Since the Iron Curtain lifted, the city of Budapest is longer a secret and many a family seek a bargain holiday in Eastern Europe. Budapest is actually two cities - Buda, the historic part, and Pest, the more commerical part. Each is on opposite sides of the river Danube and have been joined since 1872.

There is a lot to pack in whilst in Budapest, although you could easily while away the hours just soaking up the atmosphere. To start with, visit Buda as you’ll have great views of the whole city. You can visit the old Buda Palace and Budapest History Museum or the National Gallery.

In Pest, you will be able to see the neo-Gothic parliament building and behind it are some of the best shopping streets you could hope to find. There is also a fun fair for the children.

There is an island between the two cities called Margaret’s Island, once home to Roman nobility. Now it is pretty much traffic free with swimming pools and beer gardens. Budapest is on a site of thermal springs, so you can expect to find many a spa here in the many bathhouses.

For the evening, there is an opera house and dozens of bars and jazz clubs. The national dish is goulash, which you surely mnust try and the wine is good and very cheap.