Budapest Sights & Attractions

Die Fischerbastei in Budapest ist im Burgviertel der Stadt vor der Matthias Kirche und erscheint wie ein Schloss aus einem Märchen mit seinen weißen Steinen und kleinen Türmen. Von hier oben haben Sie einen der besten Plätze um über die Stadt (die Pest Seite) zu schauen und Ihre Kamera aufzubauen um ein tolles Foto über den Dächern Budapests zu schießen das Wahrzeichen wie die Basilika, die Andrássy Allee und den Heldenplatz beinhalten wird. Die Fischerbastei ist eines der schönsten und meist frequentierten Monumente der Stadt und steht sicherlich in der Top 10 eines jeden Besuchers der Hauptstadt Ungarns. Zum Leid der Touristen wurde die Fischerbastei in Budapest in den letzten Jahren etwas kommerzialisiert und so ist der erste Stock, wenn man es so nennen möchte, nur noch gegen Eintrittsgeld zu betreten. Im unteren Bereich des Bauwerks befindet sich ein Café, so dass auch hier kaum Platz ist um aus einem der Fenster zu schauen es sei denn Sie setzen sich hin und trinken etwas. Bau und Geschichte der Fischerbastei Die…

Das ungarische Parlament in Budapest oder wie es auf Ungarisch heißt Országház (Landeshaus) ist nicht nur der Dreh- und Angelpunkt der ungarischen Politik, sondern auch eines der Wahrzeichen der Stadt und ein beliebtes Ziel für Touristen aus aller Welt. Diverse Touren führen Interessierte durch das Zentrum des ungarischen Staates. Das Parlament Budapest ist mit Sicherheit eins der imposantesten Gebäude Ungarns und auch das Höchste. Die beste Möglichkeit das Parlament zu fotografieren ist von der anderen Donauseite ca. auf Höhe des Batthyány Platzes den Sie bequem mit der U-Bahn Linie 2 erreichen können um so ein perfektes Bild des Parlamentes zu machen. Dieses Bild ist, ähnlich wie der Heldenplatz in Budapest, ganz oben auf der Liste an Sehenswürdigkeiten in Budapest die Sie gesehen haben müssen. Das Parlament in Budapest ist eines der größten Parlamentsgebäude in Europa und derzeit das größte Gebäude in Ungarn mit 268m Länge entlang der Donau. Das Vorbild für das Budapester Parlamentsgebäude war die Westminster Abbey in London, in 1885 begannen die Bauarbeiten nach den Plänen des Architekt…

Di Markthalle Budapest, oder wie sie im ungarischen heißt Vásárcsarnok ist eine der größten Touristenattraktionen in Budapest und gleichzeitig die größte Markthalle in Budapest. Wenn Sie in ein fremdes Land gehen ist der Markt oder die Markthalle immer eine gute Möglichkeit die Kultur und Essgewohnheiten des Landes kennenzulernen. Wenn ich in den Urlaub fahre suche ich immer den Markt auf um lokale Spezialitäten und Bräuche zu erleben. Obwohl die Markthalle sehr touristisch ist gehen hier immer noch viele Einheimische einkaufen was viel über die Qualität aussagt und auch vertrauen erweckt. So ist es auch in der Markthalle Budapest wo Sie typisch ungarische Speisen – wie Paprika Pulver, Gänseleber oder ungarische Salami bekommen – und auch typisch ungarisch essen können an kleinen Buden die von Gulaschsuppe bis hin zum Palatschinken alles anbieten. Dies ist natürlich etwas stereotyp gedacht, denn die ungarische Küche bietet weitaus mehr, aber auch in Deutschalnd weitestgehend unbekannte Speisen gibt es hier in der Markthalle Budapest. Aber in diesem Artikel soll es nicht um Tradition, Kultur und Essgewohnheiten…

Eine Städtereise nach Budapest ist ein unvergessliches Ergebnis und steht sicher bei vielen auf dem Wunschzettel als nächstes Reiseziel. Mit z.B. Billigfliegern und Airbnb sind solche Reisen, egal in welche Großstadt Europas, eine gute Möglichkeit andere Länder und Kulturen kennenzulernen ohne dabei zu tief in den Geldbeutel greifen zu müssen. Doch bleiben wir bei der Städtereise Budapest und einigen Tipps und Erfahrungen die ich sowohl als hier lebender Expat gemacht habe und bereits vorher als Tourist und auch erlebt habe. Städtereise Budapest – Die Anreise Es gibt viele Möglichkeiten die Anreise nach Budapest zu gestalten und so in die Haupstadt Ungarns zu gelangen. Einige Wege sind schnell und komfortabel, andere wiederum günstig dafür wohl etwas langwieriger. Zählen wir mal die Möglichkeiten auf und sehen uns die Vor- und Nachteile etwas genauer. Flugzeug Das Flugzeug ist die wohl schnellste und komfortabelste Lösung eine Städtereise zu planen, aber sicher nicht die billigste. Trotz Billigfliegern, die aus vielen Städten abfliegen, kostet der Flug je nach Buchung im Voraus, Fluglinie, Abflughafen und Tag des…

Der Heldenplatz in Budapest (ungarisch Hősök tere) ist eines der berühmtesten und auch eines der imposantesten Denkmale der Stadt. Am Ende der berühmten Andrássy út gelegen ragt die Figur des Erzengel Gabriel 36 Meter hoch in den Himmel Budapests. Umringt wird die Statue vom Milleniumsdenkmal mit 14 Herrschern und wichtigen Gestalten der ungarischen Geschichte. Das 1929 fertiggestellte Bauprojekt ist eines der Wahrzeichen der ungarischen Hauptstadt. Auf der anderen Seite des heldenplatzes liegt das Stadtwäldchen (Városliget) das weitere Sehenswürdigkeiten und bekannte Wahrzeichen Budapest wie zum Beispiel das berühmte Szechényi Bad, der Budapester Zoo sowie der Zirkus und auch die Vajdahunyad Burg. Es lohnt sich also, zum Beispiel auf einer Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour, einmal auszusteigen und die Gegend zu erkunden. Außerdem ist hier auch das wohl berühmteste ungarische Restaurant, das Gundel, zu finden. Neben dem Erzengel Gabriel sind also noch 14 weitere Statuen (ca. 5 Meter groß) auf dem Heldenplatz zu bestaunen welche das Milleniumsdenkmal bilden. Das Milleniumsdenkmal am Heldenplatz Die 7 Statuen auf der linken Seite: Stephen I…

The Budapest Eye is one of the newest attractions in the capital of Hungary. The giant Ferris Wheel located in the center of Budapest gives you the perfect view over the roofs of the Pest side with sneaks to Buda as well. For 2.400 HUF you get a beautiful view over Budapest including famous attractions such as the famous Andrássy út, the Basilica or the Budapest Castle District. The fee is valid for 3 rounds with the Budapest Eye including some stops on the top but overall the time seems to fly. During the Sziget Festival the Budapest Eye is located on the festival ground at Óbuda Sziget and you can take a ride there to have the best view on the festival. A great experience to view the festival from above which you usually only have on pictures. The Budapest Eye is 65 meters high so if you are afraid of heights most probably this is not the thing to do for you. The 41 gondolas with place for…

Hungarian history is very rich but also has some dark eras; the Hungarian Holocaust being one of the darkest of those eras. The Holocaust Memorial Center is dedicated to paying tribute to the victims of the Hungarian Holocaust. The complex is vast and includes a synagogue, museum, a glass memorial wall which is found in the courtyard and which is inscribed with more than 500 000 names of the victims of the Hungarian Holocaust in order to pay tribute to the huge loss of life. The main purpose of the glass memorial wall is to ensure that the countless innocent Hungarians that were savagely murdered are never forgotten. Furthermore, the memorial wall also serves as a constant reminder of what hate can cause in order to ensure that it never happens again. The Holocaust Memorial Center contains both permanent and temporary exhibitions. The permanent exhibit is called from Deprivation of Rights to Genocide an is dedicated to the memory of the countless victims of the holocaust in Hungary. The exhibition…

The old civilian town Aquincum is a definite must see for any tourist visiting Budapest as it is situated on ancient roman ruins. From the first century BC to the fifth century AD Western Hungary was part of the Roman Empire and it was called Pannonia. Pannonia’s largest town was Aquincum which many say is the ancestor of Budapest. Today, It gives tourists an insight into the extremely rich history of the city. It was situated on the North-Eastern borders of the Pannonia province within the Roman Empire. Back in the roman era it was originally settled by a Celtic tribe called the Eravisci and it was used as a military base since it was part of the Roman border protection system called “limes”. The city gradually grew around the military base and became the capital city of Pannonia Inferior in AD 106 when the Romans reorganized Pannonia. The city continued to grow and by the end of the second century contained thirty to forty thousand inhabitants. Those inhabitants got…

A city divided into two by the Danube river, Budapest, is truly a city of bridges. With eight major bridges spanning the Danube there are many different designs and architectural styles for bridge lovers. The most modern of these bridges is found at the most Northern point of the Capital city of Hungary and it is called the Megyeri Bridge, previously known as the Northern M0 Danube Bridge. It is a cable-stayed bridge connecting Buda (the western side of the city) to Pest (the eastern side of the city) and is truly aesthetically breathtaking. It is Hungary’s fist cable-stayed bridge and is a big part of the M0 highway which is planned to go around Budapest. The bridge is made up of five parts and has a width of 35 meters and a full length of 1862 meters. Construction on the bridge took approximately two and a half years and it was opened to the public on September 13th 2008 with its official inauguration being held on the 30th of…

The Vajdahunyad Castle is a definite must see tourist attraction located in the City Park of Budapest, Hungary. The construction on the castle began in 1896, originally made of wood and cardboard and was a huge success and a very popular site with both the locals and tourists. It was built as part of the Millennial Exhibition celebrating the thousand years of Hungary since the Hungarian Conquest of the Carpathian Basin in 896. Due to its massive popularity with residents and tourists alike, the city decided to make it a permanent structure. The reconstruction of the castle began in 1904 using stone and brick and closely following the original architecture and was completed in 1908. The architecture of the castle has special importance as it was designed ,by Ignac Alpar, to portray several landmark buildings of the Kingdom of Hungary especially the Hunyad Castle in Transylvania. Furthermore, the architecture also contains parts of buildings from various time periods and as a result displays different architectural styles such as Renaissance and…

A very fascinating part of Hungarian history is located just beneath the Buda Castle Hill called the Hospital in the Rocks. This hospital was built during WWII, when Castle District was part of the Government Quarter. It was largely used when Budapest was under siege from July 1945 and then during the 1956 Revolution to treat wounded civilians and soldiers. Between 1958 and 1962 it was expanded to withstand potential chemical and nuclear attacks during the Cold War In 1941, a section of the 6 mile stretch of interconnected caves and tunnels, was converted into a military hospital staffed from the civilian Szent János hospital. It was then reconstructed and fortified and used as an air raid shelter after the Red Army broke through the Attila Line and encircled Budapest in December 1944. It was upgraded and extended to a nuclear bunker in the early ’60s because of the Cold War. Nowadays it is an exhibition displaying the life in the hospital with wax figures as well as the history…

The Palace of Arts (Művészetek Palotája) is located next to the National Theater found in Ferencváros a district of Budapest next to Lágymányosi Rákóczi bridge and consist of a truly magnificent conglomerate of cultural venues. The spectacular building is part of the new millennium city centre complex which is found along the Danube waterfront as is also referred to by many as the Hungarian cultural centre. The compound consists of the Bela Bartok National Concert Hall, The Ludwig Museum and the Festival Theater and is thought by many to be a new European cultural hub. The three institutions were all built in parallel over a period of just over two years. Due to this coordination the compound has a beautiful look with truly unique architecture which have helped it win numerous prestigious awards such as the FIABCI Prix d’Execellence in 2006 and the FIABCI audience award in 2007 to name a few.The compound was created by the Trigranit Development Corporation and was designed by Demeter and Partners Architectural Office. The…

In the heart of Budapest is the breathe taking Margaret Island which is a definite must see for anyone visiting Hungary. The Island is found in the middle of the Danube river and is full of many family friendly recreational activities. Margaret Island has numerous landmarks with historical significance and even has two landmarks which are UNESCO protected sites. The Landmarks include a small Japanese Garden, the Centennial Memorial of 1973, The Music Well, The Music Fountain, the octagonal Water Tower of 57 m and even a small zoo. The Music Fountain and the Water Tower are both protected UNESCO protected sites. Many say that the best way to see Margaret Island is to take a jog around the Island which is one of the most spectacular and popular areas for joggers in Budapest. On the Island one can also have a great swim in either the Palatinus water park which is the largest open air swimming pool in Budapest and the Alfred Hajos sports pool. Swimming is not the…

If you can’t get enough of Unicum – the dark brown, bittersweet liqueur distilled from 40 herbs and nearly 42% alcohol – then be sure to visit the Zwack Unicum Museum to get a real taste of Hungarian culture. The Museum follows the story of a drink and a family that spans six generations following simultaneous struggles of the country and family. The Zwack family arose from the middle-European mix of the Austro-Hungarian empire. They found their obsession with Unicum in 1970. The founder, Jozef Zwack, over saw all the production of Unicum up until his death at the age of 94. By the time of his death, Zwack firm was producing about 220 liqueurs and brandies that were exported all over the world, such as, Vilmos, Kalinka, Baileys and Jonny walker. The company flourished until World War II, when the factory was bombed to dust. After the war, they re-built the factory and in 1948 the Communist government confiscated everything the family possessed, which seemed like “the end” to…

With eight major bridges spanning the Danube river and connecting Buda to Pest there are many beautiful and historic bridges that have been constructed over the years. The Árpád Bridge is the second longest of these bridges and is today the most congested bridge in Budapest. The Bridge connects northern Buda, also referred to as Óbuda, to Pest. Named after Chieftain Árpád, who was the leader of the first Magyar settlers of Hungary, the bridge spans two km and is 35.3 m wide. It contains both pedestrian and bicycle paths and also connects to Margaret Island through an entrancement approximately in the middle of the bridge. The Bridge has a very rich history and its construction began in 1939, however, due to World War II construction was not completed until 1950 once the war had ended. During that time Hungary was ruled by a communist regime and as such the bridge was initially named the Stalin Bridge. in 1958, however, the bridge was renamed Árpád Bridge which is what it’s…

Crossing the Danube, which separates Budapest into the Western and Eastern parts, the Margaret Bridge is the second oldest public bridge in Budapest. The Bridge connects the more residential Buda side of the city to the more commercial Pest side. Furthermore, the Bridge also allows access to Margaret Island which is a very popular Island amongst tourists and locals alike. On Margaret Island there are many family friendly activities with two very large swimming pools, the Palatinus water park and the Alfred Hajos sports pool, a Japanese garden, The Music Well, The Music Fountain, the octagonal water tower and a zoo. On top of all of these land marks there are also Hotels, spas, restaurants, bars, athletics center and even an open air theater which hosts many annual evens and can house more than three thousand people. Margaret Bridge has a very rich history as it was the second permanent bridge after the iconic Szecheneyi Chain Bridge, and its construction began about twenty years after the inauguration of the Chain…

Budapest is made up of two major parts, the Buda side and the Pest side which represent the western and eastern sides of the city. The two sides are separated from each other by the Danube river. Over the years many bridges have been constructed connecting Buda to Pest with eight major bridges found today. None of these bridges are more iconic than the Szechenyi Chain Bridge which finished construction in 1849. The Chain Bridge, as it’s called in short form, is a suspension bridge which is anchored on the Pest side of the river to Szechenyi Square and on the Buda side to Adam Clark Square. On the Buda side the Bridge leads to the Buda castle and is often included in iconic images of the Buda Castle Hill. On the Pest side the Bridge is adjacent to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Gresham Palace. The Szechenyi Chain Bridge was the first permanent bridge across the Danube in Budapest and was named after Istvan Szechenyi who was…

The Rákóczi bridge (former Lágymányosi Bridge) is the southernmost of the eight bridges that span the Danube In Budapest connecting the Buda side to the Pest side. More specifically it connects the national theater and Palace of Arts buildings in Pest with the Infopark of innovation and technology on the Buda side of the river. It is the second newest public bridge in the Hungarian Capital after the Megyer Bridge. The Lágymányosi bridge was initially named after the south Buda district of Lágymányosi , however, the name of the bridge was later changed to the Rákóczi Bridge named after the Rákóczi family which were a prominent Hungarian historic family. The decision to rename the bridge was carried out by the Committee of the Rural Development Ministry. The bridge is 493.4 meters long and 30.5 meters wide and boasts a very unique lighting system using mirrors and high-performance halogen reflectors to help illuminate the roadway. Construction on the bridge began in 1992 based on the plans of Tibor Sigrai and was…

The Liberty Bridge or Szabadság hid, as the locals call it, is one of eight iconic bridges that span the Danube River connecting the Buda side of the city to the Pest side. The Bridge is said by many to be the second most recognizable bridge of the eight, after the chain bridge. This is due to its very unique style which gives it an almost Gothic look which definitely makes it stand out from the rest of the bridges that span the Danube. Construction on the bridge began in 1894 and was completed in 1896. The plans for the bridge were provided by Janos Feketeházy and it was opened in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph who even inserted the last silver rivet on the Pest abutment into the iron structure. Initially the bridge was named after the emperor Franz Joseph but was later renamed the Szabadság or liberty bridge. The bridge has a length of 333.6 meters and a width of twenty meters. At the Buda end of…

Erzsébet bridge is one the eight bridges found in Budapest. The bridge, which used to be the largest suspension bridge at the time of its first construction in 1898-1903, and along with many other bridges all over the country, it was blown up at the end of World War II. The new cable bridge was finished in 1964. The bridge has no pillars, its monumental white structure serves as the gateway to downtown. The original bridge was not rebuilt, but pictures and salvaged parts of the old bridge can be seen on the grass in front of the Museum of Transport in City Park. The bridge was inaugurated on 10 October 1903. Erzsébet bridge is the third newest bridge in Budapest connecting the Buda and Pest side across the Danube. It actually spans the narrowest area of the river, covering 290m. The bridge is named after Queen Elizabeth, empress of Austria-Hungary, who was assassinated in 1898. On the Pest side of the Bridge, you can find the oldest church in…

Budapest is a city very rich in history and with many must see tourist sights; the city is divided into the Buda and Pest sides which are separated by the Danube River. Due to this layout there are a number of iconic bridges that span the Danube connecting the two sides of the city. The Petőfi Bridge or Petofi hid as the locals call it is the second southernmost public bridge in Budapest connecting the more commercial Pest side to the residential Buda side across the Danube River. It was originally called the Horthy Miklós Bridge after a famous governor Miklós Horthy, today, it is called the Petőfi bridge named after Sandor Petőfi who was a famous Hungarian poet and revolutionist. The bridge has a width of almost twenty-six meters and a length of 514 meters and connects Boraros tér to Goldmann Gyorgy. Construction on the bridge began in 1933 following the plans of Pal Algyay Hubert. The bridge was built for functional purposes rather than aesthetic, and as a…

I have mentioned tram line 2 in Budapest already among my 101 things to do in Budapest (Point 72.) as a great way to see the city with tight budget. Around 300 HUF for the ride among the Danube shore on Pest side and you will see great sights such as the Parliament, Buda Castle, Matthias Church and much more. National Geographic has collected the Top 10 tram rides across the world and place tram Nr. 2 in Budapest on place 7. This once more proves the attractiveness of the city, after having the biggest major European Festival with Sziget and the greatest bar in the world with A38 (Lonely Planet). Again Budapest is in the top lists among great metropolis such as Berlin, San Francisco, Seattle, Hong Kong, Melbourne or Amsterdam. The Tram line Nr. 2 in Budapest rides between Millenniumi Kulturális Központ and Közvágóhíd every day of the week and is an important line for commuting for North to South or the other way around. Additionally it is…

On the bank of the beautiful Danube River which separates Buda from Pest the breathtaking shoes on the Danube memorial is a popular sightseeing stop. The Promenade is a memorial which honors the countless Jewish Hungarians which lost their lives in Budapest during World War II. This memorial is a reminder of the massacre which took place in Budapest during World War II when the Fascist Arrow Cross militiamen killed countless Jewish Hungarians. The memorial has a special significance as it signifies shoes left behind on the bank. The shoes of Jewish Hungarians which were ordered to leave them behind on the side of the water. They were then shot at the edge of the water so that their bodies would fall in to the river and would be carried away. The memorial is located on the Pest side of the Danube Promenade close to the Hungarian Parliament and near the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. It is found between Roosevelt square and Kossuth Square. From its location many of the…

The Time wheel or as it is known in Hungarian the “Időkerék” is one of the world’s largest hourglasses and is truly a unique work of art; made out of steel, granite and glass the structure weighs a whopping sixty tons. The enduring materials that were used to make the Time wheel ensure that it will continue to function for many years to come. The Time wheel is situated in the heart of Hungary’s capital, Budapest, and is found behind the Palace of Art next to the City Park and historic Heroes’ Square. Glass granules flow from the upper chamber of the Time wheel to the lower chamber throughout the entire year. The flow of the sand is controlled by a computer aided mechanism. Every year on new year’s eve the glass granules or “sand” runs out and the Time wheel is then turned one hundred and eighty degrees in order for the hourglass to start all over again. The turning of the Time wheel is done manually by four…

Andrássy Avenue or as the Hungarians call it, Andrássy út, is a world heritage site and a famous boulevard in Budapest which was established back in 1872. It serves as a link between Erzsébet Square and Városliget and it boasts some of the finest shopping that Hungary has to offer. It is the site of the Hungarian State Opera House, the House of Terror, Heroes’ Square, the entrance of the City Park, The Palace of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts and also contains many fine cafes, restaurants and theaters. Andrássy út consists of four main parts, the first part is from Erzsébet tér to Oktogon which is mainly used for commercial purposes, the second part is from Oktogon to Kodály körönd which includes residential areas and universities, the third part is from Kodály körönd to Bajza utca which is also mainly residential and finally the fourth part is from Bajza utca to Városliget which contains residential areas as well as some embassies. The history of Andrássy avenue is very…

The funicular, called Budavári Sikló in Hungarian, runs from the Adam Clarke square at the foot of the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, connecting it to the Fisherman’s Bastion (Halászbástya) at the top of the hill. First opened in 1870, it was the second funicular railway operating in Europe. The funicular had been meticulously reconstructed after being completely destroyed in a World War II bombing raid. It features two tramcars, each made of three cabins stacked in a ziggurat-like fashion onto each other. The 50 meter ride takes only a couple of minutes. Adult tickets cost 900 HUF one way and 1500 HUF with return, children’s – 550 or 1000 HUF respectively. For some people these high prices are a reason to walk up instead of taking the Sikló but I think it is worth to take a ride. If taking the funicular either up or down the hill, it’s always best to be in the bottom cabin as it offers the best view of the bridge and the river below. Another…

The House of Terror is a museum containing exhibits related to the communist and fascist dictatorial regimes in the 20th century Hungary and is designed to commemorate this bloody part of Hungarian history. It is located at Andrássy út 60 in Budapest Hungary and it is one of the most popular sites on the famous Andrássy Boulevard. It is a member organization of the Platform of European Memory and Conscience and it serves as a memorial to the victims of the dictatorial regimes which ruled Hungary for many years. The building where the museum stands today was purchased in December of 2000 by the Public Foundation for the Research of Central and East European History and Society and the House of Terror museum was opened on February 24th 2002. The design of the museum was a collaboration between architects Attila F. Kovács (who designed the final look of the museums exhibition hall and the external facade), János Sándor and Kálmán Újszászy who designed the reconstruction of the exterior of the…

The Millennium Underground is another name given to the first metro line, or M1, in Budapest which was completed in 1896 and was declared a world heritage site in 2002. It is the oldest line of the Budapest Metro system. The Millennium Underground or as the locals call it, the underground, is the second oldest underground metro system in the world, second only to the London Underground. Construction on the millennium underground began in 1894 and was the first underground railway in Continental Europe. Construction was carried out by the German firm Siemens & Halske AG, employing 2000 workers and using the cut and cover method. During the millennium celebrations in Hungary the Millennium Underground was the main venue and the centre of celebrations. The millennium underground still runs today and is found running under historic Andrassy ut and it runs northeast from the city centre to City Park. It’s history is very rich and was originally conceived as a means of carrying passengers from the city centre to the…

The City Park in Budapest or as it is called in Hungarian Városliget is a large park which is situated behind Heroes’ Square and serves as a inner city recreation area with many possible activities around. In the City Park you can find many attractions from museums over recreation facilities to family friendly possibilities to spend the day. Within Városliget you can find the Városligeti Tó (City Park Lake) which can be used to go around with a boat in summer or to go ice skating in winter time. Also you can find the beautiful Vajdahunyad Castle which is host of the annual Hungarian harvest & Cheese Festival, the museum for agriculture and the Anonymus restaurant so it is a quite busy place. No doubt the most prominent places in and among the City Park are the Heroes’ Square and the Széchenyi bath which should not be missing from your trip to Budapest, they are highlights you will never forget. Coming to the program with children in Budapest around the…

The Heroes’ Square in Budapest is one of the town’s landmarks and a secured place in every guidebook about Budapest one which you can often even find it on the cover. All the tourists, expats, business travelers and also locals are thrilled each time they see this spot with the Millennium Monument, the city park next to it, the museums and all the beauty around the Heroes’ Square. Budapest is really full of historical sights and beautiful buildings but the Heroes’ Square is another dimension and it cannot be left out to not take a picture of yourself in front of it. Best shot guarantee is at night when all is illuminated. Located at the end of the beautiful Andrássy út it faces downtown Budapest and the nice living area around. The Heroes’ Square and its surrounding What many people call the Heroes’ Square is actually just the square itself but on and of course around it are wonderful sights and places to go to. On the square itself is…

The Matthias Church in Budapest is one of the most famous and most frequented sights in Budapest. In the heart of Castle District and with the Fisherman’s Bastion in front the Matthias Church is surrounded by other popular sights thus one of area of sights in Budapest which no tourist wants to miss. Additionally to the beautiful sights located up in the Castle District you can also have a walk through the historical district with its beautiful buildings and little roads. Of course the most spectacular and also most popular thing to do in the Castle District is the view and the picture you would like to take. About Matthias Church in Budapest The Matthias Church was built in the 13th century and named after King Mátyás who ruled Hungary between 1458 and 1490. The Roman Catholic church is also know as the “Church of our Lady”. In 1541 when the Turks ruled the country it was used as the biggest Mosque in the country, many ornaments and artifacts have…

The Children Train in Budapest (or as it is called in Hungarian Gyermekvasút) is a historical train from the Hungarian national railway company Máv which is still operated on a separated route and the interesting thing on it children are running it. Well not actually driving the train but all the things around like checking the tickets, working on the stations etc is done by kids from the age 8 – 16 I would guess. For the children it is a kind of hobby to do so and as we know all children would like to be a train driver once they are grown up so this is a good chance to check out what it is like to drive a train and what is connected with it, all the work around. But why I am writing this here is because the Children Train is a fantastic chance for families with kids to go on a half day trip and see the country outside of Budapest (around Normafa), drive through the woods…

The rich variety of thermal water sources is the cornerstone for thermal baths in Budapest. Brought by the turks a lot of baths were build up in and around Budapest bringing the Turkish tradition of bathing to Budapest. Nowadays Budapest has a big bathing culture with tourists from all over the world coming just for visiting one of the spots to relax. Out of the tons of natural water sources some baths established to be the best around. The most famous baths in Budapest are the Gellert bath in the Gellert hotel and the Széchenyi bath which are crowded almost every day even in the wintertime. The Gellert bath is famous because of the hotel… or was it the other way around? And the Szechenyi bath is simply amazing, beautiful and traditional. The ambience in the baths in Budapest is amazingly relaxing and recovering. After a hard working day or on the weekend a lot of people go to a bath in Budapest to recreate. But as mentioned there are not only…

The Central Market Hall in Budapest (Hungarian: Vásárcsarnok) is one of the main attraction for tourists. If you go to a foreign country I think markets are a great way to discovers the culture and food preferences of the country. If I am on holiday usually half a day is reserved to go to a market and check out what is offered there. It is probably the same in the Central Market Hall in Budapest because you find typical Hungarian things such as paprika powder, goose liver or Pálinka. At least that is what the tourists should think about Hungary and their eating habits and I guess that is similar in any other touristic market in the world, they try to make you believe what is traditional. But of course Hungary is not only about paprika, Goulash and Salami even though that is what you mainly find in Central Market Hall. Anyways this is not about the tradition of Hungarian cooking and drinking rather a subjectiv opinion about the Central…

The Hungarian State Opera in Budapest, or as it is often just called the Budapest Opera, is one of the main sights in Budapest. You will find the Opera in any tour guide and on the schedule of almost every sightseeing tour in Budapest because it is a wonderful building with a lot of history and a remarkable lineup of past events. The building itself was built between 1875 and 1884 under the supervision of Miklós Ybl. It is decorated richly from the inside and stunning from the outside therefore it is often referred to as the masterpiece of Miklós Ybl. Formerly the Hungarian State Opera House was called Budapest Royal Opera House it is still considered as one of the most beautiful and elegant opera houses in the world. Also in terms of sound quality the Budapest Opera is competing in the top league of world wide opera houses. The horse shoe shaped main hall guarantees a perfect sound for everybody enjoying one of the wonderful concerts taking place…

The Hungarian Parliament in Budapest or as it is called in Hungarian Országház is probably the most stunning building in Budapest and one of the top sights to see. Best place to see the Parliament for a perfect picture is the opposite side of the Danube on Batthyány tér which you can easily reach with the Metro Line 2 from the city center. Thousands of  people come here to take the must have picture of their trip to Budapest, probably that is as popular as the picture in front of Heroes’ Square. It is one of the largest Parliament buildings in Europe and currently the largest building in Hungary stretching 268m along the Danube. The archetype for the Parliament in Budapest was the Westminster Abbey in London. Architect of the building was Imre Steindel started the construction in 1885, went blind before the construction was finished so he never had the chance to see his own creation completed and in color. In 1904 the construction of the Budapest parliament was…

The Basilica in Budapest, originally called St. István-Bazilika (St. Stephen Basilica), is for sure one of the most stunning buildings you will see in Budapest with its amazing architecture and interior. The building is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the city. Located in the city center it is situated on St. István Tér which is a great place to experience nightlife or to have a coffee or dinner during daytime. The Basilica is named after the first King of Hungary, Saint Istvan (c. 975–1038) whose right hand is in the reliquary according to sayings. The building is 96m high which is exactly the size of the Budapest Parliament and the maximum size a building in Hungary is allowed to be. This equal height also symbolizes the balance of democracy and the church in Hungary. The construction of the St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest took over 50 years which is an interesting fact. After the planning by architect Jozsef Hild in 1845 the constructions had to be postponed…

The Fisherman’s Bastion in Budapest appears like a magical castle up on the Buda hill built from white stones with little towers just like in a fairy tail. From here you can take the best pictures overlooking Budapest, well rather Pest only, you can see all great landmarks such as the Basilica, the Andrássy Út or the Heroes’ Square all together in one picture from above. This is where many tourists come for their great picture of Budapest showing all the beauty of the city including the Margaret Island and the Danube and many of the wonderful bridges crossing it. Unfortunately over the past years parts of the Fisherman’s Bastion have been commercialized and you need to pay an admission fee of several hundred forint which is for example the case on the top round walk of the Fisherman’s Bastion, the bottom part is stuffed with seats of a café where obviously you need to pay as well to catch a look. But there are still enough places to get…

The Citadella in Budapest stands on top of Gellért Hill which is emerging on Buda side at the end of Elisabeth bridge. The famous statue which is overseeing the city is holding a palm leaf in her hands, which originally used to be a propeller blade honoring Miklós Horthy who died in a test flight when world war 2 stated. Due to his good contacts to Hitler the propeller blade has been replace by the palm leaf. The Citadella is such a famous tourist place because it offers a beautiful view especially bi night and is very popular by visitors for that one picture of Buda, Pest and the Danube in between. There are tons of buses arriving every day shipping up tourists. The fortress on which the statue is standing has been built up in 1848 shortly after the Hungarian revolution and it has been possessed by the state in late 19th century. Since then and especially nowadays it mainly serves as a tourist destination including museums, restaurants, cafés…

The Gellért Hill in Budapest is know for the incredible view over Budapest which makes it a must-see attraction. Set on the plateau is the Citadella one of the monuments of freedom in Hungary and also a very popular tourist destination as well as entertainment and leisure place for many locals. From the top you have one of the best views over Budapest just like from the Castle District and the Fisherman’s Bastion. On half way up to the hill you can find the statue of Bishop Gellért which is best visible from Erzsébet híd (Elizabeth Bridge) but you can also see it on your way up if you decide to walk up instead of taking a bus, taxi or any other wheeled vehicle. The statue was built in 1904 in exactly that place where the Gellért presumably was thrown to death. From the Citadella on top of Gellért Hill you can see Buda as well as Pest (from Fisherman’s Bastion you mainly see Pest) as well as 8 bridges…

The Castle District in Budapest is one of the most present sights in the city as it can be seen from nearly anywhere among the Danube and from Pest side, rising up next to the Danube from Erzsébet Híd to Margaret bridge. On top of the hill the Castle district is like a small old town including sights such as the Buda Castle, the Matthias Church, the Fisherman’s Bastion and many more things worth seeing like statues, historical buildings and museums. From up here you have a great view over Budapest, especially the Pest side, and can take really nice pictures for your photo album. Over the time the Buda Castle (Budai Vár) has been attacked, destroyed and rebuild several times. In the 15th century King Matthias ruled the country from the Castle District but from these old times very little remained after the Turks ruled the country. Since 1987 The Buda Castle is recognized as a UNESCO world heritage sight. Since the 13th century when the Castle District has…

Every year when christmas time starts, and that is actually already end of November, on big and frequented squares such as the famous Vörösmaty Square christmas markets are opening up. Different exihitors rent one of the booths to show their products which are mostly hand crafted little gifts but also mass produced cups, scarfs or other stuff you actually get all year long but usually buy it on a christmas fair. But the main reason for most people to go to one of the Budapest Christmas Markets is the mulled wine and some food together with friends and family. The food is the typical festival or fair food such as sausages, deep friend meat, kind of stews paired up with chips/french fries and the typical Hungarian Savanyúság which are pickeled cucumbers, cabbage, onions, paprika and almost everything else you can pickle. There are several christmas markets in Budapest, some of them are nice some of them are just a waste of space but as long as you have enough mulled…

Most Major cities are not abound by thermal springs, Budapest is unique in this regard giving the city the title of the City of Spas. These thermal springs have allowed for many baths and spas to be established in and around the capital city of Hungary. In addition to the bathing facilities and drinking cures a wide range of medical treatments and wellness services are also available. Lukacs thermal bath is one of the most important thermal baths in Budapest, offering medical treatments and spa services based on the healing powers of minerals found in the natural thermal waters. Minerals such as sodium, calcium hydrogen sulfite, calcium hydrogencarbonate, chloride, fluoride and magnesium bicarbonate are found in these thermal waters and are said to give the waters special healing powers. These minerals are recommended for the treatment of degenerative illnesses of joints, chronic and semi-acute arthritis, spinal problems and is often also recommended for post injury rehabilitation treatments. The Lukacs thermal bath is extremely rich in history with monastery baths being…

Budapest is known by many as the city of Spas, a title that is well deserved as Budapest contains some of the worlds finest and most famous thermal spas. Tourists can choose from a wide range of thermal spas which offer many wellness services such as massages, couples packages, dry and steam saunas as well as much more. The Rudas Thermal and medicinal Bath is a very unique and important spa which helps give Budapest is title as the city of Spas. The Rudas Thermal bath was established in the 16th century during the time of Turkish occupation. The Turkish influence is illustrated by the central part of the bath which includes an octagonal pool which is covered by a ten meter diameter Turkish dome. To this, a therapeutic swimming facility and a sauna were added at the end of the 19th century. This bath is unique in that it also contains a daytime outpatient hospital with a complex physiotherapeutic section which highlights the healing powers of the natural minerals…

Budapest is known by many as the city of Spas, a name it has earned due to the numerous magnificent spas located in and around the city. Spas which not only provide a relaxing retreat but also contain natural minerals believed by many to contain healing powers. It is no wonder that these beautiful spas are a favorite amongst tourists and locals alike. Kiraly Bath, or as the locals call it Kiraly fürdő, is one of the many thermal baths located in Budapest. The Bath was first built in Hungary in the second half of the sixteenth century during the time of the Ottoman rule. The Kiraly Bath is a Turkish style bath exemplified by its Turkish dome and octagonal pool and is located at the corner of Fo utca and Ganz utca. The bath contains thermal water which has many naturally occurring minerals such as sodium, calcium, magnesium bicarbonate, sulphate-chloride and fluoride. These minerals are believed by many to have healing powers and as such each year thousands of…

Budapest is known for its amazing spa baths and it is even sometimes called the city of spas. In fact, Szechenyi Spa Baths is one of the best and largest spa baths in Europe with its 15 indoor baths and 3 grand outdoor pools. Many people from all over the world come to Budapest to enjoy its natural and peaceful baths. The spa provides a relaxing, fun, affordable day and it can even be a romantic experience. It is located in the city park of Budapest and is the most visited and praised spa in Budapest. Szechenyi Baths was built in 1913 in Neo-baroque style and is named after István Széchenyi who was a Hungarian politician, theorist and writer. It was the first thermal baths on the Pest side. At the time, back in 1881, it was called “Artesian Bath”, and was only a temporary establishment. In 1927 bathing departments for men and ladies were added. In 1960 a group thermal section and a daytime outpatient hospital were added. The…

Budapest is a great city in more than one way, specifically for the baths, for which people travel from all over the world to attend. Spa and wellness lovers love Budapest for its  abounds of fountains of healing water. Gellert bath is part of the Gellert hotel located at the banks of the Danube and one of the oldest and most luxurious baths in Budapest. It was built in the preceding decades, and opened its doors in 1918. Outdoor pools were added on after, and now it combines modern technical developments with great historical heritage, giving the best of both worlds- knowledge and relaxation! Gellért thermal bath contains a total of 13 units, with two different bath sections. A large, 246 m2 effervescent bath pool with 26C water temperature, and a smaller, 60m2 sitting pool, with 36C water temperature. Outside there are 3 more pools, one 500m2 wave bath pool, with 26C water temperature, a 94m2 sitting pool  with 36C water temperature, and a 56.4m2, shallow (0.4m deep) pool, with…

Budapest is very well known for its amazing Turkish Baths dating back to the 16th century. The Rácz bath is a perfect mixture of Hungarian history and relaxation, perfect while visiting Hungary’s’ capital. The Rácz bath is 8000sqm with imperial pools and shower corridors built during the ages of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. The bath is actually listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, which is now a part of complex that includes a Rácz hotel, known as Rácz Hotel & Thermal Spa. This 5 star hotel has 67 rooms, restaurants and bars. Most of the rooms offer a breath taking views of the historical spa. The oldest portion of the Rácz bath is the Turkish Cupola, built in 1572. It had managed to stay in good enough shape to be authentically restored. Along with oldest part, there is also the most impressive, the Ybl (built by Miklos Ybl) baths and shower corridor. They were built between 1865-1870, and still partially remained after World War II, with renovations in 1960s and…

Dagály Bath is entertaining for everyone in the family. The adults can enjoy the thermal baths with a variety of offered amenities while the children take swimming lessons or play in the wave simulated pool. The bath first opened in 1948 and was expanded in 1956, with a 50-m swimming pool. During the time of the expansion, in 1956, the water was provided by a well bored in 1944, the thermal waters found under the bed of the Danube. In 1970, the water of the Széchenyi Thermal Bath was directed to Dagály Bath, thereby raising its status to the other thermal baths. It has been providing therapeutic services to its visitors ever since, such as alleviating back pain and reducing stress. In 1983, there was another addition, the 25m swimming pool, with its water filter, circulation system and a tent roof. There are currently 10 pools with a variety of offered temperatures and shapes. In 2000, the 2 large-sized thermal sitting pools situated on the territory of the Bath were…

Dandár bath is one of the many sumptuous spas located in Budapest- where wellness, architectural grandeur and centuries-long history meet. Budapest is the only thermal capital city in continental Europe, which makes it special amongst the countries. Underground the city it is full of thermal sources and the bath culture is an essential element of the Hungarian lifestyle. Dandar is unique because of the inexpensive cost to enter, so not only can you enjoy the thermal baths but you won’t have to spend too much money to enjoy it. The Dandár bath location is a low-key area, located in district IX of Budapest. The architectural plan for the public bath was prepared by Ferenc K. Császár. The bath was commissioned in 1930, then transformed in 1936. During World War II the Bath was only slightly damaged and was reopened in 1945. Originally, the bath operated as a sanitary bath for the poor workers of Ferencváros (the 9th district). It was renovated in the 70’s and now the thermal water is…

The thermal water in Budapest is not only responsible for Budapest’s famous baths but also the famous caves in Budapest. The water formed the more than 200 documented caves in Budapest. Four of the biggest and most impressive caves are visitable for tourists and interested persons.  The Budapest caves are often not integrated in a Budapest tours therefore it is necessary to organize the visit yourself. To calculate with half a day for a cave visit is realistic but of course it does not have to take so long. ￩ ￫ x × Previous Next

Budapest has 2 islands as well as one peninsula. If you think about an island on a river in the middle of a major city you might think of a small island but the Budapest islands are so big that you don’t see the shore when you are on it. It feels like you are in a big park or wood but not like an island. Next to hotels, bars, pubs, restaurants you can find swimming pools, football pitches and much more on the islands. Margit Sziget Margit sziget is the most popular island in Budapest. The island is connected to Margit bridge and Árpád bridge. Margit sziget is 2.5km long and around 0.965km² in area. Mostly it consists of the big park but is also famous for its recreational area. Additionally you can find clubs, a swimming pool, fitness centers and hotels on Margit sziget. Around the island is a approximately 5km running and biking track. In summer time you find a lot of people relaxing on the island or doing all kinds of…

After the communistic era Hungary (1946 to 1988) also got rid of their statues that the city was covered with. Marx and Stalin and other symbolic statues from all over the city where collected and built up again in a separate area which is now know as the Memento park, a statue park far outside the city center in the district Budafok in Southern Budapest. For easy access there is a bus starting at 11 a.m. from Deák tér (in July and August also at 3 p.m.) to Memento Park which including the ticket costs 4.500 HUF, regular entrance fee costs 1.500 HUF (1.000 HUF for students and Budapest Card holders). There are cheaper alternatives by Budapest public transport, details you can find here. Of course the easiest and most comfortable way to access memento Park in Budapest is by car. This outdoor museum with massive statues is a great activity for warm summer days but also enjoyable in the winter times and it is open from 10 a.m. till…