Budapest

For travellers who yearn to experience the imposing splendour of the past, while cushioned by modern comforts and safety, Budapest is a time machine: an intoxicating treasure trove of majestic baroque buildings, hearty cuisine, and indulgent bathhouses.

Unmissable for fans of architecture is the House of Parliament: an astonishing feat of design, the ornate mosaics of St Stephen's Basilica, and Europe's largest Jewish temple: Dohány Street Synagogue.

After a long day exploring the streets you can pamper yourself with a relaxing spell in the Gellért Baths, or, if your legs are still restless, take a hike into the mind-soothing scenery of Buda Hills. Be sure to sample the wealth of Hungarian comfort foods: crisp lángos, cinnamon-dusted chimney cake, and wholesome gulyás.