Budapest is the capital of Hungary, a Central European country through which the Danube River flows. The city sits on both banks of the river and is Hungary's political, economic, and cultural center.
Modern Budapest was created on November 17, 1873, when the formerly separate cities of Buda, Pest, and Óbuda were unified. Buda occupies the hillier western bank, while Pest spreads across the flatter eastern bank. Several famous bridges, including the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, connect the two sides across the Danube.
The river has shaped Budapest's history and identity, but it does not divide two countries there. The Danube begins in Germany and travels through or along the borders of ten countries before reaching the Black Sea. Budapest's historic riverfront, including Buda Castle and the Hungarian Parliament Building, is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is also famous for its thermal springs, which helped earn it the nickname “the City of Spas.”