Anyone who has been to Budapest will know exactly what makes it one of Europe’s best-loved destinations; you’re really getting two cities for the price of one. Bisected by the mighty Danube the city has something of a split personality. On the west side of the river is historic Buda; the ancient heart of the capital. On the east side is industrious Pest; defined by handsome boulevards and the familiar sights and sounds of European commerce.

Each side of the Danube has its own temptations: To the west hilly Buda corrals together some of the city’s finest monuments with the Roman ruins at Óbuda providing the obvious historical starting point. For a lesson in medieval architecture wander the cat’s cradle of narrow streets that surround the picturesque castle district. Read the rest of this entry »