Felicity Long
Budapest made the news recently when the city pulled its bid to host the 2024 Olympics, citing political infighting and economic concerns.
While there is plenty of room to debate the pros and cons of a medium-size city trying to host an international event the size of the Olympics, a contributing factor in the pullout might simply be that Budapest doesn't need the attention.
The number of American travelers who expressed interest in visiting the city rose by 16.5% during the winter of 2016 over the previous winter, according to an analysis of traveler flight plans by travel insurance provider Allianz Global Assistance.
The company attributed the rise in part to a redistribution of Europe-bound travelers from cities that have experienced terrorist activity, such as Paris, Istanbul and Brussels.
But as a fan of Hungary's capital, I can come up with a number of other reasons for the city's increasing popularity.
For one thing, it's beautiful.
The city is bisected by the Danube River into two distinct areas, Buda and Pest. Each offers dramatically different topography, architecture and ambience.
Because it is so picturesque from the water, river cruise companies such as Viking and Scenic have done their part to help popularize the city as a desirable port of call, with top sites including the Royal Castle, Heroes' Square and Margaret Island.
Spas are another big part of Budapest's appeal. The Szechenyi and Gellert thermal baths, for example, both offer an appealing mineral bathing experience in an ornate, Old World setting.
The bar and restaurant scene is lively, too, ranging from traditional establishments to more modern venues that would appeal to sophisticated international travelers.
At the Aria Hotel Budapest, for example, located in the city center, there is a Music Garden that boasts a Boganyi piano, one of only three in the world, and live performances are often on tap.
The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest, which opened last April, is shining a spotlight on Hungarian food and wine with the farm-to-table cuisine at the Deak St. Kitchen. The eatery offers fresh takes on traditional dishes, along with nearly 100 bottles of Hungarian wines.
Meanwhile, the W Budapest, W's first Hungarian property, will debut in 2020 on Andrassy Avenue, a Unesco World Heritage Site.
As for the Olympics, it's interesting to note that Hamburg, Germany and Rome also dropped their bids to stage the event, leaving Paris and Los Angeles as the only current contenders.