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Why Go?There’s no other city in Hungary like Budapest – everything of importance starts or ends here. It is the beauty of Bu-dapest that sets it apart. Straddling a gentle curve in the Danube, it is flanked by the Buda Hills on the west bank and the start of the Great Plain to the east. Architecturally it is a gem, with enough examples of baroque, neoclassical, Eclectic and Art Nouveau (Secessionist) to satisfy anyone.

Besides the heady mix of museums and shopping streets, outdoor entertainment areas called kertek (literally ‘gar-dens’) and ‘ruin pubs’ heave with party-makers in the warm-er months, and there are numerous thermal baths in which to pamper yourself.

Like any capital city, Budapest does have a gritty side. But come spring (or summer, or a brisk autumn day, or dusk), when the city is at its loveliest, cross the Danube on foot and you will see why this passionate and vibrant city remains unmissable.

When To Go

March Catch the Budapest Spring Festival (p57), the city’s most important cul-tural fest

August Budapest welcomes racing fans at the For-mula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix (p57)

December Wrap up the year in style at the New Year’s Gala & Ball (p61)

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BudapestAREA CODE %1 / POP 1.74 MILLION

Sights ............................. 34 Activities ........................ 54 Tours ............................... 56 Festivals & Events .......... 57Walking Tour ................... 58 Sleeping ......................... 63 Eating ............................. 70 Drinking .......................... 77 Entertainment ................ 79 Shopping ........................ 84Around Budapest ............91

Best Places to Eat » Onyx (p73) » Klassz (p74) » Mák Bistro (p74) » Gepárd És Űrhajó (p73) » Bistro 181 (p73)

Best Places to Stay

» Four Seasons Gresham Palace Budapest (p66)

» Brody House (p65) » Lánchíd 19 (p65) » Zara Boutique Hotel Buda-

pest (p65) » Blue Danube Hostel (p65)

©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd

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See Belvaros (Inner Town)Map (p68)

See Castle Hill &Watertown Map (p36)

See City Park Map (p52)

See Lipótváros &Erzsebétváros Map (p60)

See Margaret Island Map (p44)

See South Buda &Ferencváros Map (p48)

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Hungarian StateOperaHouse

Liszt Academyof Music

Great Synagogue;Holocaust Memorial

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To Vác(26 km)

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1 Taking in the views of the Danube and the rest of the city from Fishermen’s Bastion (p35) on Castle Hill

2 Soaking the afternoon away Turkish-style in a thermal bath (p55), either in Gellért Baths’ (p55) Art Nouveau ‘cathedral’ or in the park (p54)

3 ogling the sinuous curves and asymmetrical forms of

the city’s incomparable Art Nouveau architecture, such as that of the Royal Postal Savings Bank (p52)

4 Enjoying a slice of something sweet at a traditional cafe like Művész (p78) or Auguszt (p78) in Pest

5 Taking in an evening of music at the Hungarian State Opera House (p82) or

the Liszt Academy of Music (p54)

6 Sizing up the monumental socialist mistakes on display at Memento Park (p92), a well-manicured trash heap of history

7 Exploring Budapest’s Jewish culture, from a visit to the Great Synagogue (p49) to the sombre Holocaust Memorial (p49)

Budapest Highlights