Budapest Holidays
Most people fall in love with Budapest at first sight. The architecture is stunning, the views from Castle Hill are breathtaking and there are plenty of beautiful parks and green areas to escape to when the hustle and bustle gets too much. And not many cities can boast a sheer cliff face and waterfall overlooking the river, or a network of spas and baths for all tastes and ages. Yet beneath the surface lies an enigmatic city of contrast and historical interest.
To truly understand today’s Budapest, it is necessary to understand its patchwork history, from the occupation of what is now Hungary by the Magyars in 895, through 150 years of Turkish oppression in the Middle Ages, to the 50 years of communist dictatorship under the yoke of the Russians.
The streets of Budapest, like most Hungarians, have many stories to tell, but this is a city building a bright future on its fascinating past. From luxury hotels to match its imperious architecture to the refurbished yet old-world ambiance of the Szécheny baths, Budapest has a modern elegance to rival Europe's top cities.
And no gourmand will fail to be impressed by the distinctive flavours of Hungarian cuisine, the revival of Hungary’s top wine regions and the boom in popularity of pálinka – Hungary’s trademark fruit brandy. There is plenty more to see just outside the city limits, too. From the idyllic artists' colony of Szentendre to the vineyards of nearby Etyek to the wine, bathing and watersports paradise of Lake Balaton, it is worth turning a weekend city break into a week of exploring Hungary.
Book a Budapest activity with us:
Market Tour & Hungarian Cooking Class
Check out all our Budapest photos: