Castle Hill Walk
Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church.
HungaryIShowSpeed streamed here
Budapest
The Pearl of the Danube — thermal bath palaces, ruin bars in crumbling mansions, and the most photographed parliament in Europe.
- Metro population
- 3,000,000
- Country
- Hungary
- Region
- Europe
Overview
Why visit Budapest
Budapest is two cities — hilly Buda and flat Pest — stitched across the Danube by the Chain Bridge. Castle Hill's Fisherman's Bastion gives the fairy-tale view, while the Parliament's neo-Gothic facade lights up the river at night like a wedding cake.
The city sits on 120 thermal springs, and bathing is a way of life: Széchenyi's yellow palace hosts chess players in steaming outdoor pools even in snow. After dark, the Jewish Quarter's 'ruin bars' — pubs built inside crumbling pre-war buildings — made Budapest's nightlife famous.
Speed's 2024 tour streamed from Budapest. Prices remain some of Europe's friendliest — a thermal bath, a chimney cake and a river cruise cost less than dinner in Paris.
Things to do
Top things to book in Budapest
Popular tours and tickets. Compare prices and book ahead to skip the lines.
Széchenyi Baths
Europe's biggest thermal bath ticket.
Danube Night Cruise
Parliament lit up from the river.
Ruin Bar Crawl
Szimpla Kert and the Jewish Quarter scene.
Plan your trip
Compare prices for Budapest
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Side by side in Budapest
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Fun facts
Things you didn't know about Budapest
- 01
Two Cities, One River
Buda and Pest united only in 1873 — the Chain Bridge sealed the bond in 1849.
- 02
The Bath City
120+ thermal springs feed 15 public baths — Széchenyi is the largest in Europe.
- 03
Chess In The Pool
Regulars play chess on floating boards in Széchenyi's steaming outdoor pool.
- 04
Ruin Bars
Szimpla Kert pioneered bars inside derelict buildings — now a worldwide trend.
- 05
The Parliament
The 268-metre Gothic parliament took 17 years and 40 million bricks.
- 06
The Shoes Memorial
Iron shoes on the Danube bank honour Jews shot into the river in 1944.
- 07
A Fisherman'S Bastion
The seven turrets represent the seven Magyar tribes — it was never a fort, just a viewpoint.
- 08
Chimney Cakes
Kürtőskalács — dough spirals roasted over coals — perfume the winter markets.
- 09
A Hill Of Caves
Buda's limestone hides a thermal cave system open to tours.
- 10
Europe'S Oldest Metro
The M1 line (1896) is the continent's oldest underground railway.
Random Budapest fact
Tap the button for a random fact about Budapest.
FAQ
Quick answers about Budapest
Where is Budapest located?
Budapest is in Hungary, in Europe.
What is the population of Budapest?
The greater Budapest area is home to about 3,000,000 people.
What is Budapest famous for?
Budapest is famous for the Danube-split twin city, ruin bars in old palaces, thermal baths like Széchenyi and the Parliament's Gothic facade.
Did IShowSpeed stream from Budapest?
Yes — IShowSpeed streamed from Budapest on his 2024 Europe tour. See his full world tour map.
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