| What makes this Hungarian capital an endlessly | | | | the 1800s. The pinnacle of Buda is the eponymous |
| diverse adventure is the fact that in 1873, two | | | | Castle Hill where the 14th century Baroque Royal |
| towns (yes, Buda and Pest) on opposite sides of | | | | Palace presides imperially over the city. |
| the Danube River united to become known as the | | | | Grandeur in the City |
| Queen of the Danube and one of the largest | | | | Cross the historic Sz�chenyi Chain Bridge, |
| cities in the European Union today. Brace yourself | | | | the oldest of nine, and enter Pest, the more |
| for the most unique experience in Eastern (or all) | | | | compact and metropolitan eastern side of the |
| Europe as Hungary is an outpost of cultural and | | | | Danube. A walk along the regal Andr�ssy |
| linguistic distinction that stands abruptly apart from | | | | Boulevard past stunning mansions will lead to the |
| its Slavic and Germanic neighbors. The Magyar | | | | Hungarian State Opera House, a true gem of |
| stronghold of Budapest, established around 900 | | | | acoustic and neo-Renaissance architectural |
| AD by the formidable clan from Central Asia, | | | | prowess in all of Europe. While in the center of |
| became the center of the Kingdom of Hungary | | | | town, visit the noteworthy Inner City Parish |
| capable of withstanding the carelessly blundering | | | | Church, which happens to be the first church built |
| Ottomans, Habsburgs and Nazis. Discover the | | | | in the city. On a grander scale, the enchanting |
| grandeur of one of the oldest and most | | | | Jewish quarter is home to the largest synagogue |
| established cities in Eastern Europe! | | | | in Europe, the Doh�ny Street Synagogue, |
| Take a Bath with the Queen | | | | complete with an extensive Judaic art collection |
| A great place to start your Hungarian journey is | | | | and Holocaust Memorial. Another monumental |
| on the Western Bank of the river in | | | | must-see is Budapest�s neo-Gothic |
| �buda, the very oldest part of Budapest. | | | | Parliament building, Europe�s largest and |
| Two thousand years of human life surround the | | | | arguably most beautiful. Take a peek at King |
| excavated Roman city of Aquincum where | | | | Stephen�s legendary crown jewels that |
| Europe�s largest open-air amphitheater | | | | have been stolen and moved in and out of the |
| remains. Main Square is beyond charming with | | | | country a near comical number of times. |
| taverns and quaint single story houses and shops. | | | | Budapest is truly a traveler�s city. The |
| From �buda to neighboring Buda, the hilly | | | | enormous size offers experiences on every level, |
| landscape is sprinkled with ancient Roman and | | | | from simply local, musical or explorative to |
| Turkish Baths, fed by some of the 100 thermal | | | | historic, artistic or commercial. Budapest is |
| springs that run through the area. The | | | | particularly noteworthy for its exceptional array |
| Art-Nouveau Gell�rt Baths in Buda are | | | | of museums and galleries that litter the city, |
| the most famous to relax in, although the Rudas | | | | particularly the Hungary National Museum on |
| and Rac baths, build by the Turks 400 years ago, | | | | Castle Hill, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the |
| are more interesting and less crowded. All three | | | | Antique Picture Gallery, with the most extensive |
| are located on top of scenic Gell�rt Hill | | | | Spanish collection outside of Spain. |
| inside the Citadel, an old military fortification from | | | | |