We visited Budapest for five days in June 2024. The districts of Buda and Pest, which are very different from each other, are separated by the Danube. These districts offer a variety of architectural and cultural highlights.
On the left bank of the Danube, on Castle Hill, stands the historic Buda Castle, which houses museums and the National Gallery. Adjacent to this is the neo-Romanesque Fisherman's Bastion, which offers beautiful panoramic views of the Danube and the Pest district. In the castle district, the Gothic Matthias Church, which was once the site of imperial coronations, is well worth a visit.
The Chain Bridge connects the two districts of Budapest. It is the most striking bridge over the Danube. Not far away stands the neo-Gothic Parliament building, Budapest's most famous landmark on the banks of the Danube. It is one of the largest parliament buildings in the world.
Andrássy Avenue is Budapest's boulevard. Among other things, it is home to the beautiful Hungarian State Opera House, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The building is richly decorated with Baroque ornaments, and there are paintings in the stairwells and auditorium. Andrássy Avenue is also home to the Museum of Fine Arts and the Kunsthalle. The avenue ends at Heroes' Square, which is dominated by the Millennium Monument. This leads to the City Park, which has many avenues.
Budapest is famous for its bathing culture, boasting eight large thermal baths. The largest of these are the Széchenyi Baths and the opulent Gellért Baths. The large, historic market hall, which sells regional specialities, is also worth a visit.
