Overview of City Districts

Budapest is divided along the Danube into two fundamentally different halves:

Buda (West Side — the Hills)

For whom: History buffs, romantics, panorama seekers
The hilly side: Castle District with Buda Castle and Fisherman's Bastion, Gellért Hill with the Citadel and the famous Gellért Bath, the villa district Rózsadomb, and quiet residential areas. Buda is regal, tranquil, and atmospheric.

Pest (East Side — the Plain)

For whom: Night owls, foodies, shoppers, culture fans
The flat, lively side: the Parliament on the Danube bank, the grand Andrássy Avenue, the Jewish Quarter with ruin bars, the Great Market Hall, Heroes' Square with the City Park and Széchenyi Bath. Pest is vibrant, urban, and where life happens.

Jewish Quarter (Erzsébetváros / District VII)

For whom: Night owls, hipsters, history enthusiasts
The former ghetto is now Budapest's most exciting district: ruin bars (Szimpla Kert!), street art, craft beer locales, vintage shops, and the second-largest synagogue in the world. History by day, party by night.

Óbuda (Old Buda) & Margaret Island

For whom: Those seeking peace, families, joggers
Margaret Island in the Danube is Budapest's green lung: park, swimming pool, jogging paths, and tranquility. Óbuda in the north has Roman ruins (Aquincum) and cozy fish restaurants.