The Hungarian Parliament Building on the bank of the Danube. Photo © Martin Dimitrov/123rf.
Renowned for their storied pasts, Prague and Budapest have also established themselves as steadfast beacons of a brightly burning future. A visit here will expand your mind and enrich your soul.Prague, thanks to its breathtaking architecture, resembles a forgotten fairy tale more than a Central European capital. From the top of Wenceslas Square to the majestic Prague Castle, it is just as beautiful as Paris and Venice, though far less expensive and a lot more liberal-minded than either. This is the capital of Bohemia, after all, where beer is cheaper than bottled water and freedom of expression perseveres.
Faster, bigger, and rougher around the edges than Prague, Budapest nevertheless abounds in beauty, harmony, and incontestable charm. Whether it’s the no-nonsense bustle of Pest or the Dickensian backstreets of Buda, the people’s passion for music, drink, and romance expresses itself brazenly on every corner.
The myriad of changes Prague and Budapest have undergone is obvious as previously foreign concepts like cell phones, fast food, and high fashion trends are now ubiquitous. Come to Prague and Budapest and have your eyes opened and your heart stirred by a seamless blend of the Old World with the new.
Excerpted from the Third Edition of Moon Prague & Budapest.
Prague & Budapest travel maps by region.
Prague
Budapest
