Essentials: Budapest

1) This far, and no further: Whether it's the Parliament building or St. Stephen's Basilica, no structure in Budapest rises above 96 meters. Sounds absurd? It's actually a nod to the year 896, when the Magyars settled in the region – considered the founding year of the Hungarian state. And when Parliament opened in 1904, a rule was established: no building was allowed to surpass it in height.

2) Riding in the Metró Budapest? You might not realize you're on the oldest subway line in continental Europe. The M1 line of the Metró Budapest, just 4.4 kilometers long, is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the street above it, Andrássy Avenue. The line opened in 1896, exactly 1,000 years after the founding of Hungary.

3) It's not really about magic – more about logic – but the Rubik's Cube is still known as a "magic cube" in many places. Few people know, however, that this "cube of madness" or "devil's cube," as it's sometimes called, was invented in Budapest. In 1974, Hungarian artist, designer, and architect Ernő Rubik came up with the idea. Thanks to the overwhelming success of his invention, he's been an honorary citizen of Budapest since 2014. For nearly half a century, his cube has fascinated people around the globe – and geniuses still compete to solve it in record time. The current human record holder cracked it in a mere 3.08 seconds in February 2025, while a Japanese AI-powered robot system managed it in just 0.305 seconds in early 2024.

4) Heard of ruin bars? The trend allegedly started in the early 2000s in Budapest, when the first bars opened in run-down buildings. These romkocsma can be bars, clubs, restaurants, or art spaces – the only rule is that they're wild, quirky, and chaotic. The mother of all ruin bars is Szimpla Kert, opened in 2002 in a former stove factory. It's now a hot spot for tourists and usually packed. Want to experience the vibe without the crowd? Come by on a Sunday morning after 9 a.m., when the party crowd is still asleep, and check out the farmers market.

5) Fan of goulash? Then Budapest is the place to be. While goulash wasn't invented here – that credit goes to ninth-century Hungarian cattle herders – you'll find fantastic goulash restaurants throughout the city. But don't be surprised if you get odd looks for ordering macaroni, spaetzle, or dumplings with your goulash. In Budapest, it's traditionally served with fresh bread or csipetke – tiny Hungarian dumplings.