Budapest, known as the 'Queen of the Danube', is a magnificent city exuding a cultural sophistication that entices and enchants. Gracing both sides of the legendary river with grand historic buildings, regal bridges and graceful tree-lined boulevards, it is the city's elegant beauty and romantic atmosphere that has given Budapest Parisian status among the Eastern European countries.

Budapest offers the visitor the familiarity of European culture with a distinct Hungarian flavour. It is evident in the neo-Gothic Parliament buildings, sidewalk cafes and Magyar cuisine; classical concerts and Hungarian folk music; the cobbled streets of medieval neighbourhoods and shady parks, and everywhere the sounds of an unfamiliar language. Highlights for visitors include a river cruise on the Danube and a thermal bath in one of the Turkish-era bathhouses.

Budapest was originally two cities built on either side of the Danube, namely Buda and Pest. The two districts are still distinct in their contrasting makeup, with the older and more charming Buda comprising of atmospheric cobbled streets, little picturesque coloured houses and a medieval, neo-Classical mixture of architecture set among the gentle hills of the west bank. It is famous for its historic Castle Hill featuring the Royal Palace, museums and galleries, St Matthias Church and the ramparts of Fisherman's Bastion.

Pest lies on a flat plain and is the commercial core of the city. It bustles with fashionable shopping areas and has characteristically wide, leafy boulevards. Andrássy Boulevard is the Champs-Elysées of Budapest, lined with a typical mosaic of architectural styles and buildings with the enormous Heroes' Square at the end.

A history of numerous wars and invasions, with repeated destruction and rebuilding, has created the Budapest of today, with an amalgamation of styles, created over time during periods of loving restoration by a proud and resilient nation of people; a city of charm and character, both European and singularly Hungarian.

Royal Palace

Address: 1 Szent, Gyógy tér Budapest

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). 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

Telephone: +36 (0)1 375 7533

Fisherman's Bastion

Address: District I, Szentháromság tér Budapest

Matthias Church

Address: H-1250 Budapest, Pf. 22. Budapest

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. Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm, Sunday from 1pm to 5pm

Telephone: +36 (0)1 489 0717

Gellért Hill

Address: District XI, Szent Gellért tér 2-6 Budapest

Admission: HUF 90 (concessions available) Citadella: Monday to Friday 6am-6pm, Saturday and Sunday 6am-4pm.

Telephone: +36 (0)1 385 2200

Chain Bridge

Address: Roosevelt Square or Adam Clark Square Budapest

The Great Synagogue and Jewish Museum

Address: Dohány utca 2-8 in VII district. Situated at an angle to Károly körút, between Deák tér and Astoria Budapest

Admission: Synagogue and museum HUF 2,000 (concessions available). Summer: Sunday to Thursday 10am-5:30pm, Friday 10am-3:30pm. Winter: Sunday to Thursday 10am-3:30pm, Friday 10am-1:30pm.

Telephone: +36 (0)1 317 2754

Parliament Buildings

Address: District V, Kossuth Lajos tér 1-3 Budapest

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

Telephone: +36 (0)1 441 4904/ 4415/ 4138/ 4412 (for bookings)

Memento Park

Address: District XXII, corner of Balatoni út and Szabadkai út Budapest

Admission: HUF 1500 ; HUF 1,000 (students); A Budapest Card gets you a 30 percent discount. Daily from 10am until sunset

Telephone: +36 (0)1 424 7500

Great Circus

Address: Állatkerti krt. Budapest

Admission: HKD 900 (adults) and HKD 800 (children over 4 years) Daily shows at 3pm.

Telephone: +36 (0)1 343 8300

Budapest Puppet Theatre

Address: 69 Andrássy út Budapest

Admission: Ticket prices vary show by show. Shows at 10am and 4pm

Telephone: +36 (0)1 321 5200 or +36 (0)1 342 2702

Vidám Park

Address: Állatkerti krt. Budapest

Admission: HUF 4,700 (concessions available). March to April: 12pm-6pm; May to September: 12pm-12am; October to November: 12pm-6pm.

Kecskemét

Address: Budapest

Budapest Spring Festival

Where: Various,Budapest

When: 16 - 26 March 2012

Hungarian F1 Grand Prix

Where: Hungaroring Circuit, Mogyorod,Budapest

When: July 2012 TBA

Sziget Festival

Where: Obuda Island,Budapest

When: August 2012 TBA

Budapest Fair

Where: Felvonulási Square, Heroes' Square, City Park,Budapest

When: Last weekend of June annually

Budapest Autumn Festival

Where: Various,Budapest

When: 7 - 16 October 2011

Indigo

Address: Jokai 13 Budapest

Food Type: Indian

Café Vian

Address: Liszt Ferenc tér 9 Budapest

Food Type: Local

Fortuna Restaurant

Address: Hess András tér 4 Budapest

Food Type: Local

Náncsi Néni Vendéglõje

Address: Ordogarok ut 80 Budapest

Food Type: Local

Régi Sípos Halászkert

Address: Lajos utca 46, District 3, Obuda Budapest

Food Type: Local

Comme Chez Soi

Address: Aranykéz u. 2 Budapest

Food Type: Italian

50Bar

Address: Frankel Leó út 48 Budapest

Food Type: Vegetarian