HUNGARY
Budapest, Hungary's capital, is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It straddles a gentle curve in the Danube - conservative Buda one side; cosmopolitan Pest the other. A city of broad avenues, leafy parks and elaborate bathhouses, it has an almost magical turn-of-the-century feel to it. It's also a top spa destination.
Dining
Almost every style of cooking can now be found here, and it's advisable to book for weekend evenings. Open since 1894, Gundel is one of Budapest's best known restaurants, while Oros Postakocsi is very much 'old Budapest', great for people watching.
Culture
Highlights include a cruise along the Danube, strolling across the romantic Chain Bridge at night, browsing through antique bookshops and jewellery stores, and being pampered in one of the city's many Turkish-style spas. Buda Castle and the Citadel, high above the city, are both well worth a visit.
Budapest also has outstanding opera and ballet at the Hungarian State Opera House.
Shopping
New and old exist side by side here. Open air markets selling local farm produce stand side by side with big shopping malls.
Getting around
Budapest is compact, well laid-out, and ideal for walking. The ageing but safe public transport system won't keep you waiting long. It's recommended to order a taxi by phone, they arrive quickly and call centres usually speak English.
GMT: +1 hour
Flight Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Currency: Forint or Euro
CHOOSE A RESORT
WEATHER
CLIMATE
With the Alps to the west and the flat, open Great Plain to the east, Budapest has warm summers but bitterly cold - short - winters, with light snow fall. Rain tends to fall all year round. In summer, April to September, Budapest has a high proportion of long sunny days and relatively high humidity.
TEMPERATURE / RAINFALL
| JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TEMP (°C) | -2 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 17 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 2 |
RAINFALL (MM) | 37 | 44 | 38 | 45 | 72 | 69 | 56 | 47 | 33 | 57 | 70 | 46 |
