The “twin city” known as Budapest can lay claim to being the most beautiful capital in Europe. The city is full of surprises and wonders, with its lively downtown area, charming parks, and majestic river, the Danube, which gracefully divides Buda from Pest. In the hills of Buda, a largely residential area, you can enjoy the Royal Palace and historical houses of the Castle District. Or, on the flatland of Pest, the commercial and administrative centre, bustling with life and energy, you can enjoy the grand architecture built during the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The Romans introduced public baths to their city here, an institution which was re-established by the Ottomans in the 16th and 17th century. Ever since locals have indulged themselves in the mineral-rich hot springs gushing from the earth beneath. Try the Széchenyi, Gellért, or Rudas baths and then immerse yourself in the buzzing night-life of Pest in the ‘ruin-pubs’ around Gozsdu Udvar, a passage teeming with restaurants and bars. Budapest is full of secrets to uncover.

Start your sightseeing on top of Buda, with the magnificent Royal Castle and the Castle District. Then visit Gellért Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to enjoy a breath-taking view of the city. Do not miss the stately building on the Pest embankment, the Parliament, a Gothic Revival complex stretching imposingly along the Danube. For sacred wonders, visit the tallest building in the city, Saint Stephen's Basilica. Finally, Heroes' Square will give you a peek into the romantic past of the country and offer a stroll in the nearby City Park.