Heroes' Square in Budapest

An equally fascinating but somewhat harrowing point of interest is the House of Terror at Andrássy út 60. This large museum contains exhibits relating to the fascist and communist dictatorial regimes which wreaked havoc on 20th century Hungary, and although it makes for a harrowing visit - the videos of survivors recalling their time in prison camps makes for particularly tough viewing - it's also an excellent place to learn about the country's history.

Buda, on the western side of the River, is where you'll find the 100-year-old Fisherman's Bastion. The seven turrets represent Hungarian tribes, and the structure was built as a tribute to the city's fishermen. The Royal Palace is located atop Castle Hill on the site where the original castle once stood. The palace towers above the city's castle district, famous for its baroque architecture and cafe-lined narrow streets, many of which follow medieval paths constructed in the 13th century. When Buda was liberated from the Turks, the castle was completely destroyed but in the 18th century, a smaller baroque palace was constructed, and it's this which forms the core structure of the present-day palace. Today, it houses the Hungarian National Gallery, the Budapest History Museum and the National Library. The Chain bridge which connects Buda with Pest was the first to connect the two halves of the city. It was built in 1849 by Scotsman Adam Clark, and financed by Count István Széchenyi. In 1820, the count crossed the river on a pontoon bridge, but the weather changed and it was a week before he could return home, hence his decision to fund a more permanent method of travelling between Buda and Pest.

Budapest: fast facts

Destination guide: Budapest