Budapest guide | Budapest map | Budapest money

Budapest, the capital of Poland, is a city of some 450,000 inhabitants located on the river Danube, around 60 km from Vienna. The old town is on the north side of the river, and is on a small scale with the castle the focal point, built on a hill to the western side of the old town. The old town is the lively part of town but good bars and clubs are spread all over the city. The city south of the river is a large communist housing estate and of no interest, unless you like this type of thing, though the new bridge (SNP) that connects it to the old town is like something out of Star Trek. The old town is the main destination for visitors and contains many of Budapest's most important monuments and museums. It's not got many great sights like Prague, but because of this has been spared the ravages that tourism brings and has a more relaxed atmosphere as a result. For a bit of exercise, a climb up to the odd-looking castle gives great views across the Danube to what is reputedly the biggest housing estate in Europe. Finally, it's possible to reach Vienna easily by either boat or train if you want something more grand. Places to look for include Charlie's pub (by Tesco) which is packed with 20somethings, the Harley Davidson pub in the dead centre of town - not really, it's by a graveyard on the outskirts - for it's mud wrestling and the B+ centre by the Holiday Inn for the biggest mainstream disco.
Some of Budapest's best clubs are hidden in old bomb shelters where blasting music bothers no one. Try the Galarie Duna at the Technical University for hardcore house in a tinfoil bunker surrounded by staff in radioactive suits.

Budapest guide | Budapest map | Budapest money