Budapest – One city, two faces
On the western bank of the Danube, there’s Buda, the hilly side of town; on the eastern bank, Pest, which is flat. The differences in elevation have always informed life in Budapest. We bring you some highs and lows from the Hungarian
Head heavenward
Castle Hill rises 168 meters into the sky over Buda. That’s quite a climb, but a cablecar dating from 1870 will also take you up – at roughly 11 kilometers per hour.
High society
Originally intended solely for the pleasure of the upper classes, the Danube promenade in Pest is also frequented by strolling crowds of ordinary folk these days.
High flyer
One way to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the city on the Danube is to book a 20-minute sightseeing trip in a helicopter. Cost: 215 euros (for a maximum of two passengers).
Sup up
The ground floor of the New York Palace, luxury hotel and popular high-society haunt, is where you will find the Café New York – Budapest’s most elegant coffee house.
Overview
Experience the highs and lows of the Hungarian capital on magnificent Erzsébet Square, as you take a ride on the new Ferris wheel, the Budapest Eye.
Excavated
Two thousand years ago, the Romans settled in the area now occupied by present-day Budapest. The ruins of what they called “Colonia Aquincum” can be found in Óbuda.
Go underground
An extensive and intricate network of flooded caves lies beneath the streets of the city, just waiting for experienced divers to come and explore.
Six feet under
Budapest’s rich and famous find their last resting place in 57-hectare Kerepesi Cemetery; visitors, imposing mausoleums and monuments.
Resurrected
The city’s trendy underground scene rejoices in “ruin bars”, imaginative party locations that tap into the charm of dilapidated and disused buildings.
Traditional immersion
Established by the Romans and revived by the Turks, Budapest’s bathhouse tradition is ancient. The old Gellért baths are among the world’s most famous.