 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.
 Quality of life has grown dramatically in Hungary over the past decade. Once considered a tourist destination for bargain hunters and backpackers, Budapest is now much more sophisticated. This is evident across the board, from the prices of everyday goods to the lifestyles of the locals, who are able to spend increasingly more of their income on entertainment and non-essentials.
 Budapest’s rich heritage has garnered a great deal of international attention, and the city’s beauty is undeniable. The UNESCO World Heritage list includes Castle Hill and Andrássy Avenue in Buda, and across the city visitors have access to a wealth of museums that chronicle the region’s history and diverse culture.
The dining scene in Budapest is gaining momentum as well. Restaurants are moving beyond mere Hungarian staples to cater for broader culinary interests. In recent years, restaurants have branched out across the city, and international fare is served alongside local favourites.
 Entertainment here is a first-class affair. Prestigious operas are staged in the Opera House, with an impressive variety of classical music on the agenda throughout the year. Hungarians appreciate the formality of such affairs, and many of their festivals and public holidays draw locals and tourists alike to formal balls and lavish banquets.
Accommodation is widely available, with facilities that cater for every budget. Hotels are housed in five-star complexes, such as the Hilton, in simpler Soviet-era houses and in everything in between.
Locals claim that Budapest hasn’t changed in centuries, a fact that, amazingly, rings true despite the wars and tumultuous history that this city has lived through. Whether seeking grand architecture or a simple escape into the backcountry of the Danube Delta, there’s something here for every brand of traveller.
History
 The first settlement near the Danube River Delta was founded by ancient Celtic tribes. When the Romans took over in 106 AD, they took the Celtic groundwork and layered it with then-modern amenities like central heating, lavish artwork and amphitheatres. At the height of the Roman occupation there were as many as 30,000 citizens here enjoying paved roads and sophisticated drainage systems.
The nomadic Magyars (as Hungarians refer to themselves) arrived after a loose alliance of Germanic tribes had pushed the Romans out of the region. After several new kingdoms (including the Franks under Charlemagne) failed to establish a strong and lasting empire, seven Magyar tribes led by Árpád united and eventually seized the CarpathianBasin. Five of these seven tribes settled in modern day Budapest and founded the nation that would become Hungary.
 Árpád’s grandson converted to Christianity, and his grandson’s rule was validated by the Vatican when Pope Sylvester II sent a crown for King Stephen’s coronation on Christmas Day in the year 1000. That very crown can be viewed today in Budapest’s parliament building. King Stephen was shrewd and merciless in his administration of this new nation. He sped the conversion of his countrymen by ordering every tenth city to build a church. In all, Árpád’s family dynasty ruled Hungary for 250 years before it weakened under invasions by Mongols and Turks.
 The Turks ruled for nearly 150 years during the 16th and 17th centuries, and their major contributions were the many Turkish baths that built over the thermal springs. As the Turkish grip slackened, Budapest became the dual-capital of the Austrian and Hungarian Kingdoms. The cities of Buda and Pest merged in 1873 and absorbed the ancient city of Buda (Óbuda) as well. The Austro-Hungarian Empire split again after WWI.
 Hungary sided with the Germans during WWII and Budapest suffered a great deal of damage from Allied bombings. Shortly after the end of the war, the communist party rose up and declared Hungary a ‘People’s Republic’. The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 crumbled the Stalinist dictatorship from within, and Soviet troops marched on Hungary to cut political losses.
Soviet forces had completely withdrawn by the early 1990s, and Hungary re-emerged as a parliamentary republic. Talks with NATO paved the way for Hungary’s membership in 1997, and by 2004 the country was a European Union member state.
 Today, Budapest is one of the oldest cities in Europe though its relatively recent rezoning phenomenon (when Buda and Pest converged) makes it one of the youngest cities as well. In either event, life in Hungary’s capital city is informed by a rich history that has been working itself out for more than a thousand years.
Weather
 Budapest’s moderate climate is subject to unexpected change as weather patterns drift back and forth between the harsh climate of the eastern Great Plains and the wet weather of western Transdanubia and the Alps. Winters are cold and sometimes snowy, though not particularly long. Summers are warm, humid and pleasantly sunny. In fact, sunshine is an abundant commodity in Hungary, as the country has one of the highest sunny-day averages in Europe.
 January is by far the coldest month of the year, with average temperatures regularly falling below freezing. Despite the cold months of deep winter, spring is quick to arrive. By the month of April, there is plenty of rain and lengthening daylight to announce the changing seasons. July and August are the hottest months, with daytime temperatures approaching 30°C.
The rainiest months are situated in the transitional seasons. Precipitation is high when the cool weather fades in the rising heat of April, and again after October when the heat is all but forgotten. In the middle of the summer, the month of July is significantly wetter than either June or August.
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