Budapest in 3 facts

Budapest is a city full of stories, and if you’ve made it here, chances are you’re not just a traveller, but a curious one. Perfect, because we’ve got some surprising facts to share with you. You might already know that Budapest is stunning on the surface, but what’s hidden underneath is just as fascinating. Beneath the hill of Buda Castle lies a whole underground world. Over 200 caves run beneath the city, carved out by geothermal springs over thousands of years. Budapest is one of the few capital cities in the world with such an extensive natural cave system. It’s the perfect place to give caving a try! Now, have you ever heard of Budapest’s 96-metre rule? No building is allowed to rise above that height. The number is symbolic—it refers to the year 896, when the Magyars arrived in the Carpathian Basin and laid the foundations of what would become Hungary. The only two buildings that reach exactly 96 metres are the Parliament and St. Stephen’s Basilica, a deliberate way of placing politics and religion on equal footing. And finally, who hasn’t tried, and failed, to solve a Rubik’s Cube? This famously frustrating little puzzle was invented in 1974 by Ernő Rubik, a Budapest-born architect and professor of design. And before you feel too bad about not cracking it, just know it took him more than a month to solve it himself for the first time. So you’re in good company.