Budapest Off The Beaten Path Tips by Imbi

Great Boulevard

You won`t find the name `Nagykörút` on the map. It refers to the 4km-long ring road that runs in a sweeping semicircle through Pest, from Margaret Bridge to Petõfi Bridge. The Nagykörút consists of five segments: Szt. Istvin körút, Teréz körút, Erzsébet körút, József körút and Ferenc körút (the last two are of less interest). While tourists shop on Vici utca, locals shop on this `Great Boulevard`.

Statue Park

In Budapest, there is a better way to get to Statue Park on the Buda side than the tricky one you write about in the book (I took that one to the park, and it took almost an hour. And you have to take bus number 50 after half an hour ride on the Ker bus, well if you don t want to take a 40 minute walk). When I went back to town I simply took an express bus just outside the park (on the big road) to the final destination in Buda (a ten minute ride). I don t remember the name on the place, but it ends on bus number seven's last stop in Buda. And from there, I simply jumped on bus number 7 and went back to Pest. The whole ride took 25 minutes.

Óbuda

On the Buda side of the Danube, just north of the city, Óbuda is heaven on a cross for history buffs. Beyond the monotonous concrete housing blocks is the oldest part of Budapest, containing important Roman ruins and museums. Among these is the Roman Military Amphitheatre. Built in the 2nd century to accommodate 15,000 spectators, it was larger than Rome's Colosseum. There is also a branch of the Budapest Gallery here with some interesting avant-garde exhibitions. An ancient stone's throw north of Óbuda is the Roman civilian town of Aquincum, established at the end of the 1st century. Although not readily apparent these days, the town was highly advanced and sophisticated. The Aquincum Museum tries to put it all in perspective, but presently only if you are fluent in Hungarian. Catch bus No 86 from many points along the Danube on the Buda side to get to Óbuda; it is also easily accessible on the HÉV train and from City Park.