Budapest

Budapest at sunrise (by Tunde Pecsvari) and the Great Synagogue(by Alistair Howard).

Budapest is the capital city and commercial center of Hungary, with more than 1.7 million inhabitants. The site on which it stands has been continuously settled since prehistoric times.

Hungary serves as a link between Eastern and Western Europe, and this is especially seen in the bustling capital of Budapest, which teems with cafés, restaurants, markets, and bars. Tens of thousands of commuters converge on Budapest daily, more than half the nation's university students attend school here and more than half of Hungary's income from foreign tourism is earned in Budapest alone.

Known as the "Queen of the Danube," Budapest straddles the Danube (Duna) River in a magnificent natural setting. The city's two parts - the colorful hills of Buda and the wide, businesslike boulevards of Pest - are situated on opposite sides of the river, connected by a series of bridges.

Budapest offers its visitors Old World grandeur and a thriving modern culture. On the way to one of Budapest's many museums or churches, visitors are likely to be charmed by unexpected glimpses into shadowy courtyards, long vistas down sunlit cobbled streets, or the scent of a hearty stew wafting from a kitchen window. Although some 30,000 buildings were destroyed during World War II and in the 1956 Revolution, the past lingers on in the often crumbling architectural details of the antique churches, synagogues, and other structures that remain.

Budapest Map
Our own detailed, interactive satellite map of Budapest, plus links to more Budapest maps.

Budapest Hotel Reviews
Unbiased reviews, ratings and price comparisons on hotels in Budapest from fellow travelers.

Budapest Travel Forum
Travel advice and insider tips on Budapest from those in the know.

	Cave Church Located on Gellert Hill overlooking Liberty Bridge is a unique grotto chapel of Hungarian Paulite monks. Closed during the Communist years and now reopened, it offers a peaceful respite from the city.
	Dohány Street Synagogue (Great Synagogue) Built in 1859, the Great Synagogue of Budapest is Europe's largest synagogue and the second largest in the world. The fine Byzantine-Moorish building is still in active use by Budapest's Jewish community.
	Inner City Parish Church The fine Belvarosi Plebaniatemplom is the oldest building in Pest. The 14th-century Gothic church stands on the site of a 12th-century church and a Roman fortress and contains a mihrab from the Turkish occupation.
	Matthias Church Officially the Church of Our Lady, this symbol of Buda's Castle District is popularly known as Matthias Church after the much-loved 15th-century Renaissance king who contributed the towers and was twice married here.
	Medieval Synagogue This tiny Sephardic synagogue dating from 1364 was unexpectedly discovered in the 1960s during general excavation work in the Castle District.
	National Jewish Museum Located near the Dohany Street Synagogue and next to the birthplace of Zionism founder Theodor Herzl, this four-room museum is devoted to the long history of Jews in Hungary and contains many lovely works of art.
	St. Stephen's Basilica Named for Hungary's first Christian king, this is the largest church in Hungary. Inside, the Chapel of the Holy Right contains Hungary's most prized sacred relic: Stephen's right hand.