Budapest - Boedapest

Budapest is the capital of Hungary. The city is located on both sides of the Danube. The city was formed in 1873 by merging Buda and Óbuda on the right bank of the Danube with Pest on the left bank. Before 1873, the cities were collectively called Pest-Buda.

Info

The city is home to almost 20% of all inhabitants of Hungary and plays a dominant role in the country in almost all areas (administration, commerce, industry, traffic, culture). It is also the most important transport hub and (increasingly) the cultural heart of Central Europe. Airport Liszt Ferenc International Airport plays an important role in Budapest's position in Central Europe.

Arrive

By plane

Budapest Airport (Budapest Airport, IATA: BUD) is Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (Liszt Ferenc Nemzetközi Repülőtér), formerly known as Ferihegy International Airport.

The airport consists of two terminals, Terminal 2a (within the Schengen area) and 2b (outside the Schengen area). Terminal 1 was closed in 2012.

By train

Budapest has a number of important stations, of which Keleti pályaudvar (Bp. Keleti pu.) and Nyugati pályaudvar (Bp. Nyugati pu.) (designed by Gustave Eiffel) are architectural gems. Déli pályaudvar (Bp. Déli pu.) is also very important. Literally translated, these are the East Station, West Station and South Station respectively, which does not alter the fact that South Station is located more to the west than West Station.

By car

Budapest is the heart of the Hungarian road network. The M1 motorways start from Budapest (direction Vienna), M2 (direction vac and the Slovakian border), M3 (direction miskolc and Debrecen), M5 (direction Szeged and the Serbian border) M6 (direction Dunaujvaros) and the M7 (towards Lake Balaton and the Croatian border). Nowadays the M0 (ring around Budapest) is being built at a rapid pace.

By bus

By boat

Travel around

Budapest has a very extensive network of public transport, operated by BKK, with 4 metro lines, 4 so-called "trains of local interest" (HÉV), dozens of tram and city bus lines and 14 trolleybus lines. In addition, there are also a rack railway (fogáskerekű vasút), a chairlift (libegõ), a funicular (sikló) and a children's railway in the Buda hills. The night bus network is excellent: buses run every half hour all night, 7 days a week, far into the area. Public transport is an excellent and inexpensive way to get to know the city.

The oldest line of the Budapest metro runs under Andrássy Boulevard, Heroes' Square and City Park to Hungária körút. This line was built in 1896 (up to the City Park) and was the first metro on the European mainland. An east-west connection (red metro, line 2) and a north-south connection (blue metro, line 3) were built in the 1970s. The newest line is (green, line 4), which, like line 2, connects Buda and Pest.

By bus/tram/metro

By bike

Budapest is busy promoting the use of bicycles. For a number of years now, the residents of Budapest have become increasingly aware that the bicycle is a convenient and sustainable means of transport and that you can easily get from A to B with it. There are now approximately 200 kilometers of bicycle paths in Budapest and the intention is to increase this number. This also makes it increasingly safer and more fun for tourists to take a bicycle when visiting Budapest and for example cycle from Buda to Pest or do other nice cycling routes. You can rent bicycles through http://budapestbike.hu/

By scooter

The behavior of road users can be compared with the large cities in the Netherlands. Exploring the city on a scooter is therefore a good option. On a 50cc scooter, no co-driver is allowed on the back, on a 125cc scooter you can. The deposit can be up to 300 euros but is generally payable in euros.

In many cases, the scooter will be brought to your accommodation for a small additional charge.

• Spirroz[1] 36-30-2129872

By taxi

Traveling by taxi is quite cheap compared to the Netherlands or Belgium. Put on your seat belt and hold on tight, because people will continue to drive.

• taxi cab, fixed prices [2] 36/70/645-4444

On foot

To look at

Buda is located on the hilly right bank of the Danube (left on the map). Two of those hills dominate: Castle Hill (Varhegy) and the Gellért mountain. From both hills you have a beautiful view over the Danube and Pest. Pest is the flat part of the city on the opposite bank.

buda

Belbuda

BelBoeda is the oldest part of the city. It contains, among other things, the castle hill and the monuments that are located on it.

•    Cable car (Budavari Sikló), Clark Adam Ter, ☎ 36 1 201 9128. You can climb the castle hill on foot, or you can go up with an authentic cable car.
•    Buda Castle and Castle Hill, Szent György tér 2. The Castle Hill is walled: the 18th-century Castle District within the walls has been well preserved (only the southern part suffered heavy war damage). For centuries there has been a castle on this hill. The current castle was rebuilt after WWII. The castle houses galleries, archives, government buildings and museums (including the National Gallery). Every day between 8:30 am – 5 pm there is a changing of the castle guards every hour on the hour (accompanied by music on the last Saturday of the month at noon).
•    Fisherman's Bastion (Halaszbastya). 24 hours a day. 19th century fortification with a beautiful view over the city Balconies free, towers on upper gallery paid.
•    Matthias Church (Matyas Templom), Szentháromság tér 2.
• Gellert (city park). Park on a hill right on the Danube, including the citadel, a cave church and two thermal baths.

Hegyvidek

Hegyvidék is the greenest part of Budapest, encompassing districts II and XII.

•    Normafa (city park). Large city park, outside the center. Less touristy. You can reach the park with a chairlift, or with the atmospheric cog railway. In winter there is skiing and sledding here. The park also houses the Elisabeth Observation Tower (János-hegyi Erzsébet-kilátó), the highest point in Budapest: 528 m on the János Mountain.

New Buda

New Buda consists of the districts of Újbuda and Tétény. Both districts are south of Belboeda.

•    cave church (Gellerthegyi Barlang). Church building from 1926, built by members of the Paulian monastic order, in (the entrance of) a cave system. Under communist rule, the building was closed for several decades, but was reopened after the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989.
•    Eagle Mountain (nature reserve) (sas-hegy), tájék utca 26. Visit the Buda Nature Reserve (Budai Sas-hegy Termeszetvédelmi Terület) accompanied by a guide, or admire the view of Budapest from the lookout tower.
•    Memento Park. A collection of huge Soviet-era statues (see wikipedia) 1,500 HUF (excl. transport to the park).

Other

Other major attractions in Buda:

• the Water City (Vizivaros)
• St. Anne's Church (Szent Anna Templom)
• the Batthyany tér (Batthyany Square)
• the Buda Citadel (Belvaros)
• the Hotel Gellert
• de Táncsics Mihály utca

Plague

North Pest

North Pest consists of the districts IV (Újpest) and XIII (Angyalföld).

•    Margaret Island (City Park) (Margitsziget). Island in the Danube that is populated by locals, especially on weekends, to relax. On the island you will find, among other things, a Japanese and a sculpture garden, and a musical fountain. The park is also popular with joggers.
•    Musical Fountain (Zenélő szökőkút). Fountain that plays several pieces of music every hour, both classical and pop. In the evening there is also a light show.

Centre

The center (fifth district, Belváros) is directly opposite the Castle Hill and is the business and shopping center of all of Budapest.

•    Hungarian Parliament Building (Orszagház). Mon-Fri: 8-18, Sat-Sun: 8-16. Budapest's largest building, inaugurated in 1896 (Hungary's 1000th anniversary).
•    Shoes on the Danube Quay (monument), ID. Antall József rkp. Memorial to the Jews who were executed along the bank of the Danube. They were first forced to take off their shoes and then stand on the edge. They were then shot and fell into the river.
•    Freedom Square (Szabadsag tér). Until 1897 there was a prison on this square. Lajos Batthyány, the first Prime Minister of Hungary, was killed here by firing squad. There are several monuments in the square, including a memorial to the Battle of Budapest in 1944.
•    St. Stephen's Basilica (Szent Istvan Bazilika), Szent Istvan tér 1. Basilica in which the mummified right hand of Stefan, the first king of Hungary can be seen as a showpiece.
•    Károlyi kert (city park) (Karolyi kert). Small but oldest public garden in Budapest

Central Pest

Central Pest consists of the districts VI, VII and VIII, or Terezvaros, Erzsébetváros and Józsefváros.

•    Terror Haza (museum). During the Second World War, Andrássy út 60 was the headquarters of the Nazis, and in the communist period that followed it was the headquarters of the secret police. The museum recalls the torture and murders that took place in the building at that time. 2000 HUF.
•    Great Synagogue of Budapest (Dohany utcai Zsinagoga), Dohany utca 2. The largest synagogue in Europe and the second largest in the world
•    Kerepesi Cemetery (Fiumei Sírkert), Fiumei út 16. Tombs and mausoleums of Hungarian politicians, scientists and artists. The Funeral Museum is also located here (Kegyeleti Muzeum).
•    Hungarian National Museum (Magyar Nemzeti Muzeum). Museum of the History of Hungary (see wikipedia)

East Pest

East Pest consists of districts X and XIV-XVII, or Rákospalota, Sashalom and Zugló districts.

•    Heroes' Square (Hősök tere), Hősök tere. On the Heroes' Square in the Russian former communist demonstrations were held. At the end of the square is the Millennium Monument, in honor of the country's 1000th anniversary in 1896.
•    city ​​park (Városliget). Opened in 1896, the city park includes the fairytale castle "Vajdahunyad vára", the Budapest Zoo, an ice skating rink and a bathhouse. In summer it is possible to sail on the water with a boat. Several festivals are held in July and August.

South Pest

South Pest consists of the districts IX and XIX-XXIII, or the island of Csepel, Ferencváros, Józsefváros, Kispest, Kőbánya and Pesterzsébet.

•    Zwack Museum and Visitor Center (Zwack Múzeum és Látogatóközpont), dandar u. 1. Museum about the local Hungarian herbal bitters "Unicum" from the family company Zwack
•    Ludwig Museum (Ludwig Múzeum / Kortars Művészeti Múzeum), Komor Marcell u. 1. Museum of modern art, collected by the couple Ludwig (see wikipedia)
•    Wekerle-telep (Weekly Telep). Characteristic residential area, set up as a garden city at the end of the 19th century, to accommodate new residents of Budapest

Other

Other major sights in Pest:

• Andrassy Boulevard (Andrassy út), the Boulevard of Budapest
• the Városliget (city ​​park) of:
  • the Vajdahunyad Castle
  • the restaurant Gundel
  • the llatkert (Zoo)
• the Nagykörut (Grand Boulevard) with its shops and hotels
• the Theater District
• the famous coffee houses
• Ernst Muzeum (Ernst Museum, modern Art)
• Néprajzi Muzeum (Ethnographic Museum)
• Soros Center for Contemporary Art, SCCA Budapest
• Szépművészeti Múzeum (Museum of Fine Arts)

Bridges

The two parts of Budapest (Buda and Pest) are separated from each other by the Danube. There are nine bridges connecting both parts:

• The Railway Bridge of Újpest, far to the north
• The Árpád Bridge connects to Margaret Island and Óbuda
• The Margit Bridge gives access to Margit Island, a park island in the river
•    chain bridge (Szechenyi Lanchid). The oldest bridge in Budapest (1849). Rebuilt after bombing in WWII and reopened in 1949
• the Elisabeth Bridge, Erzsebethíd, a strikingly modern bridge
• The Liberty Bridge, Szabadsaghíd, back in the days Ferenc Jozsefhid
• The Petőfi Bridge connects to the Nagykörút
• The Lágymányosi Bridge, the newest bridge to relieve the Petőfi Bridge
• The Southern Railway Bridge, railway connection with Vienna.

To do

Bathhouses and swimming pools

Beneath Budapest is the largest geothermal cave in the world, which has made it a popular seaside resort since ancient times. Budapest therefore bears the nickname 'city of baths'. Today there are no less than about 450 public baths and swimming pools in Budapest. If you decide to visit one, keep in mind that not all baths are open to both men and women at all times.

•    Rudas Thermal Baths (Rudas Gyógyfurdő es Uszoda), Döbrentei tér 9. Swimming pool: 6am-10pm, Wellness & sauda: 8am-10pm, Steam bath (men and women usually separated): 6am-8pm. Built in the 16th century as a Turkish bath house, it has now grown into a wellness center with swimming pool.
•    Gellert Spa (Szent Gellert Gyógyfürdőő), Kelenhegyi út 4. One of Budapest's most famous spas and hot springs
•    Szechenyi bathhouse and pool (Szechenyi Gyógyfurdő es Uszoda), Állatkerti krt. 9-11, e-mail: [email protected]. Bathhouse from 1930. One of Budapest's most famous spas and hot springs
•    Bathhouse Veli Bej (Irgalmasok Veli Bej Fürdője), Árpád fejedelem útja 7.. One of the oldest Turkish baths in the city. Small and much less touristy than, for example, Rudas or Szechenyi. Used by visitors to Hotel Csaszar and the Budai Irgalmas Rendi Hospital, among others.

Events

An overview of a large number of festivals throughout the year can be found at FestivalBudapest.com.

•    Sziget Festival. 7-day music festival in August on Óbudai Island, in the heart of Budapest

caves

•    Szemlő-hegyi-barlang (cave), Pusztaszeri út 35. Visit a cave. Also accessible for prams and wheelchairs.
•    Pál-völgyi-barlang (Szemlő-hegyi-barlang), Szépvölgyi út 162. Visit a cave. Not suitable for the elderly and small children or for people with claustrophobia.

Tours

• Boat trip on the Danube. Take a boat trip on the Danube. There are fully catered boat trips for tourists including dinner, wine tasting or other activities.
• Waterbus on the Danube. Low-budget sailing on the Danube is possible with the waterbus. Depending on the season, lines D11 and D12 sail from north to south Budapest at regular intervals. A separate ticket is required at the weekend to use the water bus, during the week you can also use the Budapest Card and the day tickets. 750 HUF.
• Free walking tours. Several free walking tours are offered in the city. You will then walk through the city with a guide for 2.5 to 3 hours. The guide works on a tip basis. For information see: http://triptobudapest.hu/ & http://www.freebudapesttours.hu/

Other

•    Zoo (Budapest Zoo), Állatkerti krt. 6-12. Depending on the season. 2500 HUF (children 1800 HUF).
• Visit the music academy Liszt Ferenc Zeneművészeti Egyetem (Franz Liszt Academy of Music)
• Experience Hungary's National Day (August 20)
• Do a tasting of palinka (made from fruits, up to about 50% alcohol)
• Do a tasting of Hungarian wines (borkósztolás), or visit the wine region of Etyek (about 30 km outside Budapest)

To learn

To work

To buy

Souvenirs

• Embroidered shirts, rugs and cloths for all tastes; often already available in tourist places.
• Hungarian wine: the choice is huge, ranging from white to red, from dry to sweet, from simple to complex. Special wines are for example: Kiralyleanka (light, white and often semi-dry), Tokaji Asszu (sweet and white, half liter bottles, pricey, especially the 5 until 7 puttonyos and for the gourmet), Bikaver ("Bull's blood", a hearty red wine), ...
• The Hungarian herb bitter Zwack Unique, or palinka, the liquor distilled in Hungary.
• eat a Kurtőskalacs, an oblong sweet dough snack with a hole in it that is prepared by wrapping dough around a stick and then baking over charcoal.
• Vegetables: a strand of garlic, or a strand of paprika (paprika powder is easier to carry).
• Meats: szalami or kolbasz, for example from pick.

Market Halls

•    Farmers Market of Szimpla Kert, Kazinczy u. 14. Every Sunday morning 9-14 o'clock. In a converted old factory you can buy locally produced cheese, vegetables and jams. In addition to the farmers' market on Sunday mornings, the old factory also houses the ruin café Szimpla Kert (the oldest ruin café in the city) as well as a bar and a cultural center.
•    Great Market Hall (Nagy Vasarcsarnok), Vámház krt. 1-3. Mon: 6-17, Tues-Fri: 6-18, Sat: 6-14. One of the oldest covered market halls in Budapest. Very popular with tourists.

Malls & Department Stores

•    balna, Fővám tér 11-12. Glass building in the shape of a whale, containing several hipster shops
• Árkád . Shopping Center (reachable by metro). belongs to the newest in Budapest, with 170 German-owned store
• Duna Plaza shopping center with over 120 shops, a 9-screen cinema, an arcade and a bowling alley.
• Mammut Shopping Center is a complex of two large buildings on Moskva tér, one of Budapest's main squares.

Other

• The surroundings of the Váci utca are a paradise for wealthy tourists
• In Budapest there are many shops for second-hand clothes. Most can be recognized by the British flag above the door.

Food

Budget

Average

Expensive

• A must in Pest is a visit to Gerbeaud [3], a Wiener Konditorei-like, chic pastry shop annex Grand Café with a large terrace and grand interior where the party bosses used to be liked. Excellent quality pastries are served. It is so well known that it is indicated as a tourist attraction.
• One of the best restaurants is Gundel near Heroes' Square. It's not cheap, but quite affordable by European standards. Be sure to book a few weeks in advance!

Going out

• Go to a sparty at night, a night party with music and disco lights in a spa
•    gozsdu-udvar, gozsdu udvar. Passage containing several pubs, wine bars and restaurants. The passage crosses seven buildings. The passage is accessible from Király u., Dob u. and Hollo u.
•    Kazinczy utca. Most famous nightlife street in Budapest, where several clubs and (ruin) bars are located.
•    Ice Bar Budapest, Vaci utca 82, ☎ 36 20 966 6000. 12:00 - 0:00. Bar where everything is made of ice

stay overnight

Budget

• Apartment Sinko - Holiday apartment in the center of Budapest, for 1-4 persons, 2 bedrooms, free Internet access, cheap/free parking.
• Akacia Apartment free parking, near the center and the Keleti train station, backyard, quiet place, max. 5 Pers., 2 bedrooms, WIFI
• 1st Hostel Phone. 36 20 915 1029
• Astori hostel, Karoly korut 16. Tel. 36 20 588 5556
• Ace hostel, Nyari Palutca 9. Tel. 36 20 565 8794
• Basilica Hostel Phone. 36 20 915 1039
• Central hostel
• Diamond hostel
• Stefi Apartment - Városliget (City Park). Holiday home for rent on a self-catering basis. Max. 6 people. Parking nearby is free.

Average

• budapest flat. Phone. 36 20 478 1423
• Hungaryapartment. Phone. 36 20 262 7381 city center
• 7Seasons Apartments Tel: 36 20 258 2293. Quality 2-bedroom apartment right in the center of town, close to the most famous tourist and world heritage sites with free broadband Wi-Fi internet, TV, DVD and all the amenities a traveler would need , whether exploring Budapest as a tourist or visiting the city on business.
•    Vagabond Apartments & Suites, Prater utca 6, ☎ 36 70 422 2807.

Expensive

•    Hotel Gellert, Szent Gellért tér 1, 1111 Budapest, ☎ 36 20 360 2033, fax machine: 36 1 288 7066. Well-known traditional hotel, also known for its beautiful swimming pool.

Camping

•    Camping Haller (**), Haller utca 27., Budapest, 1096, ☎ 36 20 367 4274, 36 1476 3418, e-mail: [email protected]. 5 €/person/night, 9 €/tent/night, 13 €/caravan/night. The 4th night: free..

Communication

Phone

cell phone

Budapest has 3 networks with excellent coverage, including in all metros. The download speeds of mobile internet range from 29.48 Mbps at telekom, 21.95 Mbps Telenor and 13.31 Mbps at Vodafone.

Prepaid SIM cards can be bought in every telecom shop and post office for about HUF 500.

Internet

Safety

all around

This article is still completely under construction . It contains a template, but not yet enough information to be useful to a traveler. Dive in and expand it!

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