{"id":1089,"date":"2018-03-29T06:29:48","date_gmt":"2018-03-29T13:29:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lenkatraveler.com\/blog\/?p=1089"},"modified":"2018-03-29T06:40:10","modified_gmt":"2018-03-29T13:40:10","slug":"things-to-do-in-budapest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lenkatraveler.com\/?p=1089","title":{"rendered":"Things to do in Budapest"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Budapest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hungary\u2019s capital city Budapest is actually made up of 3 unified cities, with Buda and \u00d3buda on the west bank of the Danube and Pest on the east bank.\u00a0Much of the city has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status, and many visitors consider the city to be amongst the most beautiful cities in\u00a0Europe.<\/p>\n

TIP: Consider the\u00a0Budapest City Card\u00a0for free entrance to museums, a\u00a0guided tour, discounts and unlimited use of public transport.<\/p>\n

Parliament Building<\/strong> – was designed and built in the Gothic Revival style, is one of the largest buildings in Hungary, and is home to\u00a0hundreds of parliamentary offices. Although the impressive building looks fantastic from every angle, to see the whole building in its full glory, it is\u00a0worth viewing it from the other side of the Danube.\u00a0Tours of certain areas of the building are available daily, and run in different languages. You will need identification to get in, and your bag may be\u00a0searched on entry.<\/p>\n

Gell\u00e9rt Baths<\/strong> –\u00a0One of the grandest spas in the city is the Gellert Bath and Spa centre, which includes an open-air pool (which turns into a wave pool), an effervescent\u00a0swimming pool, a Finnish sauna, and a range of other saunas and plunge pools.\u00a0Massages and other spa treatments are also available at an extra fee. The complex was originally built between 1912 and 1918 in an Art Nouveau style,\u00a0but it sustained serious damage during World War II. The whole spa was extensively renovated in 2008 to bring the baths back to their former glory. The\u00a0baths are open all week for mixed bathing.<\/p>\n

Heroes\u2019 Square<\/strong> – marks the end of Andr\u00e1ssy Avenue is home to an iconic monument which features depictions of the Seven\u00a0Chieftains of the Magyars, who are believed to have led the Hungarian people from central Asia to the Carpathian basin.\u00a0Atop the central pillar is the Archangel Gabriel, who is holding the Hungarian crown. At either side of the central column are two matching colonnades,\u00a0which depict a variety of other historical Hungarian figures. The impressive buildings at either side of the square are art galleries.<\/p>\n

Margaret Island<\/strong> – 2.5km long island which sits in the middle of the Danube, which is covered in parkland and recreational facilities.\u00a0There are a number of companies which rent pedal carts, golf carts, and other self-powered vehicles, so that you can explore the island properly.\u00a0A rubber-coated 5.5 km running track encircles the island, and is a popular jogging spot for runners who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of\u00a0the city. One of the most famous features of the island is the \u201cmusic fountain\u201d, from which water regularly \u201cdances\u201d in time to classical music.\u00a0Other notable features on the island include medieval ruins and small aviary which primarily caters for injured water birds and wildfowl.<\/p>\n

Danube Promenade<\/strong> –\u00a0This stretch of the Danube walkway goes from the Elizabeth Bridge to the Chain Bridge, and is perfect for those who want a short, but interesting walk.\u00a0Promenading along the Danube is a great way to see many of the most famous sights in the capital.\u00a0Looking over towards to Buda side of the river, you will see the Buda Castle, the Liberty Statue on Gellert Hill and the Fisherman\u2019s Bastion. On the\u00a0Promenade side of the river you can enjoy restaurants, cafes, Szechenyi Istvan Square and a range of different sculptures, including the Little Princess.\u00a0The Danube is also perfect for a river cruise, there\u2019s a fun dinner cruise and folk show (with gypsy music) which you can\u00a0book here.<\/p>\n

House of Terror<\/strong> –\u00a0The House of Terror holds exhibitions about the successive Fascist and Communist regimes which ruled Hungary during the 20th Century. The building\u00a0itself was the former headquarters of the Fascist Arrow Cross party, and the building was subsequently used as a prison and torture venue by the State\u00a0Security services of Hungary.\u00a0There is the opportunity to tour some of the prison area in the basement. The exhibition includes information about both regimes, as well as testimonials\u00a0from some of the victims and temporary exhibits.<\/p>\n

St. Stephen\u2019s Basilica<\/strong> –\u00a0This basilica is one of the most important religious buildings in Hungary, and visitors to the reliquary can see the (reported) right hand of Stephen, first\u00a0King of Hungary. As this is a holy site, visitors who plan on entering the church are asked to keep their knees and shoulders covered.\u00a0Those with a head for heights can travel up to the base of the dome and look out over the city. On a clear day, this is a great vantage point from which to\u00a0survey Budapest from the air. Classical music concerts and organ concerts regularly take place inside the Basilica, and sometime spill out into the square\u00a0outside.<\/p>\n

Hungarian State Opera House<\/strong> –\u00a0This Neo-Renaissance building was first opened in 1884, following a commission from Emperor Franz Joseph. Outside of the building, you can see\u00a0statues to Ferenc Erkel (composer of the Hungarian National Anthem) and Ferenc Liszt (Hungarian composer).\u00a0The 1200 seat auditorium is considered to be one of the best in the world for operatic performances, and it is well worth it to buy a ticket to a show.<\/p>\n

Fisherman\u2019s Bastion<\/strong> –\u00a0Although the Fisherman\u2019s Bastion looks like a medieval monument, it was actually built in the early 20th century in a neo-Gothic style, specifically to\u00a0act as a panoramic viewing platform across the Danube, Margaret Island and Pest.\u00a0It is named after the Guild of Fishermen, which was responsible for defending that stretch of the city walls during the Middle Ages.\u00a0The seven towers of the Bastion represent the seven Magyar tribes that helped to settle the Magyar people in the Carpathian Basin. Come at sunset to see\u00a0a particularly beautiful view of the city.<\/p>\n

Invisible Exhibition<\/strong> – aims to give visitors the chance to experience what life is like for people who are completely blind. A registered blind guide will\u00a0take you on a tour through various different artificially created environments (garden, supermarket, bar etc) which are in completely dark rooms.\u00a0On arrival, you will be asked to turn off any potential light sources, such as mobile phones or digital watches, so that there will no light at all in the\u00a0rooms. After the exhibition, you can enjoy dinner in the dark, served by blind waiters, who will help you to find your way around your dinner plate.<\/p>\n

Faust Wine Cellars<\/strong> –\u00a0This historic wine cellar, which is located underneath the Buda Castle is the perfect place to sample wines from some of the 22 Hungarian wine regions.\u00a0You will also have the opportunity to sample traditional Hungarian fruit palinka. A sommelier will give you tasting notes during your visit, so that you\u00a0can get the most out of each wine that you try.\u00a0There are a range of different tasting programes available.<\/p>\n

Memento Park<\/strong> –\u00a0This wonderful sculpture park is now home to some of the many Communist monuments and statues which dotted the city during the Communist Era.\u00a0These statues were either removed by the government as part of the decommunization process, or they were forcibly removed by the Hungarian people\u00a0in protest at the previous regime.\u00a0When the park was opened in 1993, it became a place to display some of these monuments and showcase an important part of the city\u2019s history.\u00a0A small museum on site also includes temporary exhibitions about life under the communist regime, including information about the Hungarian Secret\u00a0Police.<\/p>\n

Doh\u00e1ny Street Synagogue<\/strong> is currently one of the largest in the world outside of Israel, despite the fact that Hungary\u2019s Jewish population was significantly depleted\u00a0during World War II.\u00a0The interior and the garden were restored in the 1990\u2019s, with much of the funding coming from the Hungarian Jewish diaspora population worldwide.\u00a0In the garden you can see a weeping willow memorial, whose metal leaves bear the names of some of those killed during the war.\u00a0There is also a memorial to Swedish diplomat Roual Wallenberg, who helped to save hundreds of Hungarian Jews from concentration camps and\u00a0ghettos.<\/p>\n

Ecseri Flea Market<\/strong> –\u00a0fantastic flea market on the outskirts of the city is a great place to find a bargain. It is possible to pick up a variety of different treasures from here,\u00a0although you may have to search through stalls full of things that you consider to be trash in order to find them.\u00a0Even if you are not planning on buying anything, it is still possible to wander for hours amid the stalls, dreaming about the past owners of all of this bric-a-brac. Stalls sell everything from retro clothing, through to memorabilia from the Communist era.\u00a0Haggling is recommended.<\/p>\n

Ruin Pubs<\/strong> –\u00a0Budapest is famous for its \u201cruin pubs\u201d, in which shabby-chic is the order of the day. The best ruin pubs are set up in sprawling, deserted buildings, which\u00a0have been filled with comfortable, but slightly worn out furniture.\u00a0Each pub has its own unique style, so you will often find visitors referring to their favourite pub as \u201cthe one with the\u2026\u201d. Popular ruin pubs include\u00a0Instant (\u201cthe one with the crazy animal pictures\u201d), Fogas H\u00e1z (\u201cthe one with the teeth), Kuplung (\u201cthe one with the whale\u201d) and Szimpla.<\/p>\n

Central Market Hall<\/strong> – Budapest\u2019s most famous marketplace.\u00a0Whilst many locals still use the market hall as a place to buy their groceries, the market is incredibly popular with the tourists.\u00a0Locally grown fruits and veg, and locally sourced meats are found on the lower floors, and souvenirs including lace, chess sets and leather goods are\u00a0available in the upper floors.\u00a0As well as individual ingredients, it is possible to pick up homemade local delicacies like goulash and langos from the food stall upstairs.<\/p>\n

Buda Castle Hill Funicular<\/strong> –\u00a0first opened in 1870, is the second oldest funicular of its kind in the world. A system of weights and counterweights is used to help\u00a0to raise the carriages up and down the hill. The funicular is the fastest way to get to the top of Castle Hill, and is exceedingly popular because of its\u00a0panoramic views out across the Danube. The speed of ascent was actually slowed down as of 1988, to give passengers more time to enjoy their ride. The track is open daily until 10pm, so it is\u00a0also a great way to enjoy views of Pest at night.<\/p>\n

The Buda Hills<\/strong> –\u00a0The Buda Hills are one of the greenest areas of the city, and are very popular with Budapest citizens who want to take a little time away from city life.\u00a0There are various hiking trails to follow and mountain bike paths as well, which range from easy to medium level of difficulty.\u00a0For those who want to explore the hills in a more leisurely fashion, visit the Children\u2019s Railway, which is entirely staffed by children aged 10-14 (with\u00a0the exception of some adult staff who are responsible for safety).\u00a0There are plenty of picnic spots dotted around.<\/p>\n

Andr\u00e1ssy Avenue<\/strong> –\u00a0This wonderful boulevard takes visitors from Erzs\u00e9bet Square in central Pest, out to the City Park, was declared\u00a0a World Heritage Site in 2002.\u00a0Taking a walk down Andr\u00e1ssy is a great way to see a number of Budapest\u2019s different architectural styles, including the Hungarian National Opera House,\u00a0neo-renaissance townhouses and mansions, and a number of different national embassies.\u00a0The metro line which runs underneath the Avenue is the third oldest underground railway in the\u00a0world.<\/p>\n

Liberty Statue<\/strong> –\u00a0The Liberty Statue on Gellert Hill is one of the few prominent Communist statues which remained in situ after the transition to democracy, in part\u00a0because of its iconic location overlooking the city.\u00a0The statue was first erected in 1947 to commemorate the Soviet troops who lost their lives liberating the country, however the engraving was later\u00a0changed so that it commemorated \u201call who sacrificed their lives for the independence, freedom, and prosperity of Hungary\u201d.\u00a0The panoramic views from underneath the statue are unparalleled, and help to make the walk to the top of the hill well worth it.<\/p>\n

Citadella<\/strong> –\u00a0\u00a0sits atop Gellert Hill, was constructed by the Hapsburgs following the failed Hungarian War of Independence.\u00a0It was thought that its prime strategic position would make it easy to control both Buda and Pest, should any future uprisings occur.\u00a0Troops were stationed at the Citadel until 1897. Soviet forces once again used the fortress to control the city during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, and\u00a0tanks which were situated there fired down on the city.<\/p>\n

Sz\u00e9chenyi Thermal Baths<\/strong>\u00a0is the largest \u201cmedicinal\u201d bath centre in Europe. The waters are rich in sulphates, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate and\u00a0fluoride, which are believed to help patients with degenerative joint illnesses and other medical issues.\u00a0For those who just want to enjoy the relaxing powers of the thermal pools, there are a variety of different thermal pools on site, as well as saunas and\u00a0steam rooms.\u00a0Massages and beauty treatments are also available at an additional fee.\u00a0The two outdoor pools are fantastic places to visit on a cold, dark night, as the steam rising from the hot water makes the whole place seem wonderfully\u00a0mysterious.<\/p>\n

City Park<\/strong>\u00a0is a wonderful leisure facility for the citizens of Budapest, and includes sports facilities, swimming baths, and a boating lake.\u00a0During the winter months, the boating lake is transformed into one of Europe\u2019s largest ice rinks.\u00a0The park is also home to the Budapest Municipal Zoo and Botanical Gardens, the Budapest Circus and the Vajdahunyad Castle (housing the Museum of\u00a0Hungarian Agriculture).\u00a0Just outside of the park you can find the Time Wheel, which is one of the largest sand timers in the world.\u00a0In this sand timer, all of the grains of glass take 1 year to fall from the top section to the bottom, and the timer is rotated every New Year.<\/p>\n

The Hungarian National Museum<\/strong> is home to thousands of exhibits detailing the history, art, religion and archaeology of the country, including\u00a0exhibitions from areas which are now considered to be outside of Hungary\u2019s borders.\u00a0The spectacular Neoclassical museum building itself is worth looking at, even if you do not plan on touring.\u00a0The peaceful gardens outside of the museum are considered to be a popular meeting spot, and are particularly popular during the summer months.<\/p>\n

Aquincum Museum and Ruin Garden<\/strong> –\u00a0This is a great chance to explore some of Hungary\u2019s ancient history. Aquincum was a Roman city which stood where Budapest stands today, and served\u00a0as an important military base in the ancient Roman Empire.\u00a0It is possible to walk around some of the ruins, including those of an ancient gladiatorial amphitheatre, and other structures, such as the city bathhouse.\u00a0In the museum itself, you can view various Roman relics, and a working replica of famous water organ which was discovered in the area in 1931.<\/p>\n

Photo Albums<\/strong><\/p>\n

2002 –\u00a0https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/iyasno\/sets\/72157630658297288\/<\/a><\/div>\n
2017 –\u00a0https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/iyasno\/sets\/72157684211531354\/<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hungary\u2019s capital city Budapest is actually made up of 3 unified cities, with Buda and \u00d3buda on the west bank of the Danube and Pest on the east bank.\u00a0Much of the city has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1090,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,46,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-eu","category-things-to-do","category-travel-guide"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lenkatraveler.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1089","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lenkatraveler.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lenkatraveler.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lenkatraveler.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lenkatraveler.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1089"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lenkatraveler.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1089\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1095,"href":"https:\/\/lenkatraveler.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1089\/revisions\/1095"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lenkatraveler.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1090"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lenkatraveler.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lenkatraveler.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lenkatraveler.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}