Budapest

is truly one of the world’s most attractive cities, rich in both natural and architectural beauty.

It is no wonder that the Castle District, the River Danube embankments and the whole of Andrássy út have been officially recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Culture

There is a huge range of cultural entertainment to choose from in Budapest. There are theatrical performances and concerts of classical and light music every day, with both Hungarian artists and guests from all over the world.

The Budapest Spring Festival and the Budapest Autumn Festival are two major international music, theatre, film and art festivals. Grand opera and ballet are staged at both the Opera House and the Erkel Theatre, whereas the Operetta Theatre is the place to see and hear the operettas and musicals of Lehár, Kálmán and Ábrahám. “The Phantom of the Opera” is on all the year round at the Madách Theatre, and foreign language productions, mostly English, are put on at the Merlin Theatre. Vibrant folk music and dancing shows are regularly held at the Buda Vigadó and Duna Palota Theatres.

Budapest, which is famous for its health and thermal spas, offers opportunity for ladies to use the thermal pool of a Turkish bath, the Rudas Health Spa. On 1 June, 2006, Rudas Health Spa launches a Women-only day every Tuesday between 06:00 and 20:00 for ladies wishing to enjoy the experience of bathing without a bathing suit. This service, which is not provided anywhere else in Europe in an original, functioning Turkish bath, is accompanied by another important change: the days of the weekend have also been opened for women, so both sexes can enjoy Rudas in bathing outfits on Saturdays and Sundays. Those who wish to combine bathing and entertainment will enjoy the great parties on Friday and Saturday nights! Nowadays virtually every four-star hotel or higher comes complete with its own array of health and fitness services, and many of these are genuinely spas in their own right, that is to say the internationally-known services they provide are based first and foremost on the proven medicinal properties of the mineral water to be found there. The atmosphere is conducive to effective treatment, and qualified medical assistance is always at hand.

The great traditions of Hungarian cuisine have, in the last ten to fifteen years, successfully mingled with modern sophistication. At its roots, classic Hungarian gastronomy is nothing less than French bonne bouches reaching Hungary via Austria and mixing with ancient Hungarian peasant dishes - many of them originated in Asia - offering every gourmand something to his/her taste. The first thing that people recall about Hungarian cuisine is goulash, which is, contrary to popular belief, not a stew but an artistically prepared thick soup. Sour cream is often used to soften the flavour. You must try fish soup, chicken paprika, a good home-made pörkölt (stew) and the excellent fresh-water fish: grilled pike-perch, trout with almond. Also compulsory is goose liver. Whether fried or grilled, cold or hot, it is simply unforgettable. Desserts really deserve a separate chapter. The most delicious ones are strudels, Gundel pancakes, somlói dumplings and gesztenyepüré (cooked chestnuts mashed, topped with whipped cream). Specialities include salty and sweet pastas, of which túrós csusza (pasta with curd and sour cream) is warmly recommended.

Hungary's annual wine production totals 4.2 million hectolitres mellowed in 22 historical wine regions. Budapest is known for its sizeable storage and bottling capacity. Louis XIV, the Sun King, was such an admirer of world famous Tokaj wine that he termed it the "Wine of kings, the King of Wines". Wine of the Balaton region, the full-bodied Villány-Siklós, the famous wines of Eger and the Egri Bikavér (Bull's Blood) in particular also enjoy a wide international reputation. Take a sip of world famous Hungarian wines in Budapest, or enjoy a Tour de Vin!