Budapest is one of the loveliest city in the world. Its situation is certainly magnificent, located as it is on both sides of the wide river Danube. Buda dominates the scene with its many rounded hills and bluffs rising from the curved arms of the river; Pest is young and growing and stretches flatly eastwards across the plain. The city boasts 123 mineral hot springs, Celtic and Roman ruins, an 80,000-fan sports stadium, the second oldest subway in world that was built in 1896 (London is older) as well as two of the world's most modern.Budapest does have its scars, of course, with organized crime, pollution, international fast-food eateries at every corner and mindless graffiti covering much of that gorgeous architecture. But come a fine spring (or summer or brisk autumn) day and all that will go by the by. Stroll along the Duna korzó, the riverside embankment on the Pest side, or across any of the Danube bridges past young couples embracing passionately. It’s then that you’ll feel the romance that, despite all attempts from both within and without to destroy it, has never died.
Hungary became a part of the Schengen zone or EU at the end of December 2007, expanding the zone to 24 countries. This means the cessation of border control between Hungary and Austria, Slovenia and Slovakia, and stricter border control and visa regulations on the new Schengen borders with Serbia, Croatia, Romania and the Ukraine. Hungary is now responsible for 15% of the borders of the zone in Eastern Europe. Hungary has also standardized their currency on the Euro.
Due to its excellent features, Castle Hill, a Unesco World Heritage location on the Buda side, is a picturesque limestone plateau in the old part of town with important medieval monuments and city museums that has been lovingly restored. It was settled as early as the 13th century; King Béla IV built a castle here after the Tartar invasion, and he chose this spot as the seat of royal rule. The Castle quarter on the Castle Hill stands 180 m above sea level. It is around 1.5 km long and in places it is 500 metres wide. First inhabitants of Budapest moved here in the 13th century after the devastating Mongol attacks. Budapest Castle District's Golden Age started when the Royal Court moved here. During the 15th century, under the rule of King Matthias, Buda became one of Europe’s most influential cities. The Turks invaded Budapest Castle District in 1541 and ruled it until 1686 when the Austrian Habsburgs and their allied armies took back the hill. The siege left Castle District in ruins.
After the Turks, the Habsburgs moved here. Reconstructions began immediately, following the old street layout. The Castle became a government district. The current elegant Baroque appearance was formed by the mid 18th century. The battles in 1944-45 ruined the place again. Reconstructions after the war rebuilt Budapest Castle District: the buildings by the Habsburgs were reconstructed, the street pattern of the medieval city has been kept and much of the architectural features have been restored. You can still see some of the bullet holes on some of the building facades that still remain.People still live here on Castle Hill. Cars are banned from Budapest Castle District: only people who live or work in the area, guests of the Hilton Hotel, taxis and the Várbusz have permission to drive up here.
The Church of Our Lady or Matthias Church in Buda is one of the principal sights of the Hungarian capital. According to a legend their first King St. Stephen started to build the church, but it's not been proved yet. Historical proof shows that King Béla IV founded the church in 1255 after he moved his court up to Castle Hill from Óbuda. However, its name comes from the fact that the popular King Matthias held both of his weddings here. The main eastern gate and the long apse are 13th century, the central part was built around 1400. Every king and era added something to the church.In 1541 the Turks captured Buda and transformed it into a mosque. They celebrated their victory here. Luckily the church's treasures had already been moved from Budapest Castle District to Bratislava. After the Habsburgs recaptured Buda in 1686, Matthias Church came under Jesuit patronage. Frigyes Schulek rebuilt Matthias Church in neo-Gothic style at the turn of the last century. He incorporated the 13th century remains in the new design. You can view a King Matthias' small collection of religious treasures in the church museum. The interior is very striking. Despite the vaulting and the stained glass windows, it's nothing like a Gothic cathedral, it has a sort of mystic, Eastern athmosphere. The wall paintings are scenes from the Bible and events from Hungary's history. The church has excellent acoustics, so it often houses concerts. Matthias Church is probably the most popular place to get married in Budapest. 
Fisherman's Bastion (Halászbástya) is the large white tower and lookout terrace complex you see hanging over the side of Castle Hill beneath the Mátthias Church. It was built between 1890-1905, and is named after both the medieval fishmarket once nearby and the Guild of Fishermen who defended this section of the wall during past wars. The story is that different trades were responsible for defending different parts of the castle walls and that this section of the defenses was raised by the fishermen’s guild. In fact, the structure is a late 19th century fantasy built to add class to the area. That this is an invention does not detract at all from the attractiveness of the structure, nor from the most impressive views of the Danube and Pest on the opposite side of the river from the top vantage point. The mounted statue between the bastion and the church is King Stephan (Istvan in Hungarian), the first king of Hungary (crowned about 1000). He was declared a saint for his efforts in bringing Christianity to Hungary. He carries the apostolic cross with two crossbars – a symbol granted him by the Pope. In tourist season there is an admission charge of about $1 to climb on the bastion. In the daytime around the year, the bastion is the place most overcrowded by tourists in the Castle Hill, mainly brought in here by buses. 
The Buda Castle is one of the most famous and most visited sights of Budapest , It offers many interesting attractions, museums, evocative streets, squares, restaurants and shops. The Royal Palace is one of the symbols of the country. It has seen many battles and wars since the 13th century. In its buildings there are three museums and it also gives home to the Széchenyi Library. The nearby, beautifully renovated Sándor Palace is the residence and workplace of the Head of the State. 
Heroes' Square is the most spectacular square in the capital, sited at the entrance to City Park. It was created in 1896 to commemorate the 1000-year anniversary of the Hungarian conquest. Anyone coming up Andrássy Boulevard sees from afar the 36-m-high column in the centre of the Millenium memorial, on top of which is a statue of the Archangel Gabriel holding the Hungarian Holy Crown and apostolic double cross. Quarter-circular colonnades extend to both left and right of the column. Between the pillars of the colonnade are figures of the 'greats' from Hungarian history, while the butt piers are embellished with emblematic sculptural ensembles (work, welfare, knowledge, honour and peace). The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is positioned in front of the monument. The magnificent buildings of the Palace of Arts and the Museum of Fine Arts to the right and left of the monument enhance the fine architectural entity of Heroes Square.Destination Unknown - Budapest Hungary
