Ethnically the city has is dominated by Roman | | | | |
| Catholics followed by Protestants, Eastern | | | | Budapest attractions also include seven |
| Orthodoxy, and Jews. Hungarian is official | | | | islands along the river Danube. The islands |
| language however the city is a genuine | | | | have parks, dance clubs, bars, and a number |
| polyglot metropolis. | | | | of tourist recreational areas. These islands |
| | | | include Hajógyári sziget |
| Located between the Alps to the west and the | | | | (Shipyard Island), Margitsziget (Margaret |
| flat, open Great Plain to the east, Budapest | | | | Island), Csepel sziget, Palotai-sziget, |
| enjoys warm summers and bitterly cold | | | | Népsziget, Háros-sziget and |
| winters, with plenty of rain all year round. | | | | Molnár-sziget. |
| The winters short, but chilly. It gets highly | | | | |
| chilly in mid-December; usually and damp with | | | | Ferihegy International Airport or Budapest |
| odd bright sunny days and frequent, but | | | | International Airport is the major doorway to |
| light, snow. The summers spanning from April | | | | the city. It is the country's largest airport |
| to September, are sunny, warm, and humid. The | | | | and the hub of the Hungarian national carrier |
| city gets sun shining for about 10 hours a | | | | Malév. Located in the south east of |
| day. Generally climate of the city is free | | | | Budapest, the airport has two terminals |
| from extremes. | | | | Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, often mentioned as |
| | | | Ferihegy-1 and Ferihegy-2, respectively. |
| The continental temperate climate of Budapest | | | | |
| makes it a perfect vacation destination. It | | | | The city is receives direct flights from the |
| is one of the most coveted destinations in | | | | major European cities, and most of the EU |
| Central Europe along with Vienna and Prague. | | | | countries by direct. Malév and Delta |
| Often dubbed as "Paris of the East," or | | | | Airlines operate scheduled service between |
| "Queen of the Danube," Budapest is one of the | | | | Budapest and North America. Budapest also |
| most beautiful cities of the world. The city | | | | receives international flights from some |
| attracts masses of tourists every year. Its | | | | countries of the Middle East, Asia and North |
| people are charming and nice hosts. | | | | Africa. |