When it comes to beautiful capital of Hungary, Budapest, there has always been confusion among travelers and even some inhabitants – is Budapest one city? That said, it is fascinating to dive into this question and thus, eventually, dispel this myth.
The Division: Buda and Pest
First and foremost, it’s important to understand that Budapest is actually made up of two distinct parts: Buda and Pest, two different cities but separated by the historical coloured water of the Danube. On the western side of the Danube Buda can be found with its hills, numerous historical monuments and a beautiful panoramic view. Pest is located on the Eastern side which presents a young and developed commercial and tourist area with theaters, restaurants, and shops.
Buda has its own style and in contrast Pest has as well, making Budapest a city with old world and a twist of new world feel.
Connected by Bridges
Although modern Budapest is composed of two cities Buda and Pest, they have been united to form a single city since 1873. After that, Budapest was classified as the single city, which infrastructures joined right infrastructures connected two sides. This city has several other fine bridges for Buda with Pest such as the chain bridge, Margaret bridge and Elizabeth bridge.
Distinct Districts
Budapest city is also divided into districts and all these districts are distinct in terms of their endowments and tourist destinations. Here are some notable districts:
District I – Buda Castle District
It is the largest district in Buda and houses some of the prominent structures vis-à-vis the Royal Palace, its adjacent Matthias church, and the fisherman’s bastion. The European feel is guarantee and a walk through these streets covered by cobble stone will take you back in time.
District V – Inner City (Pest).
One of the liveliest districts in Budapest, District 5 also known as Pest’s downtown is a place of superior shops, great coffee houses, and stunning St. Stephen’s Basilica. It is vibrant and very busy and there is nothing which is as good as being in the city and feeling the environment.
District VII – Jewish District (Pest)
Jewish Quarter of Budapest is an artistic area with many new-generation ruin bars, restaurants and with a long past. Among such places, you can visit the Great Synagogue – the largest synagogue not only in Poland, but throughout Europe.
The place mostly known for Thermal baths and spas
Thermal bathing is famous in Budapest and people have been using thermal baths and spas for a long time already. These thermal baths are usually very beautiful structures that people can bathe at and they are also beneficial to people’s health with the added bonus of the chance to learn about the historical past of the city when it came to spas. The most popular baths are Széchenyi Thermal Bath in City Park, and Gellért Thermal Bath in Buda.
Conclusion
All in all, Budapest isn’t just a single city but a duality of Buda and Pest both of which are completely unique from each other. The coming together of these two sides by the River Danube has fostered a delightful and exciting region, which will appeal to anyone in one way or another. Indeed, when making travel arrangements to Budapest the visitor should not only move from the Buda side to the Pest side and back in the course of his visit but also consider the above sights to help him understand and appreciate Budapest’s dense history and culture, and the grandeur of its beauty.
