Budapest, Jewel Of The Danube

It’s hard to top the views along the Danube through Hungary’s imperial city. The once royal palace – another Hapsburg residence – dominates the river in hilly Buda, along with the tall spire of the Matthias Church and the imposing stone lookout of Fisherman’s Bastion. Or stand beneath the liberty statue on Gellert Hill for a river panorama. On the opposite bank, the neo-Gothic Parliament building offers fascinating tours in many languages. Take a Danube cruise, especially magical after dark when all these iconic buildings are floodlit.