The city of Budapest is divided up into distinct areas and each has it's own character and place within this beautiful city. The explanation below may help you choose which part of the city is right for you.
District 1 – Obuda. The Castle District of Buda
District 1 as well as district 3 is possibly the oldest part of Budapest, and the castle is the city's most grand medieval landmark. Buda was one of the Hungarian Royal Cities. Between 1541 and 1686 the city was under Turkish rule. In 1703 Buda became Free Royal City again. In 1873 the city was unified with the Free Royal City of Pest and the Town of Óbuda to Budapest. The last sieges of the castle were in 1849 (at the time of the Hungarian Revolution and Independence War by Hungarians) and in 1944 (in the WWII by the soviet Red Army). The territory of the district is very rich in historical and cultural monuments and buildings.
Thousands of visitors come to Hungary and the Castle District to see landmarks such as Matthias Church, the Fishermen's Bastion and the buildings of the Royal Palace.
District 2 – Pesthidegkút. The Beverly Hills of Buda
The correct name for District 2 is Pesthidegkút and it is located in the northwest part of the district. It was a German village before 1950 (union with Budapest). The larger part of the district was part of Buda City before 1873 (date of born of Budapest), this has got more and more small parts: Víziváros, Országút, Felhévíz, Rózsadomb etc.
Hungary 's most powerful and wealthy live in District 2, some 100 metres above the Danube level. The popularity of this district is due not only to its proximity to the city centre but also because of its mild climate.
District 3 - Óbuda-Békásmegyer. The Oldest District
The correct name of Budapest III is Óbuda-Békásmegyer. The district is the union of the formerly Óbuda town (in 1873 united with Buda and Pest cities to Budapest) and the German inhabited Békásmegyer (Krottendorf) village (united in 1950).
District 3 together with district 1 is the oldest and the second largest district of Budapest. The history of the capital started here 2000 years ago when Celts and later Romans conquered the area because of its good location, close to the Danube and the rolling Buda hills.
District 4 – Újpest. Residential and industrial area
Újpest is a district on the left bank of the Danube. The territory has been inhabited since the Middle Ages, Újpest however, is a young settlement. The first house by the side of the Pest's Border was built in 1832. In 1950 the city was united into Budapest Capital and became the IV. district.
District 4 started to develop in the second half of the 19th century. There has been a lot of foreign investment in recent years and many 5 star luxury hotels are built in this area
District 5 - Belváros-Lipótváros. The heart of the city
The district uses the modified CoA of the former City of Pest. The flag is based on the Resolution of 1994
District 5, is the most desirable part of Budapest and is where most tourists like to stay, with the awe-inspiring brick and tiled hulk of the Vasarcsarnok (main market hall) at one end, and the affluent retail hub Vaci utca.
This district houses the parliament building and many of Budapest's 5 star hotels are housed in this quarter.
District 6 – Terezvaros. The capital's playground
This district is the city's mainstream cultural wedge and features Andrassy ut, Budapest's most beautiful boulevard. It also has many famous landmarks such as Heroes' Square, the trendy Oktogon, Liszt Ferenc Square with its cafes and restaurants.
This district has undergone something of a renaissance in recent years, especially the streets near Andrassy ut. Budapest's very own 'Broadway'.
District 7 – Erzsebetvaros. Home of the Great Synagogue
District 7 houses the historic Jewish Quarter and home of The Great Synagogue in Dohny Street. It houses the second largest Synagogue in the world and is a major tourist attraction.
This area is currently attracting large inward investment by the local government and is becoming an even more attractive tourist destination.
District 8 – Jozsefvaros. Students Home Land
Józsefváros has been a district of Budapest since 1873. The district has 87.696 inhabitants (1990 census), nearly all of them Hungarians. Five of the Official Ethnic Minorities in Hungary has council; Gipsy, German, Romanian, Ruthenium and Slovakian. Józsefváros.
District 8 is one of the most densely populated districts of Budapest. It is within close proximity to the city centre. Many foreign students live in district 8 as it has easy access to the Universities thus having an excellent rental market.
District 9 – Ferencvaros. Up and coming District
District 9 is now the 'up-and-coming' area of Budapest. Trendy bars and cafes are springing up everywhere and this area attracts many young people and tourists.
District 10 – Kobanya. Budapest's hard rock town
The territory became a part of the City of Pest in 1705, when Pest became free royal city. The territory of Kõbánya (Stone-pit) became the 10th district of Budapest in 1873.
Budapest 's District 10 was an independent settlement until the turn of the century. Now it is primarily an Industrial sector with a total area of 30 sq km and a population exceeding 87,000. District X is commonly known as Kőbánya and situated in the south eastern part of Pest. It is one of the largest neighbourhoods in Budapest. It is possible to get quickly from this area to the centre of Budapest by underground, bus and tram. There are a few parks, a recreation centre and many shopping malls in Kőbánya.
The most interesting tourist attractions are: St. Ladislaus church, Planetarium situated in Népliget park and Csősztorony vineyard watchtower.
District 11 – Ujbuda. New Buda
District XI is situated in the south-western part of Budapest. The most famous part of Ujbuda is Gellert Hill. There are hot springs at the footsteps of it and many spa hotels including legendary Gellert are located here. On the top of the hill you will see Turkish fortress that was later transformed into Citadella by the Austrians.
Other attractions are Liberation Monument and small military museum. The district embraces Gellert Hill and has one of the best panoramic views of Budapest. It is situated on the limestone hill and towers above the Danube. This district forms a very special characteristic part of the cityscape.
District 12 – Hegyvidek. Ambassadors and Embassies
District XII is also called Hegyvidék and situated on the west bank of Danube River. The whole area covers 26.7 square kilometres and is inhabited by 75 000 people. This hilly part of Budapest is a very green. Recommended for people who like to stay in peaceful surroundings. The highest point Hegvvidek, St John Hill (Janoshegy) is 527 metres above the sea level.
District 12 is one of the most exclusive residential districts of Budapest. It is the home of the President and Prime Minister amongst many other political luminaries. District XII was once covered in vineyards, particularly Svbhegy, where an ancient and vast wine-cellar system was discovered in the last decade.
District 13 – Angyalföld. New Developments
District XIII consists of three major areas: Újlipótváros and Angyalföld and Újlipótváros. It is situated north of the city centre and is considered as the middle-class district. There are not many attractions in Újlipótváros. Nevertheless you may find many shops, restaurants and cafes in this area. If you like walking then you should visit Szent István park.
District 13, is an area of Budapest, which is directly on the metro line. It is home to the largest shopping centre in mainland Europe and is currently seeing a lot of new development activity.
District 14 – Zuglo. City Park and Spa
Many important events of the Hungarian history have taken place here, e.g. the first Parliament in 1286 or the János Hunyadi's election into the Hungarian governor rank in 1445. The territory became a part of the City of Pest in 1705, when Pest became free royal city. The territory of Zugló was part of three districts of Budapest 1873-1935. In 1935 it became a new district of the capital as "Rákosváros". From 1950 it is named: Zugló.
There are many museums and the Zoo in the City Park commonly known as Városliget. It is considered the most picturesque and interesting park in Budapest. In the park you may visit Museum of Fine Arts or Vajdahunyad Castle. There is also Municipal Zoological and Botanical Garden which kids love to see. There is also a Theme Park which includes a wide choice of roller-coasters. If you want to relax and feel like a Spa, then visiting the Széchenyi Medicinal Baths and Swimming Pool may be a good idea.
District 15 – Rakospalota. – Old Villas and Churches
Until the second half of the 19th century the area belonged to the village of Rákospalota and was uninhabited and marshy. In 1897 building plots were sold out by auction and the new settlement began. The inhabitants were of lower and middle-class people. The rapid development of the village continued with the building of houses, churches and schools, until the outbreak of the second world. In 1950 it became part of Budapest.
The small suburb today is a pleasant backwater with a quiet market-town atmosphere. It’s landmarks are some lovely old villas and three small churches. Unfortunately the M3 freeway cut it in half, but the leafy gardens, narrow streets and Art Deco buildings breathe a special ambience.
District 16 – Mátyásföld – Ancient Ground
District 16 is mostly a green and suburban environment away from traffic and businesses.
Many historic ceramic pieces have been found in this district dating back to the new stone age (3200–3000 BC) and the bronze age (1900–1800 BC)
On Erzsébet Street were found troves from the vatyai culture (1700–1400 BC).
A Celtic cemetery was dug out behind the strand, where articles from the iron age (380-300 BC) were found, such as bracelets, fibulas, chiffons, a scabbard with sword, and a chain.
During the explorations a Roman bowl and other pottery were found dating back to the third and the fourth century. Ceramic pieces were also found on the area of the Káposztáss which were made during the tenth and the eleventh century.
District 17 – Rakosmente. Budapest Airport
The first written mark was a title-deed written in 1265 and the name was given by the region's first occupant. In that title-deed the region was given to the Crusaders of Upper-Heviz.
The village was almost destroyed in the Turkish assault and in 1662; only eight peasants and 2 cotter families lived there. From 1727 to 1950, it was called a town and from 1950, it joined together as the XVII district of Budapest. Today it houses Budapest’s National Airport.
District 18 - Pestszentlorinc-Pestszentimre.
This district was founded in 1950 from two main parts: Pestszentimre and Pestszentlorinc. The area is 38.61 square kilometers and the population is about 100’000. This district is mainly a suburb, with some pleasant private house areas and lots of housing estates.
The most famous estate is named after Havanna. The Central Atmospheric Institute is located here.
District 19 – Kispest. Home of the Hungarian Football Team
The XIXth district is famous for its football team called Kispest Honvéd. It houses the largest flea market in Europe and it is filled with buckets of Communist memorabilia. Treasures hiding in the junk heap.
Old and new, expensive and flashy, beautiful and touchingly ugly items mix together here to give an odd picture of Budapest's past. The flea market is a treasure trove for collectors, browsers, and those looking for a souvenir to take home with them. You are, of course, allowed to bargain; in fact, you are expected to!
Almost the whole area is roofed and thus the market is worth a visit even in bad weather.
District 20 – Pesterzsebet. The Only Thermal Bath of Budapest
The bath was built in the later 1920s, on the bank of the Danube. It is the only thermal bath of Budapest, the thermal water of which belongs to the group of the iodine and bromic waters. The thermal bath and the beach operating a wave pool in the summer season are widely favoured.
By public transportation use buses Nr.23, 48 and 51 as well as by the suburban train HÉV. The bath can be found at the Gubacsi bridge.
District 21 – Csepel. The Great Flood
Csepel is mentioned as early as the 9-10 th century, where the name is derived from an Árpád leader’s Sepel” in the Árpád-age.
After the Turkish subjection, and the great flood in 1838, the settlement was built up towards the end of the 19th century. The first school was built in Csepelin in 1838, the church in Szent Imre square was built in1861. Harnessing of the Danube river was started in1872, and a flood-gate was built stream upwards on the river.
The Csepel Works, is one the most important industrial power bases of Budapest. With the growing popularity of Csepel it became the industrial flagship district of the capital. Division of Csepel' s areas was started from 1920. In the 70’s and 80’s, the constructions of prefabricated housing transformed the face of Csepel and this aspect characterises the present situation.
District 22 – Budafok-Teteny – Wine Cellar Town
Historically, Budafok was ideal for wine production because of the Tetenyi plateau and its slopes along the Danube. Budafok was home, to what used to be the most important vineyard. In 1880, with increasing commercial wine production underway, a union of wine producing and bottling industries created a cellar network hollowed out of the limestone beneath Budafok.
The cellar system was 25 kilometres in length and was the largest in all of Europe. As such, Budafok is commonly referred to as “Cellar Town.” Today, there is still a huge wine cellar system with hundred year old casks; among them the second largest cask in Hungary. The leading historical oenological site in Budafok is the wine cellars of Jozsef Torley & Co which can still be visited.
District 23- Soroksar.
In the 19th century the Danube was split into two arms: Budafok and Soroksár. Neither was regarded as the main arm. The flood in 1838 was caused by the unregulated river bed, because packs evolved for the sake of the disordered, shoaly river section.
Water levels raised and it led to disaster. After the flood, Budafok arm was designated as the main arm. Soroksár arm was enclosed with the Gubacsi dam in 1873 (located by the Gubacsi bridge) Kvassay and Tass sluices were built in the 10s and 20s.
