Budapest

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Quick Facts

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Coordinates

• Latitude: 47.498403
• Longitude: 19.040759

On Travellerspoint

• 50 Budapest Apartments
• 1 Budapest Campsites
• 39 Budapest Guesthouses
• 114 Budapest Hostels
• 62 Budapest Hotels

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Introduction

Sign at the Royal Palace in Budapest

© All Rights Reserved wilmar

An intoxicating blend of European and Turkish culture, Budapest, the capital of Hungary is the kind of city that has something to offer any traveller. The Danube river divides the city into two parts; on the west bank, Buda and on the east, Pest. The leafy hills of Buda are home to some of the main tourist sights at Castle Hill. The busier, more commercial Pest has plenty of tourist appeal of its own though; St Stephen's Basilica, the Opera House, the Terror Museum and the second largest Synagogue in the world among them. And after a long day of taking in the sights, nothing is more rewarding than "taking to the waters" in one of the numerous Turkish baths that the city is famous for.

Neighbourhoods

The city is divided by the Danube into two major parts.

Buda

Pest

Sights and Activities

Thermal Baths

Szehenyi Gyogyfurdo Spa

© All Rights Reserved vilmalotta

One of the undisputed highlights of Budapest are its many thermal bath houses. Be sure to allocate some of your time in the city to visiting one of these spas.

• Gellert Bath (XI Gellert ter.) - Bathe in Budapest's most famous bathhouse, in a beautiful Art Nouveau setting inside the Gellert Hotel.
• Kiraly Bath (II Fõ utca 84) - Dating back to the 1600s, these medieval steam houses offer a traditional middle eastern experience. Kiraly's main pool features a stain glassed dome. Men and women are allowed in at alternate times, so check before you go.
• Szecheny Bath (XIV Allatkerti korut 11) - Some of the biggest open air spas anywhere in Europe, right in the middle of the City Park in Pest.
• Rudas Baths (I Döbrentei tér 9) - Budapest's oldest bath house, built in 1566. Only men are allowed in this one.

Aside from these very popular bath houses, there are many more throughout Budapest, including the Csaszar, Lukacs, Margaret Island Thermal Baths and the Rácz.

Museums

• Hungarian National Museum (Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum).
• Museum of Fine Arts (Szépművészeti Múzeum).
• Museum of Applied Arts (Iparművészeti Múzeum) - The applied arts are featured in this wonderful building designed by Ödön Lechner.
• Budapest History Museum (Budapesti Történeti Múzeum).
• Hungarian National Gallery (Magyar Nemzeti Galéria).
• House of Terror (Terror Háza Múzeum).
• Museum of Ethnography
• Hungarian Natural History Museum (Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum).

Parks and Gardens

• City Park (Városliget)
• Margaret Island (Margitsziget)
• Gellért Hill
  

  Budapest from Gellert Hill

  © All Rights Reserved StephenJen

  is a 235 meter hill in Budapest which overlooks the Danube River. At the foot of the hill you will find the Gellert Hotel and Baths as well as the Gellert Hill Cave. Its a steep climb to the top but views across the city on a clear day are fantastic. Remember to get a cup of mulled wine from the vendors at the bottom of the hill if its a cold day - it will keep you warm on the way up.
• Buda Hills
• Népliget

Other

• Castle Hill
• Opera House
• St Stephen's Basilica
  

  The dome in St Stephen's Basilica

  © All Rights Reserved StephenJen

  is the equal tallest building in Budapest (equal with the Parliament Building). The Basilica can be found on the Pest side of the city and is a beautiful place to visit.
• Budapest Great Synagogue (Dohány utca 2-8. in VII. district) - Is the second largest synagogue in the world.

Virtual tour

You can take a virtual tour of Budapest including Buda castle and monuments around it. This site contains a virtual tour made with more than 120 panoramas:

• Royal palace which now houses Budapest History Museum(Királyi palota, Történeti Múzeum).
• Matthias church, the cathedral of Buda castle.
• St. Ann church, a typical 18th century church of Budapest.
• Maze tower, part of medieval fortifications.
• a typical baroque palace in Buda castle.

Free Budapest Walking Tours

• Free Budapest Walking Tours (all of the tours decribed below: see their website), Vörösmarty square M1 metro stop (in front of Gerbeaud café at the fountain). Daily at 10.30 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. Informative and entertaining daily walk around the best sights Buda and Pest has to offer, including all academically relevant and practically inevitable information that tourist could not find out on their own without the eyes of a local. Tips only (2.5 hours).
• Budapest Backpacker Free Art and Photo Tour, Andrassy ut, in front of the Opera ("Opera" stop of M1 yellow line). Daily at 11.00 a.m. Stunning art history, interesting stories and the best photo themes. The Unesco World Heritage Sites along Andrassy Avenue: Opera House, Millennium Underground and Heroes Square. Other sights include Szechenyi Termal Bath, Vajdahunyad Castle and Saint Stephen's Basilica. Tips only (2.5 hours). For the underground and bus, 2 public transport tickets will be needed (2x1 EU).
• Free Communist Walking Tour, Vörösmarty square M1 metro stop (in front of Gerbeaud café at the fountain), Every Mon, Wed, Fri 3.30 p.m. The chronology of the key events, other data and names and many undercover stories that happened behind the Iron Curtain about the daily life, brainwash process, social conditions, human rights, secret agents and the cult of the party bosses will be told. Sights of this interactive adventure include the 1956 uprising areas, the bronze bullet memorial, the flag with the hole and the eternal flame, the secret entrance of a military bunker, the last Communist memorial in the inner city and other symbols of "Soviet friendship". The most important communist relics will also be presented. Tips only (2.5 hours).
• Free Jewish Quarter and the Best Pubs Walking Tour, Vörösmarty square M1 metro stop (in front of Gerbeaud café at the fountain), Every Tue, Thr, Sat 3.30 p.m. The tour shows not only the religious traditions of the Hungarian Jews but the mutuality with the Hungarian history and evolution. It covers the history of the largest synagogue in Europe, leads through the cemetery and the memorial garden, 3 other precious places of worship and the hidden Jewish symbols of the neighborhood. The most authentic local pubs and cultural centers will also be seen which are the top meeting points for party people. Tips only (2.5 hours).

Events and Festivals

Weather

Budapest has a continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. Temperatures in summer (June to August) are between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius with nights around 15 or 16 degrees, though much hotter wetter can happen with days close to 40 degrees and warm nights. Winters are a few degrees above zero and nights are between around -3 degrees most of the time, though -20 has been recorded. Precipitation is common during all months with heavy showers in summer and snowfall in winter.

Getting There

By Plane

The country's main international airport is Budapest Ferihegy Airport (BUD/LHBP). Terminal 1 was recently refurbished and serves low cost carriers. Terminal 2A is used by MALEV Hungarian Airlines and its code-share partners, while 2B by other carriers.

All terminals can be reached by public transportation. Bus no. 200 links all the terminals with the southern end of the 3rd metro line (M3).

By Train

Budapest has international rail connections to several European capitals. The major railway stations are: Eastern Railway Station (Keleti pályaudvar), Southern Railway Station (Déli pályaudvar) and Western Railway Station (Nyugati pályaudvar). The first two are accessible by M2 (second metro line), while the last one with M3 (third metro line). International ticket offices are located at these railway stations.

Hungarian National Railways (MÁV) have a good website which includes price information on international train tickets.

By Car

By Bus

International bus services connect Budapest with several European cities. Day and night services (depending on the distance) depart from and arrive to the recently rebuilt Népliget Bus Terminal (accessible by M3 and tram no. 1). Coaches to Vienna (4 times daily) calls in at Vienna International Airport as well. For timetables and on-line ticket purchase visit the english version of http://www.volanbusz.hu

By Boat

Passenger boats' circulation is restricted both in time (from march until october), and regarding rivers' sections.
A regular hydrofoil service links Budapest with Bratislava (Slovakia) and Vienna (Austria).Mahart offers boat travel on the Danube river from Spring to Autumn between Budapest and Szentendre, Vác, Visegrád and Esztergom. Budapest Transport Limited has ferries in and around the capital only.

Getting Around

By Car

By Public Transport

Budapest's public transport system is quite effective, though locals are often doubtful of that.

The system is made up of approximately 180 bus lines, 20 tram lines and 14 trolleybus lines. The underground transportation is served by three metro lines. The first metro line (M1) is the oldest one in mainland Europe, and the second oldest (after the London one) in all of Europe.

Other means of transport include a funicular (to the castle hill) a cogwheel railway (to Széchenyi Hill in the Buda Hills), the children's railway in the Buda Hills, a chair lift, and a temporary boat service during summer time on the Danube river.
More info on timetables and ticket prices on the BKV website.

By Foot

By Bike

Eat

Trofea Grill Restaurant has two locations which are run with the same premise. A great, reasonably priced buffet where you can eat as much as you can of the diverse foods on offer, for a fixed price. High quality food at a great price! Addresses: 1145 Budapest, Erzsebet Kiralyne, utja 5 and also at 1117 Budapest Hauszmann Alajos and Szeremi ut corner.

Drink

Sleep

Budget

Mid-Range

Upscale

A great 4 star hotel in Budapest is the Hotel Ambra - Close to the Opera House, the Basilica, and the Jewish quarter - the home to the largest synagogue in Europe. Address: H-1077 Budapest, Kis Diófa utca 13.

Work

Learn

• Budapest University of Technology and Economics
• Budapest University of Economic Sciences and Public Administration

Keep Connected

Internet

There are plenty of internet cafés to be found in Budapest, with the concept being rather fashionable. Prices vary, but generally 100 HUF will buy you around 10 minutes and it's about 200 HUF for 30 minutes.

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

Hungary's calling code is 36 and Budapest phone numbers, mobiles excepted, start with 06 1 regardless of where the call originates from. It is cheapest to place calls in the evening, weekends or on public holidays.

Public phones can be found throughout the city and are operated by 10-, 20-, 50- and 100-forint coins or T-Com phone cards. Phone cards can be purchased at the usual outlets; kiosks, post offices and petrol stations among others.

There are also numerous cheap phone cards to call internationally and are available at assorted outlets. These includes T-Com, EZ Phone, Bellafone and plenty of others offering various discount rates. It's smart to check the current rate to the destination you plan to call the most and compare this with other cards. Also compare the cost for establishing a connection as this can make a big difference in the real 'per minute' cost.

To call internationally, dial 00, wait for the tone and then dial the country code, town/city code and the rest of the number.

Post

Post offices can be found throughout Budapest and generally are open between 8am and 6pm. Some of the main post offices do have longer opening hours, including the following:

• Moszkva Square Post Office, XII. Krisztina út 6-8, Mon-Fri 07-20 Sat 07-14.
• Nyugati Train Station Post Office, VIII. Teréz krt. 51, Mon-Fri 07-20 Sat 07-18.
• Keleti Train Station Post Office, VI. Baross tér 11/C, Mon-Fri 07-21 Sat 07-14.