For some, Budapest means the 1956 uprising against Russian occupation, for others the city of Puskas, the late and great captain of the magnificent Magyars, perhaps the finest soccer team of all time, and for everyone the blue Danube (it is grey) and the waltz of that name (Johann Strauss the Younger).
Budapest, a 2,000 year old World Heritage site, is one of the world's great cities, where east meets west.
Budapest should not be muddled up with Prague although in some ways they are quite similar, both sitting astride major European rivers (with Prague the Vltava) and with fascinating historical interest.
Prague just 2h flying time away from London, has become immensely popular from the UK, while Budapest is just 30min further. It could be the next breakthrough. You could not meet friendlier or more welcoming people.
Budapest is the capital of Hungary and is the country's principal political, cultural, business, industrial and transport centre. It is a thriving metropolis, really two cities astride the Danube ” Buda, extremely hilly and including the old Royal Palace and Pest, more or less flat and the commercial heartland.
Hungary is now part of the EU, although the local currency is still used (HUF) and credit/debit cards are in very general use.
Budapest is actively promoting its winter "invasion" from December through to the end of March. Participating hotels are offering visitors one additional night's stay, as a gift for every three days booked, thus allowing guests to enjoy fully what Budapest has to offer.
There are frequent flights from the UK by the former and now privatised national airline, Malev (Gatwick), oneworld partner British Airways (Heathrow), easyJet (Gatwick and Luton) and Wizz, the Polish-centred airline officially registered in Hungary (Luton). Aer Lingus will fly from Belfast International Airport non-stop from 25 February, 2008.
Budapest city centre can be reached from the airport by train. Road travel from the airport is along a fast single carriageway highway, which is in urgent need of an upgrade. It is 10 miles (16km) from the city.
Budapest has a large selection of quality hotels at all price ranges. ABTN stayed at Le M”ridien, outstanding and with a very friendly welcome, even at one in the morning local time.
The elegant property overlooks the central Erzsebet Square, with its open market and shops. The main Budapest shopping streets are to hand as is the Metro and the Danube is just a few minutes walk away.
For a most stylish room, including an excellent breakfast, the cost is only ”150 (”100) at the peak of the summer, but lesser rates can be negotiated out of season.
Once again ABTN recommends a tour bus for an initial reconnaissance of the city. In the case of Budapest this is essential as the citadel of Pest is extremely hilly, although there is a funicular railway, which is very popular, from opposite the famous 1846 Chain Bridge to a point on Castle Hill.
The city has a fine and efficient transport network including trolley buses, trams and the three Metro lines.
A three-night stay is really an absolute minimum for Budapest and even a one week holiday would not cover one of Europe's most beautiful and interesting cities. A longer vacation at least enables a visit to the Hungarian countryside and the little towns, villages and castles that are dotted around the rural areas.
Budapest is the city of Franz Liszt and one of the great music centres of the world. The rebuilt opera house is a most imposing building.
A tour includes a visit to the backstage areas, as large as the magnificent auditorium. One of the great advantages of the technological age is the ability to look up a theatre's advanced programme on the internet and book an evening out. Even if the offering is not really to your taste you will enjoy the experience.
Overlooking the whole of Pest on the Buda hill is the Fishermans Bastion. Don't be fooled by the impressive defence works.
In an area surrounded by 500 years of castles and museums it is in fact just a century old, built in 1905 purely as a lookout terrace, a sort of European Walt Disney precursor, rather like the castle at Carcassonne near Toulouse.
The adjoining Hilton hotel is a rather poor architectural attempt to blend in with the surroundings, but it is the site of summer concerts. Nothing wrong with the hotel mind you except the need to be fit to make the use of its splendid hilltop position. The castle district includes the wonderful Matthias Church, another venue for musical evenings, plus a whole host of museums and galleries.
Margaret Island is a half day visit. Lying near the centre of Budapest on the River Danube and closed to car traffic it can easily be accessed on foot from both banks of the river or by waterbus.
A broad 2km long green expanse of land stretching between Margaret Bridge and Arp”d Bridge, the island is Budapest's most treasured and beloved park.
It really is a scenic island of peace and quiet with some trees that are hundreds of years old, the colourful tapestry of a rose garden, a thermal spring in an evocative Japanese-style garden and a waterfall. The little zoo is popular with children while the Haj”s Alfr”d Swimming Pool hosts international sporting events.
Musicals are staged in the open-air theatre at the water tower. The ruins of a 700 year old church and monastery are the island's historical monuments, while in the belfry of the chapel, the oldest bell in the country can still be heard.
Pedal vehicles can be rented year round at the Bring” v”r (Bike Castle) at the northern tip of the island near the hotels.
What else to do? Plenty. There is the 400 year old Turkish baths to visit, plus another 12 spas supplied with thermal water which gushes out from a series of caves underneath the city to the extent of 70 million litres per day.
The first underground railway in continental Europe was built in Budapest and the city claims to have 223 museums and galleries, 35 theatres and 90 cinemas. There are two opera houses and 12 concert halls. The eating is good too, particularly if you like eastern European food. This is where they invented goulash.
A short walk from Le M”ridien is Europe's largest synagogue. In a six-month frenzy in 1944 after their occupation of Hungary, the Nazis wiped out 600,000 Hungarian Jews. The synagogue and museum are living memorials to the Holocaust with a famous memorial tree, in part due to the efforts of Hollywood star Tony Curtis, his parents refugees from Budapest.
The beautiful, romantic Moorish design is a very popular tourist destination but is closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.
The great market hall is reputedly the largest indoor market in Europe and has been magnificently restored. Also worth a visit is the Hungarian National Museum which dates from the mid-19th century and is laid out in a neo-classical style. The Hungarian Parliament was built late in that century as the legislative centre for a country of 30 million (only 10 million now) and tried to copy in its own way the Palace of Westminster.
It is 300 yards long and 140 yards wide (268m/123m) and includes 691 rooms. Walking up the great ornamental stairs is most impressive.