Budapest is in every way the centrepiece of Hungary, serving not only as the political and transportation hub of the country, but also as its most important nexus of commerce, culture, music and industry. Cut cleanly in half by the Danube River, this city has a storied legacy that spans the rise and fall of many empires and political agendas.

Budapest was not always the conglomerate city it is today; rather it was once two cities on either side of the Danube: eastern Pest (pronounced: Pesht) and western Buda. They converged in the late 19th century though the lines of division can still be both in architecture and terrain. The hilly region of Buda is home to Castle Hill and numerous medieval structures that attract tourists. Meanwhile, Pest has embraced modernity and the age of industry and globalisation.