Buda and Pest

Budapest is awash with history, culture and natural spa waters: Dive into the spectacle of Hungary’s stunning capital city and find the best things to do in Budapest.

The Danube gracefully divides Budapest into Buda to the west and Pest to the east, two gorgeous cityscapes united by sweeping bridges, history and culture.

The best things to do in Budapest are easy to find, and most are free too. The city itself is a beauty to behold, rich with architecture from its Habsburg past and medieval heritage, with glimpses of its Roman, Ottoman and Soviet eras.

Superb restaurants, inventive independent boutiques and crazy late-night bars are all just a short walk or tram ride away. Relax in Budapest’s naturally warm thermal spring waters, sip in its elegant coffeehouses and sail beneath its beautiful bridges on a Danube cruise.

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Things to see in Budapest:
From Chain Bridge to Buda Castle

The best things to do in Budapest are spread out across the city but easily reached by metro, tram, bus – or even funicular. From the foot of Chain Bridge, an iconic city symbol, the funicular will whisk you up to the Habsburg palace of Buda Castle, the view ever more spectacular as you near the top. The historic landmarks of Matthias Church, Fishermen’s Bastion and the National Gallery are a short walk away around Trinity Square.

Andrassy, Heroes Square and Szechenyi thermal bath

Over the river in Pest, the tree-lined showcase boulevard of Andrássy út leads to grand Heroes’ Square, its colonnades lined with historic figures. Beyond spreads City Park, filled with some of the most entertaining things to do in Budapest for families. The Zoo, the Circus and the Amusement Park are lined opposite the beautiful Széchenyi thermal bath, where you can enjoy an outdoor soak: steamy in snowy winter, fun in scorching summer.

Margaret Island is a relaxed green getaway. Free from cars or buses, its Danube-facing pathways are used by cyclists and strolling couples – the music fountain is a favourite spot for wedding photos.

Read more about things to do in Budapest here.

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