I recently visited Budapest and I must say that if you’re looking for the perfect city break, this is the place to go.  The city has something for everyone; with its seamless mix of old and new it is both peaceful and lively at the same time.

Budapest sits on either side of the Danube River and is justifiably known as the most beautiful city in Central Europe. The west side of the river, Buda has stunning old buildings and is characterised by a hilly landscape with excellent views across the river to Pest. Conversely, Pest is known as the newer more bustling part of the city, with cafés and shops aplenty. Needless to say I spent quite some time on both sides of the river.

I travelled to Budapest from London with British Airways, but you can also use EasyJet or Jet2, who all fly direct. For travelers from the US, connect via Europe with Delta or American Airlines. The airport is located only 16 km (10 miles) from the city so I was in the centre of the city within 30 minutes of getting on the train.

I had plenty to choose from when looking for a hotel in Budapest. Danubius hotels have a number of offers in the city ranging from three to five stars. I settled on the not-so-shabby five-star Hilton Budapest located in the Buda Castle, with plush rooms and spectacular views of the city; I also popped my head into the charming Danubius Hotel Astoria in the centre of the city, built in an older style on the site of the medieval town walls. For a budget option, have a look at the Baross City Hotel or Ring Hotel, both located centrally, with clean and pleasant facilities.

Hungary’s currency is the forint (Ft). It’s easy to find ATMs throughout the city and I found they accept standard credit cards in most places. One British pound buys you 318 Ft, 1 euro gets you 269 Ft and 1 US dollar just short of 200 Ft.

I kicked my visit off by spending some time exploring the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites around the city. The Buda Castle District was on my doorstep so I started there, then made my way across town to Andrássy Avenue to see Heroes’ Square and the Millennium Underground Railway. Budapest is a great city for walking, but I found the many trams a huge relief and great alternative when my feet needed a bit of a rest. I can also recommend hopping on a boat and travelling along the river as an alternative means of transport.

A guided tour around the Hungarian Parliament Building was more exciting than expected (and free for visitors from the EU!). And whilst in the area, don’t miss the impressive St Stephen’s Basilica with its neoclassical architecture and 96 meter high dome, just around the corner.

Feeling cultural, I dedicated my first evening to a visit to the State Opera House and a wonderful performance. Strolling back through the city I stumbled upon the night markets on the Danube bridges, which was a pleasant surprise. So much so, that I decided to return the following evening to experience it in full.

After plenty of sightseeing, shopping and exploring the only real way of treating yourself when in Budapest is with a visit to one of the city’s 80 geothermal springs. I settled on the luxurious sanctuary of Margitsziget, which also gave me an opportunity to visit Margaret Island, located in the middle of the Danube River, and I came out much refreshed and with a sense of calm I hadn’t felt for quite some time.

I found the city really had a little bit of everything and arrived home from the ‘Spa City’ both relaxed and fulfilled, and with a sense that I had seen and done much more than I could possibly fit into a usual weekend!

© Article provided by travel author Alexandru Rotaru, on behalf of Danubius City Breaks Budapest.