Unique features of Budapest:

1. Even 50,000 years ago people used to live where Budapest lies now, but it got its contemporary name as recently as 128 years ago: up to 1873 its major constituents (Óbuda, Buda and Pest) were considered separate towns.
2. A contiguous cavern system lies beneath its hills, with medicinal waters welling up from thermal springs: the 70 million liters of thermal water produced daily by the 80 springs feed 12 spas.
3. Its ancient historic buildings feature 2000-year-old Roman amphitheaters, 400-year-old Turkish baths, and uniquely Hungarian buildings built in late 19th century secession style (Jugendstil).
4. Its uniform cityscape - reminding many of Paris or Vienna - is based largely on elegant mansions, built in eclectic styles in the early 20th century.
5. Europe's largest parliament building - a neo-gothic palace housing 691 rooms and large halls with gold-leaf ornaments - dominates the Danube's banks on the Pest side, all 268 meters of it.
6. The city's transport system is also complete with curiosities: the Continent's first underground has been operating between downtown Budapest and Városliget for 105 years now; the world's third mountain railway, and a narrow-gauge rail line - operated by a staff of children - run through the hills of Buda.
7. The culture-savvy could be overwhelmed by the choices available. There are 237 historic sites, 223 museums and galleries, 35 theaters, 90 cinemas, 2 opera houses, 12 auditoriums, the diverse programs of nearly 200 places of recreation, the sightseeing excursions offered by various travel agencies - whether by bus, boat or on foot - will suit the requirements of anyone coming to Budapest, 365 days of the year.

Major sights to see in the city:

Buda Castle and its surroundings

Built in the 14th century then remodeled some 400 years later in the baroque style, the Royal Palace (Szent György tér) accommodated Hungarian royalty for 700 years. Now it houses the capital's most visited museums and galleries.

The Hungarian National Gallery offers a cross section of Hungary's art history from the 10th century till today: medieval and renaissance stone carvings, gothic wood figures, panel paintings, triptychs, renaissance and baroque artworks, 19th and 20th century painting, sculpture and coins. The Hapsburg Nádori crypt can be seen in the company of a guide.

The Budapest History Museum and Castle Museum comprises restored sections, chapel and gothic statues of Buda's medieval royal castle, and accommodates permanent and temporary exhibitions of Budapest's history.

The National Széchenyi Library houses the country's largest collection of medieval codices and King Matthias' Corvinae. Temporary exhibitions are also held here.

The Museum of Contemporary Art, also known as the Ludwig Museum, presents the finest contemporary artworks to the visitors.

Castle Quarter:

The crenellated towers of Buda's main church, Mátyás Templom (Our Lady's Church, Szentháromság tér 2.) is where kings used to be crowned and married. When it was renovated in the early 19th century in neo-gothic style, some of the most reputed artists of the age had worked on it. Its crypt houses a church history collection (stone carvings, reliquaries, vault, and a replica of the Holy Crown); concerts are held here from spring to autumn.

The Fishermen's Bastion (Szentháromság tér) is a Neo-Romanesque bastion system, consisting of seven towers built over medieval walls, affording an excellent view of the city. In its background lie the Dominican St. Michael's Church and its monastery, whose ruins dating from the 13th-15th centuries have been incorporated in the structure of the elegant Hotel Hilton by a brilliant feat of architecture. The Dominican Courtyard is venue to open-air concerts.

Facing the bastion is the House of Hungarian Wines, where nearly all wines of the country can be tasted. The two entrances to the Castle Quarter, Bécsi Kapu tér and Dísz tér, are connected by Táncsics Mihály utca, Fortuna utca, Országház utca, Úri utca, and Tóth Árpád sétány, and along them practically all residential houses are actually historic buildings built on medieval foundations. Their unique artistic value lies in the gothic niches fashioned in the entranceways.

A twelve-kilometer cave system lies inside the hill on which the Castle Quarter is situated, whose 1,800 meters section, the Castle Cavern (Várbarlang) (Országház u. 16.) can be visited in the accompaniment of a guide.

The Museum of Military History (Tóth Árpád sétány 40.) exhibits Hungary's military heritage, the Museum of Hungarian Trade and Catering (Fortuna u. 4.) showcases records of the country's catering and tourism industries, while the medieval Jewish prayer house (Táncsics M. u. 26.) presents Semitic life in Buda.

The Museum of Music History (Táncsics M. u. 7.) is housed in the baroque Erdődy-Hatvany Palace, where musical instrument curiosities and a rich collection of Hungary's great composer Béla Bartók (1881-1945) can be seen.

Gellérthegy

There are few cities in the world in whose heart rises a protected mountain, in which medicinal springs well up, whose waters are utilized by three spas built at its foot. The country's most elegant spa, the Gellért (Kelenhegyi út 2-4.) offers thermal, tub, jacuzzi, and surf baths, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and two Turkish baths, each housing thermal, steam, and private baths. The spas RUDAS (Döbrentei tér 9.) and Rácfürdő (Hadnagy u. 8-10.) also have large swimming pools.

Built at the peak in 1851 as a military fortress, the Citadel now serves tourism; its lookout terrace offers a full panorama of the city.

Városliget

It is worthwhile to stroll from downtown Pest along Andrássy út. Eclectic palaces dating from the 19th and 20th centuries designed with artistic exaction flank either side of this straight boulevard. The notable buildings bordering the capital's most important park were commissioned by the eager citizens of Budapest to commemorate the country's millenary, in 1896.

In grand Heroes' Square, Archangel Gabriel raises the most sacred relic of Hungary's history - the Holy Crown - 36 meters high. The central figures on this millenary monument memorializes the seven founding tribes and their chief, Árpád. The colonnade contains statues of Hungarian kings, warriors who had fought for the country's independence and politicians, around a central group comprising martyrs who had given their lives for the homeland.

The Museum of Fine Arts is situated in the square. The galleries of the country's most important fine arts collection contain the largest assemblage of Spanish paintings outside of Spain, as well as the artworks of world famous painters such as Bellini, Brueghel, Corregio, Durer, El Greco, Giorgione, Goya, Murillo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaello, Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian and Velasquez. In its 19th century collection, the works of Delacroix, Gauguin, Monet, Renoir and Corot make this collection a significant one, even on an international scale.

The country's largest exhibition hall, the Arts Hall (Műcsarnok),is located just opposite the Museum of Fine Arts. It is an apt venue for major temporary exhibitions.

Vajdahunyad Castle is a group of buildings on Széchenyi Island, whose architecture ranges from Romanesque to baroque, exhibiting replicas of some famous buildings of historic Hungary. Its key element is the replica of the original Vajdahunyad Castle in Transylvania (now in Romania). Concerts are held in its renaissance courtyard each summer. This is where the remarkably rich collection of the first-ever Agricultural Museum was housed in 1986. The boating lake offers the joys of romantic rowing in the summer and ice-skating in the winter.

The Széchenyi Thermal Baths (Állatkerti körút 11.) is the largest of its kind in Europe, incorporating thermal, steam, private baths, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools. The Museum of Transportation (Városligeti körút 11.) is one of Europe's oldest collections of historic means of transportation.

Now celebrating its 135th anniversary, the Budapest Zoo was among the first zoos to be founded. Its listed buildings are exemplary creations of Hungarian secessionist architecture.

Next to it is the capital's most elegant restaurant, the Gundel. It still bears the name of a family that has become legend in Hungarian catering.

Two popular entertainment establishments in Városliget are the Budapest Circus and Amusement Park. In the latter you will find a renovated 100-year-old merry-go-round, which has been awarded the Europa Nostra Prize.

Margaret Island

The Capital's most highly valued park is a green oasis some two kilometers in length, lying in the Danube, between Margaret Bridge (whose central pier offers one of the most beautiful night panoramas of the city) and Árpád Bridge. Here you will find trees hundreds of years old, a colorful rose garden, and a romantic Japanese garden with a thermal water lake and waterfall. The Wildlife Park is popular with children and the Alfréd Hajós Sports Swimming Pool is venue to major sporting events. Summer fun can be had at the Palatinus Outdoor Pool. The base of the old water tower is a popular venue for summer evening concerts, as well as the open-air stage. All of them offer a full range of recreation opportunities and fun. Dating back to 700 years ago, the island's ancient historic buildings are the Dominican and Franciscan church and monastery ruins, and the country's oldest church bell still rings true in the steeple of the Premonstratensian chapel. Margaret Island's sights can be explored in the high season by minibus and four-wheeled, two-person pedal cars available for rent at the northern tip, near the hotels. (No traffic may enter the island, but it can be reached by bus No. 26 from Nyugati tér).

Óbuda

In the northern part of the city you will find the 2000-year-old Roman remains of its predecessor, the city and military outpost of Aquincum. It has two amphitheaters, villas clad in mosaic ornaments, a military bath, and the stone pillars of an aqueduct. Situated on top of a contiguous area of ruins, the Aquincum Museum (Szentendrei út 139.) houses treasures such as carvings, frescoes, and the remains of an antique water-organ.

Single-storied houses, romantic restaurants and interesting museums afford the main square in Óbuda a unique atmosphere.

The Imre Varga Museum (Laktanya u. 7.) exhibits the life work of the famous sculptor (1923) and the Vasarely Museum (Szentlélek tér 6.) that of the world-famous creator of op art, Victor Vasarely. The Kiscelli Museum (Kiscelli út 108.) has artworks depicting the capital and a remarkably rich collection of 20th century Hungarian fine artworks on show.

The Roman proconsuls' palace once stood on nearby Hajógyári-sziget. This island's main attraction is the weeklong popular music event, the Pepsi Sziget Festival, held each August.

Other things to see:

Parliament Building (Kossuth Lajos tér)

The country's largest and most decorative building was designed by Imre Steindl, and built between 1885 and 1902. This masterpiece, 96 meters tall and 118 meters wide, houses 10 courtyards, 29 staircases, 27 gates, and Europe's first district heating system. The Holy Crown and the coronation regalia are exhibited here. Group visits with a local guide can be arranged.

Hungarian National Opera(Andrássy út 22.)

This delightful creation of Hungary's most famous architect, Miklós Ybl, has been at the center of Hungary's musical life since 1864. Arrangements can be made for groups to view its frescoes, 1,200-seat auditorium and stage equipment. There are daily programs from September to July, the BudaFest opera and ballet festival in August, and an opera ball and New Year's Concert on New Year's Day.

National Museum (Múzeum körút 14-16.)

This most beautiful example of Hungarian Classicist architecture has been accommodating the country's most important public collections since 1846, including records of the Hungarian nation's history from prehistoric times till today.

Saint Stephen's Basilica (Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út)

A Neo-renaissance church raised to the rank of Basilica Minor is the capital's largest, and the country's second largest church, with a church bell whose size is unparalleled in Hungary. The most treasured relic of the Holy Right Chapel is the right hand of the first Hungarian king, Saint Stephen (1000-1038), which has remained intact for 1,000 years. There are religious historical artifacts on display in the vault, and the tower balcony provides a wonderful panoramic view of the city.

Downtown Parish-church (Március 15. tér)

The city's first church is unique in that inside you will find evidence of all architectural styles, from Romanesque to Classicist.

Dohány utca Synagogue (Dohány u. 2.)

This recently renovated building is Europe's largest synagogue. Its excellent acoustics make it ideal even for holding concerts. Situated in its courtyard is the Jewish Museum, which possesses one of Central Europe's most valuable collections of Jewish paraphernalia, and is a research center for Jewish culture.

Mementos from the time of Turkish occupation:

Most prominent is Gül Baba's Tomb (Mecset u. 4.) a Muslim pilgrimage site on Rózsadomb Hill, and the domed Király Baths (Fő u. 82-84.), with thermal, private and steam baths.

Other places of interest

The most beautiful creations of the Hungarian secessionist movement are the Museum of Industrial Art (Üllői út 33-37.) with a rich collection, the residential buildings in Szervita tér (5th district, downtown Pest), the former Post Office Savings Bank (5th district, Hold u. 4.), the Hungarian National Geological Institute (14th district, Stefánia út 14.), and the Roman Catholic Parish-church in Kőbánya (10th district, Szent László tér 25.). The architectural solutions of the Vásárcsarnok (Fővám krt. 1-3.) and the nine bridges spanning the Danube - with the Széchenyi Chain Bridge built in 1849 among them - are conspicuous features. An interesting experiment of the Hungarian secessionist movement was Wekerle-Telep in Kispest (19th district), a geometrically laid out housing project developed for civil servants. Situated at the southern part of the city, Budafok had become a city of wine and champagne on account of its fine vineyards, its labyrinth of wine cellars, and the Törley Champagne Factory Museum (Kossuth L. u. 82-94.). An unparalleled collection of statues made in the communist era is the Statue Park Museum, situated on the outskirts of Budafok (intersection of Balatoni út and Szabadkai út). The Nagytétény Palace Museum's (22nd district, Kastélypark u. 9-11.) interesting furniture exhibits and the marine tropicarium at the Campona shopping mall should be included in your program. The Budapest Botanical Garden (8th district, Illés u. 25.) is home to 6,000 plant species. The Palace of Wonders (13th district, Váci út 19.) is Central Europe's first interactive scientific playhouse, and the Hungarian Railroad History Park (14th district, Tatai út 95.) has vehicles you can drive.

A unique feature of Budapest is that the Buda side is also the city's green-belt, with popular outing locations such as the hills of János-Hegy, Normafa, Széchenyi-Hegy, Kis Hárshegy and Nagy Hárshegy, Remetehegy and Hármashatárhegy, and the Budakeszi wildlife park - all parts of the Buda Landscape Conservation Area. Recommended route: take the Cogwheel Railway (one stop by tram No. 56 from Moszkva tér) to Széchenyi-hegy, then the Children's Railway to Hűvösvölgy valley. The train stops at Budapest's highest point, János-Hegy (526 m). From there you can reach Zugliget by chair lift, and take bus No. 158 back to Moszkva tér. The capital's two caverns open to the public are the 500-meter Pálvölgy Cavern (2nd district, Szépvölgyi út 162.) and the 300-meter Szemlőhegy Cavern (2nd district, Pusztaszeri út 35.), which also function as therapeutic caves, can be reached by bus from Kolosy-tér in Óbuda.

Source: Magyarország.hu