The current site of Budapest was first used as a settlement over two thousand years ago by the Celts, before being occupied by the Romans. Serving originally as a military base, the Romans slowly built the city, constructing roads, houses, baths and amphitheatres.
Budapest gets its name from the Buda, the brother of Attila the Hun, who founded the modern iteration of city in the early parts of the 5th century.
The city continued to endure mixed fortunes over the centuries, invaded and occupied by the Ottomans in the 16th century. Much of Budapest was destroyed in World War II, after which the city was occupied by the Soviet military and declared a communist state until 1989.
Modern Budapest has developed into a major world city, earning a reputation as one of the European Union’s largest and most robust regional economies. This modern prosperity combined with the unique, fascinating history has seen Budapest significantly grow in popularity with visitors from all over the world.
