What to visit in Budapest

Budapest is truly a city of a thousand faces. There is no point in trying to cover the city over a short weekend! Besides needing a few days to see all the sights and their delights, the city is spread out over a large area and it is worth taking the time to experience its geographical diversity, from the Buda hills, the banks of the Danube and Margaret Island to the bustling downtown Pest area.

The first unique aspect that catches the eye of visitors is how the city is divided in two - Buda and Pest, connected by bridges - and that each side offers a distinct experience and glimpse into history. In Buda are the thermal baths harking back to the days of the Turkish invaders, the peaceful Tabán area and cobblestone streets in the historic quarter of Castle Hill. If you are in the city thermal bathes are a must to vistit!

Meanwhile, Pest is a genuine melting pot with the elegance of Andrássy Avenue, its character as a world-class city with the enchanting Opera House, the cupola of the Basilica, many contemporary museums, its nightlife, and its many hidden worlds that can be explored on alternative tours. Two of our sights have also been recognized by UNESCO as having World Heritage status: the banks of the Danube and the Buda Castle district as well as Andrássy Avenue and its historic vicinity.

On another day, the Top 10 of Budapest could be a list of another ten sights of a similar level - it could just as well include the Applied Arts museum, which is part of our Secessionist heritage, the city’s world-class modernist and Bauhaus architectural creations, its socialist realist heritage, or the restrained but decidedly 21st-century Palace of Arts , which houses an exceptional concert hall as well as the Ludwig museum. And even if you do decide to limit your Budapest trip to a short weekend or a just a few sights, don’t be surprised when you find yourself wishing you could come back again! Often, Budapest promises ten high points.