Destination
Type of Activity
Editors Pick
Read MoreCastle Hill
The sprawling Castle Hill district, a UNESCO World Heritage site on the Buda side of the Danube is where modern Budapest history begins. The three towns of Buda, Pest and northern Óbuda were joined in 1873 to create the city,...
Read MoreChain Bridge
When the German Army retreated during World War II, they blew up the seven bridges that connected Pest and Buda to slow down the approaching Russian Army (incidentally, that winter was so cold that the Danube froze, and the soldiers...
Read MoreCity Park (Városliget)
The sprawling park behind Heroes’ Square is a huge green expanse full of numerous discoveries, especially for those traveling with children. It houses the Budapest Zoo, Vidam Park (an old-fashioned amusement park with rickety-looking rides), the Széchenyi bath complex and...
Read MoreDohány Street Synagogue
Europe’s largest synagogue, dating from the mid-1800s, can’t be missed. The Byzantine-Moorish–inspired white-and-red-brick structure, located on a main thoroughfare at the edge of the Jewish Quarter, was heavily damaged during World War II and restored in large part through private...
Read MoreFour Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Spa
If you’re not ready to brave Budapest’s bathhouses but are in need of relaxation, head to this small spa on the top floor of the Gresham Palace. There are separate steam rooms for men and women, a shallow lap pool...
Read MoreGozdu Court
This residential and commercial complex is just another of Budapest’s many unique attractions. Seven buildings are connected by courtyards to form a passageway teeming with relaxed cafés and entertaining people-watching. It is especially fun on Sundays, when vendors set up...
Read MoreHouse of Terror
Housed in the massive building that served as the Nazi headquarters during World War II and later of the Communist secret police, this museum is aptly named. It is a powerful and horrific statement about these deadly chapters in Hungarian...
Read MoreHungarian National Gallery
Located in the former royal palace, part of Castle Hill, the Hungarian National Gallery is worth visiting for its impressive collection of 20th-century Hungarian art, some of it by artists who, sadly, are underrepresented in Western museums. Skip the first...
Read MoreHungarian State Opera House (Magyar Állami Operaház)
The best way to view the opulent interior of this magnificent 1884 Neo-Renaissance opera house is to attend a performance (the opera and ballet season runs from September through June). Illustrious directors have included Gustav Mahler, in the late 1800s,...
Read MoreIndagare Tours: Gastronomic Budapest
While Hungarian cuisine can seem a bit adventurous at times, or at least not as immediately mouth-watering as French and Italian specialties, it offers some of the most flavorful dishes in the world. With the expertise of a local foodie...
Read MoreIndagare Tours: Jewish Quarter
Don’t miss walking around the Jewish Quarter, a former Jewish ghetto, whose streets will make you think you’ve stumbled into another era. Despite its appearance, this is Budapest’s most up-and-coming neighborhood, and is a developing center of nightlife, shopping and...
Read MoreIndagare Tours: Parliament
A tour of the neo-Gothic Parliament, inspired by the one in London and designed by architect Imre Steindl, should be on every first-time visitor’s list. The best way to visit Parliament (security is tight and reservations must be made in...
Read MoreIndagare Tours: Private Danube Cruise
Budapest is one of those cities that’s even more stunning when seen from the water. Géllert Hill and majestic Castle Hill, with its striking white Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church, rise on the Buda side. On the Pest side, the...
Read MoreIndagare Tours: Ruin Bars
Ruin bars, originally meant to provide locals somewhere cheap to drink, have blossomed into a vibrant form of cultural expression. Housed in derelict buildings in the Jewish Quarter, they are known for their Dr. Seuss décor, with quirky touches like...
Read MoreIndagare Tours: St. Stephen’s Basilica
This imposing neoclassical church, named after St. Stephen (István), the first Hungarian Christian king, is just around the corner from the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace. Its soaring, 315-foot dome is one of the city’s most famous landmarks, and through...
Read MoreIndagare Tours: Visit an Atelier
Hungarian designers are on the rise, and Indagare can arrange a visit to the city’s best showrooms, a private fashion show or a fitting in your hotel room before a night on the town. Indagare members can contact the Bookings...
Read MoreLiszt Ferenc Academy of Music
Like its sister cities, Prague and Vienna, Budapest is a place thoroughly steeped in a musical tradition, from the moody melodies of Franz Liszt and revolutionary rhythms of Béla Bartók to the contemporary compositions of György Kurtág. There are numerous...
Read MoreMargaret Island (Margitsziget)
Think of the two-mile long Margaret Island—named for Princess Margaret who lived in a convent here in the 13th century—as a grander version of New York’s Central Park: a verdant respite from city life, especially during the hot summer months....
Read MoreMatthias Church (Mátyás Templom)
The jewel of Castle Hill, a white beauty whose colored-tile rooftop is visible from miles away, has a long and fascinating history. Founded in the 13th century after the Mongol invasion, it was redesigned as a Gothic church in 1387....
Read MoreMemento Park
Memento Park is a must for anyone interested in learning more about the Communist propaganda machine. Instead of destroying the massive statuary after the fall of Communism in 1989, the city placed them in a park in the XXII district...
Read MoreMuseum of Applied Arts
Established in 1872, the Museum of Applied Arts in Budapest is on par with those found in Vienna and London. The fanciful Art Nouveau building alone warrants a visit for its roof, which is decorated with green and golden tiles...
Read MoreOld Town
The Old Town, with charming cobblestoned streets and colorful houses, is one of the most polished neighborhoods in Budapest (and while many are private homes, every house has a plaque that describes its origins). After touring the Royal Palace area,...
Read MoreOmorovicza
As soon as you step into this luminous boutique and spa, you feel miles away from the bustle of Andrássy boulevard. The company’s skin-care products are displayed on mirrored shelves, and a hand-painted peacock above French doors points the way...
Read MorePalace of Arts
Opened in 2005, on the Pest side of the Danube (a ten-minute drive outside the city center), the Palace of Arts houses several cultural venues, including the Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art, the Festival Theatre (mostly used for chamber music)...
Read MoreSzéchenyi
Blessed with natural hot springs and thermal spa waters, Hungary has one of Europe’s oldest wellness cultures, and Budapest alone has more than 100natural springs. Széchenyi, located in City Park, is the most famous bathhouse, and a must for any...
Read MoreWinelands: Budafok and Etyek
The most well known Hungarian wine is the white dessert wine Tokaji, but with 22 wine regions, Hungary boasts diverse varieties. The region of Etyek is known for fresh, acidic white wines, while Budafok is one of the most historic...
