Water banks are known to be an excellent place to settle as a community.  Many major cities are in fact next to water.   Budapest is no exception, and its surroundings are picturesque.  From Buda Castle Hill, where there is an incomparable view of the mostly flat Pest side, to the Danube which includes the famous Parliament.

Hungary’s capital has lived through a few periods of administrative instability.  Going back to the Stone Age, the Ottoman Turks, through the rules of the Habsburg monarchy, to Soviet Communism. Despite its scars, the country moved forward and continues to bloom.  Strong resilient people and attractions remind tourists of particular moments of different magnitudes that occurred not so long ago.  Buda Castle is an example of a monument which reminds us of its rich history, Momento Park, 1956 Memorial, Holocaust memorials, Hospital in the rock, the House of Terror are others, just to name a few.  Some of them are not for children and many of them are sure to entice emotions from the rest of us.

Budapest is a vibrant city with delightful activities.  Museums of fine art, churches and synagogues, the parliament, castles, thermal baths and public street art seemingly take you to another world.

You can easily navigate Buda and Pest by foot, with bridges to reach the other side.  A few bridges cross each side yet the most common is definitely the Chain bridge. It is easily recognized by the lion guarding statues on either side.

Budapest is now, and has been, a unified city since 1873.  Buda, Obuda and Pest used to be different towns.

Pest is the flat commercial side and Buda is hillier as well as being the royal district. Margaret Island is not to be forgotten as it is located between these two larger cities.  This green area with fountains, parks and thermal pools, is an oasis in the middle of a city.

For an overview of Budapest click here.

For all posts on Budapest/Hungary click here.