Budapest

Spanning the majestic Danube River, the Széchenyi Chain Bridge stands as an iconic symbol of the city's grandeur and architectural prowess. Completed in 1849, it was the first permanent bridge to connect the Buda and Pest sides of the city. Designed by English engineer William Tierney Clark and later modified by Scottish engineer Adam Clark, the bridge's chain-link structure and ornate stone lions guarding its entrances evoke a sense of timeless elegance and pride. The lions guarding the bridge are also connected to the first suicide that happened here, committed by their architect upon the realisation that he had forgotten about the tongues of the animals.

The Parliament is arguably the most prominent landmark of Hungary, also noted as the third largest parliament building in the world. It was designed in the Gothic revival style by architect Imre Steindl. It is 96 metres tall, which refers to the year 1896 when extensive constructions were carried out to celebrate the country's millennium.

The charming district of the Buda Castle entails the prominent Fisherman's Bastion, Matthias Church, several museums, as well as some residential homes. You'll find the National Gallery here, along with a wide range of other museums dedicated to music, military history, pharmacy (housed in the first pharmacy of Buda), and the life of Houdini. Take a stroll under the blossoming trees of Tóth Árpád sétány, watch the change of the guard, and make your way back to the city centre by descending on the most scenic funicular in the world.

Marvel at Budapest's UNESCO-listed panorama on this lovely Danube River evening cruise. See the city's floodlit landmarks, such as the Hungarian Parliament and the Buda Castle district, and sail under the illuminated Chain Bridge as well as other bridges.

Conceived by film director Can Togay, Shoes on the Danube Bank is an ironwork memorial erected in 2005 consisting of sixty pairs of shoes, which pays tribute to the thousands of Jewish victims who were shot into the Danube during the Arrow Cross movement in 1944-45. With over 800,000 people expelled or killed, the Hungarian Jewish community is regarded as one of the biggest victims in the dark era of the Holocaust.

The Hungarian State Opera is a neo-Renaissance masterpiece, boasting the third-best acoustics in Europe after the Scala in Milan and the Opera Garnier in Paris. It was designed in 1884 by Miklós Ybl, who also planned St Stephen’s Basilica. Lavish inside and out with a gorgeous fresco by Károly Lotz gleaming in a vast bronze chandelier in the Main Hall, the Opera is home to the Hungarian National Ballet founded the same year.

The 2.5-km-long Margaret Island between Buda and Pest makes for a perfect lazy day outside the bustling city centre. The island is home to a small zoo, an art nouveau water tower, medieval ruins, and a beloved musical fountain. It also offers an array of outdoor activities with jogging tracks, thermal spas, and swimming pools. During the summer, Margaret Island comes alive with bars, restaurants, and live music.

Stretching behind the imposing Heroes' Square, Városliget is one of the most popular recreational venues in the city. There are plenty of entertainment options in the neighbourhood, including the Széchenyi Baths, Budapest Zoo, Circus, the Vajdahunyad Castle housing the Agricultural Museum and various fairs, as well as a pond that turns into a popular ice rink in the winter season.

Known locally by its acronym Müpa, the Palace of Arts (Művészetek Palotája) is a striking complex by the Danube created for the new millennium. It consists of the Bartók National Concert Hall, the Festival Theatre and the Ludwig Museum. The Bartók National Concert Hall is known for its outstanding acoustics created by Russell Johnson, who worked with some of the world’s most renowned architects. This is also the home of the prestigious Hungarian National Philharmonic, founded in 1923. The Ludwig Museum's exhibition space displays artwork by modern and contemporary artists, and it is open all year round.

A fortress built under the Austrian empire and used also by fascist and communist forces, Citadella sits atop the 235-metre high Gellért Hill, together with the Liberty Statue, a bronze lady holding a palm leaf and guarding the city since 1947 (hence was originally intended to celebrate the Soviet liberation from the Nazi forces after WWII).

Located in what once was the headquarters of ÁVH, the secret police authority of the communist era, the House of Terror gives a strikingly honest insight into the history of fascism and communism, the two terror regimes Hungary suffered from in the not-so-distant history. It is also a memorial to the victims of these regimes, including those detained, interrogated, tortured, or killed in the building.