Budapest, capital of Hungary, is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and famous for its 19th-century architectural wonders alongside the Danube River. Notable landmarks include the majestic riverside Parliament Building and a collection of stunning basilicas. Many medieval bridges connect the 2 sides of the city that make up its name: Buda and Pest.
The Hungarian capital is a mix of the old and new, it has many grand city squares, a unique Heroes’ Square stands out for its iconic, towering pillar and Millennium Monument complex that dates back to 1896. The complex honors Hungary’s 7 founding figures, together with a few other important national leaders. The square serves as a convenient central point for exploring the city.
Views of Buda and Pest
Cruising along the Danube is a great way to see Budapest in all its glory. Some daytime cruises take you past riverside landmarks, dramatically lit Szechenyi Chain Bridge, the Buda Castle hilltop complex, and the stately Hungarian Parliament Building or take a scenic stroll over the Danube, most scenic walks in Budapest across this old and iconic cast iron suspension bridge. Széchenyi Chain Bridge spans the Danube, connecting Buda and Pest. It has magnificent lion figures guarding its entrances and a pair of giant, arched towers at its midsection. The towers are illuminated just before the sun dramatically sets over Buda Hill.
A grand landmark on the east bank of the Danube
This is the grand icon of Hungary’s democratic government. The majestic, neo-Gothic Hungarian Parliament Building dates back to 1904 and looms over the Pest side of the Danube River. It’s the largest building in the country. Viewed from aboard river cruises or the western bank of the Danube, the structure’s reflection on the calm river surface adds to the breathtaking panorama. It shares striking similarities to London’s Westminster Palace, but with turrets and arches making up most of its facade and with Renaissance and Baroque interiors.
The Chain Bridge
Opened in 1849, Budapest’s magnificent suspension bridge connects the Buda (West) and Pest (Eastern) sides of the city, arching over the River Danube. Designed by an English engineer and built by a Scot, the bridge is a symbol of national pride and economic advancement.
Buda Castle
Crowning the city atop Castle Hill, Buda Castle is one of the city’s most recognizable monuments. It dominates the cityscape with its neoclassical Habsburg-era grandeur and reconstructed copper-green dome (the original was damaged during the Second World War). After being razed and rebuilt over the centuries, we can see history written in Buda Castle’s walls and rooms with traces of its Renaissance, Ottoman, Habsburg and Communist past. Budapest, the capital of Hungary, was created in 1873 by the merger of three cities: Buda, Óbuda and Pest. The town spreads on the banks of the river Danube, Buda extends to the hills on the west bank of the Danube and Pest on the left bank of the river in the lowlands. There are 7 bridges and 2 railway bridges In Budapest, all bridges were destroyed during the Second World War were restored to the original style.
