Travel to Budapest

Travel to Budapest

Budapest is a city of more than two million people, which sprawls from the hills of residential and historic Buda on the western banks of the Danube River to the flatter and more commercial area called Pest, on the rivers right bank. The citys two sectors are connected by bridges across the Danube.

In Buda, the castle district is the focal point, situated on top of a hill with commanding views of the entire area. Pest is the livelier half and features the majority of the opulent theatres, ornate thermal baths and fashionable shopping streets.

This is one of Europe's truly outstanding capitals, and visitors coming here for the first time will be in awe of its sheer beauty. There's a renewed sense of vibrancy that has emerged in recent years, and the pride of the locals has again taken hold. Restoration and rebuilding has been ongoing, with the country joining the EU in 2004. Many of the wonderful apartment blocks, among other buildings,that characterised Vienna and Budapest during the early 20th century have been restored to their original beauty.

Transportation to Budapest

Budapest is well connected by rail, bus and road to all of Europe and its Ferihegy International Airport is serviced by a wide range of international flights. It is also possible to reach the city by river boat, from Austria and Slovakia. There are rail links from 25 major European cities, with more than 50 trains arriving each day at Budapests main terminal.

Service from Vienna is quite frequent about every 3 hours. Domestic and international bus service is available from starting points throughout Europe, with arrivals at the citys Npliget Coach Station. During the summer months (from April to October), hydrofoil services link Vienna and Bratislava with Budapest, arriving between the Freedom Bridge (Szabadsg hd) and the Chain Bridge (Lnchd) on the Danube. If youre travelling by car, youll find that all of Hungarys motorways converge in Budapest. The M1, M3, M5 and M7 are all toll roads.

What to see

Castle Hill and the surrounding district in Buda are home to the majority of Budapests most important monuments and museums. This area tends to bethe main tourist destination. From the top, you can also see the Danube River and across it to Pest the citys other half. City Park (Vrosliget) is located in the northeastern section of Pest, and it can provide a welcome break from a hectic sightseeing schedule and the busy urban life of Pest.

The city zoo and many additional monuments are located in the park. Budapest sits on top of a network of springs: both warm thermal and cool mineral springs. There are many communal bath-houses, spas and pools in the city including the well-known Kirly Baths by the banks of the Danube, on the Buda side. The Royal Palace also merits a visit, as it houses Hungarys impressive National Gallery, Budapests History Museum and the Szchenyi National Library.

Daytrips

Visitors are fortunate in that in addition to the many attractions in the city, there are a number of historic towns within easy reach. Szentendre is a lovely town, popular with a community of young and well-known artists, located 12 miles north of Budapest. It can be reached by the HV suburban train in around 30 minutes. The town has a charming main square, called F tr, with streets leading off in all directions.The streetsare full of shops selling items from traditional lace to communist memorabilia. In the middle of the square is the Memorial Cross, erected by the local people in gratitude for having been spared from the plague. The striking 18th century Blagovestenska Church houses intricate icons from Buda, and features well-preserved Rococo windows.

A second, recommended, daytrip is to Esztergom. This is Hungary's most sacred city, located 28 miles northwest of Budapest. Esztergom can be reached by train, or seasonably (April or May until September) by cruise boat or jetfoil. Hungary's first Christian king was crowned here on Christmas Day in the year 1000 AD, and the city was the royal seat for almost 300 years until the Ottoman invasion. Today, its massive cathedral dominates the city. Construction on the cathedral began in 1820 and continued over a period of 40 years. Withinits wallsis incorporated the 16th century red marble Bakcz Chapel and a 12th century treasury.

Lake Balaton is also a popular daytrip, and next to Budapest, is the most popular tourist site in the country. The lake is nearly 50 miles long and is the largest fresh water lake in Europe. It has been a well-known wine growing region since the Roman era, and is now dominated by holiday homes and sprawling tourist resorts.

Activities and leisure

In addition to seeing the citys historic treasures, there are many things for visitors to do in Budapest. You might want to spend some time walking around the streets of the Castle district or stroll along Vci utca, the citys famous pedestrianised shopping street. If you enjoy the coffee scene, you can watch the hip and trendy patrons while you enjoy the coffee around the Liszt Ferenc Tr.
If wine is more to your liking, you can indulge in wine tasting at one of Budapests many fine cellars. You might want to relax in the waters of one of the citys famous thermal baths and spas, or take a boat ride on the Danube. You can look for bargains in antiques at one of the many markets, or take in the events at one of the citys numerous festivals held throughout the year.

Safety issues

Tourists are targeted by pickpockets and other scam artists in Budapest, and although most incidents are relatively minor when compared with many other cities, a visit to Budapest can still be marred by unpleasant incidents. Visitors should be aware of the potential problem and take normal precautions to avoid becoming a victim, such as keeping valuables protected and out of sight or locked in a hotel safe.