Call it cliché, but you really can’t go wrong picking a home base in Budapest. Let me break it down for you: The city has two main parts, Buda and Pest, which are divided by the Danube river. Buda is the hilly, historic side (you’ll see Fisherman’s Bastion and the castle) while Pest is flat and gritty—in a good way. Luckily, no matter where you stay, it’s quick, easy, and inexpensive to get around thanks to the well-connected metro system (don’t miss scenic tram 2!) as well as the city’s new bike paths.