Buddapest offers a variety of historic and natural attractions, though most tourists’ interest is focused on Gellért and Castle Hills in Buda. This part of the city played an important role in the rise and fall of several dynasties, and the art and architecture here reflect this fact. Beneath Castle Hill is a magnificent 4,000-foot stretch of subterranean caverns that make up the only labyrinth in the world that is still in use. 

Buda Castle Labyrinth 
Over time, Budapest’s unique thermal springs have worked below the ground carving out several miles of subterranean caves. The Castle Labyrinth is one such cavern, first used many hundreds of thousands of years ago by early humans. Eventually, the Turks employed this network of caverns for military purposes; later in the 1930s, these caves were developed into shelters from the sieges and bombings of WWII. Today, the labyrinth is open for tours and includes features such as a historical museum and prehistoric cave paintings.

Citadella 
An untested fortress, the Citadella was built in the 1840s atop Gellért Hill. When construction was finished in 1851, the winds of politics had shifted and the Citadella was no longer needed. A lavish ceremony (in which portions of the fortress were symbolically destroyed) was held later in the 19th century and the Citadella was presented to the city. Today it houses an ammunitions museum along with a hotel, dance club and restaurant. Phone +36 1 365 6076

Fisherman’s Bastion 
Though it looks much older, this neo-Gothic structure was actually built in 1905. The bastion is named for the guild of fishermen who were once in charge of defending this stretch of the wall. The bastion boasts seven towers representing the seven Magyar tribes that settled in this part of the Carpathian Basin in the 9th century. Located next to Matthias Church, the bastion is one of the best places to take in the views of Budapest.

House of Terror 
This sombre memorial is to the fascist crimes and atrocities committed during the 20th century. The bulk of the exhibits revolve around the crimes of Joseph Stalin, though the early horrors of Fascist Hungary are also chronicled. A massive tank is parked in the courtyard of the House of Terror, and inside the facility are dozens of rooms and exhibits. One of the most unsettling displays features portraits of the perpetrators of these horrors, many of whom are still at large to this day. Phone: +36 1 374 2600.

Margaret Island 
This 1.5 mile island in the Danube River straddles the line between Pest and Buda. Historically, it served various religious orders until it was seized by invading Turks and transformed into an Ottoman-only harem. In the 1800s it was transformed into a city park and has been open to the public ever since. There are two hotels on the northeast quarter of the island, and this is as far as automobiles are permitted. Every other portion of Margaret Island is only open to traffic by bicycles, horse-drawn carriages and pedestrians.

St Stephen’s Basilica 
Towering over Pest, this cathedral was completed in the early 20th century. The central neo-classical dome is flanked by two enormous bell towers, one of which contains a bell weighing nine tons, the largest in Hungary. Inside the Holy Right Chapel, visitors to the basilica can view the mummified fist of St Stephen himself. For outstanding views over the city, climb 146 steps (or take the lift) to the top of the dome where the panoramas are unparalleled. Phone: +36 1 311 0839.

The Royal Palace 
The Royal Palace (sometimes called Buda Castle) has become one of the quintessential landmarks of Budapest. Struggles and outright wars have been staged here since the 1200s, and after being destroyed in the 17th century in battles with the Turks it was subsequently rebuilt by the Habsburgs. The oldest standing part of the palace dates to the 1300s. Today’s palace is dedicated to more peaceful initiatives as Budapest’s original castle now houses the National Széchenyi Library along with two museums: the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum.

Thermal Baths 
The thermal springs in Budapest have a long-standing reputation for their medicinal properties, and this City of Spas boasts numerous thermal baths that capitalise on the springs. The Császár Bath dates to the 1500s and includes ancient Turkish baths along with a modern swimming pool. Other famous spas and bathhouses include Lukács Bath, the Rác Bath, and the enormous Széchenyi Bath. The latter is one of Europe’s largest bathing complexes, boasting water so warm that swimmers visit the outdoor pool even in the dead of winter.

Enjoy the Old World music. Budapest has a fantastic reputation as a centre of baroque and classical music. On any given day, there is chamber music, an organ recital or classic opera staged somewhere across town. Budapest’s numerous concert halls, churches and museums play host to these performances.

Explore Castle Hill. First on anyone’s list of attractions in Budapest is the Castle Hill District. Built on a plateau that perches 550 feet above the Danube River, this collection of medieval buildings is included on the UNESCO World Heritage list and certainly deserves its place on every tourist’s short list.

Marvel at the Soviet statues. When the Communist party lost its grip on the countries of Eastern Europe, the newly-independent states pulled down their Soviet-era monuments. Many of them were relocated to Statue Park in Budapest, where tourists can take in dozens of these Soviet tributes all at once.

Reflect on the Shoes on the Danube. There are numerous sites worth visiting along the banks of the Danube. The Shoes of the Danube memorial is a collection of 60 cast-iron pairs of boots, representing the fallen Jews that were hastily rounded up, shot and thrown into the Danube by the fascists of WWII.

See Europe’s largest synagogue. Budapest’s impressive Great Synagogue is 246 ft long and 88 ft wide. Built in the mid-19th century, this synagogue reflects a revival of Moorish architectural themes. On site are the Heroes’ Temple (built to honour those who lost their lives in WWI); a Jewish cemetery; and a museum.

Stroll down Andrássy Avenue. One of the icons of Budapest, Andrássy út connects Elizabeth Square and City Park. This picturesque avenue is best explored on foot, with numerous museums, monuments and historic sites along the way.

Take a daytrip to Visegrád. Located in Pest Country, Visegrád can be reached by train from the city centre in just under an hour. While here, visit the Medieval Royal Seat and the Parkland. The Renaissance architecture here was among the first to appear outside of Italy.