Budapest: Geography

Budapest in central Hungary is home to 1.7 million inhabitants and surrounded by the settlements of Pest and Buda. The city is regarded as one of the most attractive in Europe and is separated by the River Danube, entering the city from the north and later encapsulating two islands, Obuda Island and Margit Island. Of the two main areas, Pest lies on the flat terrain of the Great Plain whilst the hills of Buda consist mainly of limestone and dolomite. The highest point of the hills is Janos hill 527 meters above sea level. In 2008, the largest thermal water cave system was discovered running under Budapest which fuels many of its natural thermal water baths.