Budapest

Nineteenth century grandeur meets an energetic future along the city’s streets

Budapest came of age in the 19th century, when the two towns of Buda and Pest were little more than provincial outposts on the Danube. Indeed, Budapest, notwithstanding its long and tattered history of Roman, Mongol, and Turkish conquest, is very much a late-19th-century city, with its characteristic coffeehouse and music hall culture. But, along with its extraordinary ambience, the city also has most of the modern conveniences one expects of a European capital, with a buzzing culture that is becoming more and more dynamically European.

A vibrant young generation is proof of this. While the political elite continue to argue about the past, the youth are concentrating on the future. They're becoming multi-lingual, they're creating new film festivals and fashion shows. Young and old alike, Hungarians love to live, and you'll find lots of friendly locals hanging out in bars and bistros. Central Budapest is surprisingly small, and many sights can be reached by foot from the city center. Take the time to stroll as you travel from one place to the next--you'll find yourself passing magnificent, if often run-down, examples of the city's distinctive architecture.

© 2009, Wiley Publishing, Inc.