15.3.14

Hungarian Rhapsody

When you fly into Budapest, you land at Liszt Ferenc International Airport; you can walk along Liszt Ferenc tér and have a drink or something to eat at one of the many cafes and restaurants in this square just off Andrássy út; visit the Liszt Museum and with a bit of luck, listen to one of the Hungarian Rhapsodies played by one of the students of the Academy founded by the man himself.
Budapest is a beautiful city, or maybe I should say cities, since until 1873 there were two cities - Buda and Pest - separated by the Danube river. If you are staying in Pest, you may have already visited the Parliament building. Walk across the Chain Bridge to Buda, take the Buda Castle Funicular, enjoy Buda Castle and stroll around the district. If you decide to stop at one of the cafés, try the Café Miró. The Castle is lit at night and best viewed from Pest. There are a couple of hotels that have rooms looking onto the Danube and Buda, like the Intercontinental.  A not so expensive option, with no views, but next to the Opera and the beautiful avenue Andrássy út is the K+K Hotel Opera. There is plenty to see and do in Budapest and whilst I would advise walking, the underground is an attraction in itself as it is the second oldest underground in the world, which has been operating since 1896. Whether you decide to walk the length of Andrássy út or take the underground to Hősök tere, you arrive at Heroes' Square and close-by the Museum of Fine Arts. At the other end of town, near Corvinus University, the Museum of Applied Arts is also worth a visit, and the famous Gellért Spa and hotel is across the river in Buda.

View of Chain Bridge and Buda


 
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