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Cities Info Budapest
Budapest
GETTING THERE
AIRPORT
Budapest Ferihegy Airport was recently renovated and consists of two terminals linked by a fast bus service. The airport is situated 16 km southeast of Budapest, on route E60.
There is a car rental service with the main companies represented in the two teminals, including Avis, Europcar, Budget, Hertz, National Alamo and Sixt.
Telephone: 01 296 9696/7000
www.bud.hu/english
LOW COST FLIGHTS
www.wizzair.com
www.smartwings.com
www.blue1.com
www.easyjet.com
www.germanwings.com
www.airberlin.com
www.aerlingus.com
www.meridiana.com
www.norwegian.com
www.clickair.com
www.aireuropa.com
www.ryanair.com
www.jet2.com
BY ROAD
Hungary generally has good motorways and roads. Motorway vignettes (passes) are required for the M1 and M3 toll roads. For any information contact the Hungarian Automobile Club, Magyar Autoklub (telephone: 01 345 1800; www.autoklub.hu)
CAR RENTAL
Alamo Budapest
Address: 60 Ulloi Ut 1082
Telephone: 01 477 1080
www.alamo.com
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Budapest's cheap and useful public transport system is run by Budapesti Kozlekedési Vállalat - BKV (telephone: 01 258 4636; www.bkv.hu) and includes the metro, trams, buses, trolleybuses and trains. There are three metro lines which cross the city and link different touristic and business sites.
ATTRACTIONS
Orszaghaz (The Parliament)
Budapest's Parliament is one of the landmark monuments of this city. Designed by the famous Hungarian architect Imre Steindl, it was completed in 1902 after 20 years of work. It represents an example of neo-Renaissance style and is located on the banks of the Danube River.
Address: V Kossuth Lajos tér 1-3
www. parlament.hu
Szent Istvan Bazilika (St. Stephen's Basilica)
This is the biggest among Budapest's churches and dates back to the end of the 19th century. It was renovated after the damages occurred during the 2nd World War. The church boasts a wonderful view of the city from its tower.
Address: V Szent István tér 1
www.bazilika.biz
Matyas Templom (St. Matthias Church)
It is the oldest among Budapest's churches, because it was started in 1015, then was turned into a mosque by the Turks in the 16th century. St. Matthias Church shows now a melting choice of different styles from the 13th to the 19th centuries.
Address: Országház utca 14
www. 01 489 0716
www.matyas-templom.hu
Szechenyi Lanchid (Chain Bridge)
This is one of the nine bridges which link Buda to Pest and is probably the most famous. This bridge is the oldest in Budapest and was completed in 1848.
Address: I Clark Ádám tér
Dohany Zsinagoga (Central Synagogue)
It is the largest synagogue in the whole Europe, built in Byzantine-Moorish style. It was designed by Lajos Foster and completed in 1859. The two bwautiful domes were destroyed by the Hungarian Nazis and then were completely renewed.
Address: VII Dohány utca 2
Telephone: 01 342 8949
www.dohany-zsinagoga.hu
Budavari Palota (Royal Palace)
The Royal Palace is located on the Castle Hill and dates back to the 13th century. It houses an important museum, the Budapest History Museum, and the Hungarian National Gallery. This last contains a wide collection of Hungarian art, starting from the 10th century up till the contemporary art.
Address: Szent György tér 2
Telephone: 01 487 8800 (Castle Museum) and 01 439 7325 (Hungarian National Gallery)
www.btm.hu
www.mng.hu
Budapest Tourism Office
1056 Budapest Március 15 tér 7
Tel: (01) 322 4098.
Website: www.budapestinfo.hu
SHOPPING
Shopping in Budapest is generally not too expensive and is particularly good for jewellery, antiques and clothing.
The main shopping area is around Pest's chic Váci utca.
Budapest has several popular markets which represent an unmissable experience for tourists. The Great Market Hall (Nagy Vásárcsarnok) is the largest and is particularly good for bargains; it is located in IX Fovám tér.
NIGHTLIFE
The nightlife in Budapest is not so vibrant as in other European cities, but it has an important tradition in music, from opera to folk or rock and so on. There are a lot of nightclubs where people usually go to listen to live music while eating something or enjoying their favourite drink.
The main area for clubs and music venues is around VII Liszt Ferenc tér and IX Ráday utca.
For the best information about Budapest's nightlife read The Budapest Sun (www.budapestsun.com).
Among the most famous and popular clubs and music venues we remember the following:
Gödör Club
Address: Erzsébet Tér
Tel: (20) 201 3868.
Rio
Address: Szent Gellert tér1
Tel: (30) 297 2158.
Merlin
Address: Gerlóczy utca 4
Tel: (01) 328 7204.
Old Man's Music Pub
Address: VII Akácfa utca 13
Tel: (01) 322 7645.
www.oldmansmusicpub.com
A38 Hajó
Address: XI Mügyetem rakpart
Tel: (01) 464 3940.
RESTAURANTS
Hungarian cuisine is not particularly varied but recently a lot of new restaurants opened with different influences: Italian, French, Asian and so on. Authentic Hungarian dishes are definitely not for people on diet. The traditional cooking is usually a bit too heavy and fatty, but its rich flavour, aroma and texture compensate you for the slightly excessive calory intake.
Among the most popular Budapest's restaurants we remember the following:
Café Kor
Address: V Sas utca 17
Telephone: 01 311 0053
www.cafekor.com
Gerbeaud Restaurant
Address: V Võrõsmarty tér 7-8
Telephone: 01 429 9000
www.gerbeaud.hu
Klassz
Address: Andrássy utca 41
Telephone: 01 413 1545
www.klassz.eu
Bagolyvar
Address: Állatkerti utca 2
Telephone: 01 468 3110
www.bagolyvar.com
EVENTS
Sziget Music Festival
It is an important music festival which usually attracts a lot of people and important artists from all over the world.
It is held every year in August.
Jewish Summer Festival
Its most important location is around the wonderful Dohany Synagogue; in this festival there is all the heart of the cultural, musical and artistic tradition of the Jewish people. It is held every year in late August till early September.
www.zsidonyarifesztival.hu
New Year's Eve Gala & Ball at the Opera
Budapest's Opera House is a wonderful example of Italian Renaissance style. This particular event is very charming and features soloists, ballet dancers and the orchestra of the National State Opera. People assisting at this concert can taste Hungarian traditional food and drinks.