2016 Europe, Middle East, and Africa Travel Guide - (Page 23)

Budapest Budapest is a charming, stunning city that leaves visitors awestruck-just one look at the House of Parliament and you'll never want to look away. Its architecture, cultural outlets, dazzlingly beautiful bridges crossing the Danube, and the pure energy of its citizens make visitors want to devour every nook and cranny of this buzzing metropolis. SEE: Hang out in the Castle District for the day. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to the city's top landmarks, including Buda Castle (also known as the Royal Palace and home to the National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum), Fisherman's Bastion, and Matthias Church. One can also tour the Labyrinth beneath Castle Hill, with caves and cellars. Getting to the district is half the fun if you decide to take the funicular railway that ascends steeply to the Royal Palace area. SAVOR: Take a dip in the city's spas or thermal baths. A top recommendation for tourists is the Gellert Thermal Bath, which is decorated with a wealth of original Art Nouveau furnishings, artistic mosaics, stained glass windows and sculptures. SIGNATURE EVENT: The annual, 17-day Budapest Spring Festival (taking place April 8-24) is Hungary's major cultural arts festival featuring events in classical music, opera, jazz and pop, world music, dance, theater and the visual arts. STAY: Visitors to the city can opt for the 359-room Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest, the first Hungarian member of The Leading Hotels of the World, located a short walk from the Danube and the city's main attractions; it features the Asian-inspired Kempinski Spa. CRUISE: View the city from its river-Budapest is one of the most popular ports of call on an array of river cruises that sail the Danube, including Viking River Cruises, AmaWaterways, Uniworld and Scenic Cruises. FACTS April to August Twenty-six percent of the Netherlands is under sea level; during an age-long battle against the water, the Dutch constructed a water system consisting of dykes, polders and weirs GETTING THERE: Delta flies to Amsterdam from Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Newark, New York (JFK), Minneapolis, Portland, Seattle, and Salt Lake City ENTRY DOCUMENTS: Valid passport CURRENCY: The Euro LOCAL FOODS: Cheese, of course; snert, pea soup with sausages; patatje met, French fries with mayonnaise (no ketchup, please); herring, which is eaten on a bun with onions or pickles, or biting it while holding the fish in the air by its tail; hagelslag, chocolate sprinkles on a sandwich BEST BUYS: Wooden clogs; wooden tulips; porcelain dolls; delftware; and Dutch cheese INFORMATION PLEASE: holland.com BEST TIME TO GO: FUN FACT: FACTS BEST TIME TO GO: March to May/September to November FUN FACT: There are approximately 500 places in the country where thermal water occurs, which means you can find water with temperatures above 86°F in 70 percent of Hungary. There are about 150 traditional spas in the country where you can bathe GETTING THERE: Delta flies to Budapest connecting through Amsterdam, Paris and Rome ENTRY DOCUMENTS: Valid passport CURRENCY: Hungarian Forint LOCAL FOODS: Goulash; porkolt (stew); fisherman's soup; a cake called beigli; and stuffed peppers and stuffed cabbage called toltott kaposzta; hortobagyi pancake BEST BUYS: Embroidery; handmade dolls; table linens; Hungarian decorated Easter eggs; and Hungarian secret boxes INFORMATION PLEASE: gotohungary.com 23 HUNGARY HOLLAND Few cities are as pleasing and contrary as Amsterdam. It's a capital without a government- the latter is down the road in The Hague; it's a city of canals and houseboats where the bicycle is king; and a mecca of art where the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum collectively vie with the red light district as prime tourist attractions. Never up for question is that Amsterdam is an open-hearted, welcoming, and fun city taking constant care of its 17th century Golden Age heritage. SEE: Visitors do well to get their bearings with a Canal Tour, cruising past beautiful canal houses and under bridges, getting a sense of the major canal waterways, even learning the workings of the port. Next it's time to see great art, at Rijksmuseum for Dutch Old Masters; the Van Gogh Museum for, of course, himself; and the Stedelijk Museum for its contemporary art collection. Take a lunch break for raw herring with diced onion and fries with mayonnaise at a street market, and chill out at a Brown Cafe at night. SAVOR: Amsterdam gives visitors a chance to embrace its icon product-tulips-in the city gardens: Vondelpark is one, but a must is the 66-acre Keukenhof, the largest flower garden in the displays, and then early- and late-blooming tulips. The Keukenhof Garden Season this year is March 24 - May 16. Later, June 17-19 weekend, gardens hidden behind a selection of 30 canal houses in Amsterdam open their doors to the public. SIGNATURE EVENT: Kings Day, April 27, a royal birthday party celebrating a royal birthday with street parties, live music, dense crowds and a lot of beer. Wear something orange! STAY: In Amsterdam, you can stay in a canal craft or even a watertower. Also waterside, modern and smart is the Andaz Amsterdam, city-center at Prinsengracht Canal. Once the city library, this Hyatt hotel has modern interiors-colorful and quirky in public areas and guestrooms-a spa with a sauna, and a beautiful garden. The Bluespoon restaurant adds French flair to Dutch dishes with farm-to-table produce. Anne Frank's House is just around the corner. CRUISE: This 17th century port city still lives on the water, inviting guests to do so too on guided canal day cruises, in 2- to 4-passenger canal boats to rent, aboard river cruises combining Holland and Belgium. HOLLAND Amsterdam http://www.holland.com http://www.gotohungary.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2016 Europe, Middle East, and Africa Travel Guide

Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Holland
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Ghana
Kenya
Morocco
Nigeria
South Africa
Senegal
Tanzania
Egypt
India
Israel
Turkey
United Arab Emirates

2016 Europe, Middle East, and Africa Travel Guide