Budapest, the capital of Hungary and its most populous city, is a majestic European metropolis famously bisected by the Danube River into two distinct districts: the hilly, historic Buda on the west bank and the vibrant, flat Pest on the east. Officially unified in 1873 from the separate towns of Buda, Pest and Obuda, the core of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site notable for its architectural grandeur, spanning from medieval ruins to the iconic Neo-Gothic Hungarian Parliament Building. People cross the 19th-century Chain Bridge to reach Castle Hill, home to the Buda Castle and Fisherman's Bastion, or immerse themselves in the city's unique "spa capital" culture at historic thermal baths like Szechenyi. With a rich cultural nexus that includes a world-class opera house, a bustling Jewish Quarter famous for its "ruin bars," and legendary river cruises, Budapest remains one of the world's most photogenic and captivating destinations. - AsNotedIn