Gellért Hill, Budapest

Gellért Hill offers unrivalled panoramic views of the city, taking in both Buda and Pest and the meandering Danube. The hill was named after a bishop who was asked to convert pagan Magyars to Christianity but, according to legend, was killed by being rolled off the hillside in a barrel by militant heathens. A statue of the martyred Bishop stands at the base of the hill. On its summit stands the Liberation Monument, a female figure holding aloft the palm of victory, dedicated to the memory of Soviet troops who died freeing Hungary in 1945. With the fall of communism the inscription was changed to honour those who died for 'Hungary's prosperity'.

Behind the monument is the Citadella, or fortress, built after the 1848 revolution to provide military control against further uprisings. Today it houses a hostel and a museum. The hill is also home to several historic spas, valued for their medicinal qualities since the Turkish occupation. The city's most famous spa, the Gellért Baths, is attached to the grand establishment of the Art Nouveau Gellért Hotel. Here visitors can relax in the thermal waters of the Roman-styled pool with its lion-headed spouts, surrounded by columns and mosaic patterns, or indulge themselves with private therapeutic treatments or a massage.

Getting There:
Bus 27 from Móricz Zsigmond körtér (opposite the Gellért baths), Tram 18, 19, 47 or 49.

Opening Times:
Citadella: Monday to Friday 6am-6pm, Saturday and Sunday 6am-4pm.

Admission:
HUF 90 (concessions available)

Matthias Church, Budapest

Situated in the centre of the Castle Quarter, the 700-year-old Church of Our Lady is popularly known as Matthias Church after the nation's famous ruler, King Matthias (1458-90), a patron of learning and the arts who reconstructed the Hungarian state after decades of feudal anarchy. With its distinctive multicoloured tiled roof and Gothic spire, the church is one of Budapest's best-known structures, and it was here that the nation's kings were crowned and King Matthias was married. Today the church continues to hold High Mass, as well as concerts, organ and choir recitals owing to its magnificent acoustics. Matthias Church is a mixture of styles from the various kings, occupations and periods. When the Turks occupied the Castle in 1541 it was converted into a mosque, and the interior walls were whitewashed and painted over with scenes from the Koran. It suffered heavily in the later siege and was restored again in the 19th century, reconstructed in its characteristic neo-Gothic style, and remains of the original medieval frescoes were discovered underneath the whitewash. The interior is richly decorated with gilded altars, statues, rose windows and frescoes. Inside is the Church Museum, which gives access to the crypt, and a small collection of religious treasures and jewels. A fantastic paradox is visible in the reflection of the Gothic church in the sleek dark glass sides of the contemporary Budapest Hilton alongside.

Getting There:
Funicular from Clark Ádám tér, or bus 6

Opening Times:
Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm, Sunday from 1pm to 5pm

Admission:
HUF 600 (adults), HUF 300 (students, pensioners, soldiers), HUF 600 (family ticket, 1 or 2 parents plus children), children under 6 free, audio guide extra HUF 300.

Vidám Park, Budapest

Vidám Park is an excellent amusement park for kids in Budapest to visit. The park features a wooden merry-go-round (körhinta) that is over 100 years old, as well as a slow-moving Ferris wheel (óriáskerék) and the longest wooden roller coaster in Europe. Kis Vidám Park is the neighbouring amusement park for toddlers.

Getting There:
Metro 1 Széchenyi fürdõ (Yellow line)

Opening Times:
March to April: 12pm-6pm; May to September: 12pm-12am; October to November: 12pm-6pm.

Admission:
HUF 4,700 (concessions available).

Fisherman's Bastion, Budapest

Built in 1905 on the medieval castle walls, the neo-Romanesque ramparts were so named after the city's fishermen whose duty it was to defend this side of the hill during the Middle Ages, but the existing bastion never actually served a defensive purpose. It is solely ornamental with gleaming white cloisters and stairways connecting seven turrets symbolic of the Magyar tribes that conquered the Carpathian Basin in the 9th century. Set back from the ramparts is an equestrian statue of King Stephen, a memorial to the founder of the Hungarian nation. The view from Fisherman's Bastion, over the Danube, the Chain Bridge and the Parliament Buildings with Pest stretching out into the distance, is outstanding. Floodlit at night, the bastion is a mesmerising sight from across the river.

Getting There:
Tram 18 to Dózsa tér; bus 5, 16 or 78; funicular railway from Clark Ádám tér; or Várbusz (castle bus) from Moszkvatér

Royal Palace, Budapest

Located at the top of Castle Hill in the picturesque Castle District of Buda, the Royal Palace was first inhabited by King Béla in the 13th century who, after the Mongol invasion, turned it into a fortified stronghold against further attack. Over the next 700 years it was the residence of many royal figures. The strategic location of Budapest, situated in the heart of Europe and straddling the Danube, offered whoever controlled the city a defensive position and potential control of the main waterway. This led to repeated invasions, followed by rebuilding in the style of the period. The castle has a mixture of architectural styles, ranging from Gothic to Baroque. Today it is the country's most important cultural centre housing numerous museums and the majority of the buildings are historical monuments. The Budapest History Museum contains an exhibition explaining the history of the city as well as archaeological remains of the palace. Also within the palace complex are the Hungarian National Gallery, the National Library and the Ludwig Museum.

Getting There:
Tram 18 to Dózsa tér; bus 5, 16 or 78; Cable car (Sikló) from Clark Ádám tér; or Castle bus from Moszkvatér

Opening Times:
The Budapest History Museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm, except on Tuesdays. The Hungarian National Gallery and the Ludwig Museum are open daily from 10am to 6pm, except on Mondays

Admission:
Budapest History Museum HUF 700 (adult), HUF 300 (child). Hungarian National Gallery guided groups cost HUF 1,000 per head. Ludwig Museum HUF 600 (adult), HUF 300 (child).

Memento Park, Budapest

One of the city's popular but more bizarre attractions is Memento Park, containing the giant figures of the Communist era that once filled the streets of Budapest. After the change in the political system the monuments glorifying Communism were banished into the exile of this outdoor museum and among the statues, busts and monuments are the forms of Lenin, Marx and Engels, as well as memorials to the Soviet Soldiers and the Communist Martyrs. This is the only collection in the world from the time of Communist politics. Some of the interesting souvenirs sold at the park are cans of air from the 'last breath of socialism' and Stalin and Lenin shaped candles.

Getting There:
There are direct buses between downtown Budapest and Memento Park at 11am daily.

Opening Times:
Daily from 10am until sunset

Admission:
HUF 1500 ; HUF 1,000 (students); A Budapest Card gets you a 30 percent discount.

Parliament Buildings, Budapest

On the bank of the Danube stands one of the world's most beautiful parliament buildings, an imposing sight and a prominent feature of the city's panorama. With its red dome, white stone lace ornamentation and spires, it is the city's most decorative structure. Stone lions flank the entrance guarding a rich interior of marble and gold, statues and columns, and magnificent artefacts, including the 1,000-year-old crown of the first Hungarian King, all of which can be viewed on a guided tour. The grand edifice, stretching for 820 ft (250m) along the embankment, is one of the biggest national assemblies in the world.

Getting There:
Metro 2 to Kossuth tér; bus 15; trolley bus 70 or 78; tram 2

Opening Times:
Monday and Tuesdays 8.00am - 4.30pm; Fridays 8.00am - 2.00pm (closed on national holidays). English tours are available at 10am, 12pm and 2pm.

Admission:
HUF 3,200 (adults), HUF 1,600 (students). Tickets sold at the gate a quarter of an hour before next tour.

The Great Synagogue and Jewish Museum, Budapest

Situated within Erzsébet Town, the charming old Jewish quarter and former ghetto, the Great or Central Synagogue is the largest in Europe and the second largest in the world, able to seat 3,000 people. Completed in 1859 the style is typically Byzantine-Moorish, with exquisitely patterned brickwork in the red, blue and yellow colours of the city's coat of arms. Gilded domed towers, archways and beautiful window designs are just some of the features that make this one of Budapest's landmarks. The splendid interior glitters with lights; gilded arches and balconies line the walls, the ceiling is covered in Stars of David, and the floor is tiled in decorative stars. On Jewish festivals it is packed with Jews from all over Hungary who come to celebrate within its splendour. Next door is the Jewish Museum containing relics from the Hungarian Jewish Community, including religious objects from festivals, and the Holocaust Memorial room. In the courtyard is the Holocaust Memorial in the shape of a weeping willow tree, each metal leaf engraved with the names of Nazi victims.

Getting There:
Metro line 2 to Astoria. Synagogue is a short walk from there. Bus no.7 or 78 to Astoria Station. Tram no.47 or 49

Opening Times:
Summer: Sunday to Thursday 10am-5:30pm, Friday 10am-3:30pm. Winter: Sunday to Thursday 10am-3:30pm, Friday 10am-1:30pm.

Admission:
Synagogue and museum HUF 2,000 (concessions available).

Chain Bridge, Budapest

The Chain Bridge was the first stone bridge to be built over the Danube and is the most famous with its lion statues. Today nine bridges span the river linking Buda to Pest, but Chain Bridge takes pride of place as the city's symbol, a magnificent sight when floodlit at night. It owes its construction to Count István Széchenyi who decided to build a permanent crossing after having to wait a week to cross the river to bury his father. The Chain Bridge was built by William and Adam Clark, who also constructed London Bridge. It was considered an amazing feat of engineering when it was opened in 1849. At the foot of the bridge is Kilometre Zero, the point in Budapest from which all distances are measured.

Getting There:
Bus 4, 16 or 105. Tram 2 or 19

Budapest Puppet Theatre, Budapest

The Budapest Puppet Theatre (Bábszínház) is a fantastic attraction for kids in the city. While the shows are presented in Hungarian, kids are still enthralled by the enactment of familiar stories such as Cinderella and Snow White, and can often be heard calling out warnings when villains are approaching or encouraging the heroes in their endeavours.

Getting There:
Metro to Oktogon station (Yellow line)

Opening Times:
Shows at 10am and 4pm

Admission:
Ticket prices vary show by show.

Great Circus, Budapest

There's nothing kids love more than a circus performance and Budapest offers a fantastic display of this Hungarian tradition. The Great Circus (Nagy Cirkusz) features an array of clowns, animals, jugglers and acrobats to keep children happily entertained.

Getting There:
Metro 1 Széchenyi fürdõ (Yellow line)

Opening Times:
Daily shows at 3pm.

Admission:
HKD 900 (adults) and HKD 800 (children over 4 years)

Kecskemét, Budapest

An easy 53-mile (86km) drive from Budapest, Kecskemét (pronounced ketch-keh-mate) isn't well-known to outsiders but makes a wonderful day or weekend trip. While the city is quite large with more than 100,000 residents, Kecskemét has a uniquely small-town charm with a town centre. With an abundance of wide streets and open squares, walking around the sunny and scenic city centre, peppered with colourful Art Nouveau buildings, is a pleasant pastime.

There are a number of attractions in Kecskemét that visitors will enjoy, including the Schnapps distillery tours at the Pálinka Museum, the Hungarian Photography Museum, the Museum of Hungarian Folk Art and Handicrafts, and the beautiful architecture and art collections at the City Hall. Kecskemét also has some very good restaurants, and visitors can sample the local varieties of apricot brandy made there.