Budapest… But What Lies Beyond?
Travel outside Budapest! The merits of Budapest are obvious and abundant. The country itself though is a fascinating destination of contrasts, history and culture and it just might be well worth exploring. Read more »
Roman Beach (Római Part)
Római part, or Roman bank, runs along the side of the Danube in District III, out by Óbuda. On a hot Sunday afternoon the grassy waterfront is filled with families enjoying the sun. Read more »
Boat Trips on the Danube River
Boat companies provide boat trips along the Danube in the Summer season. Here are some short regular boat trips for you to try: Read more »
Hang out in Szimpla kert
In the evening of a warm day, hang out in Szimpla kert (”simple yard”).
“Szimpla has been running since October 2001. We keep trying to find out whether it’s possible to support alternative culture on a profit oriented basis, to survive seemingly hopeless construction works, to have one of the best cuisines in town, to screen self distributed movies in our own open-air cinema, to organize animation festivals, and things like this. The answer so far seems to be: yes, it is…”
Used Bookstores
Idea for Fun in Budapest: Go to galleries, museums and especially used bookstores along Museum krt. Have lunch at a table on the street in Ráday utca.
Take a Look at the Hand of István in the Basilica
Visit Saint Stephen’s Basilica (Szent István Bazilika) and take a look at his preserved right hand.
The Basilica is the biggest church in Budapest, named after István, the first king of Hungary. Read more »
Outdoor Markets
Idea for Fun in Budapest: Take pictures at outdoor markets.
Visit the Great Jewish Synagogue and the Holocaust Museum
Visit the Great Jewish Synagogue and the Holocaust Museum.
The Budapest Synagogue is the second biggest Synagogue in the world. Unique for its architectural style and recently restored, it has been an important center for Jewish life in Budapest and Europe Read more »
Canoes
Idea of Fun in Budapest: Rent canoes on the Danube (off the HÉV).
Go to the Budapest Citadel on Gellért Hill
Go to the Budapest Citadel on Gellért hill. The Citadella is an impressive fortress built originally in the mid 19th century by the Habsburgs.
The Freedom Monument is a statue of a lady with a palm, representing Read more »
Chain Bridge
Idea for Fun in Budapest: Streak across the Chain Bridge. Take close pictures of the iron structures.
The Castle District
Towering a couple hundred feet above the Danube River, the Buda Castle in Budapest is a special place. Surrounded by gothic churches with stain glass, a visit to the Buda Castle is like stepping back into the renaissance.
Castle District
Situated in the Buda section of Budapest, the Castle District sits on the eastern side of the Danube river. Positioned a couple hundred feet above the Danube, the entire city of Budapest can be seen from the numerous vantage points. The view is so amazing, the Italians coined a saying, “Europe has three gems – Venice on the water, Florence in the plains and Buda in the hills.” The Italians definitely got it right.
Buda Castle
Visiting Buda Castle is like stepping back into the heights of the renaissance. The Castle is adorned with red marble stairways, gothic facades, bastions and epic statutes overlooking the Danube. The fountains around the Castle simply can’t be described with words.
Holy Trinity Square
Just to the south of Buda Castle lies holy trinity square. The Church of the Holy Lady, which is also known as Matthias Church, dominates the square. The church has served as the location where Hungarian Kings undertook their rule and many famous figures are interred on the grounds.
Behind Matthias Church is the rather interesting Fishermen’s Bastion. This Roman bastion has the appearance of a mini-castle at Disneyland. The views from the parapets are amazing as you take in the Danube River as it cuts through Budapest. Just outside of Bastion, however, you have to keep your eye out for something amazing.
Hungarians historically have been some of the best horsemen in the world. As part of the tradition, the horseman carried bullwhips instead of ropes. Big bull whips. And they like to crack them just outside of the bastion. If you aren’t paying attention when this occurs, the world’s loudest snap will send scare the “you know what” out of you. The only thing I can equate it to is the sound of rolling thunder, but without the rolling. When it happens, drinks, food and cameras go flying.
The Castle District is definitely worth a visit. In fact, the Buda Castle is a good reason to go to Budapest.
Rick Chapo is with www.nomadjournals.com - makers of travel journals.
Read in a Park
Idea for Fun in Budapest: Read in the Gellért Park or on Margit sziget.
Admire the Houses of Parliament
Admire the Houses of Parliament. Extravagant, sumptuous, gracious, overpowering, rich, extraordinary, over the top, opulent, lavish, elegant – you will then have your own words to describe the interior. Many consider it the most beautiful Parliament Buildings in the world. Read more »
Szentendre Day-trip
Go to Szentendre for a day trip! It is a stereotypical cobblestoned European town. Buy a ticket at the Batthyány HÉV/Metro stop and take the HÉV to the end of the line! For a scenic ride home take a boat cruise down the Danube back into Budapest! Read more »
Horseback Riding & Horse Summer Camps!
Providing children, teens and adults with fun-filled opportunities to build cross-cultural friendships, practice English, and learn horsemanship the natural way in a Christian setting: Read more »
Flea Market
Idea of Fun in Budapest: Go to the flea market at Ecseri út. Take the #154 or #156 bus from Boráros Tér near the Duna.
Escape to Margaret Island – Paradise In Budapest
The Danube River runs through the center of Budapest in Hungary. In the middle of the city chaos lays an oasis of tranquility, Margaret Island. Read more »
Heroes’ Square
Walk up Andrássy Street to Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere).
Andrássy Street is the great boulevard of Budapest. Many of the buildings in Budapest were erected in the 19th century - the private nobility took an eclectic approach and you can see the extraordinary mix of styles and ornamentation on such as Andrassy Street.
Andrássy Street goes straight from the Danube River to the Millenary Column in the Heroes’ Square – tree-lined all the way. Almost every building has ornamentation or plasterwork of note and the tree-lined street makes a lovely walk.
On Andrássy Street is the Opera House (Operaház). Built in the late 19th Century, the Budapest Opera House is an impressive neo-renaissance building reminiscent of the Opera House in Vienna.
Heroes’s Square is a place where art was used to express and honor the amazing history of the Hungarian Nation… from the time when the first Hungarian tribes settled in this area of the Carpathian Basin Read more »
English DVD Video Store
English DVD & Video Rental - There are two of these, one in Buda (Hajnóczy József u. 11, District 12) and one in Pest (Zichy Jenő u. 44, between Oktogon and Nyugati — walk south, dog leg to the left and follow the footprints on the sidewalk). Read more »
Get Out of the City
Idea for Fun in Budapest: Get out of the city! Take a day trip to a nearby town: Szentendre, Visegrád, Vác, Gödöllő, Esztergom, etc.
Loincloths and Tenderizing at a Budapest Spa
The Gellert Hotel Spa is renowned as the ultimate spa destination in Hungary. Here’s a first hand account of the Gellert experience. Read more »
Shopping at the Great Market Hall
The Great Market Hall (Vásárcsarnok) is one of the best places to buy souvenirs and other typical Hungarian gift type things for family and friends. At the top floor of this interesting building (which, by the way, was designed by Eiffel, the same guy who designed the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris!) is where you find Read more »
Mariott Hotel Lobby
When you can’t take it any more… Stop your life for a couple of hours and become a lobby rat at Marriott Hotel Lobby. The place to pick up a free Budapest Sun. If there aren’t any in the lobby, go up the elevator to the third floor and there will be some at the door. Read more »
Spend Time on Castle Hill, Buda Castle
Spend some time on Castle Hill: walk around the Castle District with the Buda Castle and Matthias Church.
Filled with quaint little cobblestone streets, historic buildings which are a couple hundred years old, the Castle, and Matthias Church. Read more »
Cogwheel
Idea for Fun in Budapest: Ride the Cogwheel train. The cogwheel train is a cute mountain train that climbs up the Buda Hills from the Városmajor Park to Széchenyi hagy, where it connects the Children’s Train. The entire trip takes about 20 minutes. Take the #56 tram from Moszkva tér; only 2 stops for the cog-wheel train. Enjoy!
Get Out of the City – Lake Balaton, Visegrád and Szentendre
It is easy to fall in love with Budapest and never venture beyond the city. If this happens, you’ll rue the day you missed a chance to visit Lake Balaton, Visegrad and Szentendre. Read more »
Budapest – Health Resort Spas
Budapest is an amazing city with so many attractions that it is hard to know where to start. The health resort spas seem as good a place as any. Read more »
Ten Sensational Things To Do in Hungary
Hungary continues to make tourists happy with the experience they had while visiting. Here, you will see the low mountains, lakes, rivers, and natural wonders that the place offers. Read more »
Thermal Baths to Relax and Enjoy
When you can’t take it any more… Soothe your aches in a Thermal Bath.
There are thermal springs all over Hungary. Budapest has over 100 natural thermal springs, gushing from the earth’s interior. Not only of varying temperatures, these springs have excellent mineral properties and have therapeutic value for certain complaints such as Read more »
János hegy
Idea for Fun in Budapest: Hike to János hegy and ride on the Children’s Train or take the Chair Lift to the top.
Family tip: Spend the Day in the Green Hills of Buda
Jazz Clubs
Go check out a Jazz Club. They are listed in the Budapest Sun and Budapest Week each week with scheduled performers and so on. Try these: Read more »
Museums Worth a Visit in Budapest
Museums and exhibitions of interest - Find hours and special exhibits in any of the numerous guidebook or Budapest city information guide. Most museums are closed on Mondays. Many museums have a day that is free for the public. Read more »
Performing Arts
Hungary is a wonderful country of music and dance. There is a huge range of cultural entertainment to choose from in Budapest. Theater, opera, classical music concerts… not just good, but very affordable in Budapest. Read more »
Libraries with English Books
Budapest Christian Library
Address: Gellert ter 1, 1111
Phone: +36 (1) 365 2483
Email: budapestlibrary@cs.com
Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library
- it now has the collection of the British Council Library
Address: 1088 Budapest, Szabó Ervin tér 1.
A great place to get books in English.
Website: www.fszek.hu
library, English books, reading, Budapest Christian Library, British Council Library, Ervin Szabo Library
