Budapest is Hungary’s capital, divided by the River Danube.
The city occupies both banks of the Danube in central Hungary. The western side is traditionally known as Buda, with hills and the historic Buda Castle District, while the flatter eastern side is Pest. The two sides were formally united in 1873, creating modern Budapest from Buda, Pest, and Óbuda.
The Danube has shaped Budapest’s transport, commerce, architecture, and political history. Several major bridges connect the two sides, including the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, opened in 1849. Budapest is also known for its thermal springs, which helped establish a long bathing tradition and earned it the nickname “the City of Spas.” It is sometimes confused with Vienna because both are historic Danube capitals associated with the former Habsburg world, but Vienna is Austria’s capital. Bratislava, another Danube capital, lies farther west in Slovakia.