Budapest was an early Celtic settlement that was converted by the Romans into the town of Aquincum and the capital of Lower Pannonia. Hungarians arrived in the area in the late 9th century and the Mongols invaded and pillage 1241-42. The city of Buda which lies on the west bank of the Danube River became a Renaissance culture at the end of the 15th century. After 1526 it become under the control of the Ottomans for 150 years.
After the re-conquest of Buda in 1686 a new period developed for both sides of the river and in 1873 Buda, Óbuda unified with Pest on the East side of the river to form todays Budapest. It became the co-capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until after the end of the WW I in 1918. It was occuppied by Germany during WW II and was dominated by Communist rule until 1989. In 1956 an uprising demanded democratic reform was crush by the invasion of the Red Army from the Soviet Union.
Budapest has economically grown into one of Europe’s most productive cities in the last several decades and is the home a vibrant university intitutions. Its exceptional sites and culture make it a must see city on any tourists list.
Regions of Budapest…
Inner City
- Budavár
- Belváros
- Terézváros
- Ersébetváros
- Józsefváros
- Ferencváros
Outer Buda
- South Buda
- Hegyvidék
- North Buda
- Óbuda
- Aquincum
- Csepel
Outer Pest
- Angyaföld
- Zugló
- Köbánya
- North Pest
- East Pest
- South Pest
Points of Interests in Budapest…
| Name | Type | Class | Area | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Palace | Landmark | Palace | Inner City | Budavár |
| Fisherman's Bastion | Landmark | Memorial Terrace | Inner City | Budavár |
| Matthias Church | Landmark-Religious | Church | Inner City | Budavár |
| Hungarian National Gallery | Museum | Art | Inner City | Budavár |
| Gellért Hill | Natural | City Park / Vista | Inner City | Budavár |
| Rudas Thermal Bath | Leisure | Spa | Inner City | Budavár |
| Szechenyi Chain Bridge | Landmark | Bridge | Inner City | Belváros |
| Parliament | Landmark | Historic Bldg | Inner City | Belváros |
| Danube Promenade | Landmark | Riverwalk | Inner City | Belváros |
| St. Stephen Basilica | Landmark-Religious | Basilica | Inner City | Belváros |
| Vaci utca | Landmark | Pedestrian Street | Inner City | Belváros |
| Vörösmarty Square | Landmark | City Square Fountain | Inner City | Belváros |
| Andrássy Ave. | Landmark | Boulvelard | Inner City | Terézváros |
| State Opera House | Landmark | Music | Inner City | Terézváros |
| Vajdahunyad Castle | Landmark | Castle | Outer Pest | Zugló |
| Millennium Monument | Landmark | Memorial | Outer Pest | Zugló |
| Heroes Square | Landmark | City Square | Outer Pest | Zugló |
| Széchenyi Thermal Bath | Leisure | Spa | Outer Pest | Zugló |
| Great Market Hall | Landmark | Public Market | Inner City | Ferencváros |
| Great Synagogue and the Jewish Museum | Landmark-Religious / Museum | Synagogue & Jewish Museum | Inner City | Erzsébetváros |
| Margaret Island | Natural | River Island | Outer Pest | Angyalföld |
Day Trips from Budapest…
- Bratislava
- Danube Bend
- Visegrad Castle
- Szentendre
- Debrecen
- Eger
- Etyek wine region
- Great Plains of Hungary (Puszta)
- Hortobágy National park 🏛
- Gödöllö Palace
- Győr
- Hollókő 🏛
- Lake Balaton
- Pannonhalma Abbey 🏛
- Pécs 🏛
- Sopron
- Szeged
- Tokaj wine region 🏛
- Vienna
Transportation in Budapest…
✈️ Airports
Budapest is served by one major airport for all passenger airline services. There is only one non-stop flight from the US to Budapest out of JFK New York.
BUD – Budapest Franz Liszt International Airport – Located 16 km southeast of the city center. It is the old Ferihegy airport and is home to Wizz Air, a low cost carrier with services to many other European cities.
🚊 Public Transportation
Suburban Train: BKK (HÉV), MÁV-HÉV (route map)
Light Rail / Tram: BKK (Budapest Trams) (route map)
Line #1, Bécsi út / Vörösvári út ↔︎ Kelenföld vasútállomás
Line #2, Jászai Mari tér ↔︎ Közvágóhíd
Line #3, Mexikói út ↔︎ Gubacsi út / Határ út
Line #4, Széll Kálmán tér ↔︎ Újbuda-központ
Line #6, Széll Kálmán tér ↔︎ Móricz Zsigmond körtér
Line #12, Angyalföld kocsiszín ↔︎ Rákospalota, Kossuth utca
Line #14, Lehel tér ↔︎ Káposztásmegyer, Megyeri út
Line #17, Bécsi út / Vörösvári út ↔︎ Savoya Park
Line #19, Bécsi út / Vörösvári út ↔︎ Kelenföld vasútállomás
Line #24, Keleti pályaudvar ↔︎ Közvágóhíd
Line #24G, Keleti pályaudvar ↔︎ Mester utca / Ferenc körút
Line #28, Blaha Lujza tér ↔︎ Izraelita temető
Line #28A, Blaha Lujza térto ↔︎ Új köztemető
Line #37, Blaha Lujza térto ↔︎ Új köztemető
Line #37A, Blaha Lujza térto ↔︎ Sörgyár
Line #41, Bécsi út / Vörösvári út ↔︎ Kamaraerdei Ifjúsági Park
Line #42, Határ út ↔︎ Kispest, Tulipán utca
Line #47, Deák Ferenc tér ↔︎ Városház tér
Line #47B, Kamaraerdei Ifjúsági Park ↔︎ Deák Ferenc tér
Line #48, Deák Ferenc tér ↔︎ Savoya Park
Line #49, Deák Ferenc tér ↔︎ Kelenföld vasútállomás
Line #50, Határ út ↔︎ Pestszentlőrinc, Béke tér
Line #51, Mester utca / Ferenc körút ↔︎ Nagysándor József utca
Line #51A, Mester utca / Ferenc körút ↔︎ Ferencváros vasútállomás – Málenkij Robot Emlékhely
Line #52, Határ út ↔︎ Pesterzsébet, Pacsirtatelep
Line #56, Hűvösvölgy ↔︎ Városház tér
Line #56A, Hűvösvölgy ↔︎ Móricz Zsigmond körtér
Line #59, Szent János Kórház ↔︎ Márton Áron tér
Line #59A, Széll Kálmán tér ↔︎ Márton Áron tér
Line #59B, Hűvösvölgy ↔︎ Márton Áron tér
Line #60, Városmajor ↔︎ Széchenyi-hegy, Gyermekvasút
Line #61, Hűvösvölgy ↔︎ Móricz Zsigmond körtér
Line #62, Rákospalota, MÁV-telep ↔︎ Blaha Lujza tér
Line #62A, Rákospalota, MÁV-telep ↔︎ Kőbánya alsó
Line #69, Mexikói út ↔︎ Újpalota, Erdőkerülő utca
Metro / Subway: BKK (Budapest Metro) (route map)
#M1 Yellow line,Vörösmarty tér ↔︎ Mexikói út
#M2 Red line, Déli pályaudvar ↔︎ Örs vezér tere
#M3 Blue line, Újpest-Központ ↔︎ Kõbánya-Kispest
#M4 Green line, Keleti pályaudvar ↔︎ Kelenföld vasútállomás
City Bus: BKK (route map)(network map)(night bus map)(trolley bus map)
15 trolleybus lines, 264 bus lines (+40 night routes)
Ferry / Boat: BKK
Bicycle: MOL Bubi
Funicular: Buda Castle funicular
Aerial Cable: Zugliget Chairlift
Transit Cards / Passes: Budapest Card, Tickets