Hungary, Budapest

Budapest is the capital city of Hungary and the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial and transportation centre. The official language spoken is Hungarian.

Budapest has approximately 1.6 million inhabitants, down from a mid-1980s peak of 2.1 million. Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube with the amalgamation on 17 November 1873 of right-bank (west) Buda (Ofen in German) and Óbuda (Old Buda or Alt-Ofen) together with Pest on the left (east) bank. It is the ninth largest city in the European Union.

Demographic history

1800: 54,200
1830: 102,700
1850: 178,000
1880: 370,800
1900: 733,400
1910: 882,000
1925: 957,800
1990: 2,016,100
2003: 1,719,343

Islands

Seven islands can be found on the Danube: Hajógyári sziget (literal translation: Shipyard Island), Margitsziget (Margaret Island), and Csepel sziget (this island is a separate district of Budapest, the XXI., while the other islands are parts of other districts, the III.

Culture

Relax – the events and concerts on the next pages don’t require any knowledge of Hungarian. Apart from music, dance and opera, a few theatre performances are in English and films from abroad (action flicks and brainless comedies notwithstanding) are often screened in their original language.

Shopping

Budapest has the most shopping centers in Europe, including WestEnd City Center, the largest shopping centre in Central and Eastern Europe, and the biggest Tesco and Auchan hypermarkets in the world. The Great Market Hall is a large indoor market and a major tourist attraction.

Transport

Budapest public transport is mainly provided by BKV, the company operates buses, trolleybuses, trams, suburban railway lines, the metro, boats and many other special vehicles.

Budapest Ferihegy International Airport, which has 3 different passenger terminals: Ferihegy 1, which tends to serve the many discount airlines now flying to and from Budapest, Ferihegy 2/A and Ferihegy 2/B. Terminal 2/C is planned to be built. The airport is located to the east of the centre in the XVIII.