5 Best things to see & do in Budapest

Europe’s second longest river, the Danube flows from a tiny spring in Germany’s Black Forest through the wooded hills of Bavaria, across Austria’s Wachau Valley, and, beyond Vienna, onto the edge of the Hungarian steppes. It clips the southern spur of the Carpathian mountain range, forcing its way through the rock to create the dramatic Iron Gates Gorge on the border between Serbia and Romania. Eventually, it broadens out, forking into three arms that make up its vast, marshy delta. A cruise, then, takes in seven countries and a wide variety of cultures and cuisines.

Along the way, you’ll taste wines in the Wachau, explore the galleries of Vienna, take a day trip to Salzburg, clamber up to the ruins of Durnstein Castle and check out the edgy nightlife of Budapest, as well as sailing through the city at sunset, the various bridges festooned with lights.

There are plenty of opportunities for hiking, kayaking and cycling, making this a great option for fitness alongside the obvious cultural charms of the region.

The so-called ‘house of the nation’, built in spectacular Gothic Revival style, was completed in 1904 and is the largest building in Hungary – it’s rumoured to include 40 million bricks, half a million precious stones and 40kg of gold.

After Britain’s Houses of Parliament, it’s probably the world’s most spectacular legislative building. The interiors are lavish – and a history lesson in themselves.

A guided tour of the enormous parliament building takes in sights such as the holy Hungarian crown jewels, the Grand Staircase and the Great Vaulted Hall.

Known as the ‘City of Spas’, Budapest has more thermal and medicinal water springs than any other city – 118 in fact, providing over 70 million litres of thermal water a day. Although used by the Romans, spa bathing didn’t become an integral part of Budapest culture until the 16th-century Turkish occupation.

Today there are 15 public thermal baths (and many more private ones), notably the Szechenyi, a vast golden palace of steam pools and artesian water baths.

Budapest’s bathing culture is a legacy of the 16th-century Turkish occupation, and the wealth of hot springs bubbling up from under the city. A visit here vividly demonstrates how important thermal baths are in Hungarian culture and recreation.

For the quintessential Budapest bath experience, head to the most splendid spa in the city (and the biggest spa in Europe) – the century-old Szechenyi Baths.

This sprawling spa complex contains a host of baths and pools, from steam baths and artesian water baths inside, to swimming pools outside. During summer, the outside area doubles as a beach, attracting everyone from bathing beauties to old men playing chess.

Perched on a limestone plateau overlooking the Danube, this has been the seat of Hungarian royalty since the 13th century. Since then everyone from Turkish Pashas to the last Regent, Admiral Horthy, have held court here.

There are intriguing remnants of the medieval castle – the largest Gothic castle/palace of the late Middle Ages – but in the main, this is a fairy-tale royal palace, built in neo-Renaissance and neo-baroque style.

The castle is also home to both the National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum.