All direct flights to Budapest from the UK & Ireland

Mark Says

Hungary's capital is known as 'the Paris of the East' or 'the Pearl of the Danube', a reference to the majestic river that, as with the Seine in its French equivalent, runs right through the city. Although Budapest suffered heavy bombing during World War II, many of the city's finest buildings were painstakingly reconstructed, and it serves as a vivid reminder of bohemian Old Europe.

A third nickname for Budapest is 'City of Spas' - evident in the 16th century Turkish baths dotted around the city; in a typically cosmopolitan flourish, these baths are open to men and women alike. Just watch out for water erosion: beneath the cobbled streets, there are some 200 caves. Above the ground, the city is rich in history, with the ruins and amphitheatre of the Roman settlement Aquincum, museums of military and Jewish history, and a Museum of Fine Arts well-stocked with Egyptian, Roman and Greek art.

Bringing matters up-to-date, the Ludwig Muzeum plays host to contemporary art in all its forms, while the House of Future Centre is an ever-changing Expo-style platform. If you're in the market for upmarket shopping or window-shopping, head for Andrassy Avenue, a stretch of boulevard dating from the 19th century lined with boutiques and pricey real estate. Anyone with the appropriate loyalty card will also be delighted to learn Budapest also boasts the biggest Tesco in the world!