Budapest is the capital and most beautiful city of Hungary. European countries - hungary - the capital of hungary city of budapest

Goulash, Ikarus buses, the Omega group, Rubik's cube - approximately such associations arise when we mention Hungary. But this small European country has something else to brag about - the ballpoint pen was invented here, Imre Kalman and Franz Liszt worked here, the longest tram in the world (54 meters) runs here!

Well, and, of course, Hungary is famous for its capital - Budapest. That's what we'll talk about today - all the most interesting in our TOP-6!

Fact #1: The capital of Hungary consists of two parts

They are called so - Buda and Pest. The first part is more hilly, the second is conditionally “flat”. Once upon a time, these were two different towns located on opposite banks of the Danube - and only in 1873 the commercial Pest and the ancient Buda were united into the modern "pearl of the Danube".

Today, parts of the capital of Hungary are connected by numerous bridges - the oldest of them, the Chain Bridge, finally connected Pest and Buda. By the way, this is one of the symbols of Budapest and Hungary - every tourist who leaves the city has a photo of the Chain Bridge in the camera.

Fact number 2: The capital of Hungary - Budapest - is considered one of the best resorts

We are used to the fact that the capital is, first of all, government quarters and business centers. But in Budapest, among other things, it is customary to relax with health benefits! Under the city, at a depth of about 1 kilometer, thermal springs lie - they were first used by the ancient Romans. By the way, it was they who built the first baths on the site of the future capital of Hungary.

Today, most of the baths look like outdoor pools with warm water, as well as saunas. People from all over the world come here - saturated with magnesium and sulfur water helps to cope with cardiovascular, rheumatic and gynecological diseases.

Fact #3: The most beautiful view of the capital of Hungary, Budapest, opens from Mount Gellert

This place, I must say, is mystical - it was Mount Gellert that the Hungarian witches chose for their covens. It is said that witches gathered here until 1848, when the authorities built the Citadel here - big fortress to intimidate the rebellious city.

Today, photographers from all over the world climb the Citadel - from here you can see a stunning panorama of old Budapest, the Castle Hill, the Chain Bridge and other sights of Hungarian Budapest. By the way, UNESCO even included a view of the Fortress Hill in the List world heritage.

Fact #4: If you want the Middle Ages, go to Buda

Even ancient travelers considered Buda one of the most beautiful places old Europe. Today people come here for a unique sense of belonging to history. It is enough to walk along the streets of Fortuna or Tarnok, look at or into the Fortress Quarter to feel like you are on the set of a historical film.

And you can also drink coffee and eat apple strudel (which, by the way, is cooked in Hungary no worse than in Austria!) in the Miro restaurant - in its place in the 16th century the first city cafe was located.

Fact #5: The best shopping in Hungary and Budapest is at the Grand Ring

If you look at the Hungarian capital from the Buda mountains, you can clearly see the unusual layout of the city. The center of Budapest is surrounded by a small ring of highways, the huge Hungaria highway is visible in the distance, and between them is the middle circle - Nogy Kerut, or the Big Ring. This is one of the most famous and busiest places in the capital - tourists like to walk here and local residents enjoy spending time.

In addition, this is the main shopping street of Budapest - it is simply impossible to count all the shops, boutiques, restaurants, hotels and pastry shops! At some point, it may seem to a tourist that he is walking along one endless shop window - it is better not to come here with an empty wallet.

The most popular, typically “Hungarian” goods among tourists are lace and hand-painted chinaware, paprika, cherry palinka (local vodka) and goose liver.

Fact #6: Vegetarians will be sad in Budapest

After a trip to the capital of Hungary, photos of local culinary masterpieces will take up most of the camera's memory! Hungarians, like no one else, know how to cook game and fish - in local restaurants you can find a record number of meat dishes.

Firstly, vegetable oil is not recognized here - only natural pork fat. Secondly, sour cream is clearly not spared here - this product is considered one of the traditional ones and is prepared according to old technologies. The main dish to try in Budapest is, of course, goulash. Here, either thick and rich meat soup or meat stew is called so. By the way, it is for this reason that connoisseurs advise going to the capital of Hungary in winter - on chilly January evenings, goulash goes with a bang!

If you want something more original, order paprikash, veal giblets, Buda carp or the legendary Esterhazy cake. In general, you will definitely not stay hungry in Budapest!

And finally, a few tips and helpful information for those who are already packing their bags to Hungary, more precisely, to its capital, Budapest:

• In local travel companies you can buy a Budapest Kartya card - it will give you the right to travel on public transport for free, buy tickets to museums at better prices and even dine in some restaurants with good discounts.

• There are only 3 metro lines in Budapest - and every time you change the line you have to buy new ticket(in newsstands or directly at the entrance to the subway). By the way, the same tickets are valid not only in the metro, but also in city buses, trams and trolleybuses. But tourists are not advised to take a taxi - it is very expensive, besides, there is no single fixed tariff in Budapest.

• The main attractions of Budapest and Hungary in general are museums. They usually work from 10.00 to 18.00, the day off is Monday.

• Grocery stores in Budapest are open on weekdays from 7.00 to 19.00, and on Saturdays - only until 14.00. So if you're craving fresh yogurt on a Saturday night, you'll most likely have to go to the supermarket - only they're open 24/7.

• If you plan to travel to Budapest for treatment, you should take an extract from medical card translated into English. It would not be superfluous to take care of an interpreter in advance, who could help local doctors in diagnosis and treatment.

• According to Hungarian laws, you cannot appear on the street without documents - this rule also applies to tourists. It is not necessary to carry the original passport with you - leave the documents in the hotel safe, and take photocopies with you.

Budapest from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Budapest.

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Once, in ancient legendary times, on the banks of the majestic Danube, carrying its green waters through half of Europe, two settlements appeared, each of which was located on the opposite bank from each other. One of the shores was higher, and a village called Buda arose there, and cozy Pest was located on the gently sloping shore. After some time, both cities merged into one - called Budapest. To say that Budapest is the real "pearl" of Europe and its most beautiful capital is to say absolutely nothing. Ancient baroque quarters, luxurious theaters and palaces, which have preserved in their bronze, green domes, the spirit of the empire, the ancient fortifications of Buda, monuments to the great Hungarian kings and saints enlighteners of the Magyar land, of course, the majestic parliament building, beautiful at any time of the day or night.

This is not all that the Hungarian capital is rich in. It is impossible to deny yourself the pleasure, so that at the height of the day or in a quiet evening you do not sit down at the table of a cozy restaurant and taste wonderful goulash and drink a glass or two of Tokay. You can not ignore the famous baths, which Budapest is famous for throughout Europe. It is difficult to list all the sights of this city, so it is better to come and see everything with your own eyes. We can say with certainty about Budapest - this point on the map is a must-see.

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Districts of Budapest

The main thing is that everyone who arrives immediately learns about the geography of the Hungarian capital - the Danube divides it into two parts. Hilly Buda remains on the western shore, and Pest stands proudly on the eastern shore, without the need for elevations. The city is divided into 23 districts. Buda includes districts I, II, III, XI, XII, XXII. Almost the entire region III is the territory of Obuda ("Old Buda"). At the end of the 19th century, three cities, Buda, Obuda and Pest, were merged into one Budapest.

Buda: securely hides antiquity in the shade of trees and the brilliance of restorations

District I (Castle District) is the smallest on the territory of Buda, but it is here that the Buda Castle is located. Everything points to the fact that we will see some kind of medieval castle and ... no. Castles, of course, were built more than once, because Buda was built from the 14th century, but little remains of them: the fortress walls were rebuilt, the Matyasha Cathedral changed its appearance for 700 years, and the Royal Palace (never was a royal residence) from a small palace the middle of the 18th century turned into a grandiose building of the early 20th.

Along the Danube, under the fortress and to the north, the Vizivaros region stretches (regions I, II and III). Art Nouveau fountains (early 20th century), medieval baths "Kiraly" and "Lukács", interesting architectural solutions, including cathedrals, founded in the Middle Ages. Stalagmite cave Pal-Voldi, the most visited among all the underground labyrinths of Budapest, is located here.

Mount Gellert, located south of the castle hill, competes with the much more remote Mount Janos for the title of the best view point in the city. At its foot, since 1918, the Art Nouveau hotel of the same name has been welcoming guests; its Gellert baths are famous far beyond the borders of Hungary.

District III (Obuda). This is a quiet area where the sights coexist perfectly with the sleeping quarters and panel houses. The most remote of all tourist centers Budapest; considered to be the most ancient. If only because here we will find the ruins of Aquincum, a city that was part of one of the outlying provinces of the Roman Empire. Two amphitheatres have been preserved. Other places are already related to the history of Obuda: Szentlélek tér square and the Zichy family palace, Fyo square (Fő tér) with the city hall building and sculptures by the Hungarian Imre Varga.

According to the locals, the whole of Buda can be easily walked around. A walk from Buda Hill to the central squares in Obuda will take 2-2.5 hours.

Pest: grandiose buildings and avenue geometry

One of the reasons for the disputes between Buda and Pest is where is it better to start exploring the city - from Buda Hill or from old Pest? Let this be a rhetorical question.

So, across the river from the castle complex lies the Belvaros district, the core of the old city, the first surviving buildings in which date back to the 12th century (such as the parish church). Right on the square in front of the church, the ruins of a small fort from the time of the Roman Empire are mothballed. The embankment was rebuilt for walking - it is customary to admire Buda from here.

In Belvaros, as well as throughout central Pest, there are many monuments to prominent Hungarians - this is a kind of national showcase of the formation of statehood. From here, from Vörösmarty Square, the Vaci pedestrian street begins (may the flow of tourists not dry up on it day or night). And the majestic buildings of the city council and the university library are not so far from the no less majestic Central Market.

Belvaros smoothly flows into Liptovaros (the first area that once began to be built outside the walls of Pest). Here the sovereign scope is felt more strongly. What is worth only one building of the Hungarian Parliament, so huge, 268 meters long and 96 meters high, that tourists prefer to photograph it from West Bank. The square in front of the Parliament is again full of monuments, and on public holidays it gathers parades. Barely inferior to him in size, perhaps, the main Hungarian temple - St. Stephen's Basilica (not a museum, so admission is free). Both buildings were built at the beginning of the 20th century.

Liptovaros is famous for its bridges: the Chain Bridge (named after Szechenyi) became the first permanent crossing between the two banks in the middle of the 19th century, and the Princess Margaret Bridge built after it broke the record for the number of rebuildings and reconstructions.

Both Belváros and Liptovaros are located in the administrative district V, the smallest district of Pest, which gives an idea of ​​the actual size of this part of the city. The territories of the districts grow as they approach the outskirts.

The main street of District VI (Terezváros) is the straight and wide Andrássy Avenue. The hackneyed comparison with the Champs Elysees sounds silly, but this is one of the most popular streets in Budapest, built up with palaces and mansions of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The avenue ends in area XIV, where the Heroes' Square and the City Park are located (the largest in Europe and the most popular Szechenyi baths among tourists, as well as an eclectic complex of buildings in different architectural styles that are found on the territory of the country - among the people of Vaidahunyadvar). Neighboring District VII is notable not only for its proximity to the old center and Art Nouveau buildings, but also for the Jewish quarter of Erzsébetváros (buildings at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries). The Great Synagogue on Dohany Street, which can accommodate up to 3,000 people, is still one of the largest in Europe.

Jozsefvaros (district VIII), outlined by Rakoczi Avenue from the north, is interesting for the oldest, opened in 1847, the cemetery "Kerepesi". In the same area and in the same year opened National Museum, the first museum in the history of Hungary. The baroque building of the St. Roch Hospital appeared 6 years earlier. Two blocks away, you can walk along the narrow street of Pushkin.

The territory of the city is 7 more islands on the Danube, including, in fact, the Palotai Peninsula. Margaret Island, in the center of the capital, is part of District XIII and has been completely turned into a recreation park (mostly active), has several thermal springs. It is not possible to drive here by private car. Most big Island, Csepel, stretched in length for 48 km and belongs to Budapest only with its northern tip.

Tourist safety in Budapest

The crime situation in Budapest is by no means worse than in other large European cities. Most often, guests of the capital become victims of scammers, pickpockets and car burglars.

Transport

Cast public transport metro, trams, trolleybuses and buses operate in Budapest, as well as taxis. Tickets can be bought at the entrance to the metro, at newsstands and orange ticket machines located on the street near transport stops. A single ticket costs 350 HUF, a single ticket with the possibility of transfer - 530 HUF, a subscription for 24 hours will cost 1650 HUF, for 72 hours - 4150 HUF. Buying a single ticket already in transport will cost 100 HUF more.

Three metro lines intersect in the city center at Deak Square (Deak ter). Trains run every 2-15 minutes, depending on the time of day. Opening hours from 4:30 to 23:00, after 23:00 you can get to the hotel by night buses, which are marked with the letter "E" in the schedule. In total, there are about 200 bus routes in Budapest, there are even express buses with red numbers, which (you should be careful!) Do not stop everywhere. To get off the bus, you need to press a special button above the door.

In addition, more than 30 tram routes have been laid in the capital, which run every 5-10 minutes.

An important point: all stations of the Budapest metro have separate platforms for trains traveling in different directions, with separate entrances, usually located on different sides of the street. It is impossible to go from one side of the station to the other in the metro itself: you have to go up, cross the road, go down and pay the fare again.

We read about modes of transportation that are unexpected for many cities in the world, but not for the Hungarian capital, on the page "Public transport in Budapest".

Taxi

Cars have a TAXI sign and a yellow number plate, the fares are posted on the door glass or on the dashboard. Landing - 300 HUF during the day, 420 HUF - at night; 1 km - 240 HUF during the day, 336 HUF - at night; a minute of waiting - 60-84 HUF respectively. At the request of the client, the driver is obliged to provide an invoice. Prices on the page are for October 2018.

Rent a Car

At first glance, being "on horseback" in a car in Budapest is not a very good idea. Parking in the city center is paid, the traffic is dense, there are many pedestrian zones. However, any motorist will object to you that for the sake of freedom of movement (it is easy to get to Obuda, the suburbs, see local attractions, and not just those that are concentrated in the old center), “he will survive this trouble.”

The farther from the old town your hotel is, the more likely that there is free public or private parking. At hotels in the center, parking, as a rule, is paid even for customers. It is cheaper to find a city parking somewhere nearby and leave the car there for a day, saving up to 50%.

The city has a network of municipal parking lots P + R (Parking and ride), designed for 4 thousand parking spaces (about 30 parking zones organized near metro stations or tram stops). Most zones are free for a few hours.

Parking lots are equipped with automatic machines; on weekends, public parking is not charged (on Saturday they can be paid from 8:00 to 12:00), on weekdays - paid hours from 8:00 to 18:00. You should carefully read the information at the machine: in the center and near the sights, parking may remain paid both on weekends and in the late evening and night. Get ready for the fact that you need a trifle. Old-style machines do not accept cards, and sometimes paper money. All parking lots are divided by cost into zones, depending on the approach to the old center. The maximum cost of an hour of parking in the center is from 450 HUF.

In the central part of Pest (the area between the Erzhebet and Chain bridges) there are restrictions on the movement of cars, in Buda the same restrictions apply on the Fortress Hill; it is forbidden to enter by car and to Margaret Island (recreation area).

There are many international car rental companies in the city: Avis, Hertz, Budget, Europcar. The rental price, of course, depends on the class of the car; There are discounts for the duration of the rental. On average, it comes out from 17,000 HUF per day. Be prepared that the deposit will be frozen on the card - from 400 EUR (again, the amount depends on the terms of the contract and whether you agree to pay extra for insurance). Interestingly, the vignette is usually already included in the price of the contract. There are fewer local offices, but they exist and you can negotiate some bonuses with them: no deposit, a smartphone with a local SIM card and mobile internet for the driver, radios for two or more cars (Smart Trip4, Rent-a-smart Budapest, Fox Auto Rent).

Communication and Wi-Fi

Free Internet access in Budapest is easy to find, more difficult not to find, but to call home using not an Internet messenger, but a cellular network, you will have to put up with rather sad international roaming conditions.

If you need constant mobile access, there is an option to purchase a SIM card from one of the local operators working in 3G and 4G: Telenor, Vodafone or Magyar Telecom (formerly T-Mobile). The latter is somewhat cheaper. On average, the cost of 1 GB of traffic ranges from 1000-1500 HUF. Telenor offers a special "guest" line: only for mobile access, without the possibility of making calls. Such SIM cards require a minimum of settings and are immediately inserted into a tablet or smartphone.

Calling through Hungarian operators to Russia is not a very good idea. Despite the fact that roaming in Russian cellular networks has become more expensive since 2014, tariffs for local operators will be higher. In addition, when buying a Hungarian SIM card, you must present a foreign passport - only the main operator points of Budapest work using this system, they may not sell a SIM card in the rest. Also at Russian tourists often it is not possible to set up a SIM card on your own, even through the menu in English. In this case, the help of a sales assistant is needed.

Once a very common option, telephone booths are becoming less and less common in Budapest.

Now about the pleasant. Free Wi-Fi meets immediately at Franz Liszt Airport. The Budapest metro also has partial coverage. Some bus routes(as a rule, still tourist or long-distance / international) are equipped with hot spots. Moreover, Budapest museums are so interactive that they strive to provide visitors with free access to online guides and online exhibitions, as well as to all other sites.

Tourists are so accustomed to public or private free networks that complain that Wi-Fi does not catch in all city baths. Judging by the reviews, the VII administrative region of the city (Erzebetváros, bordering old Pest) provides free Wi-Fi throughout the territory as a municipal project.

Needless to say, free Wi-Fi has become the norm for most Budapest cafes and restaurants - both for small and chain establishments ... Hoteliers without fail organize free access in common areas and most often in rooms too. However, before booking, this point should be clarified on the website of a particular hotel.

Budapest Card

In Budapest, to save on travel costs, it makes sense to buy a "tourist pass" or a "Budapest" card. With this card, you can ride public transport for free for three days and visit museums, receiving “up to a heap” discounts in a variety of places: from baths to shops and from restaurants to minibuses towards the airport. The cards are sold at tourist information offices, hotels, travel agencies and major public transport ticket offices (BKV).

Budapest Hotels

What to buy

Traditional food. Wines (from 300 HUF per bottle) and local beer (from 180 HUF) are advised not to take in duty free: in city markets and grocery stores, the assortment is wider, and prices are lower. It is advisable to choose palinka (brandy on fruit) under a well-known brand, since cheap analogues are far from the original taste. The bitter liqueur "Unicum" (infused with 40 herbs) is produced by the Zwack family company; even a carbonated version of the Unicum Next drink appeared on sale, designed, as the name implies, for a youth audience.

Hungarian salami is not only famous throughout Europe, but also perfect for transportation. Therefore, in Budapest we buy Pick salami, the most “saussy” brand from the city of Szeged. The capital also produces Herz salami, popular in the domestic market but less well known outside of Hungary. Tubed paprika paste (pirosarany) is another local product that is hard to find elsewhere. Saffron, marzipans and other sweets are also brought from here. For example, Dobos torta multi-layer biscuit cake with chocolate cream and caramel cannot be bought anywhere else.

If the food is finished, then what about folklore motifs? As in other countries of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Hungarians retained bright national clothes with embroidery. Even in large quantities, tourists buy embroidered tablecloths, curtains, bed linen. Real Hungarian porcelain is much more difficult to find. In the country for several hundred years it was produced at the two largest factories, Zsolnay and Herend. Until now, such dishes are a luxury item, and due to the economic downturn, production capacity had to be significantly reduced. In any case, you need to remember that on the souvenir malls in the city center or in the shops in the castle area, there are a lot of one-day crafts from China.

Where to buy

Now more about the outlets: some of them are so majestic that they can be recommended for inspection as an architectural landmark. First of all, this is the covered Central Market in the building of the late 19th century. People come here for local products, alcohol, clothes made in Hungry and souvenirs. The Lehel market, located on the street of the same name, is considered a market "for the locals", selling mainly food products. It is on Lehel that farmers bring vegetables, fruits and their home-made products.

There are quite a lot of shopping centers in Budapest, where chain mass clothing brands are concentrated. So, within walking distance from the Central Market is the West End. The largest on this moment Shopping center in Budapest Arena Plaza (more than 200 stores) is located a few kilometers from the historic center. Armani, Zegna, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Dior, Versace, Lanvin boutiques are located on Andrassy Avenue in the city center. Many tourists are surprised by another sign of Budapest, the abundance of second-hand shops right there, in the city center. Budapest is sometimes referred to as the second-hand European capital. Some stores in this segment claim to be elite and vintage chic (like the Szputnyk chain, which has several outlets around the city).

Usually shops in the city are closed on Sunday and close early on Saturday. However, supermarkets, and even private shops, often do not comply with this rule. The markets are closed on Sundays, and on Saturday at 13:00 they are rapidly emptying. Shopping centers Saturdays are open until 19:00-21:00. Some Tesco stores are open around the clock.

What to try

Good wine, tart cheese, an abundance of meat and vegetable dishes, generously seasoned with spices and paprika - Hungarian (aka Magyar) cuisine is considered an explosive mixture of European traditions and oriental motifs. Some disappointment may await vegetarians, for whom the choice, on the contrary, will not be so great.

The main thing that you cannot miss when you are in the capital of Hungary is goulash. We are talking about a thick, high-calorie and spicy soup - there is so much meat in it that vegetables serve only as a light load ... We eat the “correct” goulash in a restaurant or diner - from 700-800 HUF per serving in a bowl to 3500 HUF and more, for soup served in bread. In addition to the classic version of the dish, in Budapest you can try an even thicker version, “perkelt”, or goulash with mushrooms and green peas - “tokan”.

Meat dishes are the basis of all Magyar cuisine, they are generously seasoned with sour cream and paprika, dumplings and mustard sauce. Few people know, but a special breed of pigs has even been bred in Hungary. In addition to their specific appearance (long bristles), these pigs differ from other brethren in even more fatty meat. Therefore, local sausages, including Debrecen sausages and Hungarian salami, are known far beyond the borders of the country. In supermarkets, a stick of inexpensive sausage costs from 600 HUF, raw smoked meat - from 1500 HUF.

Hungarian cuisine has one important feature: fish appears in it sporadically, and seafood does not. The fact is that the country is deprived of access to the sea, fish are caught in inland rivers or lakes (pike perch from Balaton is called “fogash” here). One of the popular Christmas dishes is the local fish soup, originally from the city of Szeged, on the Tisza River. It is easily prepared in restaurants with traditional cuisine, but shrimp or mussels for you will most likely be thawed first and only then served.

Hungarian wines for visitors start with the most famous, Tokay. The wines of this region cannot be confused with others thanks to the large Tokaji inscription on the label. There are three main varieties. The most popular Aszu (Aszu) due to the peculiarities of cooking causes the most confusion. On each bottle of this wine, the number of puttonyos (puttonyos) is indicated: 3, 4, 5, 6. This is not about the years of aging, but about how many barrels for berries were used to create the wine: the more there are, the sweeter the final product and the more expensive a bottle of wine.

From September 9 to 13, the annual wine festival (Budapest International Wine Festival) is held in Budapest: on the square in front of the Buda castle and other venues throughout the city. In order not to dizzy, more than 170 varieties of local wines should still be eaten - national dishes offered right there.

If you didn't come to Budapest during the festival, and the interest in Hungarian winemaking is not limited to the widest range of supermarkets, welcome to the tasting rooms. You can not go far, but right in the old town look into the Faust Wine Cellar, which is loved by tourists. Tasting accompanied by an English-speaking sommelier lasts about two hours in the format of 5 sets +1 and costs 5900 HUF.

The tasting rooms are interesting because they bring here, among other things, wines from small farms, created according to original or old recipes. Such wines are not available for retail sale.

After the first or second courses and wine tastings, it’s not up to sweets anymore. Therefore, we strongly recommend starting your day in Budapest in a patisserie cafe. Whether it's puff pancakes, chocolate brownies or cakes (the famous almond-chocolate "Esterhazy" also comes from here), you will once again see that counting calories is not customary in Hungary.

Budapest tourist

Cafes and restaurants in Budapest

Hungarian cuisine has not become a brand like Italian or French, but in Western Europe, spoiled, what can we hide, by establishments of the most different formats, they love this “neighborly” food, they go for it.

A popular place of deployment not only for tourists, but also for locals is the pedestrian street Vatsi (Vatci utca), similar to the Moscow Arbat. It has many shops and restaurants of all kinds. All in all, in Budapest, according to the most rough estimates, there are more than 3 thousand restaurants.

Even on the main streets there are enough "kebab" and burger shops, however, as elsewhere in Europe - international catering is flourishing. We find characteristic signs of Budapest in small and cozy pubs, in coffee houses with cakes and marzipans: here the locals sit, it seems, for hours, chatting and not in a hurry. In bakeries, most often there are tables where you can drink coffee with a still warm bun or eat one “tredelnik” (a long baguette, hollow inside, sprinkled with nuts and sugar) for two.

In the pubs of Budapest, you will definitely be offered not only beer, but also wine. Despite the fact that the locals have great respect for their Hungarian beer, the beer list always includes Czech, German and Austrian brands. And to have a snack, for the first acquaintance, God himself ordered Hungarian sausages, and even home-made ones (they, however, are not at all cheap, unlike light alcohol that flows like a river).

Some pubs at the same time literally honor the spirit of old England, but tourists are much more interested in "ruin pubs" (from the English. Ruin - a ruin). This is not only a new format among drinking establishments, but also a real city attraction. The first ruin pubs arose in the bicentennial Jewish quarter of Erzsébetváros, within walking distance of the old center. They were opened right in abandoned buildings, making minimal repairs and making sure that the ceiling would not collapse on the heads of visitors.

Mostly people come here to drink, not to eat; because of the love of tourists, establishments keep an average price tag. Close attention is paid to the interior: broken or worn furniture gets the most unexpected neighborhood in the form of car tires, old bikes turned inside out household appliances. It got to the point that "pseudo-ruin-pubs" appeared. The owners open them in ordinary buildings and arrange "artificial wear" in the premises.

It is customary to invite gypsy ensembles to local restaurants, which play not on a common stage, but for each table separately. If you do not like this custom or loud music is not included in the plans, then you must immediately make it clear that you do not need to play for you, since it is customary to thank the performer with a tip (the size should not exceed 1500-2000 HUF).

The main thing that tourists note is that prices are still affordable, and in comparison not only with other European cities, but also with Moscow or St. Petersburg. Yes, it is more expensive here than in other regions of the country, including small resort villages Lake Balaton, but meeting 3500-4500 HUF in one of the many restaurants in Budapest is quite realistic. A piece of pizza or a bun from hawkers on the street - from 200-225 HUF.

Booking a table in the most popular establishments if you want to dine on the weekend is better a few weeks before dinner. Almost all institutions, both inexpensive and respectable, accept payment by card. A tip of 10-15% is usually included in the bill. The kitchen closes one hour before closing. If the cafe is open until 0:00 or until the last visitor, then the kitchen takes orders strictly until 23:00.

Portion size depends on the policy of the institution, but in a traditional Hungarian bistro / bar, all meat is served at the rate of 1 dish for 1.5 people: there should be a lot of hearty food, they say in Budapest.

The best photos of Budapest

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Budapest is deservedly considered one of the most beautiful cities world, and the panorama of the central part of the city overlooking the Danube is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The capital of Hungary consists of three historical parts - Pest, Buda and Obuda and is the only city in the world with more than 120 thermal springs. First of all, you should visit the Buda Castle and the Fisherman's Bastion: from there, from the Buda Mountains, a magnificent view of the opposite bank of the Danube opens, including beautiful building in the Pest part - the Parliament.

The fortress complex on the mountain can be treated differently: it is called both the “dead” city and the “eclecticism” of Budapest, but this quarter, rebuilt over the centuries, has absorbed so many features ... Its heart is, of course, the Royal Palace, with a typical and at the same time not a very logical and not very royal story.

The first castle erected on this site was, indeed, the home of a royal person (13-14 centuries). The Renaissance, and then the Turkish domination, made their own adjustments, but he did not survive the 17th century. After 30 years, on its ruins, the venerable Empress Maria Theresa of Austria-Hungary began the construction of a new, compact and not particularly necessary for Her Majesty (one wing of the building was eventually transferred to the convent). When Budapest became the capital of Hungary already, the palace was given a new role and a truly grandiose construction project was started, which, starting from 1875, was carried out for a full 40 years.

This massive building gives an idea of ​​greatness, but not of the first kings who reigned on this hill (Bele IV or Sigismund). It also houses such important institutions as the National Library, the Museum of the History of Budapest, the National Gallery. Not far from the colossus of the Royal Palace, on St. George's Square, stands the less noticeable Shandor Palace. This is the former residence of the Hungarian prime ministers and the current one for the presidents of the country (it was completely destroyed in World War II and reconstructed in the 90s).

But on the Royal Hill there are still buildings that remember the "ancient" kings of Hungary. First of all, the main temple of Buda, the Church of the Virgin: the first mention dates back to the 13th century. The temple survived the Turkish invasion, having been the main city mosque for a century and a half. Major reconstruction took place at the end of the 19th century. The remains of Bela III and his wife (12th century) are buried here, Hungarian rulers were crowned here until 1916. However, in terms of size and decoration, the church is inferior to the main temple of Hungary today, the Basilica of St. Stephen (built in 1905), which rises on the opposite bank in the territory of old Pest.

Once on the Buda Hill, you must also visit the underground caves that pitted the mountain, as well as go through the mid-19th century pedestrian tunnel (connecting the Danube embankment with the western regions).

Walking around Pest, you can not pass Andrássy Avenue, also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List: with the Opera House, the old building of the Academy of Music, the University of Fine Arts and the round square decorated with sculptures. Kodai. Andrassy Avenue rests on Heroes' Square with an architectural ensemble of museums and the Millennium Monument, a symbol of the Hungarian capital. Most of the most significant sights of Budapest can now be seen from the water, during a rafting excursion on the Danube or on the RiverRide miracle bus.

Picturesque Margaret Island, nature reserve with a wonderful park-arboretum - one of the main "must-see" of Budapest. It is located in the middle of the Danube in the very center of the capital between the Margaret and Arpad bridges.

If the Royal Castle was not enough to get acquainted with the palaces of Hungary, we recommend going to the suburbs. In Godollo (a place 30 km from the capital, convenient to get suburban trains HEV) also has a royal palace, only built in the first half of the 18th century. The residence was honored with royal favor: Franz Joseph I liked to stay here for a long time. And, having passed in Szentendre, a town on the right bank of the Danube (20 km from Budapest), we will find there many original temples of the early 18th century, museums of wine, marzipan, ceramics, museums several prominent Hungarian artists.

Must-see suburbs are also considered the neat town of Vác (“the pearl of the Hungarian Baroque”) and one of the country’s ancient capitals, Visegrad, where the ruins are worth seeing medieval fortress on the Sibik hill and the well-preserved watchtower of Shalamona... The acquaintance with Hungary continues.

10 things to do in Budapest

1. Inspect Old city in Buda and on the other side, in Pest, to form your own opinion which of these two Budapests you like best.
2. Go on a boat trip along the Danube in the evening: wrap yourself in a blanket, enjoy the backlight, do not spill Tokay from a glass.
3. Inspect the baths: compare Széchenyi, where “we were all” in the city park, with the Gellert view baths under the mountain.
4. Start the day with a cup of strong coffee and a terribly high-calorie cream cake while watching the old center fill up with tourists.
5. Visit the most colorful of the zoos in the Old World - even if you are only a child at heart.
6. Climb to the observation deck on Mount Janos or Mount Gellert, startle.
7. Spend the day, not in a hurry, in one of the city parks: feed the birds, sunbathe and immediately take pictures of historical sites.
8. Surprise at underground Budapest: catacombs under the castle hill, natural labyrinths in the stalagmite cave of Pal-Völdi.
9. Take a ride with or without a breeze: on the funicular (silko) to the Buda Castle, in the carriage of the longest tram in the world, on 1 (yellow) metro line with small carriages to imagine how it looked at the end of the 19th century.
10. Rush to one of the nearest suburbs, where you will finally be greeted by natural ancient ruins and baroque untouched by creative alterations.

Museums

Among the main museums of the capital, the National Historical Museum of Hungary, the Hungarian Art Museum and the Hungarian National Museum stand out. natural history, as well as the palace complex with a Gothic temple in Buda and the Parish Church in Belvaros. As a rule, museums are open from 10:00 to 18:00, the day off is Monday.

Not so long ago, a museum dedicated to hairdressing (Fodraszmuzeum) was opened in the capital. On permanent display is a recreated hairdressing salon from the 1880s, with more than 2,000 items on display, including very rare wig-making tools. And also: old hair dryers, razors, scissors, curling irons and many unusual entertaining things.

Budapest for kids

If older children share their parents' passion for architectural beauties and historical monuments, then we simply open the guidebook and start from the old center, diluting the views with gastronomic joys. But even in this case, you will have to devote several days exclusively to "children's" entertainment (water park, zoo, cable car, skating rink in winter or water procedures in open parks in summer). Of course, it all depends on the interests of your child, and we will only talk about the most "Budapest" of children's joys.

If you are lucky with the weather, we recommend one of the city parks. You should definitely visit Margaret Island, located along the Danube just north of old Buda and old Pest between the Margaret and Arpad bridges. This is a completely green area. active rest, as much as 100 hectares, where there is something to do: the ruins of an ancient monastery, a functioning viewpoint, baths at hotels (admission for a fee), a Japanese garden, a rose garden, fountains (including a light one, as well as a fountain with live turtles), a mini-zoo, a singing well. A huge selection of rental equipment for moving around the park (in addition to bikes and rickshaws, electric cars and electric scooters). Bathhouse "Palatinusk" has its own beach, as well as pools and waterslides; it is sometimes referred to as a "mini water park".

You can head to the Central City Park (Varoshliget), a no less striking place. The always crowded Széchenyi baths are not very suitable for children under 5-6 years old, since there are no children's pools here, but the hot springs will be of interest to everyone who is older. On the territory of Budapest there are no architectural “miniatures” so common throughout Europe (reduced copies of the very best buildings and monuments), but in Varosliget there is the Vajdahunyad palace complex (elements of 21 of the most famous buildings in Hungary are included here). Next to the palace, opposite the baths, there is a city zoo: not boring with cages and aviaries, but cute, as all visitors note. For example, the elephants are assigned a building in the style of an Indian palace, and a hippo bathes in a thermal bath. Many children have never seen so many heat-loving animals at once: sloths, lemurs, pandas, rhinos, anteaters. In winter (November-February), an ice rink is poured in Varosliget.

Are the kids tired of castles and baths? Then it's time to go to big Adventure» on Mount Janos, the highest point in Budapest (529 m above sea level), and climb observation tower(the entrance is free). You will have to desperately climb only in places; The 1.5-kilometer Libego cable car leads up the mountain. It takes about 10 minutes to get to the tower. Do not think that you will use wagons on the cable car - chairs for two with a crossbar clamp to enthusiastically turn your head and dangle your legs in the air. At cable car there is an alternative in the form of a child railway. Then the ascent and descent will lose all sharpness, you will slowly go in one of the open cars (there are no windows as such).

Combine a walk through the old Buda with a trip to the Marzipan Museum: located on the first floor of the Hilton hotel on the Buda Hill (aka Fortress Hill or Fortress Quarter), next to the Fisherman's Bastion. Marzipan sculptures, interior items, paintings, fruits and plants. The shop and cafe at the museum are considered expensive. Take a look at the exposition, eat sweets, but it will be cheaper to buy marzipans with you elsewhere.September

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The climate is temperate continental, seasonal temperature fluctuations are very significant. As a rule, the coldest month is January, the hottest months are June, July and August.

The capital of Hungary is recognized as one of the most beautiful and attractive cities in the world. Historical buildings from the time of the Roman Empire and modern quarters are intricately intertwined on its streets. Budapest fully possesses that special European mood and chic that other elegant old European cities are famous for.

History of the city on the banks of the Danube

The Romans built bridges over the Danube in the 2nd century, but Buda, located on the right bank of the river, and Pest on the left could only be connected in 1840, when the grandiose Chain Bridge was built. This was not done before, obviously, because in that place there was a very turbulent current, the river often overflowed its banks, preventing the formation of dense soil. The first bridge was regarded as an engineering marvel of the time. The construction was supervised by two Englishmen. Many of the workers were English, and Italians from Trieste and Slavs also worked with them. The Hungarian nobility provided funding.

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In 1873, Buda, Obuda (old Buda) and Pest merged into a single city. New bridges have appeared. But all of them were blown up during the Second World War, when the Germans were preparing the last defensive line on the Fortress Hill. The recovery process took quite a long time. The chain bridge was put back into operation in 1949, exactly one century after its construction. However, the single-span Elizabethan (Erzhebet) bridge was restored only in 1964.

This bridge is named after a representative of the House of Habsburg, who was very popular in these parts: Empress Elisabeth, the wife of Franz Joseph, was called Sister all over the world.

One of the bridges was also named after Franz Joseph, which was later renamed Sabadshaghid (Freedom Bridge). Buda looks much older than Pest, but in fact it was founded after the Mongols destroyed the latter in 1241. The left bank of the river is flat, but the steep limestone hills of the right bank served as natural defensive barriers, and the Danube separated Buda from the road , along which eastern riders on short skewbald horses could return at any time.

The current boulevards and ring roads were laid mainly at the beginning of the 20th century. They can cope with the modern traffic load, which cannot be said about the older districts of the capital. On one of the hills of Buda, the venerable Bishop Gellert in 1046 tried to preach Christianity local residents, for which he was severely punished: he was stuffed into a barrel studded with nails and thrown down a hill into the river. This mountain is now called the name of the priest. From its top you can see the whole city, the flat expanses beyond its borders and the winding ribbon of the Danube.

On the mountain are an ancient citadel and a monument to the Liberation of Hungary from the fascist invaders. Bela IV began the construction of the new city of Buda in the 13th century. from the construction of a fortress on the Fortress Hill, which was supposed to protect a residential area located north of Mount Gellert. The city was going through tough times. In 1526, the Ottoman Turks conquered it (the decisive battle took place near Mount Mohacs). Buda then did not suffer much, it was destroyed in 1686, when it was recaptured from the Ottomans. Having established themselves in the city, the Turks turned the churches into mosques and brought an oriental flavor to Buda.

Buildings and fortresses

Some houses and baths, so beloved by the Turks, still bear the stamp of the East to this day. On Uri Street on the Fortress Hill is the grave of Abdurakhman Ali, the last Turkish pasha who ruled Buda. After the expulsion of the Turks, the ruined city was rebuilt in the late baroque style, which then dominated the trend in architecture. Vivid examples of this style in the city are:

• university church;
• Zichy castle;
• a silk-spinning factory in Obud;
• the two-tower church of St. Anne on Batthyani Square.

The restoration of the monarchy in 1867 caused a second wave of construction of ceremonial buildings. The fortress was transformed into the Royal Palace. The Hungarians, devoured by an ambitious desire to fashion a city from their capital, eclipsing Vienna with brilliance and beauty, launched a grandiose construction on the coast where Pest stood. During these events, the city, destroyed during the suppression of the revolution of 1848, was almost completely restored. But more trouble lay ahead for the Hungarians. The foreign intervention of 1919 and the Second World War did not leave Budapest untouched.

fortress mountain

The Germans, having destroyed everything that stood on the fortress hill, which served as their last stronghold in 1944, to some extent rendered the city a service: archaeologists had a great opportunity to rummage through the cobblestones. They brought to light the material facts of the activities of the great people of Hungarian history - the Arpads, representatives of the Angevin dynasty, Matthias Korvin (Hunyadi) and others. These finds were skillfully used in the reconstruction of the palace, which now houses:

• Museum of Modern History of Hungary;
• Hungarian National Gallery;
• Museum of the History of Budapest;
• National Library.

A funicular will take you to the Fortress Hill, through the sewer systems of which the tunnel passes. Landing takes place at Adam Clark Square, located at the Chain Bridge. Several streets on the top of the hill, connected by narrow galleries, have a fair atmosphere, this is especially noticeable near the Matthias Church. Cars are not allowed to enter.

Matthias Church

The official name of the Matthias Church is the Church of Our Lady (at one time it was even an important Turkish mosque), but it is more often called by the name of the Hungarian king and national hero Matthias Hunyadi, who married twice in this religious building and reconstructed it. In 1686, the church was almost completely destroyed, rebuilt in the 18th century, and acquired its current appearance only in the 19th century. The last two Hungarian kings, Franz Joseph I and Charles IV, were crowned here.

Through the dark windows, a little light penetrates into the church, but as soon as the eyes get used to the dim lighting, the eye snatches elegant columns, walls and vaults of the grandiose interior from the twilight. The frescoes depict scenes from the life of Hungarian saints. King Bela III (reigned 1173-1196) and his wife Anna of Chatillon are buried in the Holy Trinity Chapel, their ashes were brought here from Szekesfehervar in 1898.

Fisherman's Bastion and museums

A few steps from the church is the Fisherman's Bastion with many towers and stairs. This rather whimsical building with winding galleries was built at the beginning of the 20th century. on the site of the fish market and the village of fishermen. Among the museums of the palace complex nestled on Fortuna Street, not far from the Hilton Hotel, is a curious little Museum of Trade and Hotel and Restaurant Business. But don't let its name fool you; this is not a paean to gluttony or the work of canteens. The museum consists of several halls, decorated in the style of the lobbies of Budapest hotels of the time when they were an integral attribute of the lifestyle of aristocrats.

If you want to breathe a little more air of nostalgia for the past, take a look at the Museum of Military History, which, in particular, contains a collection of military uniforms of 19th-century cavalrymen, which to no small extent contributed to the formation of an opinion about Hungarian officers as boastful nutcases. The exposition is mainly represented by materials about the uprising of the Hungarians in 1848, who opposed the dominance of the Habsburgs. The arch near the Museum of Military History serves as one of the entrances to the more modern area of ​​Buda, the main street of which is Fö Street. The street ends at Jozsef Böhm Square, named after the Polish general, the hero of the Hungarian liberation struggle of 1848-1849, whose monument stands in the center of the square.

Baths of Budapest

On Feu street is the Kiraly bath, formerly a Turkish bath. About 120 hot springs flowing along the banks of the Danube supply 16 million gallons of medicinal water, which was used by the Romans. The baths in Budapest serve the same purpose as the coffee houses in Vienna (separate visiting days for men and women). The most popular are the Gellert and Szechenyi baths.

From Buda to Pest, located on east coast river, you will reach the Chain Bridge, walking along a footpath for 600 m. On this side are Roosevelt Square with a statue of Count Istvan Szechenyi and the Academy of Sciences founded by him - a palace in the style of neo-Renaissance architecture. Tsorzo Street, running south, is intended for walking. It will lead to Piazza Vigado, where Concert hall in which almost all the great musicians of different times performed. The list is headed by Brahms and Liszt.

Shopping in Budapest

Parallel to Zorzo is Vaci Street, the most elegant shopping street in Budapest. Even in the 70s and 80s, luxury goods were sold here, which could not be found in any of the countries of Eastern Europe. The same is true of the Budapest Market, located at the opposite end of Vaci in an amazing building with soaring metal columns, high covered galleries and ramps.

The shopping area of ​​Pest is a pedestrian zone, and it is especially pleasant to walk here. Voroshmarty Square resembles a beehive. Almost everyone considers it their duty to pay a visit to the famous confectionery shop "Gerbaud", which opened in 1857. Most airlines have offices in this area.

Soul food in Budapest

To the north of the square is the neo-Romanesque basilica of St. Stephen - a place of pilgrimage for Hungarian Catholics who want to look at the right hand of St. Stephen. Istvan. Nearby is the Budapest Opera House. Tickets for the performances going on here are not available, but you will not regret if you just take a tour of the theater in between performances. Near the Intercontinental Hotel you will see the parish church of the Inner City, which was built before the Mongol invasion. Liszt regularly played the organ here, the composer lived literally around the corner, and Richard Wagner often visited his house on Sunday evenings.

Parliament of Hungary

The huge building of the Hungarian Parliament on Kossuth Square is completely copied from its British counterpart - both the compositional structure, and even the way it is reflected in the river, only in the Danube, and not in the Thames. The building was built from 1880 to 1902 according to the project of Imre Steindl on a special concrete base, taking into account the proximity of the river. Behind the 280-meter facade with statues of 88 Hungarian leaders and commanders, there are 10 courtyards, 29 stairs and 27 gates. In front of the parliament building there is a monument to Lajos Kossuth, the leader of the struggle for independence in 1848-1849. Tours of the grandiose premises of the Hungarian Parliament are organized in the mornings on certain days.

National Museum

Be sure to visit the National Museum of Budapest at least to look at the apostolic crown of St. Istvana, the most powerful symbol of the country, created by Byzantine masters of the 12th century. This is certainly a masterpiece, but not the crown that Pope Sylvester II gave Istvan. Stephen was the first Hungarian king, and a millennium later he was canonized. The cross on the crown is bent, because at a critical moment in the Middle Ages it had to be hastily hidden. At the end of World War II, the Hungarian military handed over the crown and all the royal regalia to the Americans, who returned the treasure only in 1978.

Synagogue and Museum of Fine Arts

Next to the museum is a synagogue, one of the largest in the world. You will recognize it immediately by its onion-shaped dome. The Hungarian Millennium Monument and the Heroes' Square were created to commemorate the millennium anniversary of the conquest of this land by the Magyars. The sculptural ensemble is a statue of the leader of the Hungarians, Prince Arpad and seven of his associates. The ensemble was created in 1897 according to the project of Albert Shikedanets. The square is dominated by the Budapest Museum of Fine Arts and the Artist's House.

The first exhibits one of the most significant Eastern Europe collections of paintings, and in the second exhibitions of works of contemporary art are arranged. And, of course, one cannot fail to mention the Museum of Applied Arts. It stands apart from other museums in the southern part of the city, you need to go to it by taxi. The museum building, created by Eden Lechner in the 90s of the last century, is in itself a masterpiece of architecture.

If you feel like drinking coffee or having lunch, go to the cafe-restaurant "Hungary", located on the outer ring road. This Art Nouveau establishment is considered one of the most luxurious in Budapest.

Obuda (old Buda) is located a little away from the city center. You will get there by HEV train departing from Batthyany Square. Now it is predominantly an area of ​​apartment buildings, but there is also a historical center with the ruins of a Roman amphitheater with 15,000 seats. The main cultural building of Obuda is the castle built by the Zichy family in the Baroque style in the 18th century.

A country and a city with a rich history will not leave anyone indifferent, because they are a part of beautiful Europe.

- capital and most beautiful city Hungary, which is famous all over the world for its amazingly beautiful architecture and thermal springs. The history of the city begins in the 1st century BC with the Celtic settlement Ak Ink. Surrounded by mountains Budapest located in a picturesque lowland, on the banks of the Danube River, and consists of three cities: Buda, Pest and Obuda. United in 1873 into one city, they became the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary - Budapest.

Budapest is the capital and most beautiful city of Hungary

The centuries-old development of Budapest has left many magnificent architectural and cultural monuments. Today, many of them are protected by law and are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Hungarian government takes its historical and cultural heritage annually allocating large sums of money for their restoration and maintenance. The capital of Hungary is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and in order to see all its sights, you will not have enough even a day! Here you can find architectural monuments from 2000 years old Roman amphitheatres, mosaic-decorated villas, baths and fragments of an aqueduct, the Aquincum Museum, 400-year-old Turkish baths, elegant houses of the 19th century Hungarian secession, as well as European cultural and spiritual attractions.

One of the most significant attractions Budapest Buda Castle or Buda Castle is rightfully considered to be one of the largest castles in Europe until the 18th century.

In Buda, you can visit the caves of Palvöldi and Semlö, climb Mount Széchenyi and visit Mount Janos, the most high point Budapest. The magnificent Royal Palace, and nane - the Hungarian National Gallery - the most famous museum among tourists, where exhibits from the 10th century to the present day are exhibited. No less interesting are also Historical Museum Budapest, the Hungarian National Museum, the Museum of Applied Arts, the Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Fine Arts Gallery, the Military History Museum and many, many others. The Széchenyi State Library has collected a magnificent collection of ancient manuscripts, manuscripts and codes of laws, and the Museum of Modern Art has the works of Hungarian and foreign masters.

The central cathedral of Buda - the temple of the Virgin, or the temple of Matthias, has long served as a place for the coronation and wedding of the rulers of the country, and today it keeps not only the spirit of the ages, but also numerous works of church art. The largest synagogue in Europe serves as a great place for concerts, and St. Stephen's Basilica is the first temple in the capital, the largest in Budapest and the second largest in the country. Unforgettable panoramas of the city will open to you from the Fisherman's Bastion and from the walls of the Citadel on Mount Gellert. The Parliament building is considered the most striking building in Hungary: its height is 96 meters, its width is 118 meters; 10 courtyards, 27 gates and the first central heating system in Europe complete the look of this majestic building.

What is not in this fabulous city: mysterious castles and ancient fortresses, magnificent palaces and majestic temples, diverse theaters and original museums, healing thermal baths and labyrinths of underground caves. And also - grandiose bridges, playful fountains, cozy boulevards, spacious squares and noisy streets, and even your own Paradise Island immersed in greenery. And, of course, amazing goulash, fragrant Tokay and cheerful chardash. All this together and separately - business card capital of Hungary, Budapest.

Pest and its squares

Budapest is famous, especially that part of it, which is called Pest, for its squares. There are about ten of them here. Oktogon Square, Franz Liszt, Mora Yokai. Passing through them, you can get to the most famous square of the city - Heroes' Square, on which a monument rises - the Millennium Column, made of marble, with a sculpture of the Archangel Gabriel, 36 meters high. And in the niches in a semicircle on both sides of the column, there are statues of important people in the history of Hungary.

From the Heroes' Square you can get to beautiful park Varoshliget, located on the shore of a picturesque lake. And there is the Vajdahunyad castle nearby. And further along the bridge - the famous Széchenyi thermal baths.

Buda - on the other side

Having crossed the most famous bridge (of which there are nine in Budapest) called the Chain Bridge, you can get to Buda. There are numerous fortresses, palaces and cathedrals. The Buda Castle rises above the city over the slowly flowing Danube.

The elegant Royal Palace is visible from anywhere in the city. There is also the Gothic Matthias Cathedral, where the coronation ceremonies of the Hungarian monarchs used to be held.

Narrow old streets, colorful facades of houses, tiled roofs. The Fisherman's Bastion is one of the most recognizable buildings in Budapest. And from the observation terrace, a breathtaking panorama of stunning Pest opens up.

In addition to all the sights, there is something in Budapest that no other European capital has - city caves. They are real and very ancient, but preserved in their original form. It is full of stalactites, stalagmites, and in one of them there is a huge thermal lake.

Many amazing things are located in the capital of Hungary, Budapest. And this city generously shares everything with those who want to touch its beauty, understand its soul and love it with all their hearts.