Budapest Guide

Architecture in Budapest

Just strolling the streets of Budapest, you’ll see some wondrous buildings and come across some hidden gems, but there are some things which you really mustn’t miss on a trip to perhaps Central Europe’s most beautiful city.

First off is the neo-Gothic Hungarian Parliament Building. As the largest building in Hungary, and the largest Parliament in Europe, it is hard not to see this, looming over the Danube, and it was from here, on the balcony facing Lajos Kossuth Square, that Mátyás Szűrös declared the Hungarian Republic in 1989. Within, visitors can see hundreds of statues of illustrious figures from the nation’s past, as well as the Holy Crown of Hungary, proudly displayed in the central hall.

Nearby lies another sacred site for proud Hungarians, the Basilica of St Stephen, the founder of Hungary, whose incorruptible right hand remains mummified in the basilica’s reliquary.

Cafes

Budapest is famous for its café culture, having embraced the idea with open arms to the extent that by 1880, the city had over 600 cafes. Today, cafes can be found everywhere you look, each with its own unique charms, but all will welcome you warmly. You’ll need to be suitably fed and refreshed to see all that this city has to offer, with the Buda Castle district, Andrássy Avenue and the Millenium Underground Railway all having been awarded World Heritage Status by UNESCO.

Spas and Thermal springs

All that walking and culture can be a little wearying, so to revive your spirits and energy levels, head to one of the city’s many spas. Thermal springs abound underneath the city, and the Romans were the first to take advantage of this, and still the spas live on, from public baths to luxurious, private resorts.

Nightlife in Budapest

Nightlife in Budapest is equally as mixed as the city’s architecture, with no one area laying claim to be the ‘party zone’ of the city. There are also no city-set limits on opening hours, meaning nights can go on long into the night or even just carry on straight through to the next day. Like every other city, Budapest has its fair share of trendy nightspots, which are like clubs in every other major city. However, more interesting are the so-called ‘ruin-clubs’ which can be found around the city, but particularly in the Jewish district. A ‘ruin-club’ is a bar or club that has been set up in a derelict or abandoned old building, usually having a lifespan of around three years before the building is torn down for reconstruction. Here, you’ll find the alternative young Hungarians meeting and drinking, although plenty of well-to-do types seek these places out for a quick bite to eat and a drink.

Must See and Do