Budapest Guide
1. Sights of
Budapest
2. Recommended Restaurants in
Budapest
3. Recommended Clubs and
Pubs in Budapest
4. Those relaxing thermal
baths...
5. Useful tips for travelers
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The city itself
could be divided into certain touristic parts, just like the Castle
District,
Gellért Hill,
Downtown,
Andrássy Boulevard,
City Park
and the Margaret Island.
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The Castle District
This is the most old and historical area of Budapest. On
the top of the Castle Hill named "Várhegy", defended by the stone walls,
gives an ancient feeling for visitors. The royal palace has been
established here at the 13th century and holds the National Art Gallery,
the Ludwig Museum and the Budapest Historical Museum present days.
Other sights to see here: Matthias Church, Fishermen's Bastion, Castle
Labyrinth and the Funicular. If you take it down from the hill, you can
get easily to the Pest side
downtown across the Chain Bridge.
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Gellért Hill
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Named after a monk who was thrown down from this hill by barbarians,
became a saint after for his sacrifizing mission for Christianity. His
statue is located on the northern side of the hill, just next to the white
Elizabeth Bridge. Under this bridge you can find a mysterious black metal
door where you can find some of the healthiest spring water from the hill;
it stinks more as it is more healthy stuff and for a ridiculous price you
can take it home if you have brought a bottle with you.
On the hilltop you can find the Citadel stands since 1849, it was built by
Austrians after the fall of the Independence War 1848-49. There is a small
museum inside, and of course you can walk around this fortress. Next,
there is the Statue of Liberty, holds an olive-branch, preaches for the
peace.
The best sight to all Buda and Pest is from here, obviously because this
is the highest point of the City.
Down on the hill on the other side you can get to the Cave Chapel, and to
the famous Gellért thermal bath giving you some relaxing hours inside the
wide selection of pools and massage.
From here you can get to the Market Hall and the Downtown area across the
green Ferenc József bridge.
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Downtown
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The
most central and most expensive area magnets the most of the tourism in
Budapest. Almost everyone who visited Budapest have seen Váci utca as well,
or walked around the Duna-korzó. The center is definitely the Deák square,
from here you can get to Vörösmarty square, then down to the south you can
walk down on Váci street or on the paralel Korzó until the Market Hall,
then upon Muzeum körút you can see the National Museum. Next to Astoria
there is the biggest public-open synagogue of Europe with the museum of
the local jewish community. Back to Deák tér, then up to north there lies
the St. Stephen's Basilica, holds the 'Holy Right Fist' relic, which is of
St. Stephen, the first king of Hungary, who ruled the country between
997-1038. You can get a nice sight from the tower, or take a look in the
treasury which is small, but more ancient relics could be fund there.
towards on north you can find the Parliament with the Royal Crown, or on
north-east you can get to the
City Park along Andrássy Boulevard.
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Andrássy Boulevard
Between the Downtown and City Park, there lies a long, wide road with
plenty of trees, giving a kind of feeling of Paris and the Champs Elysées.
This area is full of well-renovated palaces and villas, but not this is
the only thing to see here. There is the National Opera House, what had
the same architechturer of the St Stephen's Basilica. Towards the City
Park you can find the octagonal square of Oktogon, a lively area with full
of pubs, restaurants and cafés. After it you can get to the House of
Terror museum, a shocking exhibition shows something about the nazi and
communist secret police known ÁVO & ÁVH with some photos and relics of
former prisoners of labour camps. The ticket includes the audioguide as
well.
Passing this museum you can get to the amazing palaces at Kodály Kőrönd,
then to the Heroes' square, which is the entering monument to the City
Park.
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City Park
As a
relaxing park area with plenty of trees and a lake, this place is popular
for the citizens of Budapest as well. Of course we shouldn't forget about
the sights and museums what you can find here.
First of all there is the Millenary monument for the heroes of Hungary, was
built in 1896, for the celebration of 1000 years after the settlement of
Magyars in Hungary. Left of it there is the Museum of Fine Arts, on the
right the Exhibition Hall, on the far-right there is the City Lake which has
double functions: During the summer you can rent a boat to row in the lake,
during the winter it is an open skating area.
Passing the bridge behing the statues you can get to the Castle of
Vajdahunyad what holds the Agricultural Museum, but the building itself is
worth to see as well. There is the Museum of Traffic in the nearby.
On the other side of the road after the bridge there you can find the
Széchenyi Thermal Spa, one of the most popular places in Budapest. Continue
your way you can meet with the Zoo, the National Circus and the Amusement
Park, which is not a Disneyland
but you can have fun there. The City Park itself is a quiet place usually,
but such festivals like the Labour Day and some
concerts create a lots of people there. |
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Margaret Island
Between Buda
and Pest, there lies a piece of peace on an island north of the city, named
after Saint Margaret, who lived in the monastery what's ruins can be still
visited.
Favourite place of joggers, bicyclers, and swimmers, ideal for romantic
appointments for couples or just for those who would like to breath some
fresh air in the middle of the town.
There are some sights what shouldn't be missed like the fountain what is
delighted and accompanied with classical music, or the Japanese garden for
example. During the summer the Palatinus swimming park offers some fun with
its slides and wave-pools, and some plains for taking sunbath. |
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Fatal (Wooden Plate)
Tel.2662607
Open:
Mon-Sun: 11.30-02.00
Address:
V., Váci utca 67. |
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With no
knowledge of Hungarian, the name 'Fatal' on a restaurant's door might make
you think the chef was poisoning the soup. Fatal actually means 'wooden
plate', on which many of the dishes are served.
The decor is nothing special, everything here is secondary to chowing down
on gigantic slabs of meat. It is surprising there haven't been more 'fatal'
coronaries carried out on a stretcher considering the generosity of the
portions.
Pork knuckle and a sliced beef dish named after Brassov in Romania costs HUF
1080. Cabbage stuffed with minced meat and rice is a traditional Hungarian
dish while fried cheese keeps the veggies quiet. Strapacska is a
Slovak dish combining noodles, cottage cheese and bacon, best appreciated
during the colder months. Traditional fish soup from Szeged costs HUF 1190
and trout is HUF 1690. Add on another HUF 800 per person for drinks.
Definitely
recommended to call them ahead for reservation, otherwise it could happen
you can't get in as they are full very often.
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Sir
Lancelot
Tel. 302-4456
Open:
Mon-Sun: 12am - 01am
Address:
VI., Podmaniczky 14.
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"Dropping in
on your way, be my guest my sir, where you can have a little rest and be
satisfied forgetting the noise of fights.
Give the respect to my good cook who has been drugged here from the castle
of Sir Lancelot for your taste and who is responsible for your satiety with
his head.
Let's amuse and forget tournaments, women, kids but trust in my page when
lifting your cup you lie on your back in my court.
Enhance our reputation as is meet and drop in to me another time for a cup
of wine ."
I suppose
there is no more required to explain what kind of satisfaction to eat here.
Medieval design, clothes, music and theme shows. Eat with your own hands or
ask one from the waiter.
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Box utca
Tel. 354-1444
Open:
Mon-Sun: 12am - 01am
Address:
VI., Bajcsy-Zs. út 21.
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The owner is
very famous in Hungary, if you know just a little bit about boxing, you
should have heard about "Koko" Istvan Kovacs, professional feather-weight
box player. Among many boxing matches he won, he has gold medals of olimpic
champion (1996), european champion twice (1991,1996), world champion twice
(1991, 1997) and was a world rank leader in 1991, 1992 and 1996. I'm telling
you this because all his medals, certifications, boxing clothes and a huge
amount of pictures you can discover on the walls when you are there.
This is not the only point to mention this restaurant, as it has a sportsbar
with a lot of screens hanging on the ceiling. Not the cheapest place though,
but comparing to Western European prices, it's still all right.
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Kulacs
Hungarian Restaurant
Tel. 322-3611
Open:
Mon-Sun: 10am - 12pm
Address:
VII., Osvát utca 11. |
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Once you are
in Hungary, you have to try at least some specialities of the local cuisine.
Believe it or not, Hungarian cuisine is not only about goulash! So how can
we describe it in general?
Something which is fat, spicy, but damn good! It is right to all the dishes
we have. Okay maybe not for the pastries...
This
restaurant is recommended for it's hearty menus, mid-range prices,
convenient location and traditional decoration. I also have to recommend
this place because of the Gipsy musicians with folklore music they play
every night from 7pm. They can also play any kind of your local music for
buying drinks for the whole band. Just keep that in mind when you want some
songs of your choice!
The other wing of the restaurant is the home for the Vera Jazz Cafe, some
really good musicians play there occasionally.
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Gandhi
Vegetarian Restaurant
Tel. 269-1625
Open:
Mon-Sat: 12.30-22.30
Address:
V., Vigyázó Ferenc u. 4. |
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Underneath
Lou Lou's French restaurant, a calm and enterprising young man named Albert
Toth has set up a restaurant devoted to the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.
After studying polarity therapy and other holistic healings in the United
States, Toth decided to create an environment that would blend together
everything and everybody, a sensual scene without tension or distinction - a
place of peace and pleasure.
The four rooms are painted in the colour of clay, which make you feel as
though you are in a cave. Meditative music plays in the background and from
the tables you can hear the flowing water of the miniature indoor stream.
There are no windows and no natural light and the visitor feels as though
they have been transported to another world.
You can select your own salad from the imaginative fresh choice at the bar,
which is priced according to weight. There are two set dishes of the day,
named after the sun and the moon. Beverages include wheat beer, natural
fruit juices, purified water and organic red and white wine. |
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B7 Funky Club
Tel: 269-0573
Open:
Wed-Sat: 22.00-05.00
Address:
VI., Nagymező u. 46-48. |
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They say they are the
biggest music club in downtown, and yes, they are.
From Wednesday until Saturday it is a massive choice for clubbing.
Free entrance for ladies. The bouncer won't let you in if you don't wear
at least jeans.
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Cactus Juice Music Club
Tel: 302-2116
Open:
Mon-Thu: 12.00-02.00
Fri-Sat: 12.00-04.00
Sun: 16.00-02.00
Address:
VI., Jokai tér 5. |
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Although
on the face of it a Wild West theme bar in downtown Pest may seem just a
bit tacky, Cactus Juice actually works quite well. Cuisine follows suit
with a variety of burgers and Tex-mex dishes. Largely Hungarian
clientele with music in the evenings.
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Janis' Pub
Tel. 266-2619
Open:
Mon-Thu: 16.00-02.00
Fri-Sat: 16.00-03.00
Address:
V., Királyi Pál u. 8. |
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Live concerts from 21.00.
As the name explains, more like blues what you could find here. Good
choice for blues fans.
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Morrison's Music Club
Tel. 269-4060
Opening:
Tue-Sat: 21.00-04.00
Address:
VI., Révai u. 25. |
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Well designed,
English-style decorated bar, playing Caraoke and Funky on various nights.
Cheap beer, strong shots, nice chicks.
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Old Man's Music Pub
Tel. 3227645
Opening:
Mon-Sun: 15.00-05.00
Live concerts all day: 21.00-23.00
Address:
VII., Akácfa u. 13. |
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This
place is really two places: the music pub, where hot live acts like the
Cotton Club Singers, doing tight swing and scat, pack this
no-cover-no-attitude-not-enough-seats place; and, a level down, the
disco, which kicks in after the live show with funk and soul. It's an
unpretentious, mainly Magyar crowd, but with some veteran expats hanging
out as well. And for sure you will like the bartender chicks too!
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Picasso Point
Tel. 3121727
Opening:
Mon-Wed: 12.00-00.00
Thu: 12.00-02.00
Fri: 12.00-04.00
Sat: 16.00-04.00
Sun: 16.00-00.00
Address:
VI., Hajós u. 31. |
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Five
minutes from the opera house, by day, Picasso Point operates as a
café-restaurant offering Budapest's equivalent to a pub lunch, while in
the evening it develops into a lively down-to-earth bar. Below the earth,
however, things become significantly more exciting when the music in the
cellar nightclub begins to pound.
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Soho London Cafe and Music
Pub
Tel. +36-20-2336489
Opening:
Tue-Wed: 16.00-05.00
Thu-Sat: 16.00-05.00
Address:
VI., Nagymező u. 31. |
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A nice cafe upstairs and
a music club in the cellars. The cellar part opens at 19.00. Lively club
open most of the week. |
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Szechenyi
Tel: 363-3210
Open:
Mon-Sun: 06.00-22.00
Address:
XIV., Állatkerti krt. 11.
Price: 2000HUF
(8EUR)
Refunds:
within 2 hours: 700HUF(2,8EUR)
within 3 hours: 400HUF(1,6EUR)
Swimming suites
required. |
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The biggest
and most popular inside and open air thermal bath of the City. Wide range of
options are offered to endulge yourself: swimming pools, thermal pools,
jacuzzi, sauna, mud bath, massage... Located in the City Park.
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Gellert
Tel: 466-6166
Open:
Mon-Fri: 06.00-19.00
Sat-Sun: 06.00-17.00
Address:
XI., Kelenhegyi út 4.
Price: 2500HUF
(10EUR)
Refunds:
within 2 hours: 300HUF(1,2EUR)
within 3 hours: 100HUF(0,4EUR)
Swimming suites
required. |
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The most
famous thermal bath of Budapest, probably because of the hotel which
operates just nextdoor. Smaller than the Szechenyi, although more centrally
located. The outdoor pool operates during summer only.
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Kiraly
Tel: 202-3688
Open:
for Ladies:
Mon,Wed,Fri: 07.00-18.00
for Gents:
Tue,Thu,Sat: 09.00-20.00
Address:
XI., Fő u. 84.
Price: 1100HUF
(4,4EUR)
No refunds available.
Swimming suites not
required. |
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As it was
built in 1565 by pasa Arslan, this is the oldest, real turkish bath of
Budapest. Since that time coeducation was impossible even by theory or
practice, there were no separated areas built for genders. Nowadays the
management solved this problem by separate days, although not everyone likes
this kind. Especially when you don't want to have a relationship with a same
gendered person. Only on your own responsability! |
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How to avoid problems when you arrive
When you get off the train it is a brand new world comes to your eyes. You
dont know the culture, the currency, the traditions and the most important
thing: the language. These all difficulties could create some dangerous
situations what we try to help you out.
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Getting off the train
The first thing you'll see is about some taxi-drivers
would offer you transportation. Try to avoid these people, usually they
would rip you off. If you would need a taxi, there are some reliable
taxi-companies what you can find in our homepage as well. Always try to get
informations from objective sources, don't let yourself been assured by
their opinion, they work for their profit what would be from your wallet if
you don't take care. It's the same about guest-catchers
and money changers. Try to avoid them if it's
possible.
We would like to warn you about a fact which is unusual but could happen, it
is about tourist-police. They are not exist, it is
a trick of some cheaters who would ask for your money to show that you are
here for tourism and have enough cash to visit the City. Don't show your
money to anyone, authorities will never ask for your money, never!
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Changing money
At the train stations and in the downtown there are some Money-exchange
offices where they say no-commission but the truth is different: Usually it
is about 20%, which is understandably too much. Try to take some money from
an ATM or change just a small amount what is definitely required but not
more! There are more other exchange
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Using taxies
There are some private taxies who work with expensive rates but you
can avoid them if you check few things before you get in one of them. The
rates should be shown at the rear window all the time. If you just take one
from the street, they are more expensive, so rather call one by phone. Here
we list some of the reliable companies so you won't be disappointed. Please
note that There is a surcarge of 300HUF at all companies as a standby fee.
All listed operators speak English.
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Taxi company
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Phone number
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Rates/km by street/by call
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Taxi 2000
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2-000-000
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240 HUF / 184 HUF
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Fõtaxi
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2-222-222
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219 HUF / 184 HUF
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Budapest Taxi
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4-333-333
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239 HUF / 159 HUF
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Using public transportation
One of the most common problems come from when you try to get on a metro,
bus or tram, because if you don't use a ticket at least, then you can get
troubles on dice.
the reason is easy: The tickets are small but on one side it is written:
Every time you should punch a new ticket even if you change lines as well.
These tickets could be purchased at ticket machines, metro offices,
newspaper-stores and some other shops, and can be validated at the entrace
of the metro or on buses, trams there are red or orange machines to validate.
About tickets and passes read more
here.
- In restaurants & bars
Try to beware of overcharge, as it could happen if you don't check the price
list ahead. It is unusual now thanks to the police and other authorities but
still could happen.
More dangerous when some nice-looking girls would invite you to a bar to
chat for a while.
It could happen mostly at Váci utca, in the downtown, where you are
obligated to pay the 500€ extra bill for just few drinks, the muscle-men "waiters"
will assure you and it's better not to complain. Rather avoid the situation
before, we'd recommend you to keep this advice conciuosly than to let
yourself get desired...& trouble. Other problem could be with independent
travelers, is about making occasional friendships with people you just met,
get drunk together then try to remember where is your wallet.
We hope these
advices will help you spending your stay here safe and enjoyable.
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The management |
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