Budapest City
The city of Budapest doesn't belong to any of the 19 Hungarian counties; it's a separate unit in the central part of the country, surrounded by the county of Pest. The Pearl of the Danube, as it's often called, is not only the capital of Hungary, but its economic and cultural centre and most frequently visited tourist destination. The majestic Danube River flows through the middle of this huge metropolis, separating its two main parts, Buda and Pest. Both its banks, together with the striking cultural heritage in the old town, are on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Plenty of Medieval castles and churches, the largest synagogue in Europe, and the Parliament, the third-largest political building in the world, also count among the must-sees. The Hungarian capital is extremely rich in thermal and mineral waters, whose qualities were well-known in ancient times and continue to draw holidaymakers here nowadays. Actually, these healing waters were the reason for the establishment of the first settlement here, by the Celts. Budapest is a thriving modern city, renowned for its world-class universities and unparalleled nightlife.