Budapest is the capital city of Hungary and has often been nicknamed Paris of the East. It is the combination of the hilly Buda and the flat Pest across from each other along the Danube River, which together with Obuda, were united into a single city in 1873. Buda and Pest are linked by a suspension bridge, the Chain Bridge.
We stayed at the beautiful Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace. The palace was completed in 1906 in the Art Nouveau style and was originally built as an office and apartment building.
Four Seasons Gresham Palace
The main lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace.
Beautiful view of Castle Hill from my room at the Four Seasons Gresham Palace.
Right outside the hotel is the Pest end of the Chain Bridge. I walked across to the Buda side and took a funicular up to Castle Hill to visit the former Royal Palace, 18th century Baroque houses, Gothic monuments, and cobblestone streets.
The Chain Bridge
The Chain Bridge
Going up to Castle Hill by funicular.
Former Royal Palace up on Castle Hill.
View of the city from Buda Castle Hill.
14th century Matthias Church
Beautiful roof tiles
Fisherman’s Bastion on Buda Castle Hill
Fisherman’s Bastion
View of the Parliament
Great place for a coffee break and a magnificent view of the city.
Baroque houses up in Buda Castle Hill.
Hungarian National Archives with its beautiful tiled roof.