CAPITAL BUDAPEST - POPULATION 11 MILLION - AREA 93,030 SQ KM -OFFICIAL LANGUAGE HUNGARIAN
2009 marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of communism in Hungary, and it shows. Budapest particularly has a youthful, forward-thinking verve, its art nouveau charm boosted almost daily by funky new eateries – come 2010, the dilapidated warehouses of Kozraktar Street will become a trendy hub of bars and restaurants serving goulash-fusion and Tokaj cocktails. Even better, high-speed trains will soon power in, increasing the viability of getting here by rail. Beyond Budapest, historic Pecs takes on the Capital of Culture mantle in 2010, low-cost airlines are opening up the shores of Lake Balaton, and galloping across the great plains of Hortobagy National Park is the must-do experience.
BUDAPEST
The trams that waddle around the Hungarian capital are real streetcar survivors. Budapest was one of the first cities in the world to embrace electric trams, with its first line opening in 1887. Two World Wars and decades of Communism saw the network damaged and depleted, and today it's a shadow of its former self. But it endures - and the distinctive yellow carriages are still the best way to travel. For a cheap and atmospheric tour, hop on Line 2 for close-ups of the grand Parliament and views to Buda Castle opposite, as the tram follows the blue (ish) sweep of the Danube. |
