Profile of Budapest

Occupying perhaps the most dramatic setting of any European capital, Budapest combines river, bridges and islands, hills, parks and squares, castles, palaces and churches. 

Forging Budapest's identity

Budapest has gone through many changes of regime over the centuries, with periods of Turkish, Habsburg, Nazi and Communist domination among various others. The look of the city today owes most, however, to the long period when Hungary was part of the Habsburg Empire, and in particular to the later 19th century when prosperity and growing national confidence coincided. The culmination of this golden age came in 1896 with the celebration of the thousandth anniversary of the founding of the nation.

Sadly, the party was not to last, and the 20th century brought one upheaval after another. Following World War I and the collapse of the Habsburg Empire, Hungary gained its independence, but at the cost of losing 72 percent of its territory and leaving about a third of ethnic Hungarians outside the borders of the newly diminished state.

During World War II, the majority of the country's Jewish population was sent to the gas chambers, and Budapest itself was ravaged by heavy shelling as the Nazis and Soviets fought out the last months of the war. The aftermath brought dreary decades of Soviet domination, repression and decay. 

Budapest's renewal

The last couple of decades, since the collapse of Communism in 1989, have brought renewal and optimism, and the city has re-emerged as one of the most civilised and beautiful in Europe. The grand spa complexes have been restored to their original glory, fashionable hotels have opened once again, the restaurant scene is rediscovering confidence in its national cuisine and the city's youth are enjoying the benefits of freedom of expression and emerging prosperity.

A tale of two cities – the layout of Buda and Pest

Originally the city of Budapest was two cities: Buda on the west side of the Danube, and Pest on the east. In 1873 they were united, along with the district of óbuda, also on the west bank of the Danube. Today the city is organised into 23 districts, using a system not dissimilar to the arrondissements of Paris. 

The Buda side of the city is the older settlement, centred around the Castle District. This limestone plateau has been inhabited since Neolithic times, with caves and hot springs among its natural assets. Much later, the Romans built the town of Aquincum to the north, along with a large military camp for its army. You can still see the remains in what is now known as óbuda.

On the other side of the river, Pest is relatively flat, and follows the street plan laid out for it in the early 19th century. It includes the government and main business and shopping districts, along with several large parks, most of the metro network and the main railway stations.

See our top five highlights of Budapest...