Budapest

Your group arrives in Budapest and transfers to your centrally located accommodation. After checking in, head to the Chain Bridge - Budapest's most iconic landmark and the connection between historic Buda and cosmopolitan Pest - for stunning first views of the city and the Danube panorama. Take the funicular up to the Buda Castle district and explore the stunning Fisherman's Bastion for sweeping views across the river to the magnificent Parliament building. Visit the Matthias Church - one of the most beautiful Gothic churches in Hungary - with its extraordinary coloured tile roof and ornate interior. For dinner, explore the vibrant Jewish Quarter and its famous ruin bars - atmospheric spaces built in the shells of old buildings, filled with eclectic furniture, plants and art. Szimpla Kert is the most famous and not to be missed.

Start the morning with a guided visit to the magnificent Hungarian Parliament Building - one of the most spectacular buildings in Europe. The interior tour includes the central dome, the impressive lobbies and the Hungarian Holy Crown, displayed in the Dome Hall under permanent guard. After lunch, explore Pest's magnificent Heroes' Square (Hősök tere) - a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring the Millennium Monument with its dramatic colonnade of Hungarian historical figures. The adjacent Museum of Fine Arts houses one of Central Europe's finest art collections, including old masters by Raphael, El Greco and Goya. In the afternoon, stroll along Andrássy Avenue - Budapest's grand boulevard, also UNESCO-listed - lined with opera houses, embassies, boutiques and cafés. The Hungarian State Opera House, opened in 1884, is one of the finest opera buildings in Europe and well worth a guided visit.

This morning, experience one of Budapest's most unique and enjoyable traditions - the thermal bath. Budapest sits on over 120 natural hot springs, and its historic baths are an integral part of Hungarian culture. The magnificent Széchenyi Baths in City Park (the largest thermal bath complex in Europe) or the beautiful Art Nouveau Gellért Baths are both extraordinary architectural and social experiences. In the afternoon, visit the Dohány Street Synagogue - the largest in Europe - and the adjacent Jewish Museum and Holocaust Memorial. The powerful Emmanuel Tree, a weeping willow with the names of Holocaust victims on its leaves, is one of Budapest's most moving memorials. Explore the Jewish Quarter's revitalised streets, with their galleries, cafés and independent shops. The neighbourhood has been transformed in recent years into one of Budapest's most creative and vibrant districts.

On your final morning in Budapest, take a leisurely stroll through the beautiful Buda Castle gardens or visit the Hungarian National Museum - which tells the full story of Hungary's turbulent history from prehistoric times to the 1989 transition to democracy. For last-minute shopping, the Vásárcsarnok (Central Market Hall) is a magnificent 19th-century iron-and-glass market building stocked with Hungarian paprika, salami, embroidery, Tokaji wine and traditional crafts - the perfect place for authentic Hungarian souvenirs. Your your UniLife account manager will coordinate the transfer to the airport. Viszontlátásra, Budapest!