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Budapest Budapest is the crown of Hungarian civilization, and speaks to an ever-growing class of tourists who have come to experience the aristocratic charms of a picturesque European city long since released from the bondage of Soviet rule.
The Danube River separates the two sides of the city, Buda and Pest, which at one point were separate cities. Today they hold cultural differences, with Buda being slightly upper class and Pest more pedestrian. On both sides of the Danube, however, tourists will find a wealth of attractions, many remnants of the wealthy Ottoman Empire, although the city does trace its origins to a Celtic encampment that dating back 2,000 years.
Buda Castle is perched upon a green shrouded hill looking over the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, a marvelous suspension bridge that combines the best of form and function to create a wonderful tourist attraction. It’s also a great place to start on your tour of Budapest, as it leads into Roosevelt Square (opposite the Buda Castle) and the fascinating Art Nouveau Gresham Palace, which has been converted into a Four Seasons Hotel.
Continuing on along the Danube, don’t miss the Parliament Building (which can also be viewed splendidly from the opposite bank), whose spiny stone ornamentation and red-roofed central dome provide a superb example of the gothic revival architectural style in which the edifice was built. Heroe’s Square would be fascinating if only for its enormity, but its white spires and copper green statue provide and echo of Vienna’s grandeur. Váci utca Street is a great place for shopping, and the numerous cafés and bars make for an excellent stop-off along your tour for a delightful espresso or mid-afternoon cocktail, and people watching.
Nightlife in Budapest is, understandably, among the best in Hungary. A series of pulsing, throbbing nightclubs with some of Europe’s best DJ’s spinning house and trance cater to the up-and-coming bourgeoisie class. A good place to start out is Café del Rio. Upper crust vacationers will probably be more comfortable at the Four Seasons Bar at the hotel. Those in for a more relaxing tour through the Budapest evening and music scene should check the schedule at the breathtaking Opera House located at 22 Andrássy Street. |
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