Refreshing Budapest

Budapest is actually two cities separated by the River Danube. The historic city of Buda stands on the hills of the western side. The main commercial and shopping districts are on the flatter opposite bank in Pest. Visitors who are interested in the area's history should begin their exploration in Buda, where the castle and surrounding Old Town begin their mediaeval tale.

Statue Park (Szoborpark) provides a surprising time jump into the recent past for the visitor. The area is a repository for mementoes from the Communist era, with opinions divided as to whether these are impressive or simply in poor taste.

Opera and shopping 
Budapest resembles Vienna in its unbridled passion for music. An evening at the opera is a splendid way to crown your stay in the city. Diligent shoppers will inevitably find their way to Vaci Utca in Pest, which is an exceptionally attractive pedestrian precinct. This street is packed with small shops selling all manner of designer goods and more besides.

Hungarian cuisine provides a host of superb gastronomic experiences that were traditionally based on peppers, potatoes, tomatoes and meat. The modern spectrum of tastes is broader still, with a delightful increase in vegetarian options as well. There is a wide range of cafés and friends of pastry will never manage to exhaust the supply.

The eternal spa city 
Budapest is renowned for its baths, the oldest of which date back to the Turkish period five hundred years ago. Guests in the city should not pass up the opportunity to visit the baths. Király is the oldest establishment, while Gellért is the most aesthetically pleasing and Széchenyi is impressive in size.