Budapest is a dynamic city that has just awoken from a long sleep. You will be taken on a journey back into time.
The mighty Danube flows through Budapest. The river divides the city into two parts: Buda and Pest. Buda is hilly, has a mediaeval atmosphere and was home to most of the aristocracy. Pest is flat, has a nineteenth-century atmosphere and was the district inhabited by the bourgeoisie. The two worlds were linked by seven bridges, each with its own ambience.
Only a few statues in Budapest still commemorate the Russian period. Most of the statues of this period have been replaced by statues of Hungarian heroes. In Szobor Park at the border of the city, there is a collection of communist statues that once dominated the city. Most historical architectural styles are represented in Budapest. The hotchpotch of styles is clearly shown in the fairytale Vajdahunyad Castle.
Erzsébetváros
Introduction
The Seventh District’s old Jewish
quarter, bordered by Király utca, is
one of the city’s most interesting
neighbourhoods. Look out for seasonal
open-air bars inside courtyards.
Hotels
The Soho Hotel
(64 Dohány utca, tel. 1 872 8292,
sohoboutiquehotel.com, rooms from
€125/HUF 35,000) is an extraordinarily
narrow and sleek design hotel.
Cultural
Head to Király
utca to check out modern art galleries
such as ACB (76) and Inda (34).
Restaurants
Koleves (35 Kazinczy utca,
tel. 1 322 1011) is an adorable restaurant
with a garden bar and live performances.
Pubs
The many characteristic
(and smoky) bars include Bar Ladino (53
Dob utca) and Ellátó (2 Klauzál tér).
Shops
Bolt (42-44
Kertész utca) stocks accessories and
home décor from up-and-coming
Hungarian artists. Látomás (16-18
Dohány utca) sells men’s and women’s
clothing by a French designer and
longtime Budapest resident.
Belváros
Introduction
The city centre holds many of the
grandest buildings – the Parliament, the National Museum and the Museum
of Ethnography – while green spots like
Szabadság tér offer shade and cafés.
Hotels
Gerlóczy Rooms de
Lux (1 Gerlóczy utca, tel. 1 501 4000,
gerloczy.hu, rooms from €85/HUF
23,800) is a small boutique hotel above
a café owned by a cheesemonger, while
Boutique Hotel Zara (6 Só utca, tel.
1 577 0700, zarahotels.com, rooms
from €72/HUF 20,000) is a design hotel
with a sister property on the way.
Cultural
After looking at
St Stephen’s mummified hand, climb to
the top of St Stephen’s Basilica (Szent
István tér) for stellar views.
Restaurants
Café Kör (17 Sas utca, tel.
1 311 0053) serves consistently good
modern Hungarian bistro dishes.
Borssó Bistro (14 Királyi Pál utca,
tel. 1 789 0975) is a newer bistro,
with frequent live jazz.
Pubs
Boutiq’bar (5 Paulay Ede
utca) is the best spot for artisan
cocktails, while Most! (17 Zichy Jeno
utca) has more of a Bohemian bent.
Shops
Create and paint
your own ceramics and have them glazed
at Made By You (11 Királyi Pál utca).
Margitsziget
Introduction
Margaret Island lies between Buda and
Pest. The park is an active place, with
a jogging path, small zoo, many gardens,
bike rentals and a musical fountain.
Hotels
You’ll feel like you’re in
a country lodge at the Danubius Grand
Hotel Margitsziget (Margitsziget, tel.
1 889 4700, danubiushotels.com, rooms
from €85/HUF 24,000). Next door,
the Danubius Health Spa Resort
Margitsziget (tel. 1 889 4700, danubius
hotels.com, rooms from €85/HUF
24,000) has an extensive thermal spa.
Cultural
The island has
two swimming complexes: the Hajós
Alfréd Sportuszoda is where Olympians
train, while the Palatinus Strandfürdo
is more family oriented.
Restaurants
Holdudvar (tel. 1 236 0015,
holdudvar.net) is an outdoor restaurant
and bar, with art exhibitions and an
open-air movie theatre.
Óbuda
Introduction
‘Old Buda’ has a small historic area,
dwarfed by Socialist-era high-rises.
Hajógyári Sziget (an island park) is also
worth exploring.
Hotels
The Ramada Plaza
Budapest (94 Árpád Fejedelem útja, tel.
1 436 4100, ramadaplazabudapest.hu,
rooms from €121/HUF 34,000) is the
city’s only five-star with thermal baths.
Cultural
The Kiscelli Museum
(108 Kiscelli utca) is a secluded villa with
a large collection of artefacts.
Restaurants
Kéhli Vendéglo (22
Mókus utca, tel. 1 368 0613) is one of
Budapest’s most traditional, old-style
restaurants. Pastrami (93-99 Lajos utca,
tel. 1 430 1731), owned by Hungarian
TV chefs, serves deli-style food.
Shops
Pick up edible
souvenirs at Culinaris (6-8 Perc utca),
a high-end food shop.
Population
Currency
Telephone
Ferihegy International Airport
Bus: The No 93 bus leaves Terminal 1 and takes about 20 minutes, leaving every half hour from 4.55am to 8.50pm. Tickets cost €1 /HUF 230. A travel card gives you unlimited use of Budapest’s buses, trams, metro and cog-railway. A one-day card costs €5/HUF 1,350, a one-week card costs €15/HUF 3,600.
Taxi: A taxi from the airport to the city will take about 30 minutes and there’s a fixed price of €17/ HUF 4,200. Go to the Zona Taxi window at arrivals.
Tourist information: Located at 7 Március 15 tér (tel. (0)1 266 0479, www.budapestinfo.hu).