Budapest Flights And Sights

Architecturally stunning Budapest is a tour de force of Hapsburg splendor, best appreciated over rich cream cakes in a chandelier-lit Gerbeaud coffee house or a sumptuous steam in a Gellért thermal bath. Beyond the grandeur of the Royal Palace and the Hungarian State Opera House, the city has its head very much in the progressive, party-loving present. Free of its communist shackles, a dynamic cultural undercurrent once again flows freely down the Danube and across the city's grandly designed boulevards.

Things to Do

The key landmarks of hilly Buda center in the imperious Castle District, home to the gothic Matthias Church and the gracefully domed Royal Palace. The lake-dotted greenery of City Park sweeps up to monumental Heroes Square, renowned for its Old Master paintings and frescoes. When sightseeing gets tiring, you can revive in the steamy confines of Budapest's thermal baths -- from Art Nouveau Széchenyi to the Turkish delight of the Rudás and the grandiose Gellért.

Shopping

Just off exclusive Váci utca boulevard lie courtyards studded with boutiques and shops selling handmade leather gloves, intricate Halas lace and Herend porcelain. Pricey antique shops and galleries cluster along Falk Miksa utca near the neo-Gothic Parliament and just steps from Katti Zoób, Hungary's leading design diva. Graze the Great Market Hall for fresh fruit and paprika, foie gras and salami, and taste Hungary's finest wines at laid-back Bortarsaság near the Castle District.

Nightlife and Entertainment

Live to party is the ethos of young Budapesters, who fill the pulsating kertek (garden bars) and floating lounges around Hajógyári Island at the first glimmer of summer. One of Hungary's hottest clubs, A38 is actually a ship that cruises along the Danube to the beat of live concerts and big-name DJs like DJ Krush. For a Bohemian feel, join alternative types for drinks in the Jewish District's artfully decayed courtyards. Opera, ballet and classical music is astonishingly inexpensive in the sumptuous Hungarian State Opera House.

Restaurants and Dining

No visit is complete without devouring chocolaty Esterházy torte in the opulent, chandelier-lit surrounds of Gerbeaud -- Budapest's most famous coffee house and a lingering memory of the sweet-toothed Hapsburgs. Loosen a belt notch for a Hungarian feast of goulash and creamy carp soup in Central Pest, or head down to the river for alfresco Italian, Japanese or one of the hip floating restaurants. In the strikingly illuminated Castle District, Alabárdos serves butter-soft foie gras and paprika-infused guinea fowl in elegant vaulted surrounds.

With American Airlines, it's easy to find flights to Budapest so you can experience the beauty and history of Hungary. The city is actually made up of two halves, Buda and Pest, separated by the Danube River. Whether you love architecture, art or history, you'll be enthralled with what you find on both sides. Let us help you plan an unforgettable escape with tips on the best things to do in Budapest.

With cultural history that reaches back to Roman rule and the Ottoman Empire, there are many historically significant sites all around the city, and discovering them is one of our favorite activities in Budapest. Start off your exploration on foot -- one of the best ways to see everything up close. The Budapest City Walking Tour lasts about three and a half hours and includes many of the city's major historical attractions. You'll see St. Stephen's Basilica, Ferenciek Square, Chain Bridge, the Royal Palace and Fisherman's Bastion, among other highlights. During your journey you'll stroll along the Danube River and take in views of Gellert Hill, the Buda Hills and the Buda Castle District. Be sure to have your camera batteries fully charged, as there is no shortage of spectacular photo opportunities!

Once the tour is over, you'll have a better idea of the areas in which you'd like to return. We recommend Castle Hill. An afternoon in Buda's Old Town is one of our favorite things to do in Budapest. You'll find an incredible mix of architectural styles (countless sieges over the centuries have made rebuilding necessary). But don't miss Matyas Church and the Buda Royal Palace. And the views from Fisherman's Bastion are simply beyond compare. A visit to Vajdahunyad Castle is also in order, if only because it is like a fairytale castle come to life.

Add the city's museums to your list of can't-miss activities in Hungary. In particular, the Hungarian National Museum features an expansive collection of Hungarian art that has been collected since the beginning of the 19th century. The Hungarian National Gallery, with almost 100,000 works, stretches through three wings of the Buda Royal Palace. And you certainly won't want to miss the Museum of Fine Arts. Its collections include Egyptian art, classical antiquities, Old Master paintings, European sculptures and more.

Need a break? Pull up a chair in one of Budapest's many coffee houses. Relax, enjoy the view and imagine artists, writers and philosophers doing the exact same thing a century ago.

This jewel of Hungary is waiting to be discovered! Why wait? We'll help you fly to Budapest so you can explore its many facets firsthand for a trip you won't soon forget. Check flights and book your trip today.