Neighborhoods in Brief

Pest

Inner City (Belváros) The historic center of Pest, the Belváros is the area inside the Inner Ring, bound by the Danube to the west. Many of Pest's historic buildings are found in the Belváros, as are the city's showcase luxury hotels and most of its best-known shopping streets.

Leopold Town (Lipótváros) Just to the north of the Belváros, Lipótváros is considered a part of central Pest. Development began here at the end of the 18th century, and the neighborhood soon emerged as a center of Pest business and government. Parliament, plus a number of government ministries, courthouses, banks, and the former stock exchange, are all found here. Before the war, this was considered a neighborhood of the "high bourgeoisie."

Theresa Town (Terézváros) The character of Terézváros is defined by Andrássy út, the great boulevard running the length of the neighborhood from Hero's Square through Oktogon and down into the Inner City. This grand street has been regaining its reputation of elegance: Andrássy út is once again the "best address" in town. The Teréz körút section of the Outer Ring cuts through Terézváros; Oktogon is its major square. The area around Nagymezo utca is the city's theater district.

Elizabeth Town (Erzsébetváros) Directly to the southeast of Terézváros, Erzsébetváros is the historic Jewish neighborhood of Pest. During the German occupation of 1944-45, a ghetto was constructed here. This district is still the center of Budapest Jewish life, though it is exceedingly run-down and is by no means as vibrant a place as it once was.

Joseph Town (Józsefváros) One of the largest central Pest neighborhoods, Józsefváros is to the southeast of Erzsébetváros. It has long had a reputation of being the seediest part of Pest, and for all appearances this reputation is a deserved one. József körút, the neighborhood's segment of the Outer Ring, is a center of prostitution and pornography.

Buda

Castle District (Várnegyed) The city's most beautiful and historic district dates to the 13th century. On a plateau above the surrounding neighborhoods and the Danube beyond, the Castle District is defined by its medieval walls. The immense Buda Palace and its grounds fill the district's southern end. The northern end is home to small winding streets, Matthias Church, the Fisherman's Bastion, and the Hilton Hotel.

Watertown (Víziváros) A long, narrow neighborhood wedged between the Castle District and the Danube, the Víziváros is historically a quarter where fishermen and artisans reside. Built on the steep slope of Castle Hill, it has narrow alleys and stairs instead of roads in many places. Its main street, Fo utca, runs the north-south length of the Víziváros, parallel to and a block away from the river.

Buda Hills The Buda Hills are numerous remote neighborhoods that feel as if they're nowhere near, let alone within, a capital city. By and large, the hills are considered a classy place to live. Neighborhoods are generally known by the name of the hill on which they stand.

Rose Hill (Rózsadomb) This is the part of the Buda Hills closest to the city center and one of the city's most fashionable and luxurious residential neighborhoods.

Óbuda

Óbuda is a mostly residential area now, though its long Danube coastline was a favorite spot for workers' resorts under the old regime. Most facilities have been privatized, so a large number of hotels are found here. The extensive Roman ruins of Aquincum and the beautifully preserved old-town main square are Óbuda's chief claims to fame.