Budapest is the capital of Hungary and originally it was in fact three separate towns- Buda, Pest & Obuda that were unified in 1873 and given the one name Budapest.
It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site and as you can imagine there is a lot to see and do here. We spent three days sightseeing and there was still a lot left for a future trip.
Parliament Building is located right on the banks of the River Danube. It is one of the largest parliament buildings in Europe and built in a Gothic Revival style.
Heroes Square which marks the end of Andrassy Avenue is home to this iconic monument. The monument features depictions of the Seven Chieftains of the Magyars, who are believed to have led the Hungarian people from central Asia to the Carpathian Basin. On the top of the central pillar is the Archangel Gabriel, who is holding the Hungarian crown.
St Stephens Basilica is one of the most important religious buildings in Hungary. If you want to you can travel up to the base of the dome to get a great a view of the city.
Fishermans Bastion is located over on the Buda side of the City and although it looks like a medieval monument it was actually built in the 20th century in a Neo-Gothic style and specifically to act as a panoramic viewing platform across the Danube, Margaret Island and Pest.
The seven towers of the Bastion represent the seven Chieftains of the Magyar.
Ruin pubs are famous in Budapest, these were deserted buildings that have now been converted and are very ‘shabby chic’. Each pub is very unique.
City Park is located just behind Heroes Square and is the home to Vajdahunyad Castle. The castle was originally made from cardboard and wood, but it became so popular it was rebuilt in stone and brick around 1904. It is also the home of the Museum of Agriculture.
Buda Castle is the historical castle and palace complex of the Hungarian kings. It was first completed in 1265 but the medieval palace was destroyed in the great siege of 1686, reconstruction started in 1966.
Szechenyi Chain Bridge spans the River Danube between Buda and Pest. It opened in 1849 and it was the first permanent bridge across the Dunube in Hungary.
The lions at each of the abutments were installed in 1852.
We had to take Lily into Budapest with us and it is a very dog friendly city. Dogs can travel on public transport as long as you purchase a ticket for them. We bought a group travel ticket with entitled up to 5 people to be able to travel for 24 hours on all public transport.
Budapest is a beautiful city and we will definitely return as there is still so much more to discover. We definitely recommend adding it to your travel list.
