Budapest (UK: /ˌb(j)uːdəˈpɛst, ˌbʊd-, ˈb(j)uːdəpɛst, ˈbʊd-/, US: /ˈbuːdəpɛst, -pɛʃt, ˌbuːdəˈpɛʃt/;[10][11][12] Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈbudɒpɛʃt] (listen)) is the capital and most populous city of Hungary. It is the ninth-largest city in the European Union by population within city limits and the second-largest city on the Danube river;[13][14][15] the city has an estimated population of 1,752,286 over a land area of about 525 square kilometres (203 square miles).[16] Budapest, which is both a city and county, forms the centre of the Budapest metropolitan area, which has an area of 7,626 square kilometres (2,944 square miles) and a population of 3,303,786; it is a primate city, constituting 33% of the population of Hungary.[17][18]

The history of Budapest began when an early Celtic settlement transformed into the Roman town of Aquincum,[19][20] the capital of Lower Pannonia.[19] The Hungarians arrived in the territory in the late 9th century,[21] but the area was pillaged by the Mongols in 1241–42.[22] Re-established Buda became one of the centres of Renaissance humanist culture by the 15th century.[23][24][25] The Battle of Mohács, in 1526, was followed by nearly 150 years of Ottoman rule.[26] After the reconquest of Buda in 1686, the region entered a new age of prosperity, with Pest-Buda becoming a global city after the unification of Buda, Óbuda and Pest on 17 November 1873, with the name 'Budapest' given to the new capital.[16][27] Budapest also became the co-capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire,[28] a great power that dissolved in 1918, following World War I. The city was the focal point of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, the Battle of Budapest in 1945, as well as the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.[29][30]

Budapest is a global city with strengths in commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment.[31][32] Hungary's financial centre,[33] it is the second richest capital and city in the region after Bucharest.[34][35] Budapest is the headquarters of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology,[36] the European Police College[37] and the first foreign office of the China Investment Promotion Agency.[38] Over 40 colleges and universities are located in Budapest, including Eötvös Loránd University, Corvinus University, Semmelweis University, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest and the Budapest University of Technology and Economics.[39][40] Opened in 1896,[41] the city's subway system, the Budapest Metro, serves 1.27 million, while the Budapest Tram Network serves 1.08 million passengers daily.[42]

The central area of Budapest along the Danube River is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has several notable monuments of classical architecture, including the Hungarian Parliament and the Buda Castle.[43] The city also has around 80 geothermal springs,[44] the largest thermal water cave system,[45] second largest synagogue, and third largest Parliament building in the world.[46] Budapest attracts around 12 million international tourists per year, making it a highly popular destination in Europe.[47]

Etymology and pronunciation
The previously separate towns of Buda, Óbuda, and Pest were officially unified in 1873[48] and given the new name Budapest. Before this, the towns together had sometimes been referred to colloquially as "Pest-Buda".[49][50] Pest is used pars pro toto for the entire city in contemporary colloquial Hungarian.[49]

All varieties of English pronounce the -s- as in the English word pest. The -u in Buda- is pronounced either /u/ like food (as in US: /ˈbuːdəpɛst/[51]) or /ju/ like cue (as in UK: /ˌb(j)uːdəˈpɛst, ˌbʊd-, ˈb(j)uːdəpɛst, ˈbʊd-/). In Hungarian, the -s- is pronounced /ʃ/ as in wash; in IPA: Hungarian: [ˈbudɒpɛʃt] (listen).

The origins of the names "Buda" and "Pest" are obscure. Buda was

probably the name of the first constable of the fortress built on the Castle Hill in the 11th century[52]
or a derivative of Bod or Bud, a personal name of Turkic origin, meaning 'twig'.[53]
or a Slavic personal name, Buda, the short form of Budimír, Budivoj.[54]
Linguistically, however, a German origin through the Slavic derivative вода (voda, water) is not possible, and there is no certainty that a Turkic word really comes from the word buta ~ buda 'branch, twig'.[55]

According to a legend recorded in chronicles from the Middle Ages, "Buda" comes from the name of its founder, Bleda, brother of Hunnic ruler Attila.


My name is Eric Clark and I am a world traveler. I have been around the world a few times and decided to help fund my travels by sharing my videos and pictures. I have been to almost every country and would be glad to give tips and pointers. Drop me a note. = )

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