Holiday rentals in Budapest

Irresistible romance and fin-de-siècle flights of fancy: These are the hallmarks of Budapest’s mesmeric beauty. Its historical legacy ornaments either side of the Danube, linked by four elegant and beautifully illuminated bridges. To the west, the hilltop Buda Castle looks down over the medieval quarter; and to the east, the domed Parliament building fringes the Pest riverbank. You can’t help but marvel at the tremendous range of the city’s 19th-century architecture, from the Renaissance-style opera house and the Moorish Revival synagogue to the Neoclassical basilica of St Stephen and the Romanesque Fisherman’s Bastion.

And when you’re done, there’s no better place to relax than at one of Budapest’s many thermal baths. More than 100 springs bubble from beneath these streets. For a taste of the vibrant local life (not to mention exquisite cuisine), check out the three-story Great Market Hall, or the romkocsmák (or ruin pubs) that pop up in abandoned buildings.

Budapest is at its best in summer, when the sunshine and warm temperatures encourage everyone into the city’s beer gardens (kertek). The months of June to August are crammed with outdoor events and performances, from the traditional St Stephen’s Day celebrations to the Sziget Festival, which takes place on an island in the middle of the river. The bright but crisper days of spring and autumn can be a good time to enjoy the sights with a bit more breathing room; many kertek open from March or April, which is also the time of the two-week Budapest Spring Festival. Ultimately, this lively city has plenty happening all year, and while things do get quieter in winter — when the snow falls and the cold really settles in — its white Christmases can be a magical draw.

Gellért Hill

Getting less attention than Castle Hill, this 771-foot-high lump of dolomite is a fantastic viewing spot and boasts its own historic landmarks, including the Citadella, a mid-19th-century fortress, and the Liberty Monument. Wander south and you’ll find Bartók Béla út, the student neighbourhood and increasingly trendy hangout.

Margaret Island

This island retreat, 1.5 miles end to end, is reached by the Árpád and Margaret bridges. It’s dotted with beautiful gardens and quirky attractions, including 13th-century church ruins, an Art Nouveau water tower, and adventure pools.

Kőbánya cellars

You’ll need a guide to explore the extraordinary subterranean system of tunnels beneath the city’s 10th district. They have been here since the Middle Ages, when limestone was quarried to build the city. The deep white-walled caverns have also served as wine cellars and breweries through the ages, before aircraft engines were built here during World War II.