InterContinental Hotels & Resorts

Budapest, Hungary has a rich and rare architectural heritage that spans over 2000 years. Visit the city and you’ll find examples of nearly every style in recorded history.

Ancient Roman Ruins
Dating back to the 1st Century, the Aquincum town ruins features public spaces, a traditional-style bath, the remnants of pottery shops, and a fascinating glimpse into everyday early Roman life.

Gothic Matthias Church
Step back in time to the Medieval era at Matthias Church. You’ll find archetypal Gothic architectural elements of church construction, and all of the beautiful embellishments you’d hope to see.

Classical Lanchid (Chain Bridge)
A stroll across the Lanchid provides not only a beautiful view of the Danube, but also a glimpse into early 19th Century Budapest. As the story goes, the bridge was constructed due to the frustration of Count István Széchenyi, who had to wait a full week to cross the river and attend his father’s funeral.

Art Nouveau Geological Museum
Although it houses a myriad of natural geological wonders, the museum’s building itself is also a sight to see. It was built in the Art Nouveau style (or more specifically, the Secessionist style) by famous Hungarian architect, Odon Lechner.

Budapest Bauhaus
There are many fine examples of late 19th to early 20th Century Bauhaus modern architecture, including private villas, public works areas, and apartment complexes. If you’re a modernist fan, these sites are not to be missed, but do rent a car, as the buildings are spread fairly widely throughout the city.

The people of Budapest have some unique, interesting customs and lore that have been kept throughout their long history. Here are a few:

A Name is A Name
Hungarian names are written backwards: the family name is written first and the first name comes at the end.

Vitamins
Albert Szent-Györgyi, a Hungarian scientist, discovered Vitamin C.

Millennium Metro
The first underground line on continental Europe, the Millennium Underground Railway, finished construction in 1896. It was the third in the world after New York and London.

Cheers!
After quelling the Hungarian revolution in 1849, Austrian generals drank beer and clinked their glasses to celebrate their victory. Hungarians made a pledge not to clink glasses when drinking beer for 150 years. That period is over now, but most Hungarians still never clink beer glasses.