More Musts
The Zoo
The Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden was originally opened as a private business in the 19th century, but it went bankrupt within a few decades. The City of Budapest took it over and built an entirely new zoo. The superb new buildings were all designed in the Art Nouveau and National Romantic styles. After feeding the elephants, do not forget to take a photo in front of the Elephant House, which won the ‘Europa Nostra Prize’ for high-quality landmark renovation. There are also summer concerts and 3D cinema shows for children.
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Address: XIV. Állatkerti krt. 6-12.
Web: http://www.zoobudapest.com
The Gellért Baths
Relax at these beautiful Art Nouveau baths, the traditional meeting place for the prettiest women and most handsome men in town. The Gellért is not only a spa, but a grand hotel as well, where all guests can enjoy the pools in a magnificent historical setting. It has a wave pool outdoors, loved by children. After spending some time in the baths it is a good idea to walk up Gellért Hill and look down on the hotel – and on Pest.
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Address: XI. Kelenhegyi út 4.
Web: http://www.budapestinfo.hu/en/city_of_spas/spa_and_wellness
The Rudas Baths
Do not miss out on one of the few surviving Turkish baths in Budapest. This is the baths complex where a few years ago some feminist groups forced the management to lift a ban on women visitors – this had been an age-old tradition. Now there are women-only time slots as well. Go there for an exciting night-time experience – the meticulously restored baths are open to both men and women until four in the morning at weekends. The popular Cinetrip ‘sparties’ are also held here.
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Address: I. Döbrentei tér 9.
Web: http://www.budapestinfo.hu/en/city_of_spas/spa_and_wellness
Riverride - sightseeing on land and water
Budapest is the first city on the Continent where you can enjoy the unique experience of sightseeing aboard an exceptional amphibious coach.
Until now you had to decide between two options: see our beautiful capital city through the windows of a tour coach or enjoy a boat ride on the Danube surrounded by the wonderful sights of Budapest. No need to choose anymore...
First, enjoy the sights of Budapest from the comfortable seats of RiverRide, as we drive through busy streets; then experience the unforgettable moment when with a big splash our coach plunges into the Danube and sails downriver with you while we pass the breathtaking World Heritage sites of this magnificent city. Following the water adventure, RiverRide climbs ashore, and you’ll find yourself once again in the midst of a bustling metropolis.
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Address: 1051 Budapest, Roosevelt tér 7-8.
Web: http://www.riverride.com
The Király Baths
If you are interested in Turkish baths, and you don’t mind single-sex company (men and women on alternate days – check beforehand!) you shouldn’t miss the Király baths, built around 1566. The structure is octagonal. With huge pillars supporting the dome. Small round skylights give the interior a twilight effect, which adds to the atmosphere for the visitor. You shouldn't expect people here to wear bathing suits – you are given a cotton apron to preserve your modesty.
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Address: II. Fő utca 84.
Web: http://www.budapestinfo.hu/en/city_of_spas/spa_and_wellness
Fűvészkert – a historical botanical garden
Just take a deep breath in the botanical garden of Eötvös University, situated in District VIII, near the Museum of Natural Sciences (which is full of interesting, modern interactive exhibitions loved by children). Füvészkert was the setting for two famous scenes in a novel read by all schoolchildren in Hungary: ‘The Boys of Paul Street’, by Ferenc Molnár. At the time of the novel it was three times as big as it is today, but the lovely Palm House has survived, and occasionally it hosts the sale of all kinds of plant.
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Address: Vlll. Illés utca 25.
Web: http://www.fuveszkert.org
The City Park – a park full of adventures
Little over one square kilometre in area, this one-time royal hunting park has been open to the public for two hundred years. It is worth trying to lose yourself here for a whole day. Starting from Heroes’ Square, walk around the small lake, then feed the elephants at the Zoo, and treat yourself to a spa experience in the Europe’s largest thermal baths, the Széchenyi.
After this spot of recreation, visit the Museum of Agriculture in the picturesque Vajdahunyad Castle, or have lunch at the Széchenyikert restaurant. If you still have the energy, buy tickets for some fantastic fun at the Amusement Park, where you can try one of the world’s oldest roller coasters.
Not enough? Come back the next day for some more fun!
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Address: XIV. Városliget
Web: http://www.budapestinfo.hu/en/free_time/parks
Café Centrál – a historic café in the heart of the city
Have a break and sample the authentic atmosphere of a classic Budapest grand café, a haunt of Hungarian writers and intellectuals in the 19th century. Reopened in 2000, it fronts onto three streets, and the gallery section is great for parties. Try the lunch menu and the delicious desserts! Then you can go for a pleasant walk it the lovely Károlyi kert – a small, quiet park in the centre of the city.
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Address: V. Károlyi Mihály utca 9.
Web: http://www.centralkavehaz.hu
Café Szabadság – a small café surrounded by Art Nouveau buildings
Though it had no real literary clientele around 1900, a very famous Hungarian poem was written here, by the iconoclastic womanising genius Endre Ady (1878-1919). In recognition of this, his likeness sits at a small table, and there are other curiosities in this pleasant café. In the gallery a part of the original ceiling has been restored.
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Address: V. Aulich utca 8. (off Szabadság tér)
Web: http://www.szabadsagkavehaz.hu
Gerlóczy Kávéház – the most popular new café
A cross between a Paris bistro and a carefully developed ordinary Budapest eatery. You can see people here from all walks of Hungarian life: members of the City Council, business people, diplomats, not particularly well-off academics. For midday lunch there is a budget menu, while at night there is harp music. A good café, it serves oyster and crème brûlé round the clock, and has excellent, attentive service.
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Address: V. Gerlóczy utca 1.
Luxury Brands in Andrássy út
Andrássy út, praised elsewhere on this site, is a creation of the 1870s and 1880s. It leads from the city centre to City Park, becoming wider the farther east one travels. The inner section – either side of the Opera House – has attracted the world’s best luxury brands (Louis Vuitton, Cavalli, Burberry, Chopard, Rolex, to name a few). It will take a full day to visit them all, resting after every half a dozen shops in some of the several cafés, old and new. There are also three excellent bookshops with great foreign language sections.
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Address: Between Károly körút and Oktogon tér
Fashion Street
The idea of ‘Fashion Street’ was the commercially-driven urban design idea of a private investor. He singled out a glittering downtown pedestrian street, bought all the shop spaces, and gave all of them a facelift. On Fashion Street and in the nearby Vörösmarty Square you will find today’s trendiest fashion brands in a romantically elegant environment. For some souvenirs, walk along the famous Váci utca to get a bottle of fine Tokaji wine, or a set of porcelain from the Herendi works.
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Address: V. Deák Ferenc utca
Web: http://www.fashionstreet.hu
Market Halls – try the best Hungarian flavours!
A typical Budapest market hall is red-brick, built in the last decade of the 19th century, and is a treasure trove of traditional fare. The queen of Budapest markets is the Central Market by Szabadság Bridge, where you can learn the most about Hungarian cuisine: goose liver, paprika, kolbász, lángos, sweet fruits, and pickles – all in one place. Look for the greengrocer where Margaret Thatcher paid a visit in the 1980s – the photos are still there. Have lunch upstairs! Around the turn of this century three modern markets were built, two of them in inner Buda: Fény utca (District II) and Fehérvári út (District XI). These are functional buildings, but the third, in Lehel tér (District XIII) is unusual, in a style christened ‘radical eclecticism’ by its designer, the architect László Rajk.
Klassz – a classy place for lunch
The name is difficult to translate: ‘terrific, a class act, top-notch’ – more or less. Located just to the left of a nicely restored landmark department store, this ingeniously devised cosmopolitan bistro was an instant success. There are two secrets to this: dozens of wines by the glass, and a ‘no reservations’ policy. At the back there is a wine shop, and the kitchen is upstairs. Soups are a forte.
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Address: VI. Andrássy út 41.
Web: http://www.klassz.eu
Fausto’s – more than pasta
An outstandingly fine place in every respect: food, design and clientele. Named after the owner, Fausto di Vora, who moved here from Udine in 1994. Reputed to have the best Italian food in Central Europe – no small honour, considering the competition. There are about 130 kinds of wine on offer: Italian wines from Tuscany, Apulia and Sicily, and Hungarian wines from Villány, Eger and Tokaj. These days it does not serve only Italian food. A perfect place to let yourself be invited on the last day of a visit to Budapest.
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Address: VI. Székely Mihály utca 2.
Web: http://www.fausto.hu
Spinoza Ház – home of Jewish cabaret
This café and cabaret was created by a Budapest-born businesswoman and journalist, Anna Sándor. No amount of red tape, extra cost or government apathy could prevent her from opening it in the spring of 2003, in a location then considered impossible. It instantly became a hit on Budapest’s café scene. It serves good food, and has an entertainment schedule includes serious debates and lectures, Jewish cabaret, music of all kinds, free Wednesday lunch-time concerts, photographic exhibitions, and much more.
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Address: VII. Dob utca 15.
Web: http://www.spinozahaz.hu
Giraffe Hop on hop off
Available language: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Greek, Finnish, Swedish, Dutch, Russian, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Hebrew and Hungarian.
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Address: VI. Budapest, Andrássy út 2.
Web: http://www.hopon-hopoff.hu
Eurama Travel Agency
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Address: V. Budapest, Apáczai Csere János u. 12-14.
Web: http://www.eurama.hu
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