Budapesten

Budapest is the capital and largest city of Hungary, located in central Europe along the Danube River. The city is split by the Danube into Buda on the western hillside and Pest on the plain to the east, linked by several bridges, the most famous of which is the Chain Bridge. In 1873, Buda, Pest and Óbuda were united to form Budapest.

The city sits at a crossroads of hills and plains, with a temperate continental climate featuring hot summers and cold winters. Its layout reflects the historical development of two distinct cores joined into a single urban area.

Budapest has a long history, with early settlements at Aquincum (Roman era) and later growth under the Hungarian Kingdom and the Habsburgs. The city played a central role in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and underwent significant destruction during World War II, followed by rapid postwar reconstruction.

Its architecture reflects diverse eras, including the Hungarian Parliament Building, Buda Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion, and Andrássy Avenue. The city is also known for thermal baths, such as Széchenyi and Gellért, and for its banks along the Danube, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Budapest is a major regional center for finance, education, culture, and tourism. The city proper has about 1.7 million residents and is home to universities such as Eötvös Loránd University and the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, as well as a vibrant theatre and music scene and numerous museums.

The city has an extensive public transport network, including an early metro line (the M1 Millennium Underground) and several tram lines, and Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport serves international traffic.