Location

Brimming with historic landmarks, a wealth of museums and numerous green parks, the charming city of Budapest sits alongside the river Danube in central Hungary. The neo-Gothic architecture of Andrássy boulevard and Castle Hill, home to the spectacular Buda Castle and picturesque narrow streets lined with Medieval, Baroque and nineteenth century buildings, have both earned UNESCO World Heritage status. Today, Budapest is a thriving financial hub with a cosmopolitan atmosphere and lively music and arts scenes.

Budapest is divided by the river Danube. The area to the West of the Danube is called Buda, while the area to the East of the Danube is called Pest. Each district in Budapest is known by a roman numeral. A chain bridge that spans the Danube is the oldest bridge in Budapest, completed in 1849 and is one most photographed sights of the city.

Terézvárous

District VI, east of the Danube in Pest, is home to the Western Railway Station known locally as Nyugati pu which is an architectural site. The quarter was originally named after Queen Maria Theresa in 1777 as it means Theresa Town.

Belváros

District V, east of the Danube in Pest, is home to magnificent sites such as Gresham Palace, St Stephens Basilica, The Hungarian State Opera House and Lipótváros. Lipótváros is the area north of the district and means Leopold Town; together they form the entirety of District V which is known as the heart of Pest. The Hungarian State Opera House which was completed in a new-Renaissance style in 1884 and is known as Magyar Allami Operahaz housing both the State Opera, as well as the State Ballet. St Stephens Basilica is the main church of Budapest, built between 1851 and 1905 it is crowned with a neo-Renaissance dome and is the home to St Stephen’s mummified right hand.

Castle Hill

Castle Hill is found in District I across the Chain Bridge on the Buda side of Budapest. Castle Hill houses the Royal Palace, National Gallery, Mary Magdalene Tower, Matthias Church, Fisherman’s Bastion and the Vienna Gate. The Royal Palace, a Baroque palace, has never been occupied by the Hungarian Royal family and is the second Palace to stand there after the first Gothic style palace was destroyed in 1686. Church Hill houses 2 towers: Mary Magdalene’s Tower and the Fisherman’s Bastion, only the latter is still fully erected and boasts fantastic views of Pest and its many bridges.