If you travel to Budapest, Hungary, there are a few things that should be on your “to visit” list. Budapest, the capital of Hungary, counts only about 1 million inhabitants. Nevertheless, Budapest does not lack the cosmopolitan life.
Split in two by the Danube river (just like the whole country of Hungary), Budapest is easy to get around and check the well kept 1800-1900 buildings, old streets and monuments.
For a first time visitor, we highly recommend taking a Hop-on Hop-off Bus tour. There are several companies offering such services in Budapest, one with 5000 HUF (nearly 20 EUR) and the other asking 4500 HUF (nearly 18 EUR), with similar routes. In this price, you would get a 24h Hop-on Hop-off bus tour ticket, a 1 hour sightseeing tour cruise on the Danube, a panoramic tour (by bus) and several vouchers that would get you a free Hungarian specific soup and a beer at one of the Budapest pubs.
The tour starts in the heart of the city, where the financial, administrative and political centre is. The Hop-on Hop-off tour has 14 stops where you can get off and visit at your own pace. However we recommend only a few stops to maximize your sightseeing tour:
- the Heroes Square – Michael Jackson used this square in one of his clips. Around the square visitors can also find the Budapest Museum of Arts or the Budapest Zoo. The park nearby is also worth visiting.
- the Citadel – this is in the Buda side of the Budapest. Up at nearly 500m altitude, the Citadel was built by Austrian power for rather a psychological effect than military purposes. The Citadel gives you a great overview over the entire city of Budapest.
- the Buda Castle – on the same side of the Danube, the Buda Castle has kept the medieval streets and churches. You will get a great overview over the Hungarian Parliament Palace.
- the Parliament Palace – the place that gathers the Hungarian political class. Built in an extraordinary architectural way, the building has over 7 km in stairs length and over 22 km in hallways length.
From the Political district you can go on the cruise offered as part of the sightseeing tour. It will keep you busy for an hour in this trip on the Danube river.
All these together will take you about one full day and is a great way to learn your way around Budapest.
The night life in Budapest is not bad either. The buildings are well illuminated from the outside, putting their architecture in value. Pubs and night clubs are full with both Hungarian people and visitors from all around the world. Meeting new people is fun and entertaining.
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