Budapest, HungaryA natural cave chapel carved into the volcanic cliff of Gellért Hill — an active Pauline monastery with a service open to visitors. The 235-meter hill above offers the most panoramic view of Budapest from any point in the city. The Gellért Thermal Bath at the base is extraordinary.
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One of the most magnificent government buildings ever constructed — a Neo-Gothic palace on the Danube bank with 691 rooms, 27 gates, and a symmetrical facade 268 meters long. Inside tours reveal the domed central hall and the Hungarian crown jewels. The riverfront view from Buda at night is transcendent.
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A fairytale Neo-Romanesque terrace on the Buda Castle Hill with seven towers representing the seven Magyar tribes, offering the most photographed view of the Danube, Parliament, and Pest. Free to walk the lower terrace; the upper terrace requires a small fee. Spectacular at any time of day.
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The Royal Palace complex on Castle Hill — three museums (Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest History Museum, Széchényi National Library) inside a Baroque palace rebuilt after WWII. The castle district itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most atmospheric part of Budapest.