71 Budapest Facts That Will Help You While Planning A Trip

Budapest is the capital city of Hungary and is located in central Europe, on both sides of the Danube River.

Budapest was established in 1873. It is the largest and most populated city in Hungary, with about 3.3 million residents.

The Budapest metropolitan region is a statistical region that defines the reach of commuter movement to and from Budapest, which is both a city and a county. Budapest is made up of two cities, Buda and Pest, and the Danube River runs between them for 17 mi (27.3 km).

You can visit both places. The development of Széchenyi, the magnificent bridge which is also known as the 'Chain Bridge' connects the two cities. In the European Union, Budapest is the ninth-largest city by population.

The History Of Budapest

Budapest's history began with Celtic tribes who lived here in the year one CE. The Romans later took over the city. In 106 CE, the Roman village of Aquincum became the city of Pannonia Inferior. The ruins of Aquincum can be found today in modern Budapest.

• The Roman town of Aquincum is the most well-preserved of Hungary's Roman sites.
• The historic site has been transformed into a museum with both indoor and outdoor exhibits.
• Only at the end of the ninth century did the Hungarians arrive in what is now Hungary.
• The king of Hungary authorized the creation of strong stone walls around the towns, as well as the construction of his own royal palace on the peak of Buda's hills.
• Buda became the Hungarian capital in 1361.
• Budapest was founded in 1873 when three cities joined: Buda, Obuda, and Pest.
• Budapest was also the co-capital of the Austro-Hungarian Kingdom, a strong power that fell apart following the First World War in 1918.
• The Hungarian Revolution in 1848, the War of Budapest in 1945, and the 1956 Hungarian Revolution all took place in Budapest.
• Budapest lies completely along the Danube's banks and is divided into 23 administrative districts.
• Buda stretches from the Danube's west bank to the hills, and Pest from the Danube's left bank to the valleys.
• Budapest is a financial center with a variety of ancient buildings, parks, and baths.
• Budapest has eight bridges and two railway bridges.
• All bridges that were damaged during the Second World War were rebuilt to their former style, with the exception of one.

Famous Attractions Of Budapest

Budapest is known for its diverse culture, caves, thermal pools, the powerful Danube River, and its status as the World Spa Capital. The Ottoman Turks built a number of notable bathing facilities across the city. Some of the spas built by the Turks during their reign are still in use today.

• Budapest, which spans the Danube, is known for its hot springs; they have been used for medical reasons for many years.
• Budapest's Castle Hill, known as the Várhegy, stands over the Danube and holds many of the city's most notable historic monuments and museums.
• The 18th century Buda Castle is a vast 200-room castle and is one of the city's most remarkable landmarks.
• This castle was rebuilt from a 13th-century palace that was used as protection against the Mongol and Tartar raids.
• Castle Hill's ancient alleys and Romanesque, Baroque, and Gothic structures are worth exploring.
• UNESCO has designated the entire historic structure as a World Heritage Site.
• In 1886, a Neo-Gothic structure was inaugurated as the world's third-largest Hungarian Parliament building.
• St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest is a famous tourist destination due to its spectacular architecture,  interior, and amazing views from its dome.
• Before 1920, St. Stephen's was Hungary's sixth-largest church building.
• The Gellert Bath and Spa Centre contains an outdoor pool, a pool house, a sauna, and a variety of different baths.
• The Labirintus has been transformed into an exhibition that displays Budapest's rich history.
• On the Liberty Bridge, you can visit the odd chapel, which was founded in 1926 by a community of Pauline monks.
• Margaret Island is a 1.5 mi (2.5 km) long island located in the Danube that is surrounded by parks and offers outdoor spaces.
• Constructed in 1854 and completed in 1859, the Dohány Street Synagogue in Budapest is Europe's biggest synagogue.
• The Great Synagogue, the graveyard, the Heroes' Square, the Memorial, and the Jewish Museum are all part of the Dohány Street Synagogue complex.
• Some of the many communist monuments and sculptures that peppered the city during the communist era can now be found in the very beautiful Memento Park.
• Walking along the Danube Promenade, a beautiful riverbank path that runs between the Elisabeth and Chain Bridges, is one of the best free things to do in Budapest.

Celebrities From Budapest

Hungary has provided the world with numerous remarkable individuals over the years, including Hollywood stars, creative inventors, and fearless adventurers.

• Ern Rubik, a Budapest-born Hungarian inventor, architect, and lecturer of architecture, was born on July 13, 1944.
• The Oscar-winning star Adrien Brody's Hungarian mother is even more amazing. Brody, who played Dmitri in 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' and was the lead of Roman Polanski's 'The Pianist', was born in 1973 to Sylvia Plachy.
• The world's greatest escapologist Harry Houdini was born in Budapest.
• In 2016, television host David Merlini, a fellow Hungarian magician, launched the House of Houdini Museum in Budapest's Castle District, which displays the treasures he had gathered over several years.
• József Pulitzer was born in Makó, Hungary, and spent most of his childhood in Budapest before emigrating to America to fight in the Civil War.
• Tommy Ramone, the one and only Hungarian nominated into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, took part in a concert at the Hungarian Embassy in Washington.
• Endre Ern Friedmann, one of the world's most recognized war photographers, was born in Budapest in 1913.

Fun Facts About Budapest

Budapest was once known as the Queen of the Danube. Here are some of the fun facts about Budapest:

• Budapest, the Hungarian capital, is divided by a river on both sides. Each side of the river was originally called Buda and Pest which were then merged together and called Budapest.
• Budapest is a 148-year-old city that was founded on November 17, 1873.
• The three cities, Buda, Pest, and Obuda, formed Budapest.
• The column in Budapest's City Park depicting the original seven chieftains of Hungary is a famous landmark.
• Budapest was declared the City of Spas in 1934.
• Janos Hill is its highest point at 1,729 ft (527 m).
• There are more thermal water springs in Budapest than in any other capital city in the world.
• Budapest is known as the world's Thermal Bath Capital.
• Budapest's metro system, which has been in service since 1896, is the oldest in continental Europe.
• The Gellert-Hegy 771 ft (235 m) high hill rises from the riverbank in Buda and provides a spectacular sight of the entire city.
• A hidden subterranean world, a system of over 200 caves and canals, lies beneath Budapest.
• There is naming legislation in Hungary when it comes to picking a name for your child! Any modifications from this list must be approved by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences' Research Institute for Linguistics.
• The primary language of Budapest is Hungarian, which is spoken by 98% of the population.
• The finest food in Budapest is goulash which is basically a meat and spice stew.
• A cave beneath Buda was used as a bomb shelter and a safety camp during the Second World War and the Revolution of 1956.
• The Magic Cube which is now known as the famous Rubik's Cube was designed by Ern Rubik, a Hungarian sculptor and architect, in 1974.
• The Hospital in the Rock provides an interesting look at Hungary's frontline medicine.
• The Budapest Millennium Underground Line in European cities is the second-oldest metro system, having launched in 1896.
• Budapest is the inspiration for the film 'The Grand Budapest Hotel', and it is currently the largest city in Hungary.
• The Budapest ruin bars are known for transforming former inner cities into areas with vibrant pubs and cafes.
• The Turkish introduced paprika to Hungary in 1569, making it the country's national spice.
• The Hungarian inventor Ladislao José Biro invented the first commercially successful ballpoint pen.
• A large number of bronze shoes have been placed on the ground beside the Parliament at the Danube's shoreline. These are a memorial to all the Hungarian Jews who were murdered.
• The Red Hedgehog House is Budapest's oldest and most well-preserved structure. This structure was built around 1260.
• The Moorish Revival style of the Dohány Street Synagogue was influenced by Spain's Alhambra Palace.
• Thermal activity in the area caused a high amount of geothermal springs, which resulted in caverns.
• The water at the Budapest Zoo hippos' pool comes from the Széchenyi Thermal Bath spring.
• With approximately 150 years of existence, the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden is one of the world's oldest zoos.
• Budapest has a cave chapel. Few visitors to Budapest are aware of the small church carved into the rock beneath Gellert Hill, in Budapest Old Town.
• Since August 1946, the Hungarian Forint (HUF) has been the country's official currency. It was named after Florence, Italy.
• Szimpla Kert Cafe is a must-visit cafe in Budapest.
• The Budapest underground subway system is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The Heroes' Square, located near the end of Andrássy Avenue, is the capital's largest and most prominent square.
• Budapest provides free public transit to all European citizens over the age of 65.