Overview

Budapest dates back as far as the 9th century so it will come as no great surprise to visitors that it has plenty of old world sites of historic interest. Pre-dating the founding of the city by over half a millennium are the fascinating remains of the Roman city of Aquincum, while somewhat more recent but still old and equally interesting is the UNESCO endorsed Castle District.

Chain Bridge (Széchenyi Lánchíd)

Among the best known of the city's major landmarks, the Chain Bridge is a historically significant structure that was erected initially in 1849 but met with bad damage during WWII from Nazi air raids and later had to be rebuilt. Today the Széchenyi Lánchíd still connects the opposing banks of the Danube River and is best viewed at night when it's bathed in picturesque electric light.

Parliament building (Országház)

Completed in 1902, the country's chief building of state and home of its primary political affairs is neo-Gothic in style, although its dome, which is one of its most notable features, is neo-Renaissance. The structure sits in a scenic location on the banks of the Danube and is one of city's most discernible landmarks. Tours of the interior are possible when affairs of state are not in progress.

Roman ruins of Aquincum

Archaeological digs in and around the city began in 1778 after the remains of a Roman bath were stumbled upon by accident. Since then, various other significant ruins have been found including the palace of the governor, an amphitheatre, Hercules Villa, a Christian tomb-chapel and the ruins of Aquincum town. There's a museum at the site of the ruins that displays artefacts related to the Roman town.

Castle District

The Castle District is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of the most interesting historical areas of the city. Within the district is the Royal Palace, Sandor Palace - the official residence of the country's president - and Matthias Church. Within the Royal Palace, visitors will find the national library as well as two impressive museums. A trip to the church yields excellent views across the city for those ascending to its lookout point.

Matthias Church

Matthias Church, located in the Castle district, dates back to the mid-13th century when it was founded originally by King Béla IV, although the main body of the structure was erected in the 14th century. Various additions have been made by other monarchs over subsequent centuries, with the church even becoming a mosque during the period of Turkish rule. Notable features include the stained glass windows and impressive vaulting in the church's interior.

Statue of Liberty (Szabadság szobor)

Erected in 1947 in commemoration of the country's liberation from the Nazis by the Soviets during WWII, the Statue of Liberty is a distinctive structure situated on Gellert Hill and is big enough to be seen from many parts of the city. The statue is one of a woman holding a palm tree above her head and is considered an important symbol of the city.

Overview

There's much more to Budapest than just sightseeing so if you've already seen the city's best sights, then consider participating in any of the many other activities on offer. Fun-filled days at any of the city's manmade family-friendly attractions are a good way to fill your itinerary in the warmer seasons, while for those prepared to rent a car or make use of public transport, there are a number of places of interest in Budapest's surrounds.

Family fun

The city has a number of purpose-built attractions that can provide fun days out for visitors with kids in tow. The Budapest Zoo and Botanical Gardens, with its collection of more than 2,000 animals, is a good choice while the Budapest Amusement Park with its traditional fairground rides is also a safe bet for little ones. Városligeti Park, or City Park as it is sometimes referred to, is a good location to enjoy a picnic and outdoor activity on a warm summer's day.

Golf

There are a couple of courses within reasonable driving distance of the city plus a driving range for practicing your swing. Approximately 40kms from the city in Alcsútdoboz is the Pannonia Golf and Country Club, at which there's an 18-hole course, while somewhat further away is the Birdland Golf and Country Club, hailed as the country's best course.

Parks and nature areas

Budapest is home to a good selection of public outdoor spaces in which residents and visitors alike can enjoy a variety of sports, games and pursuits. Városligeti Park is the main park in the city centre and the largest, covering a spacious 250-acre area. Similarly suited to outdoor activities are Margitsziget (Margaret Island), Buda Hills and Népliget.

Daytrips

There are a number of places of interest located within easy driving distance of the city and to which visitors can make daytrips if they have a hire car at their disposal. Just 20kms from Budapest centre is the pretty little town of Szentendre with its charming main square, striking Blagovestenska Church and collection of small art galleries. Also worth a visit are Esztergom, Lake Balaton, Visegrád and Pannonhalma.

Thermal baths

If you feel like soaking your body in the soothing and allegedly healing waters of a thermal bath, then pay a visit to any of the city's famous natural spas. The Szechenyi Medicinal Bath and the Gellert Bath are among the best known and are the ideal locations at which to let both your physical and mental pains and stresses melt away while at the same time soaking up a slice of the city's history.

Gyms and fitness centres

The city has a number of municipal leisure centres at which visitors can play indoor sports or make use of fitness equipment. Alternatively, dedicated fitness enthusiasts wanting to keep on top of their usual routines might want to book into one of the city's better hotels that comes equipped with their own fitness centres. Establishments in this category include the Novotel Budapest Centrum, Le Meridien Budapest and Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal.

Dining and shopping

Hungarian cuisine may not rank among the world's most celebrated cuisines but it's still got its own unique approach to cooking as well as some tasty signature dishes that can hold their own against other famous international offerings. Goulash is one of the country's best-known creations and when made right, it can be a winning dish. Aside from goulash, there are numerous other meat-based dishes, with meat and fish featuring heavily in traditional Hungarian fare. Vegetarians wanting to sample local culinary creations might have to search hard for meat-free fare.

If you dine out in Budapest, you'll find as many international restaurants on offer as traditional Hungarian ones, so you needn't be restricted to one cuisine. You should make an effort to try the local fare, however, especially delicacies such as almával töltött fácán (pheasant stuffed with apples), halászl (fish soup) and the delicious szarvastokány erdei gombával (venison stew with wild mushrooms).

The city's main downtown area is the best place to find dining establishments, with Franz Liszt Square and Ráday utca both home to a good selection. Restaurants are usually put into distinct categories in Hungary, with etterem being low budget establishments, onkiszolgáló being self-service venues and büfé being simple snack bars selling fast food style offerings.

Budapest's shopping scene is impressive and guaranteed to satisfy even the most hardcore of shopping addicts. The city offers a mixed selection of retail areas including both malls and busy shopping streets, strips and arcades. The West End City Centre shopping mall is the best-covered retail area in the city, offering around 400 shops plus a good selection of cafés and restaurants.

Also well worth a visit is the Arkad Mall on Ors Vezer tere. At the malls you can expect to find famous Hungarian department stores such as Corvin Áruház, Bershka and Skála Metro Divatáruház as well a wealth of independent retailers.

If you prefer to shop for something a little more traditional, then seek out outlets selling Hungarian folklore products. In this category are ceramic goods, dresses, pillow cases, embroidered cloths and dolls in traditional costume. These goods make excellent souvenirs and gifts to take home to friends and family. To find vendors selling this style of product, head for the Castle District and Gellért Hill.

Budapest also has its fair share of markets selling edible produce and locally made goods. These can be good places to experience local culture and enjoy the traditional Hungarian ambience that might be absent in the malls. Some of the best markets in the city include Central Market Hall (Nagy Vásárcsarnok), Nagykörösi út Flea Market (Használtcikk piac) and the Chinese Market (Józsefvárosi V).

The local restaurant scene is rich and varied, with plenty of venues offering Hungarian food, a good selection offering international fare and others offering both. Where you choose to dine depends very much on what you have an appetite for, although the setting and décor can also be significant influences. In Budapest, you'll find everything from period to modern settings and ambiences ranging from charming and traditional to chic and trendy.

Overview

For most international passengers, the easiest way to reach Budapest is to fly to Budapest Ferihegy International Airport, the busiest airport in the country and the primary gateway to the city. If you are coming from a European destination, trains and buses offer a cheaper way of getting to the city. The public transportation infrastructure is relatively efficient, despite some aspects of it being in need of modernisation.

Airports

Budapest Ferihegy International Airport, the country's largest airport, handles over eight million passengers per year and is a modern aviation facility located just 16kms outside of the city. The airport maintains connections with a host of European cities as well as major destinations in Asia, the Middle East and North America.

The airport operates three terminals within which passengers will find a good selection of services and facilities. Terminal 2B is the principle international terminal and provides ATMs and currency exchange counters, as well as a small selection of shops and restaurants. Facilities for disabled passengers are available throughout the terminal.

To reach the city from the airport, there are minibuses running throughout the day calling at all major hotels and significant locations. Each vehicle has space for between 8 and 10 passengers and provides service for a very reasonable fee. The minibus service operates in both directions, so passengers wishing to return to the airport at the end of their trip can make arrangements with their hotel for the bus to collect them.

The alternative to the minibus is to take the public bus, with numbers 200 and 93 connecting the terminals with Kóbánya Kispest Station in the city centre. The journey takes between 20 and 25 minutes. Passengers preferring a touch more comfort and convenience can hire a taxi from one of the stands located outside the terminal buildings.

Public transportation

Budapest can be reached by train from neighbouring countries, with over 50 services per day connecting the city with major European destinations. Services terminate at one of the city's three main rail stations, those being Déli (southern station), Nyugati (western station) and Keleti (eastern station). The eastern station receives the majority of international services.

Buses operated by Eurolines connect Hungary with destinations across Europe, while Volánbusz, the country's own national bus company, provides services from the majority of major Hungarian cities to Budapest throughout the week. The Népliget Coach Station is the terminus for most bus services.

To get around Budapest, visitors will find an extensive public transport system that includes under and overground trains, trams, buses and taxis. The Metro service operates four lines and covers most major locations within the city centre. The overground rail service, known as HÉV, serves destinations further afield and is useful to anyone commuting to the city centre from the suburbs.

Trams are a speedy way of getting around the city centre and operate very efficiently in spite of the age of the lines and vehicles. The bus network, meanwhile, provides over 200 different routes and permits travel to destinations within and beyond the city centre. Taxis are privately operated, with a number of companies providing services in the city. The larger firms are the more reputable and offer the best rates and are best booked in advance for the cheapest deals.