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Guides for the Business Traveler
Budapest (2009)
4 hours in Budapest (2009)
Charlotte West admires Budapest’s impressive historic architecture, from Gothic cathedrals to Art Deco spas, taking in the views from boat, bridge and boulevards
 | The Castle District Ascend Várhegy (Castle Hill) with the Sikló, a funicular that begins at the foot of the Chain Bridge. Located in Buda, the Castle District forms the core of the medieval town and is home to numerous historical monuments, such as the over-700-year-old Matthias Church, a mosaiced Gothic cathedral in Szentháromság tér (Holy Trinity Square). Nearby, you'll also find Fisherman's Bastion (Halászbástya), a seven-turreted, white-stoned monument, built in 1905 to honor the seven Magyar tribes that came to Hungary in the first century A.D. The structure, integrated into the medieval walls, offers some of the city's most spectacular views over the Danube. The Castle District's other highlights include a labyrinth of caves, formed by geothermic activity, and the former Royal Palace, which currently houses several museums and the national library. |  | Spoon Café and Lounge After touring the Castle District, grab a bite to eat at Spoon Café and Lounge (www.spooncafe.hu). This triple-deckered, 246-foot-long boat features multiple restaurants with international cuisine, a panoramic terrace and an underwater bar. It's moored in Pest, near the Chain Bridge, a suspension bridge that was the first to connect Pest and Buda, across the water from the InterContinental Hotel. |  | Andrássy Avenue This 1.5-mile-long, 19th-century boulevard was inspired by Paris' Champs Élysées. Sites include the Italian Renaissance Opera House, the House of Terror Museum (the former headquarters of the secret police, now set up as a tribute to the victims of fascism and communism) and the Millennium Monument, erected to mark the thousandth anniversary of the Magyar Conquest in 896. The square is flanked by the Museum of Fine Arts and the Palace of Arts. Underneath Andrássy Avenue runs the Yellow metro line, which is the predecessor of Continental Europe's first subsurface railway, constructed in 1896. Train buffs might be interested in Budapest's railway museum (at Deák Tér), which is housed in an unused section of Budapest's underground railway network. For a modest entry fee, you can see the original wooden carriages once used. |  | Budapest Spas and Hot Springs Budapest has been called the "City of Spas," with a spa culture dating back to Roman and Turkish times. Even if you're not a spa enthusiast, it's worth paying a visit to one, if for nothing but to view the impressive architecture. Two of the best-known and recommended spas are the Neo-Baroque Széchenyi Thermal Bath, Budapest's largest, and the Art-Deco Gellért Spa Bath, with its vaulted-glass roof and Roman-style columns. There are separate days for men and women, or mixed days when both sexes can bathe in swimsuits. Even though the Hungarian spas are all about relaxation, you'll probably want to plan a trip back to your hotel afterwards for a nap, in order to recover from the steamy experience. spasbudapest.com |
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