Even seasoned travelers to Europe will find a visit to Hungary a unique experience. Hungarians speak Magyar, a language unrelated to any of the other major languages of the region, and so the country has developed its own iconoclastic identity. At the same time, the region has hardly been isolated from the crashing waves of European history. The capital, Budapest, is cut in two by the mighty Danube River and contains a number of storied landmarks, but sites scattered across the rest of the country are not to be neglected in terms of both scenic beauty and historical significance.

Buda Castle

Buda Castle sits atop Castle Hill on the western side of the Danube River, overlooking Budapest. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and dates back to medieval times. Although only the foundations remain today. Buda Castle became a royal palace in the 19th century, when it was extensively rebuilt in a neoclassical style by Austro-Hungarian rulers Maria Theresa and Franz Joseph. After World War II the Hungarian government undertook an ambitious historical reconstruction of the medieval castle grounds and gardens. Today, the castle hosts the Budapest History Museum (btm.hu), the National Gallery (mng.hu/en) and the National Library, all of which charge separate admission fees but together provide a comprehensive view of Hungarian history.

The Chain Bridge

The Chain Bridge unites the former cities of Buda and Pest into one magnificent national capital. Built in 1849, it was the first permanent structure to span the Danube River here. Its stately cast iron construction and sweeping suspension curves stand as an almost literal monument of the bridge between Eastern and Western European cultures. Stone lions flank the entrance at each end. Pedestrians may walk the 1,230-foot bridge from the foot of Castle Hill in Buda to Adam Square in Pest.

Hero's Square

Hero's Square stands in the eastern side of Budapest at the end of Andrassy Avenue; it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dominating Hero's Square is the Millenium Memorial, a soaring stone pillar with bronze statues at its base of the seven legendary Magyar tribes that united to form the Kingdom of Hungary. Atop the pillar stands a silver statue of the Archangel Gabriel, holding in one hand a double-barred cross and in the other, the crown of St. Istvan, Hungary's founding king. Visiting the square is free and there are several hotels and restaurants nearby, including the famed Gundel Restaurant (gundel.hu).

Matthias Church

Matthias Church (matyas-templom.hu) on Castle Hill in Budapest is named after King Matthias, although its formal Roman Catholic name is the Church of Our Lady. Tradition has it that it was founded in 1015, although no archaeological evidence has been found for such a building. It was Matthias in the 15th century who ordered the tall southern bell tower built. He was crowned here and married twice in the church during his reign. The bell tower remains one of the most distinctive marks on the Budapest skyline. A small admission fee allows you entrance to the church and the Museum of Ecclesiastical Art on the site.

St. Stephen's Basilica

St. Stephen, known as St. Istvan in Hungary, was the country's first king. St. Stephen's Basilica (bazilika.biz), a monumental neoclassical church, houses the saint's right hand in its reliquary. The basilica is located in the eastern half of the city and stands equal to the Parliament Building as the tallest building in the capital. Visitors can attend one of the frequent organ or choral music concerts and ride an elevator to the cupola for a panoramic view of the city.

The Great Synagogue

Before the Holocaust, Budapest had a thriving, centuries-old Jewish community. Its central synagogue was located on Dohany Street. The Great Synagogue (greatsynagogue.hu), as it is known, is the largest synagogue in Europe. Constructed in the 19th century, the building's most striking features are the two onion domes that sit atop slender pillars. In front of the synagogue stands a Holocaust memorial sculpture in the form of a weeping willow, known as the Tree of Life. Next to the synagogue is the old Jewish cemetery and the Jewish Museum (zsidomuzeum.hu). As the synagogue is still in use, the complex is closed on Saturdays and holidays. Other times there are guided tours available.

Esztergom Basilica

Not all of Hungary's notable landmarks are in the capital. Take the Esztergom Basilica (bazilika-esztergom.hu) of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Esztergom, a town on the northern border between Hungary and Slovakia. The largest church in the country, the neoclassical basilica acts as the seat of the Catholic Church in Hungary. The first cathedral on this site was probably built in medieval times, but the current building dates from the 19th century. The basilica's cupola overlooks the Danube and provides panoramic views of both the Hungarian and Slovakian countrysides. Visiting the church is free.

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