Budapest is full of sights so if you only have a limited time the best place to start is from as high up as you can. Luckily you can start your sight seeing before you even get off the plane. Some of the airlines, in particular Hungary’s own Malev tend to fly directly over Budapest on their way in to Ferihegy Airport’s Terminal 2….

Immediately recognizable by one huge statue of a stocky woman holding a palm frond and seemingly turning her back on most of Budapest, Gellert Hill affords some spectacular views of the city. Taking in four of the bridges straddling the Danube, the parliament, most of Pest as well as the Castle on the Buda side…The Chain Bridge is straight ahead, the Royal Palace is to the left on the hill and the Parliament can just been seen on the right hand bend of the river behind the Chain Bridge….

Another great look out on the Buda side and this time surrounded by a wealth of old time sights of it’s own. If you turn immediately behind you after you’ve seen the view, walk past the first junction and continue on to a statue of a horse. The tradition is for those coming first and last of every graduation from the university to climb up and polish a certain part of the horse. We’ll leave you to find out just which part. Oh, and there’s St Matthias church up here as well which is very famous.
…

Built in only 17 years, and recently cleaned of the coal dust that used to cover the entire city, it was once the largest parliament building in the world. 27 entrances and over 600 rooms, it also houses the Hungarian Holy Crown (with the bent cross) and insignia….

Located right in the vibrant cafe-bar-restaurant district it’s a good opportunity on first arriving in the area to really get your bearings. Complete tours, which are not compulsory, with the trip to the top of the 96m (316ft) copula with the view thrown in will set you back the priestly sum of just £4 (1500ft)….

It’s wise in Budapest to familiarize yourself with just 4 of the major bridges, that way you’ll usually be able to get a good handle on where you are in the city – if you can just find the river.
By the way, bridge in Hungarian is ‘hid’ pronounced ‘heed’ almost like a Glaswegian would say it….

Pest’s Andrassy Útca travels in a straight line from near to the Danube at Deak Ter and runs all the way to Hero’s Square (Hosok Ter) where you’ll find the Museum of Fine Arts, the Palace of Arts, a replica Transylvanian Castle behind and further still the Szechenyi baths. The metro runs all the way along Andrassy but the street is quite walkable with plenty of shops bars and restaurants….