Our first evening! and other Budapest, Hungary Things to Do Tips

What would you do the first evening?
We went to the opera. Instead of paying
a ticket for a guided tour we went for the real
thing. A performance. I heard that the Opera
house was very beautiful.

It is in Italian renaissance style.
On one side of the entrance you can find a
statue of Liszt and the other Ferenc Erkel
who was the first director of the opera.
All the other figures in the facade are muzes.
Muses of the dance , poetry comedy...
The 16 figures on top are important composers.

The interior is overpowering.
1300 persons can have a seat in this building.
In 1983 , when the building turned 100 it was
completely renovated.

I really think you need to see it from the inside.
The picture is the gigantic chandelier surrounded
by a painting with apollo and Olympus.
I'll add a nightlife tip on how to book.

Leave a Comment

Phone: +36 (1) 332-7914, 311-9017
Address: 1061 Budapest, Andrássy út 20.
Directions: On Andrássy Road, impossible to pass without noticing. Opera metro station (M1).
Website: http://www.opera.hu

After that we went for icecream and started
walking towards the water. So , after
the opera the chain bridge was the second
large monument we saw in Budapest.

1832 , earl Széchenyi started with the preparation
to build this bridge. the ' Széchenyi Lanchid'
is the oldest connection between the Pest and
the Boeda side. The two famous builders of the
famous bridge over the thames in London
Tierney William Clark and Adam Clark got
the assignment.

In 1849 the 375 meters long bridge was finished.
I have read somwhere that it weights
2000 ton. Amazing.

Now the bridge is a symbol for freedom and
most beautiful lighted overnight.

Leave a Comment

Address: Above the Danube
Directions: A lot of puplic tranport runs nearby.
Just have a look on one of the manny free maps.

Monday morning , on our way.
The appartment we rented was near 'Oktogon'.
Which is almost the center of all public transport
at the pest side. But the thing we were heading
for was not really that far.

We decided to walk the 'Andrassy ut'
that is considered to be a bit the champs
elysees of Budapest. I don't like that sort
of comparisons.

We ran in on the 'HOUSE OF TERROR'.
I knew imediately what it was. Even on the outside
this museum gave me cold thrills.
It is dedicated to the victims of two tragic
periods in Hungarian history. Arrow cross and
and the communist terror.

It was closed on monday , but even if it
was open I don't want to see it.
But I bet it is a very good museum , using
the best thechniques and multi media like
most museums we went to.

Leave a Comment

Phone: 374-2600
Address: Andrassy UT 60
Directions: Between metro 'Oktogon' and 'Vôrösmaty ütca'.
Other Contact: -20% with the budapestcard.

You can't miss it : Hosök tere.
Or the heroes square. It shows parths of
hungarian history. It is great to see but it becomes
nicer when you know the meaning of it.

Btw , before noon it is crowded by asian
tourist on their 5 days tour in Europe.

First your eyes will find the centerpiece.
A 36 meters high corinthian column with
on top the archangel Gabriël.
That angel appeared in a dream to 'Stefanus I'.
He brought him the crown. Take a closer
look with your tele to the crown. You will
meet the thing again later on.

The statue won a price at the world Expo in 1900.

Leave a Comment

Address: Hosok tere
Directions: Pest side, near City Park -
metro station Hosok tere (M1)

Second thing I"ve noticed were these savage
looking men. Those are the headmen of
the magyaren. They were in charge back then when they conquered the plain of the Danube.

King 'stefanus I 'was a descendant of these
headmen. More precicely of headman 'Arpad'.
But why is 'Stefanus I' (istvan)remembered.
He was the first to become christian. The first
step into European recognition and recognition
from the pope. And his mariage was important
as well. He married the german (Beierse) prinses Gisela.

Et voila , history can take a start.

I've added a little travelogue to show you
something more. Have a look if you like!

Leave a Comment

Address: Hosok tere
Directions: Pest side, near City Park - metro station Hosok tere (M1)

We walked in Budapest the first week of
october. And just like people told me in the
forum the weather can go many ways.
The temperature was quit high. Compared to
Belgium , we would even say it is warm.
Even swimming in open air and sunbathing
in swimwear was possible.
Check the weather here - go with your mouse
where you think Budapest is.
A good excersize as well.

Anyway. People told me that the weather
by the end of october could be like freezing cold.
Where am I heading for...
I made this picture behind heroes square.
There seems to be this dry lake , behind the
bridge. (I made the picture from the side where
there was still water). That is the ice skating
place. In front of that palace like building ,
a gigantic iceskating lake appears.

It was the favorite activity for the middle class.
I think it must be amazing to have a look...

Leave a Comment

Address: 1146 Budapest, Varosliget
Directions: Behind Heroes Square, access by metro M1 (Szechenyi furdo station) or trolleybuses #70, 72, 74, 75, 79

Ok , I still haven't told ou where I was going to.
The zoo of course. Since there are a lot
of things closed on a monday but the zoos
never close on monday. Visiting the zoo
is a real monday activity.

Why should you visit the zoo in Budapest?
Well I think the zoo is a tipical product of it's
time and place here. Some sources might say
that the zoo's architectural value is low.
That it is jugendstil but ludicrous...
The architect is 'Kornel Neuschlob'.
And i loved it. That sort of buildings belong in a zoo.
The elephant house is for instance inspired by
a mosque. The entrance building is a real pearl.

Anyway. The zoo itself is quit nice. They got
a large collection of animals who look healthy
and are well taken care of. True , some
enclosures are too little and there still is
some work that has to be done.
The zoo has a special collection of snakes ,
insects and little monkeys. (the zoo has 200
monkeys.) They got special combinations of
animals.

There is one thing you have to pay extra for.
It is the greenhouse. But it is worth it.
(only 400 forint - a little more then one euro)
It has gone true a ten year renovation and
contains many plants , reptiles , monkeys.
Under it you will end up in a fantastic aquarium.
And there is a beautifull cafféé with terrace..
Sweet , coffe and animals.

Don't forget the petting zoo...it is great.

Leave a Comment

Phone: (+36 1) 363-3710
Address: 1146 Budapest, Allatkerti krt. 6-12
Directions: In City Park, near Heroes' Square.
Take M1 to Hosok tere station
or trolley-bus 72 from Arany J. u. M3 station
to Allatkert stop. Also accessible by
trolleys 75 79 from Stadionok and Keleti pu. (M2)
Website: http://www.zoobudapest.com
Other Contact: Free with the Budapest card.

Just a few minutes away from the zoo there
is the 'széchenyi fürdo'.

I think it is the most beautifull bath in Budapest.
It has a large open air section with 3 pools.
One is quit hot , 40°. That is the one where
they play 'chess in. It is great to watch them.

In the middle there is the coldest one.
You need to wear something on your head if
you want to go swimming. Don't forget.
It is also meanth for swimming , not for floating.

Then the last one is the one with what I call
'recreation'. It has some massage options.
You can swim really fast in the whirlpool
in the middle. Do some exploring here.
And watch the other people very closely...
it has some surprises here and there.

On the inside there is a sauna , a steambath
and some other health baths. Enjoy them.
Maybe this bath is among the most touristy.
I think it is the nicest one.
If you can only got to one - choose this one.

If you want a special treatment , you'll have
to pay for it in advance. Swimming itself and
using the baths is very affortable.
There are many entrances but if you want
to pay with a credit card. Use the head entrance.

' the nicest thing' is of course you got the
feeling of swimming in a castle that is made
by the bakery around the corner.

Leave a Comment

Phone: +36 1 363-3210
Address: 1146 Budapest, Allatkerti korut 11.
Directions: Next to Millennium Underground Railway
(metro M1) station Szechenyi furdo; also
accessible by trolley-bus #72 from Arany
Janos utca metro M3 station or Nyugati pu. -
get off at Szechenyi furdo stop.
Website: http://www.budapestgyogyfurdoi.hu

When you are floating in the 'Széchenyi fürdo'
you can sometimes see a ship flying by.
It is one o the attractions of the 'Budapest funfair'.

This parc opened nearly 150 years ago...
It has an old fashioned atmosphere.

It was monday evening and we just went a little
closer to satisfy our curiosity. I must admit
I sometimes like these sorts of parcs.
The admission fee is 300 Ft , but the place
looked liked it was closed. At least the till
was.

But from behind the fences we saw people walking.
It was open. And it was free today...
We had a walk arround. The admission fee
is quit low but you still need to buy tickets if
you want to do anything. One ticket costs
250 ft or one euro. But for attractions like the
roller coaster you need two. We decided
to go into the dragons house. A house
with things that moved and released high
preasure air impulses. You know.

It is all a bit outdated , oldfashioned.
But we enjoyed it.
A few modern attrations are present.

The thing here not to be missed is the
merry-go-round. Really beautiful. Even the
building where it is in is fantastic.
I found out later that that is a protected monument.

Leave a Comment

Phone: +36 (1) 363-8310
Address: 1146 Budapest, Allatkerti krt. 14-16.
Directions: In the City Park.
Nearby metro station Szechenyi furdo (M1).
Trolleybus #72 (from Arany Janos utca M3 metro station)
stops at Szehchenyi furdo as well.
Website: http://www.vidampark.hu
Other Contact: Free admission with the budapest

It was an accident we ended up here.
I swear. The thing was we did feel like a walk.
So from the parc we went into the underground
and I was keeping an eye on the map and
knew where I wanted to go.
Only that was not on the line we where on. lol.

So when the line was in it's last station we
just went up and there we where. If front of
Gerbeaud.

Now this is probably the most famous
coffee house in Budapest. It sounds good ,
doesn't it. We wanted to see it anyway so we
went in.

We ordered the 'Gerbeaud special coffee frappé'
and some sweets. There is even a special
sort of pastery that is named after this place
that is sold in the other bakeries as well.
It looks spectacular on the picture , no?


I must be honest. Gerbeaud has the interior.
A beautiful ceiling with gold decorations and
wooden furniture. It is very nice. But the quality
of the products isn't on the same high level.


I took with me a box of pralines - they were
ok. But not better then any brand of belgian
supermarket pralines and a cake
with Sissi on it as a present.
(and they were very expensive)
Even the coffee named after the house tasted
poor. But it is not to be missed.

After this we walked to the Astoria hotel for dinner.

Leave a Comment

Phone: +36 1 429 9000
Address: V. Vorosmarty ter 7
Directions: Metro: M1 Vorosmarty ter
Website: http://www.gerbeaud.hu