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| Budapest, Hungary |
Budapest is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Hungary. The city is located on the banks of the River Danube and is backed by the leafy hills of Buda, and historically has been considered to be one of Europe’s major cultural centres. It lies in the Region of Central Hungary, and was formed in 1873 when the three cities of Buda, Obuda (Old Buda) and Pest were amalgamated into a single unit, Budapest. Today the city and greater metropolitan area is home to approximately 2.5 million residents, 25% of the country’s population!!
Nicknamed the ‘Pearl of the Danube’, this historic city is regarded as one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, and is a popular tourist destination with an estimated 20 million visitors per year. Visitors are attracted for its beautiful natural setting with the wide serene Danube running through the centre of town, its abundance of ancient monuments, some dating from the Roman occupation, historic buildings, museums and galleries, plus its culture, shopping, restaurants, coffeehouses and thermal springs.
The most famous sights are concentrated on Castle Hill, which lies on the Buda side of the river, downtown Pest and along the riverside walkways. The city has four UNESCO World Heritage Sites, namely the Buda Castle Area, where the Royal Palace, Matthias Church and Fisherman’s Bastion can be found - the Andrassy Avenue, which stretches from downtown Pest to the Heroes Square, the Museum of Fine Arts and the City park, and is known for its Neo-Renaissance Palaces and Houses – the embankments of the Danube - and the Millennium Underground Railway, built in 1896 it was the first metro line to be constructed on mainland Europe.
Castle Hill is home to the Buda Castle or the Royal Palace, which is Budapest’s most visited attraction. The earliest part of the palace was built in the 14th century and was once home to the Kings of Hungary. King Saint Stephen, is recognized as the first King of Hungary, and he reigned from the year 1000 A.D. and is considered to be the founder of the country for which he is held in high esteem. From this time Hungary has nearly always had a monarch, which amounts to nearly 900 years!! Hungary’s most revered religious relics is the mummified right hand of King Saint Stephen, which is kept inside the largest church in the city, the Basilica of Saint Stephen, whose landmark dome can be seen from all over Budapest. The Castle currently houses the National Library, the Hungarian National Gallery, which displays Hungarian Art, and the Budapest History Museum, which displays the history of Budapest until the end of the Communist era. The nearby Sandor Palace contains the offices and official residence of the President of Hungary. The area adjacent to the Castle is well known for its medieval, Baroque and 19th century houses, interesting buildings, streets and squares.
At the heart of the Buda Castle District stands the Church of Our Lady, also known as the Matthias Church, it is one of Budapest’s most prominent attractions. Built in the Neo-Gothic style in the late 14th century, the building, with its ornate tower and coloured roof tiles, is a reminder of the wealth that once existed within the city!! Adjacent to the church is the Fisherman’s Bastion from where it is possible to see the equestrian statue of King Saint Stephen and enjoy spectacular views over the city, the River Danube, the Chain Bridge and the spectacular Parliament building, on a clear day it is possible to see the Liberty or Freedom Statue! Interestingly it is under Castle Hill that 10 kilometres of underground tunnels can be found which were dug during the Middle Ages for military purposes and which are well worth a visit!!
The city is a virtually saturated with culture, home to the Hungarian State Opera House a splendid example of neo-Renaissance architecture, the National Theatre and the Palace of Arts, both of which are part of the Budapest Millennium City, the Franz Liszt Concert Hall and Conservatory, and the Vigado Concert Hall. On top of this are innumerable museums and art galleries from the Post Office Museum to the infamous House of Terror, the Museum of Fine Arts with its 100,000 pieces of artwork to the Museum of Applied Arts. One thing you must do when you are in Budapest is experience the thermal baths!! There are several thermal baths to choose from but they are best exemplified by those which form part of the Gellert Hotel. This thermal complex contains hot and cold pools, a swimming pool and massage facilities all surrounded by the beautiful art nouveau architecture of the hotel!!
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| Accommodation | Activities | Cruises | Tours |  |
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Tulip Inn Budapest Millennium Hotel
Budapest
 | The hotel is on the main road from the airport to the city centre. You will need to either drive or use the metro to reach the attractions and the centre of the city. |
Hilton Budapest West End Hotel
Budapest
 |  The Hilton Budapest WEst End is a contemporary four-storey hotel situated in the business and commercial district of Budapest, on the Pest side of the city. It is right next door to a major shopping centre and one kilometre from the Parliament building. The hotel offers warm and friendly service a... |
Radisson SAS Beke Hotel
Budapest
|  Built in the beginning of the last century, the four star Radisson SAS Béke Hotel in Budapest is decorated with frescoes of Jeno Haranghy and stained glass windows. The hotel first opened its doors in 1914 and has been renovated several times, but has always maintained its original artistic style, f... |
Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal
Budapest
 |  Behind its distinguished façade, located in the heart of Budapest, the old Grand Hotel Royal has been transformed into the superb, modern Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal. This new hotel has become the finest in Budapest and has set a new standard in luxury five star city centre hotels. With its wealth o... |
Mercure Budapest Nemzeti
Budapest
|  Mercure Nemzeti Hotel is a lovely traditional hotel housed in an historic building and it offers its own special ambiance. It is right in the heart of Budapest and close to the most important tourist sights as well as the business and financial districts. This boutique hotel is a delightful place ... |
Ramada Plaza Budapest
Budapest
|  On the banks of the River Danube, facing Margaret Island on the Buda side of the Árpád Bridge, the distinguished Ramada Plaza Budapest is a noted city centre hotel within easy reach of the historic heart of Budapest. Already well established, the Ramada Plaza Budapest is renowned for its unique ther... |
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Budapest Bike Tour
Biking
Budapest | Your cycling tour begins on Andrassy Boulevard and at the Opera house. Ride to Heroes Square and city park along the tree lined boulevard where you will learn about Hungarian history and culture before biking through the park to Vajdahunyad castle complex. Continue back to the city center and down t... |
Budapest Half-Day Sightseeing Tour
Sightseeing
Budapest | With a half day to discover Budapest, the Grand City Sightseeing Tour makes the perfect introduction for the first time visitor. With hotel pickup included and the option of a morning or afternoon departure, see all the key sites from the comfort of your motorcoach.Your travels will take you across ... |
Budapest Sightseeing Tour with Parliament House
Sightseeing
Budapest | You'll tour inside the magnificent neo-Gothic Parliament building, home of the Holy Hungarian Crown. Your guide will lead you through the splendid Session Room, the impressive central staircase and the wonderful Great Vaulted Hall. Along the way, you'll be entertained and informed by your guide's an... |
Budapest City Walking Tour
Walking
Budapest | Your walking tour begins with a short ride on the Millennium metro out to Heroes' Square and City Park. A walk through the park then takes you to the Vajdahunyad Castle complex, built for the world Expo in 1896 in typical Hungarian designs. Next stop is the Szechenyi bath house (peek inside when ope... |
Danube Bend Dary Trip from Budapest
Sightseeing
Budapest | The day trip takes you by bus to Visegrad, with its medieval citadel and romantic ruins of the former royal residence. Then it's on to Esztergom for an interior visit of the town's famous cathedral.
After enjoying a three-course lunch with coffee, you will continue on to the Baroque artists' villag... |
Budapest Wine Tasting and Lunch
Sightseeing
Budapest | Your tasting extravaganza provides an overview of Hungary's typical food and drink. You'll learn how Hungarian food is prepared and the exact ingredients that go into making the famous dishes, plus visit a market to see where the locals shop for traditional ingredients. You'll also get insider tips ... |
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Magnificent Europe - 15 Days
14 nights |  Cruising through Europe has got to be the new way of travelling. For those that have done the tours or the independent travel, this has a lot to offer. From the moment you step on board and unpack, you don't have to touch anything heavier than your day pack and camera for the next fifteen days. ... |
Magnificent Europe - 15 Days
14 nights | Cruising through Europe has got to be the new way of travelling. For those that have done the tours or the independent travel, this has a lot to offer. From the moment you step on board and unpack, you don't have to touch anything heavier than your day pack and camera for the next fifteen days. ... |
Magnificent Europe - 15 Days
14 nights | Cruising through Europe has got to be the new way of travelling. For those that have done the tours or the independent travel, this has a lot to offer. From the moment you step on board and unpack, you don't have to touch anything heavier than your day pack and camera for the next fifteen days. ... |
Magnificent Europe - 15 Days
14 nights | Cruising through Europe has got to be the new way of travelling. For those that have done the tours or the independent travel, this has a lot to offer. From the moment you step on board and unpack, you don't have to touch anything heavier than your day pack and camera for the next fifteen days. ... |
Magnificent Europe - 15 Days
14 nights | Cruising through Europe has got to be the new way of travelling. For those that have done the tours or the independent travel, this has a lot to offer. From the moment you step on board and unpack, you don't have to touch anything heavier than your day pack and camera for the next fifteen days. ... |
Jewels of Europe - Budapest to Amsterdam
14 nights |  As you glide effortlessly through the very heart of Europe’s iconic cities and majestic countryside, it’s easy to lose yourself in the moment. There’s no packing or unpacking and life on board a Scenic ‘Space-Ship’ is akin to travelling in a five-star floating hotel. With Scenic Tours you will cruis... |
Jewels of Europe - Amsterdam to Budapest
14 nights | As you glide effortlessly through the very heart of Europe’s iconic cities and majestic countryside, it’s easy to lose yourself in the moment. There’s no packing or unpacking and life on board a Scenic ‘Space-Ship’ is akin to travelling in a five-star floating hotel. With Scenic Tours you will cruis... |
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Berlin to Budapest
11 days |  This tour encompasses the big 4 of eastern Europe - Berlin, Prague, Vienna and Budapest. Having two or three nights in each city will mean you have a chance to really discover the cities in depth. You'll also pop in to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, for lunch!
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Imperial Europe
10 days |  Enjoy the regal air of Munich, Prague, Budapest, Vienna and Salzburg on this majestic tour of Europe. Here, you'll find 1000 year old castles, medieval cities and fantastic gilded statues. Listen closely for the sound of music in Vienna and relax on a serene cruise on the inspiring Danube River.
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The Bohemian
9 days |  This tour has been planned to run at a leisurely pace, with two night stays in Vienna and Budapest and three nights in Prague. There are no long travelling days on this compact tour and it is perfect for those wanting an introduction to Central and Eastern Europe. After arriving in Vienna and spe... |
Romantic European
20 days |  This is a leisurely and varied tour of Europe, which includes two wonderful cities of Eastern Europe, Prague and Budapest. Whether you are first time travellers to Europe or repeat visitors, you will all enjoy this great tour and with plenty of two night stays it has a more relaxed pace. After cros... |
Prague, Vienna & Budapest
9 days |  The rediscovered jewels of Imperial Europe are the focus of this popular holiday starting and ending in Munich. Since the reunion of Western and Eastern Europe, Prague and Budapest are among the most-visited cities on the ‘Old Continent’. In Prague visit the Jewish Quarter; Charles Bridge; and the B... |
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