Many visitors to Budapest will be surprised to hear that the capital used to be two distinct towns. Hilly Buda and flat Pest sat on opposite sides of the Danube, and developed so separately that the first bridge between them was only built in the 19th century.

Historically home to royals and nobles, the now-district of Buda boasts some exceptional buildings. The townhouses here date back centuries, and are punctuated by Roman and old-church features. The Castle Hill, with its Royal Palace looming over the capital, is only one part of old-town Buda. Also worth a look here are the Ruda Baths, built in the Middle Ages. The Buda Labyrinth, an underground network of tunnels, was used as a hospital in the Second World War, and can now be visited with a local guide.

With the Royal Palace so close, the old town proper is within easy reach if you’re visiting that iconic building. No question, you need to potter around on foot, if you want to get a real feel for Buda’s history.

Advice from Divento…

Begin the neighborhood tour passing under the Gate of Vienna (Bécksi Kapu), from which you can enter directly to the square of the same name and you will find the Lutheran church of Buda.  From here you can lose yourself in a maze of alleys full of artisan workshops and true boutiques where you can find well-known Hungarian ceramics.