Budapest — one of Europe’s great city break destinations
Budapest is one of those cities that earns its reputation. Divided by the Danube into hilly Buda on the west and flat, energetic Pest on the east, it offers a rare combination: grand imperial architecture, a thriving food and bar scene, thermal baths with centuries of tradition, and a river setting that ranks among the most dramatic in Europe.
Budapest in a new chapter
In April 2026, something happened that many Hungarians had stopped daring to hope for: an election that changed everything. After 16 years, Viktor Orbán left power — and Budapest celebrated the way only this city can, with music by the Danube, tears on the bridges, and a sense that the country is pointing somewhere new.
Budapest has always been beautiful. But there is something special about visiting a city that has just found its courage again.
What to see in Budapest
Budapest rewards time. The major sights are genuinely world-class — not just “impressive for Eastern Europe” but impressive by any standard. Here are the highlights.
The Hungarian Parliament
One of the most beautiful parliament buildings in the world, full stop. The neo-Gothic structure sits directly on the Danube embankment and is best viewed from the Pest side at dusk, when the facade glows. Guided tours take you inside to see the grand staircase, the ceremonial hall, and the Hungarian Crown Jewels.
St. Stephen’s Basilica
The largest church in Hungary and a landmark of Budapest’s skyline. The neo-classical interior is striking, and the small chapel holding the mummified right hand of Hungary’s first king — Saint Stephen — is one of those genuinely strange and memorable sights. The gardens around the basilica are a calm retreat from the city.
The Hungarian State Opera
One of the finest opera houses in Europe, built in the late 19th century and restored to its full glory. Even if you’re not attending a performance, the guided tour is excellent. Ticket prices for actual performances are remarkably reasonable compared to Vienna or Prague — and the quality is world-class.
The Hungarian National Museum
A deep and well-curated collection tracing Hungarian history from prehistoric times through the 20th century. The sections on the 1956 uprising and the communist era are particularly powerful — essential context for understanding the country you’re visiting.
Dohány Street Synagogue
The largest synagogue in Europe and the second-largest in the world, built in 1859 in a striking Moorish-Byzantine style. The memorial garden behind the synagogue — with its weeping willow sculpture commemorating Jewish victims of the Second World War — is one of the most moving sites in Budapest.
Fisherman’s Bastion
Seven neo-Romanesque towers on the Buda hillside, offering one of the finest views over the Danube and Pest. Arrive early morning to avoid crowds and catch the city in low light. The bastion sits directly beside Matthias Church, so the two are easily visited together.
Matthias Church
A Gothic church dating to the 13th century, famous for its geometric patterned roof tiles and richly decorated interior. One of Budapest’s most iconic landmarks and a fine example of Hungarian Gothic architecture at its most ornate.
The thermal baths
Budapest’s thermal bath culture is not a tourist gimmick — it is genuinely woven into the city’s daily life. The Széchenyi baths in Városliget Park and the Gellért baths on the Buda side are the most famous, both housed in magnificent early 20th-century buildings. An afternoon in a thermal bath is one of the great Budapest experiences.
Gellért Hill Cave Chapel
A small chapel carved directly into the rock face of Gellért Hill — quiet, free to enter, and easy to miss. Combine it with a walk up the hill to the citadel for one of the best panoramic views of the city.
Budapest in brief
Budapest is Hungary’s economic, historical and cultural capital with around 2 million inhabitants and 2.7 million visitors annually. The city’s unique character comes from its dual nature — the monumental and the intimate, the imperial and the neighbourhood — and from a history that has made Budapestians resilient, ironic, and exceptionally good at enjoying themselves.
Factbox: Hungary
Capital: Budapest
Currency: Hungarian Forint (HUF)
Population: approx. 9.7 million
Prime Minister: Péter Magyar (from May 2026)
Language: Hungarian
EU member: Yes, since 2004
Travel to Hungary
Direct flights to Budapest operate from major Scandinavian airports year-round. Hungary is well suited to independent travel — Budapest is compact and walkable, and the rest of the country is easily reached by train or hire car.
