A guide by Jacksta28
Rudas is a 16th-century Turkish bath It's finally turned co-ed on certain days after 500 years of being men only. Mixed days include Sunday. An amazing experience can be had there - go early in the morning before the crowds and chill under the cupola in one of the five hot pools and watch the shafts of light coming through the coloured glass octagons in the ceiling, wrapped in clouds of steam. It's the most relaxing place you'll find in a capital city anywhere in Europe. You might even spot the probable future Hungarian prime minister and his cronies there, if you're unlucky.
Döbrentei tér 9; situated on the Buda side of Elizabeth Bridge. The number 7 bus stops there, and all the taxi drivers and locals know it
From the Pest riverside you can take a boat that will take you to Szentendre, the pictureque town upriver, and further on still to Visegrad. Here you can climb a mountain, visit the old castle and get a spectacular view of the northern Hungarian hills, and can even see over the border into Slovakia.
Belgrad Rakpart, Pest
Hungarian photography museum. It was an old photography studio - the building and the view of Nagymező Street are just as fascinating as the exhibitions.
Nagymező Utca 20; tel: 1 473 2666; www.maimano.hu
Three day travelcard for 2500ft (about £6.80). Make use of buses, trams, underground, trains and the cogwheel railway (this is fun for kids to get out of town for an afternoon). You just carry it with you, no need to validate it on buses etc, so no risk of being caught out and fined. Much better value than the Budapest Card if you won't be visiting many museums.
Any underground or bus station
A new web portal offering info about Budapest, including pubs, bars, hotels,and nightlife.
St Margaret's Island is situated in between Buda and Pest. It is a haven for peace and tranquility due to its ban on transport. The leafy parks and extensive outdoor pools (some very shallow, making it perfect for young children), make it an oasis in a bustling city.
Cross the bridge near the Houses of Parliament
Raday utca, close to the Kalvin Tér metro, is a popular spot for both tourists and young locals, it has a lot of restaurants and bars. At the far end is a personal favourite of mine. It’s a lively bar/restaurant called Castro (recently closed, but rumoured to be reopening on on Madach Ter, VII district) serving Serbian specialties and is almost always busy, which can make it difficult for groups exceeding six. Castro has internet access, which is great for when you're having discussion about something over a pint and no-one knows the answer.
For authentic Hungarian food, try Bohém tanya (literally: Bohemian Farm), it's pretty inexpensive and close to Deák Ferenc tér (the Kings Cross of Budapest in terms of the underground).
Paulay Ede utca 6
The summit of the railway shows you the city in all its glory - from the beautifully crafted government buildings, hidden churches, right the way along the river and even into the slightly more “suspect” areas of the city. Buy an ice cream at the top and enjoy the view.
I Clark Ádam tér; Bus 16, 86, 105, Tram 19; Open: 7:30am-10pm daily; Closed for maintenance every second Monday
Built in the late 19th-century in Renaissance style, the glorious State Opera House is a wonderful example of the mania for historicist architecture in Budapest. A must for opera or ballet fans, and well worth a visit for the stunning frescoes and dazzling gilded interior for everyone else. Tickets are inexpensive by London standards and can be booked online before your visit.
22 Andrássy Street, VI. Budapest; nearest metro: Opera; www.opera.hu/
This restaurant does really fabulous food and has a lovely interior - modern, but warm and cosy. I had the most amazing carrot soup there, really tasty, though it's not veggie. There's obviously a Hungarian influence but it's a bit more modern than some of the standard stuff you get elsewhere.
Magyar Utca 12-14
061 483 1355
www.barakarestaurant.hu
Szentendre is an idyllic small town situated on the Danube River about 19km away from the main city. In Szentendre, you can escape the chaos of the city and experience a timeless, laid-back old town that has hardly been affected by the modernity of Budapest.
It takes around 45 minutes to get there on the the suburban train (HÉV) from I. Batthyány tér to Szentendre
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