Budapest Tourism - Travel to Budapest
Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. Home to some 1.8 million inhabitants, it is the country's commercial and administrative center..
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Understand Budapest Tourism
From the rolling hills of Buda to the organized, gridlike layout of Pest, these two very different cities united by convenience into one city offer the traveller a Viennese-style aura at half the price. But Budapest is still very much its own city. The people are charming, and for the most part very helpful. They are proud of what this ancient capital has to offer, and proud of their contributions to European culture, especially in the field of music, a universal language one doesn't need to speak to appreciate.
Get into Budapest
Get around in Budapest
Travel to Budapest By Train
Budapest's subway, consisting of three main lines, is the oldest in continental Europe. The yellow line (going toward Mexikoi ut.) sometimes still uses old wooden metro cars, and is a fun change from the ordinary, Soviet-style steel metros seen elsewhere in Central Europe. Sometimes called the Millenary Metro, because it was built to celebrate the thousandth year of Hungarian nationhood in 1896 along with the Millenary Monument, the yellow line was recently renovated for its hundredth anniversary. The stations covered in white and dark brown-red ceramic tile signs are the originals. They are easily distinguished from the Soviet-style metro stations and cars on the other two lines.
Discount Cards
The Budapest Card is an excellent discount card for travel within the city. You can get it in 2 or 3 day versions, and along with allowing free travel on all public transport, it also gives you discounts at museums, restaurants etc. http://www.budapestinfo.hu/en/card/main.html
See Budapest
Museums - Budapest Tourism
- The National Gallery (Nemzeti Galéria, in palace wings B, C and D) houses an astounding collection of paintings. For those interested in Hungarian artists, this is the museum to visit. The exhibition of nineteenth-century Hungarian paintings is most notable.
- Museum of Fine Arts (Szépművészeti Múzeum). 41 Dózsa György útca (Located at yellow metro stop Hosok tere.), tel. (36-1) 1429-759. Open daily except Mondays 10a-6p. The Museum of Fine Arts has an incredible range of European artwork from Greek and Roman times to the present. It is best known for its Spanish collection, the largest accumulation of Spanish paintings outside Spain. There is a large Greek and Roman collection, an Egyptian collection, much Italian (also French, German and Dutch) sculpture, including a statue of a man on horseback by da Vinci, and a very large collection of 10,000 drawings and 100,000 engravings rivalled only by similar collections in Berlin.
- Ethnographic Museum (Néprajzi Múzeum) building Kossuth Lajos tér 12 (across from Parliament). Sometimes said to resemble the Reichstag (parliament) building in Berlin, the white neo-Renaissance façade complements the Gothic-style Parliament building just across the square. Do not miss the richly decorated interior, including the ceiling frescoes by Károly Lotz (who also frescoed the State Opera's ceiling). The building was originally used to house the Supreme Court and chief public prosecutor's office, explaining some of the motifs used in the frescoes.
Other Attractions
- State Opera House Andrássy ut. 22. Built between 1875-1884 by the premier Hungarian architect of the day, Miklós Ybl, who also worked on nearby St Stephen's Cathedral.
- Great Synagogue and the Jewish Museum Dohány ut. 2-8. This synagogue is unique both because of its size, and its two onion-shaped domes, which are forty-three meters high. Onion domes are typically found on Catholic churches, and Hungary is a very Catholic country. Perhaps Ludwig Förster, the architect, meant for it to blend in a bit.
- St. Stephen (István) Cathedral Though often called "the Basilica" for short due to its clerical rank as a basilica minor, it actually is shaped like a Greek cross, with two steeples and a dome on top. Designed by Miklós Ybl and Jószef Hild, and built 1851-1905, it is as high as the Parliament building -- it's the highest church in Budapest. Walking in the main entrance, after climbing a series of stairs, the viewer is first greeted with a relief of St Stephen, then a mosaic of Christ's resurrection. There are many notable mosaics in this church, especially those within the dome designed by Károly Lotz, best known for his ceiling frescoes in the State Opera and Ethnographic Museum. While designed here, the mosaics were made in Venice. The foremost Hungarian artists of the day designed the artworks within St Stephen's, among them Bertalan Székely, Gyula Benczúr and two men also known for their work in the Opera, Mór Than and Alajos Stróbl. Here Stróbl contributed the central statue of St Stephen on the main altar.
- Statue Park Located at the corner of Balatoni utca and Szabadkai utca (From the blue metro line stop Ferenciek tere, take the 7-173 red-blue bus to Kosztolányi Deszo tér, then the yellow Volan bus from stall 6.). tel. (36-1) 227-7446. Open 10a-sunset every day except 1 Dec-28 Feb, when it is open weekends only, 10a-dusk. Tickets 200 forints. The Statue Park, was first conceived by the literary historian László Szörényi in 1989 when he suggested the various Lenin statues from all over Hungary could be gathered into one "Lenin garden." According to Ákos Eleôd, the architect: "This park is about dictatorship. And at the same time, because it can be talked about, described, built, this park is about democracy. After all, only democracy is able to give the opportunity to let us think freely about dictatorship." Possible souvenirs are t-shirts which poke fun at communism, German Trabant car models, CDs of Hungarian communist fight songs, reproduction Hungarian Communist Party membership booklets and kitschy postcards of old communist advertisements. The park is -perhaps appropriately- in a badly-kept state, and signs are in Hungarian only. http://www.szoborpark.hu
- Margaret Island -- Margitsziget Margaret Island is connected to the city by two bridges: Árpád Bridge to the north, and Margaret Bridge to the south. The site of a wartime tragedy when exploding dynamite killed hundreds on a busy afternoon. Today, the entire island is a park with more than ten thousand trees, most of them planted by various Habsburg gardeners to stop soil erosion during floods. At the Margaret Bridge entrance to the island, there is a fountain and the Centenary Monument (by István Kiss, 1972), which was built for the hundredth anniversary of the union of the cities Buda and Pest.
- Fisherman's Bastion -- Halászbástya This is the large white tower and lookout terrace complex you see hanging over the side of Castle Hill beneath the Matyas Church. It was built between 1890-1905, and is named after both the medieval fishmarket once nearby and the Guild of Fishermen who defended this section of the wall during past wars. The Fisherman's Bastion with its spectacular view of the river is a favorite spot for teenage couples making out.
- St Matthias Church -- Mátyás templom Originally the Buda German community's parish church, its official name is the "Church of the Blessed Virgin". The popular Hungarian king, Mátyás, held both of his weddings here, and so it is known as the Matthias Church. Today an eclectic mix of styles, the church was started in the thirteenth century. The main apse, which ends in a seven-sided polygon, is in French style and is the earliest extant section. The central section was built about 100 years later. During the Turkish occupation of Budapest, all the furnishings were removed and the painted walls whitewashed to cover art unacceptable to the Islamic eye. Once returned to the Catholic community, it was Baroquified, or covered with Baroque ornamentation that obscured the original style like many other Central European churches were, and the rose window was bricked up. In the last century, between 1873 and 1896, Frigyes Schulek began a major renovation and restoration of the Matthias Church.
- Parliament building (Országház) Kossuth Lajos tér. The only way inside the building is via organized tour. Tour times: 10a Wed-Sun (when Parliament is in session), 10a and 2p Mon-Fri, 10a and 12:30p Sat, 10a Sun. Admission: 800 ft adults, 300 ft children. The Hungarian National Parliament building is the largest in Europe, designed by architect Imre Steindl for the 1896 millennial celebrations, and built 1880-1902. It is based on England's Parliament building, and supposedly is one meter wider and longer than that august building, just a little bit of architectural conceit. The building is so immense, the weak alluvial soil along the Danube had to be reinforced with a 7-foot-deep concrete foundation. Not surprising, as the building is 300 yards long and 140 yards wide, with 691 rooms and 12.5 miles of corridors. The lacy white Gothic froth covering the building is actually educational: 88 statues representing Hungarian rulers, princes and military commanders. These statues are small and cannot be readily distinguished from the ground, but they are there.
- National Museum -- (Nemzeti Museum, Múzeum korut 14/16. Hours Tue-Sun 10a-6p Mar-Oct, 10a-5p Nov-Mar. Tel. (36-1 138-2122) Not to be confused with the Hungarian National Gallery (Nemzeti Galéria), located in Buda Castle.
Founded in 1802 by Count Ferenc Széchenyi, whose manuscript, map, numismatic and print collections formed its initial core holdings, the Hungarian National Museum was designed and built by the popular architect Mihály Polláck between 1837-1847. When it opened, it was the fourth largest museum in Europe. However, it was far enough from the city proper that sometimes loose cattle from the weekly Kálvin tér market wandered into the museum!
Before entering, take note of the museum's exterior, a fine example of neoclassical architecture, with an exceptional portico. Eight Corinthian columns support a frieze with an ornamental cornice and a large pediment. The pediment features the allegorical figure of Pannonia (Pannonia was the Roman name for the Hungarian lands) sitting with the Hungarian coat of arms on her shield, surrounded on either side by Science and Art.
The exterior of the museum is also significant for what has taken place there. During the 1848 revolutions that swept through Central Europe, on 15 March, Sándor Petőfi (perhaps Hungary's most famous patriotic poet) recited his emotionally gripping poem called "National Song" to a large crowd from the left pillar of the National Museum's external staircase. This poem pleaded with the nation to liberate Hungary from the Habsburg oppression. Not everyone was impressed. The director of the museum recorded in his diary that a noisy mob had gathered outside the building that day, disturbing his work so much that he left for home.
Major acquisitions and collections donated by the Kubinyi, Pyrker, Marczibányi and Jankovich families rapidly expanded the museum's holdings. Late in the 19th century some collections were separated from the general holdings to form new specialized museums such as the Museum(s) of Fine Arts, Applied Arts, Natural Science and Ethnography. Today the museum's five major divisions (archaeology, Middle Ages, modern era, numismatics, historical paintings), two permanent exhibitions, and archaeological library (with over 100,000 volumes!) make it one of the richest museums in Central Europe.
The museum's most popular exhibit is located in the rotunda on the first floor: the Hungarian crown jewels. After World War II, the medieval crown (last used in 1916) was taken out of the country by escaping Hungarian fascists, ending up in the United States. President Carter returned the crown to the Hungarian state in 1978, accompanied by a large American delegation. http://origo.hnm.hu/english.
Castle Hill
Castle Hill was first settled in the thirteenth century, after a Mongol attack led Buda's citizens to seek a more easily defended neighborhood. The royal Hungarian court also decided to move, to the southern end of the hill. By the fourteenth century, there were an estimated 8,000 residents in Buda. After a long (1541-1686) period of Turkish rule, a 75-day siege left Buda in ruins, and Austrian authorities counted a mere 300 people left. This would not be the last heavy attack on Castle Hill: in 1849 and 1945 the Baroquified area once more came under attack. A completely surrounded German force held out for almost a month in January 1945, in the thirty-first siege of the city.
- A famous site on Castle Hill for students is the statue of Hussar general András Hadik, a favorite of Empress Maria Theresia. The statue, designed by György Vastagh Jr. was presented to the public in 1937. The general is on horseback; take a close look at the horse's testicles. They are shiny yellow, unlike the patina on the rest of the statue. Engineering students have for years polished the horse testicles on the morning of difficult exams, supposedly for luck.
- On the corner of Országház utca and Kapisztrán tér is the Mary Magdalene Tower (Mária Magdolna torony), part of a 13th-century Franciscan church used by Hungarian speakers. Under Turkish rule, this was the only church allowed to remain Christian: all others were converted into mosques. The chancel was destroyed in World War II and has not been rebuilt except for one stone window, as a memento.
- At the northern end of Castle Hill is the Vienna Gate (Bécsi Kapu). This was the market for non-Jewish merchants in the Middle Ages, and is where all four streets that run the length of the hill converge. The Vienna Gate inspired a typical Hungarian parental retort for children who talk back -- they will be scolded with "Your mouth is as big as the Vienna Gate!"
- At Úri utca 9 there is the entrance to an underground labyrinth, about 10 kilometers in length, which stretches under Castle Hill. The caves were joined together by the Turks for military use. Today, there is a tour that takes visitors through a section about 1.5 kilometers long. Guided tours in four languages start out every 10-20 minutes: visitors are not allowed in alone since it is very easy to get lost.
- Probably the most popular attraction on Castle Hill is, of course, the Royal Palace (Várpalota). It is unusual in that it has never actually been occupied by the Hungarian royal family, and is more of a pseudo-historical mishmash, like the Mátyás-templom.
The first palace, in Gothic style, built and added onto over 300 years, was destroyed by the Christian army that liberated Buda from the Turkish occupation in 1686. In 1715 work started on a completely new, smaller Baroque palace, but over the years more and more space was added to the palace until it reached its current length (304 meters). The palace, in neo-Baroque style, had many added wings (which now house the National Gallery, among other treasures). Reconstruction after the various indignities suffered during rebellions of the nineteenth century finished in 1904. This reconstruction, by Miklós Ybl and Alajos Hauszmann, was undone by German troops holding out at the end of WWII. The roof fell in entirely and most of the furniture was destroyed.
A Baroque façade which had never existed before and a real dome (there had previously been a faux dome with attic space beneath) were added to the building. Today the building houses three large museums and the National Széchényi Library.
Do Budapest
- The Palatinus Outdoor Baths, on the Buda side, have three pools (totalling 17.5 acres) filled with therapeutic water. In front of the baths is a beautiful rose garden, and nearby, an open-air stage where opera and ballet performances are held, plus an open-air cinema used during the summer. At the northern end of the island is the Grand Hotel and Hotel Thermal, which offer medical treatment and spa facilities.
- Gellért Hotel and Baths (Kelenhegyi utca 4, at the base of Gellért Hill). Open 6a-7p daily. 1200 ft entry fee, therapeutic massage 450 ft extra. While the Kiraly baths may be a more authentic Turkish bath experience (and there are many thermal baths in Budapest), those at the Gellért can't be beat for style. This is probably the finest Art Nouveau pool in Europe, and the baths are beautiful as well as relaxing. There are separate Turkish-style thermal baths for men and women, which encompass several different areas: the soaking pool (which is about body temperature), the showers, the sauna and the cold pool (designed to scare the living daylights out of one's body after it's been happily lounging in the warmth). The young massage therapists mean business. And yes, everyone in the baths are nude. The baths are really the last vestige of Turkish culture in Budapest, left over from their occupation of the city. Budapest does not have a large Turkish culture the way a city like Berlin or Munich does: instead the Hungarians have modified and molded this tradition into something of their own.
- Cinemas are a favourite pastime. Not just the big American blockbusters showing in badly subtitled versions all over the continent, but also smaller art films most people in their countries of origin haven't seen. Films are almost always subtitled rather than dubbed, which makes movie-going convenient for non-Hungarians. http://www.budapestsun.com/movies.asp
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Eat - Travel to Budapest
Local specialties include aprikás, gulyás, Lake Balaton pike-perch (fogas), pörkölt (a goulash-like stew with lots of onions), stuffed cabbage, and liberal use of paprika.
- Szent Jupát Sörözô & Étterem restaurant -- near Moskva ter metro. Retek utca 16, tel. 212-29-23
- Ruszwurm (Coffeehouse) -- Szentharomsag utca 7, tel. (36-1) 175-5284. Open daily 10a-7p. This tiny coffeehouse in the Castle District is the oldest continually operating café in the city. As a coffeehouse it dates to the 1820s, and its original furnishings are still intact. Because the furniture is original, this may be one of the only non-smoking cafés in the city! On a historical note, this location has sold sweets of some kind or another since the Middle Ages, when it was a gingerbread shop. The same family has been operating Ruszwurm since the early years of this century, and all the cakes are made on-premises.
- New York Kaveház, Erzsebet korut 9/11, tel. (36-1) 322-1648, open daily 9a-midnight. This is the complete opposite of the Ruszwurm: absolutely over the top ornate, shiny, dazzling. The New York has been a writer's haven for years -- before WWII writers would often come to "work" first thing in the morning, buy some coffee and write in the café all day until it was time to go home. This café was rammed by a Russian tank in the 1956 Hungarian uprising, and the damage has still not been repaired! Obviously, the Russians knew what would sting the most -- damaging a popular coffeehouse! Update: As of September 2003, the Kaveház was closed for renovation. Check before going there.
Budget
- Govinda-Klub, Vigyázó Ferenc u. 4, tel. 06-70-234 23 88, open weekdays from midday - 9 pm, from the Chain Bridge exit into Pest, turn left into Apáczai u. then take the second right. Aaah, Hare Krisna, the saviour of vegetarians and budget-conscious travellers across Eastern Europe. Get your fill of tasty and very reasonably priced Indian and Italian dishes, ranging from soups (350 ft) to lasange (500 ft) or sample a bit of everything with the set menu (1200 ft). The staff are helpful and some speak English. Highly recommended.
Mid-range
Splurge
Drink
- Egri Bikavér (Bull's Blood of Eger) is a strong red Hungarian wine which supposedly saved a clever Hungarian girl from her fate with a Turkish sultan. During the time of the Turkish occupation, it is said a young girl was summoned to become a member of the local sultan's harem. Not wanting this fate for his daughter, her father gave her a bottle of Egri Bikavér to take to the sultan. He told her to tell the ruler it was bull's blood, and would make him invincible. The sultan, being Muslim, was unaccustomed to alcohol, and proceeded to pass out, leaving the daughter unharmed. That's a story - but in real life, be careful with Egri Bikavér. It's excellent, but strong stuff!
- Unicum is a strong digestif made from a secret mix of over 40 herbs. It comes in small bottles and has a very strong and unusual taste. Try it at your own risk.
- Hungarian House of Wine. I. Szentháromság tér 6. Open daily 12 PM to 8 PM. For a reasonable price you get to wander around their cavern and taste selections from over 55 different kinds of wine. A great place to get a sampler before you go shopping for wine. You even get to taste a variety of the divine Tokaji dessert wines, and will get a souvenir glass at the end. Use your Budapest Card for extra discounts. http://www.budapestinfo.hu/en/restaurants/main.html#4.2.
Sleep - Budapest Tourism
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External Links for Budapest Tourism
