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Budapest from the Chain Bridge

The Chain Bridge over the Danube is one of the most famous images of Budapest. This suspension bridge between the districts of Pest and Buda offers spectacular views of the banks of the Danube. On the Pest side, the pointed towers of the Parliament Building flank the Danube, while Buda Castle rises on the other bank. The suspension bridge itself is quite striking, especially at night when the heavy chains twinkle with thousands of lights.

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A suspension bridge instead of a ferry

While it’s almost impossible to imagine today, there was no permanent connection between Pest and Buda before the Chain Bridge was constructed. Those wanting to travel between what were then still separate cities had to take the ferry in the summer and walk across the frozen Danube in winter – if temperatures were low enough. But unexpected changes in the weather could make any crossing impossible, and as the nearest bridge was in Vienna some 250 kilometres away, unlucky people could get stuck for days on the wrong side of the river. Count István Széchenyi was one of those unlucky ones. In 1820, he had to wait a week to cross the river and missed his father’s funeral. He was so upset by this that he decided to remedy the situation in short order and established a foundation to finance the construction of a permanent bridge over the Danube. The English engineer William Tierney Clark designed the suspension bridge and the Scotsman Adam Clark (no relation) oversaw its construction. The grand opening took place on 21 November 1849.

The cable car up to the castle

Taking the cable car up to the castle

Adam Clark Square, so named after the construction foreman of the Chain Bridge, features a jagged-shaped ‘0’. This sculpture by Miklós Borsos marks the starting point of all roads in Hungary. This is also where the cable car up to Buda Castle departs: this short ride offers breathtaking views of the Chain Bridge, the Danube Bend and Pest. An amusing fact is that the tunnel under Castle Hill, also built by Adam Clark, is exactly as long as the Chain Bridge. Hungarians like to joke that this is no coincidence: the bridge can be pushed into the tunnel when it rains.

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Nightlife

Wellness

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Walking along the elegant Andrássy Avenue, you’ll see beautiful maple trees and elegant villas on both sides. This atmospheric street is also the setting of the Hungarian State Opera. This stunning opera house was built in the late 19th century as an architectural and acoustic tour de force. Many Hungarians still love spending an afternoon or evening in style, enjoying a classical music concert or a ballet performance.

Nightlife

The buildings seem abandoned with their boarded up windows and grimy façades. Yet the opposite is true as these are the renowned ruin bars of Budapest. Creative minds have transformed dilapidated factories, warehouses and flats into unique cafés, bars and night clubs that you won’t want to miss.

Wellness

Budapest has earned its title as City of Baths. The Romans already realised that the spring water was full of beneficial minerals, and the Ottomans, who conquered the region in the 16th century, skilfully built a number of thermal baths. The Széchenyi bathhouse, completed in the early 1900s, is the largest and one of the most beautiful in Budapest. It is further enhanced by a stunning location in the City Park.

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On the banks of the Danube, you can see an impressive building with an imposing red dome and many pointed towers which contrast superbly with a blue sky. The stately Parliament Building is one of the most famous symbols of Budapest. The beautiful exterior of the edifice is often featured on photos of the city, and the equally striking interior can be viewed during a tour.

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Buda Castle is a permanent presence for those walking along the banks of the Danube. Towering high on a hill above the city, the infinite castle buildings and charming monuments make this impressive palace complex one of the most beautiful spots in Budapest. The castle district is the historical centre of Buda, a delightful place in its own right for wandering through countless alleys and squares.