Experience some of the best of this 1,000-year-old country by visiting its capital, Budapest. Straddling the Danube River and formerly split into both Buda and Pest, Budapest has sights and sounds for all visitors. Kick off your visit by fighting jetlag by lounging outdoors (or in!) at the world famous Széchenyi thermal bath. Buy simple entry tickets online for € 20, or splurge a bit for an aroma massage. Afterward, walk over to the Vajdahunyad Castle, a place Bram Stoker pictured his Dracula living. Peruse the castle grounds for free or rent a boat to cruise around it. Also located a mere minute’s walk away is Hősök tere, or, Heroes’ Square. These monuments pay homage to prominent Magyars and other important Hungarian leaders and is often the site of important political events in Hungary. Once you’ve acclimated yourself, make your way West across the Danube to the Buda side of Budapest. As a good rule of thumb, if you’re looking up, you’re likely in Pest, if you’re looking down, you’re probably in Buda. The beautiful cliffs of Buda offer sights such as Fisherman’s Bastion, Buda Castle, and the Matthias Church. The Bastion is a neo-gothic/neo-romantic terrace that offers spectacular views of Pest. It earned the name Fisherman’s Bastion from the fishermen who defended it in the Middle Age’s. The Matthias Church is where the Austro-Hungarian Empire began with the crowning of Franz Joseph I, and can be found on the Bastion itself, glittering in the sun. Finally, Buda Castle is nearly 800 years old and features both a National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum inside today. Afterward, travel back to the Pest side to enjoy some of Europe’s trendiest bars and eateries, and strike up a conversation with some Hungarian’s.