Call Us today On
0203 026 2440
Open today: 9.00 am - 5.00 pm
This Eastern European capital city offers beautiful views, interesting buildings from the 1896 celebration of Hungary’s millennium and plenty of history.
Budapest was originally two cities
built on either side of the Danube - namely Buda and Pest. They are still quite
distinct today with their contrasting makeup. Buda is older and is made up of atmospheric
cobbled streets, picturesque coloured houses and a medieval, neo-Classical
mixture of architecture all set among the gentle hills of the west bank. It is
famous for its historic Castle Hill featuring the Royal Palace, museums and
galleries, St Matthias Church and the ramparts of Fisherman's Bastion.
In contrast, Pest lies on the flat
plain and is the commercial hub of the city. It boasts fashionable shopping
areas and wide, leafy boulevards. Andrássy Boulevard is the Champs-Elysées of
Budapest culminating in the enormous Heroes’ Square.
Visitors are treated to a familiar
European culture with a distinct Hungarian flavour which is evident everywhere
- the neo-Gothic Parliament buildings, sidewalk cafés and Magyar cuisine. Highlights
for visitors include a river cruise on the Danube and a thermal bath in one of
the Turkish-era bathhouses.
To holiday in Budapest is to revel in
one of the world's most beautiful cities. You can indulge in its breathtaking
classical architecture, stunning vistas, and the romantic Danube River. But
it’s not just about aesthetics, there are also the city's renowned operatic and
music events and famed spa baths.
Budapest has warm summers and
bitterly cold winters, with plenty of rain all year round. Winters are fairly
short with the very cold weather arriving in mid-December. In summer, from
April to September, Budapest has a high proportion of sunny, warm days with relatively
high humidity.
The average monthly temperatures are:
|
°C |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Day |
2 |
5 |
11 |
17 |
22 |
25 |
27 |
27 |
23 |
17 |
9 |
3 |
|
Night |
-3 |
-1 |
2 |
7 |
11 |
15 |
16 |
15 |
12 |
7 |
3 |
-1 |
Shopping in Budapest is very much a
mix of western style superstores and independent traditional retailers. Many
people buy folk arts and crafts, porcelain and antiques when they visit but
fashion, salami, paprika, Fois Gras and wine are also excellent buys.
The main shopping area in the city is
Vaci Utca in central Pest which is made up from a mix of traditional and
westernised chain stores. For those that enjoy the shopping mall experience there
is the West End Shopping Centre on Vaci Street. This mall comprises of two
floors jammed packed with well known high street names such as Mango and Marks
& Spencer as well as many restaurants and cafés.
You will find that the closer you get
to the Castle District, the more touristy and pricey stores become. A great
area for browsing is the streets north of Parliament Building (e.g. Falk
Miksa). Here you will find small antique shops, art galleries, small boutiques
and traditional crafts.
The city is also home to several
markets. The best flea market is Ecseri Piac (Monday to Sunday) and there is a
smaller one held in City Park called Petofi Csarnok.
At Pest end of Liberty Bridge is the
Central Market Hall (Kozponti Vasarcsarnok) which sells just about anything and
everything.
Budapest has a huge
variety of world-class cultural entertainment to offer. From theatre to cinema
and opera to music there are a number of stunning venues in the city such as
Zeneakademia (Franz Liszt Academy of Music), Magyar Allami Operahaz (Hungarian
State Opera House), National Concert Hall and Petofi Csarnok (main venue for
rock and pop music events).
Bars and clubs abound in
the city although there tends to be a high turnover rate. Below are a few
current names you might like to look out for, but for up to date nightlife
information check out the weekly magazines Scene
and Pesi Est.
March
June
July
August
September
October
Despite the wealth of
activities to see & do in Budapest you may want to take
the opportunity to explore this fascinating country further. Your hotel will be
able to provide you with details of what is available however here are a few
suggestions to temp you with:
·
Lake Balaton
·
Szentendre (St Andrews), Visegard and Estzergom
·
Pecs (Hungary’s 4th largest city)
·
Puszta & the horsemen of the Plains
·
Danube river trip
The tap water is safe to
drink in Budapest. Healthcare is adequate but not up to Western European
standards. Travellers are advised to ensure they have sufficient medical cover
in place before travelling.
Crime is low but you
should take the usual precautions with your valuables especially when in
crowded tourist areas. Watch for overcharging, it is quite common so have your
wits about you.