Attractions

Relics

The capital was created by the unification of Buda and Óbuda on the hilly west bank of the Danube and Pest on the flat east bank in 1873.

Caves and natural reserves

The Buda side is the capital's green belt with popular spots for outings. János Hill, Széchényi Hill, Hárs Hill, Remete Hill and Hármashatár Hill are parts of the nature reserve area of Buda. Beneath the hills there is an interconnected cave system. The country's third longest (7.200m) stalactite cave, Pálvölgyi cave, can be seen here as well as the Szeml? Hill cave, famous for its pea stone formations resembling bunches of grapes.

Roman Ruins

River Danube used to be the border of Province Pannonia in the 1th-5th centuries. The town of Aquincum was a busy settlement at the eastern frontier of the empire, and its inhabitants left millions of archeological artifacts to unearth. The Aquincum museum displays among others mosaics, murals, early Christian religious items, even a portable organ. Unfortunately the site offers little more than knee-high ruins of a one-time flourishing town which used to boast of a courthouse, a shrine, baths and a market as well as sophisticated sewage system. More south the remains of the military camp supporting 6.000 legionaries and a military bath can be found on Flórián tér in the underpass, while further toward the center an amphitheater lays in the brace of two busy roads.

Jewish Budapest

Traditionally the Jewish population of Budapest was concentrated in downtown district VII. While generally the buildings are already renovated, like the Great Synagogue, the largest in Europe and the second largest in the world behind New York. There are smaller ones nearby at Rumbach Sebestyén utca 11-13 and Kazincy utca 29-31. In IX. district is The Holocaust Memorial Center. It is honoring Jews murdered in the Shoah.

Turkish Budapest

160 years of Turkish occupation between 1526 and 1686 left its mark on Budapest: a number of Turkish monuments enrich the cultural diversity of the city. The Rudas, Rác and Király baths are witnesses to the Ottoman bathing culture with thermal pools covered by round domes emitting light through small star-shaped holes. The baths have separate days for men and women, so check the schedules. On the side of Rózsadomb is the Gül Baba Türbe, the northern most sacred place for Muslims, located in the middle of a four-sided garden. The türbe itself is a small building over the grave of the saint dervish who allegedly died during the first Musulman religious ceremony in occupied Buda in 1541.

Thermal Baths

For centuries, Budapest has been famous for its thermal springs and bathing culture. Nowadays there are 14 bathhouses and inner-city pools in Budapest. Budapest is the world's only city and capital where there are more than 80 thermal springs and wells. Some medicinal waters are suitable for treating digestive complaints, kidney and metabolic diseases by means of drinking curses.

Keep in mind Most swimming pools require, the use of bathing cap, it can also be hired at the ticket office.

Click here for main thermal baths!