Situated at the foot of the beautiful Chain Bridge, Roosevelt Square (named in honor of the former American president in 1947, and recently renamed in honor of Széchenyi István) offers some of the best views of Castle Hill in Pest. Located about the square are statues of the former Hungarian minister Ferenc Deák, as well as a statue of two children (one Magyar, one Osztrák) who are holding hands in symbolic harmony. Also worth visiting are the art nouveau Gresham Palace (now a Four Seasons hotel) on the eastern edge of the square, and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences to the north. Before leaving, be sure to stroll out to the middle of the bridge and drink in the beauty of the Danube.
March 28, 2012
Soviet Statue Park
Like many denizens of former Soviet satellites, the citizens of Hungary were anxious to bring down the figurative symbols of communist rule as well as their military and political apparatus after the fall of the Iron Curtain. Unlike other recently liberated populaces, however, Hungarians stole their former overlords’ symbolic thunder by removing, relocating, and re-appropriating the many statues, sculptures and public art installations depicting Soviet leaders, mythology, and propagandistic slogans that once littered the fair city of Budapest.
March 1, 2012
Top Spas and Spelunking Places in Budapest
Hungary’s capital city is world renowned as a destination blessed with a profusion of restorative spas. Whether it’s the famous Gellért or Széchenyi baths that draw you to Budapest, or public baths at Margaret Island (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), or any of the dozens of other aquatic options, you won’t be disappointed.
February 2, 2012
Budapest’s Best Bridges
Including rail bridges, Budapest boasts a total of 10 structures spanning the historic stretch of the River Danube. Whether you take an organized tour, rent a bicycle (easy to do), rent a car, or simply stroll, the city’s famous bridges are well worth exploring. The following are a few of the most iconic.
January 5, 2012
Best Views of Budapest
Beautiful views of the Buda Hills, Pest and the Danube River are easily accessible from various locations in and around the city of Budapest. The following are a few of the best places to peruse the sights of Hungary’s capital city.
December 8, 2011
Holocaust Memorial Center
Budapest is a beautiful and storied destination, but like many European cities ravaged by Nazi occupation during WWII, a dark history exists regarding the forced labor, deportation, and execution of tens of thousands of the region’s Jews. The Budapest Holocaust Memorial Center was erected to shine a light on this disgraceful and horrifying historical period, honor the victims, examine the changes that the Jewish community underwent in Hungary as a result of the genocide, and help prevent similar atrocities from ever happening again in the future.
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April 26, 2012
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