Top 10 Things To Do In Budapest

Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is a very interesting place. One should always put the city on the list of places to visit when travelling to Eastern Europe. Berlin, Munich and Prague are usually the top choices when visiting the other side of the continent but you'll be surprised how beautiful Budapest is. And, there is so much to do Don't believe it Maybe these will change your mind

Take in the Danube
The banks of the Danube, classified as anUNESCO World Heritage site, are lined with stunning architecture like the Orszghz Parliament building and the Buda Castle. Whether admiring its famous bridges or cruising the river itself on an evening boat tour, the Danube rivals the Seine in both beauty and bustle. If you want to combine sightseeing with exploring, theBKK ferryfrom south Buda to north Pest is the way to go. You can stop off at any of the ferrys eight terminals for a better look, or to sample the citys shopping and cuisine.

Get pampered
The use of communal and medicinal bathhouses in Budapest dates back to Roman times, taking advantage of the citys plentiful thermal springs to become a part of daily life. Although no Roman-era bathing structures survive today, plenty of Turkish ones dot the city, including theKirly Bathsbuilt during the Ottoman Empire. The most famous of the Turkish bathhouses is the 16th centuryRudas Baths, where you can experience the opulence of empires past as well as modern additions like a rooftop pool and Finnish sauna. For truly palatial pools, though, you must visitSzechenyi Bathsin District IX.

Shop til you drop
The city center of Pest is where youll find the best shopping districts, including Vci utca,Fashion Street, and Andrssy Avenue. Think of Andrssy as the Bahnhofstrasse of Hungary this is where youll find your Louis Vuitton and Roberto Cavalli while Fashion Street is more like Londons Oxford area. There, you can shop at Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, and Lacoste.Vci utca(thats utca for street) is actually the most famous of the three, and makes for a full-day excursion with its many shops and cafes. It runs from Vrsmarty Square in the heart of downtown all the way toKzponti Vsrcsarnok, the largest indoor market in Budapest.

Feed your photography habit
TheHungarian Parliament Buildingis a focal point for many photographers and tourists for its eclectic-style architecture that blends neo-baroque with Romanesque and Gothic elements. Guided tours of the interior include grand staircases lined with red carpets, walls fitted with frescoes and stained-glass windows, and ornate halls shining with gold and chandeliers. Its famed Domed Hall showcases the Crown of St. Stephen, Hungarys holiest national artefact. Other shutter-worthy sights include the iconicSzchenyi Chain Bridgeand Budapests Royal Palace, home to a labyrinthine series of underground caves that once held prisoner Count Dracula himself. Also known asBuda Castle, the palace sits on a hill filled with cobblestone streets, Baroque houses, shops, and historic landmarks.

Drink and be merry
Budapests ruin bars, or romkocsma, have been rising in popularity over the last decade. No, these arent ancient watering holes that have been updated theyre new bars, built in the ruins of abandoned shops, apartments, and other buildings in the old Jewish Quarter (District VII) that were much neglected after World War II. As a result, the bars are often sprawling complexes with inner courtyards, and feature themed rooms, eclectic dcor, and best of all, cheap drinks Some, like theCorvin Club, are proper nightclubs with techno parties and a rooftop terrace. AtFogas Hz, youll find a more hipster vibe, combining an artist studio and bike shop with packed crowds and rocking parties.

Raise the cultural bar
Budapest is the perfect place to peruse fine art galleries, history museums, and Roman ruins. In fact, theAquincum Museumsits within the ruins of a complete Roman town with houses, courtyards, and fountains to explore at your leisure before (or after) checking out the various objects and paintings on display at the museum proper. Another must-see for culture enthusiasts is theHungarian National Museum, a neoclassical building in District VIII with seven permanent exhibits of architecture, statuary, and historical artefacts dating to Antiquity. If art is more your thing, theHungarian National Galleryhouses a massive collection of Hungarian art, tracing the countrys history back to the 11th century, while theMuseum of Fine Artsin Heroes Square houses great works from all over the world and has been operating for over 100 years.

Awaken your spirit
Budapest has long been a site of both Jewish and Christian worship and as a result, youll find awe-inspiring religious buildings and history as you walk its streets. TheGreat Synagogue, featuring Romantic and Moorish architecture, contains a museum, Holocaust Tree of Life Memorial, and holy Jewish artefacts from centuries past.The neoclassicalBasilica of St. Stephenand neo gothic Matthias Church are two beautiful but different styles of Catholic cathedrals, both of which contain ecclesiastical treasures and holy relics, including the hand of St. Stephen himself.Matthias Churchis located on Castle Hill and has been operating since 1015. Both have visiting hours but youll get a more authentic (and free) experience by attending a service.

Brush up on your military history
Walk through Hungarys grim past at the Terror Hza and Citadella, two buildings that have some seriously shocking stories to tell. TheHouse of Terroron Andrssy Avenue is Budapests former secret police headquarters, the site of torture and imprisonment during the countrys two terror regimes. The museum was commission in 2000 to commemorate the victims of torture and interrogation in it, youll find photos of victims and torturers that will chill you to the bone. An imposing (though obsolete) structure, theCitadellasits atop Gellrt Hill where it was built during the Hapsburg Empire to defend against insurrection. Unfortunately, its no longer open to the public, but its worth the walk to see the Freedom Statue and the view of Budapest from the top of the hill.

Eat and eat
Hungarian cuisine is hearty, savoury, and sometimes spicy the ultimate comfort food and a truly gastronomic experience whether youre an amateur foodie or cuisine connoisseur. Soak in the culture (and goose-liver parfait) at the 130-year-oldMzeumin south Pest or try some authentic beef goulash at the family-ownedBarack & Szilva, which youll find in the Jewish Quarter. Alight at Egyetemvros for dinner and live music on the water atA38 a decommissioned Ukranian ship thats been converted into a restaurant and cultural center.

Serene on the green
If youre going in the summer like me, you cant miss out on Budapests parks and gardens, some purely for relaxation and others full of history. If you prefer the former, youll need to visitKrolyi Garden, a French-style, gated park with colourful flowers, scenic fountains, conjoining pathways, and plenty of shady trees.Memento Park, on the other hand, boasts 40 statues marking Hungarys socialist past, as well as a former barracks-turned-exhibition centre.City Parkis perhaps the largest, sprawling out over a square kilometre and dotted with galleries, museums, and even a castle or two. Enter through Heroes Square and explore the buildings or delve deeper into the park for some botanical bliss.

So, what are you waiting for Pack you bags and head for Budapest today

Just in case Budapest comprises of Buda and Pest

Getting thereCarriers such as Jet Airways, Lufthansa and Aeroflot among others, fly frommajor Indian cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai etc with a halt in Europe.

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