Budapest has also been called the Paris of the East. The unique thing about Budapest is it is split in two by the Danube River. Buda is on the West Bank and Pest on the East Bank. A truly magnificent city with such beautiful architecture.
There are plenty of city tours, both by bus and on the river, we did both but I think relaxing on the riverboat and taking the city sights in as you pass by was very relaxing.
A visit to a Folk performance is always entertaining. Some restaurants and Danube River Cruises have folk dancing, but the best o are by professional folk dance companies. You might purchase the famous Hungary Herend porcelain, which is hand-painted in the village of Herend near Lake Balaton.
There are souvenir stores all over Budapest sometimes called Tourist Shops. In the Central Market Hall you will find all kinds of Hungarian food products along with handmade table cloths with detailed embroidery and lace. You are sure to find something to tempt you.
Time for some sightseeing, Heroes Square at the end of Andrassy Avenue is a memorial commemorating the 1000th anniversary of the arrival of the Hungarians in the Carpathian Basin and is the biggest square in Budapest and quite impressive. On top of the central column is a bronze statue of the Archangel Gabriel and at the front the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Walking the length of Andrassy Avenue, there are some lovely homes and restaurants and of course you can pop into one of the patisseries. If you see on a dessert menu Esterhazy Torte be sure to try a piece. It is a traditional Hungarian dessert cake and is delicious.
The Parliament Building is probably one of the most photographed in Budapest and on most travel brochures. The architecture is stunning.
The Royal Palace is on the Pest side and houses many museums and is the most visited tourist attractions in Budapest. The Budapest Opera House is yet another architectural feat. There is so much to do in this magnificent city.