If you take a train into Budapest, you will most likely arrive at The Keleti Eastern Railway Station. Considered a destination by itself, the Kaleti railway station was completed in 1884 and was one of the most modern train stations of its time. It is located in a monumental hall, and the elegant façade was renovated in 1990.

From Kaleti there are direct train routes to most major cities in central and Eastern Europe. There is also a high-speed train, The Railjet, serving Vienna and Munich.

There are two other main train stations in Budapest. The Deli Southern Railway Station and Nyugati Western Railway Station. The Deli sometimes serves Bosnia, Croatia and Slovenia as well as Lake Balaton and the southwest areas of Hungary. The Nyugati Western Railway Station serves domestic trains within Hungary.

The stations are all well connected through Budapest’s efficient metro system making travel to and from Budapest apartments and hotels easy. The M2 (red) line runs from the eastern outskirts of the city, stopping at Keleti, crosses under the Danube River, and ends at the Deli Station on the southern outskirts of the city.

The M1 (yellow) line is the first subway system built in Europe. Budapest’s shortest metro line, it runs from downtown to northeast outskirts of the city.

The M3 (blue) line runs from the northern suburbs, through the city, and southward toward the airport.

You can transfer to any line at the Deak ter interchange. If you will be traveling within the city for a day or more, consider buying a Budapest Travel Card. A travel card is economical and provides unlimited access on the entire public transportation network, including the metro, the bus system, the tram, and trolleybus. Tickets are available at newsstands, tobacco shops, and ticket offices.

The bustling Kaleti station is surrounded by plenty of cafes, restaurants and bars. But be careful to avoid tourist traps or you might find yourself getting overcharged. A consistently praised restaurant near the Kaleti Station is Rosenstein, which serves up traditional Hungarian cuisine. For a drink, grab a cocktail at the sleek and trendy Ba Bar.

Coffeehouses are a deep part of Budapest culture. Make sure to soak up some culture while enjoying a cup of coffee. Most coffeehouses also offer a selection of delicious pastries.

The area around the Nyugati Station offers a wide array of restaurants and nightlife, including Tokaji Borozo, a packed underground wine bar. Trofea Grill offers the best all-you—can-eat buffet, which includes alcohol.

No matter where your final destination is, traveling by train to or from apartments in Budapest is efficient and economical.

Szentendre, Hungary, is a quaint town named after Saint Andrew. It is renowned for its homes and churches constructed in Balkan design. The Serb refugees established the town. Currently, the town is famous for its artist and their galleries.

Szentendre is easily accessible from Budapest apartments and hotels by railroad, bus, boat and bicycle. The city is not on the railways run by the states so visitors can travel on the HEV Metro Red line, suburban railway of Budapest from Batthyany ter. The HEV leaves frequently, and the trip takes 40 minutes. Buses leave frequently from Upjest-Varoskapu with the trip lasting approximately 30 minutes. Visitors will find bus links with various towns on the Danube. Visegrad is a 45-minute drive, and Esztergom is approximately one hour. During the summer, from May until September, tourists can journey daily by riverboat from Budapest from either the Batthyany or Vigado square. During April and September, boat trips run on Saturday and Sunday. Bicycle rides are 25 km from the center of Budapest. Riders will find little traffic and a variety of topography.

Visitors to Szentendre can spend their time strolling the streets, taking in the homes and art galleries and visiting the historical sites. Some of these attractions include the Blagovestenska Church that has rococo windows and complex icons and the Memorial Cross, dedicated to the town saved from a plague.

Szentendre has a lengthy list of galleries and museums. The Hungarian Open-Air Museum is a large expanse of land displaying old buildings moved in from the country. These include entire villages with buildings with thatched roofs, homes, farm buildings and churches. Many have been restored and have exhibits. Visitors should get the English guidebooks. The Marzipan Museum is a display made entirely out of marzipan. Some exhibits take in Hungarian relics, the Hungarian royal crown and cartoon figures. Other museums in the city are the Kocacs Margit Collection, Kmetty Museum, Ferenczy Museum and Roman Lapidarium Castrum, among many others.

Travelers will enjoy walking on the streets that wind up to the hill that looks out over the town. Visitors can see the roofs of red slate and the blue angel on top of one of the local churches.

The town hosts a variety of shops to visit. Three shops are worthy of a visit. The Belle Epoque or the Family Run Folk Art Shop sells interior home decorations and genuine works of art of local artisans. These include linens and hand woven towels, old crocheted laces and traditional Hungarian folk clothing. The Music shops advertises local music. Szamos Marzipan Edessegbolt sells marzipan.

Travelers wanting to sample local Hungarian fare before returning to thier apartments in Budapest will find three restaurants. Rab Raby, a favorite tourist stop, with the appearance of a Hungarian farmhouse, is famous for its Gulyas soup. Two other local cafes are Uj Muvesz and Langos.

Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. This central European country located near Romania, Austria, Serbia, Croatia and Slovakia. Resting on the banks of the Danube, the longest river in Europe, Budapest has a long history that’s been shaped and touched by many civilizations and cultures. Visitors can stare at an assortment of architectural styles, stroll through beautiful parks, take a boat ride along the Danube, shop and explore museums. The city has much to offer those who are interested.

In 2010, Budapest had about 1.7 million residents, a fifth of the entire country’s population. The city has had its sure of turmoil, passing from the hands of the Celts, to the Romans, the Bulgarians and the Ottomans before it became the capital of Austria-Hungary. After World War II and some Soviet attacks, it had to be partially rebuilt. Many religions have left their print on Budapest architecture and history, including Catholicism, Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Despite all its turmoil and changes, the city continues to prosper.

With its extensive history, Budapest is an architectural jewel. It also has several World Heritage sites, including Heroes Square, the Academy of Music, the Buda Castle Labyrinth and the banks of the Danube. You can take tours by boat or by foot. You can also explore on your own. When you see something that looks interesting, stop by. Other things to see include:

*Széchenyi Chain Bridge: First permanent bridge connecting Buda and Pest
*St. Stephen’s Basilica: Commemorates Hungary’s first Christian King
*State Opera House
*Széchenyi Thermal Bath: One of the largest bathhouses in Europe
*Castle Hill

Any of the things you see as you go that sound interesting warrant a visit. Some others that you may want to stop for include:

*Municipal Circus: Held its first performance in 1891
*Budapest Zoo: Has an elephant house
*Budapest History Museum: Depicts the city’s archaeological finds and the city’s history back to the 13th century
*Dohány utca Grand Synagogue: Europe’s largest synagogue and museum
*Museum of Fine Arts
*Amusement Park: Dates back to the early 1800′s, rides include a wooden roller coaster and a merry go round

Budapest has several places where you can get in some excellent shopping. You can buy fresh fruits and vegetables at the Central Market Hall. There, you can also find paprika, tablecloths, Russian dolls and other souvenirs. For clothing, visit Fashion Street, located near the heart of the city.

Many people consider Budapest the food capital of the world. For several centuries, even during communist reign, food has been a passion for many of the city’s residents, writers and poets. For some of the best delicacies, consider:

*Csalogány 26
*chapterOne
*Belgian Brasserie
*Cyrano
*Le Jardin de Paris
*Cafe Kor

With warm summers, cool winters and plenty of interesting things to see and do, a visit to Budapest is worth it.