Exploring Budapest
Points of Interest by Foot
Margaret Island
Margaret Island is a small island along the Danube River which used to be a royal hunting reserve. Now a public park, it was named as such because during the Mongol invasion, the Hungarian King Belá founded a nunnery in the island and vowed to send her daughter Margaret there if he was able to retake the country from the invaders. The park is connected to the city by the Margaret Bridge.
Stroll along romantic walkways, watch a show in the open air theatre and cinema, or jog around. Other fun things to do in Margaret Island:
1. Watch the Magic Fountain show at night (6 or 9 PM)
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| Magic Fountain at night |
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| Magic Fountain at night |
2. Ride a funky vehicle for hire: bicycles, cyclo-pousses/bringo carts, golf carts, electric scooters and egg-shaped cars.
3. See stunning views from high up the island's water tower
4. Relax and have fun at the Palatinus Baths
5. Indulge with nature in the Rose and Japanese Gardens
6. See the ruins of a Franciscan church
Szechenyi Thermal Baths
Budapest is abundant with thermal baths where people flock to relax, have fun and even party. The Szechenyi Baths is the biggest green park of Budapest and one of the largest spa baths in Europe having 15 indoors baths and 3 main outdoor pools.
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At one of the Szechenyi Baths' outdoor pools
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Locals and tourists flock to this place to unwind, relax, and have fun. Apart from the medicinal effects of basking in natural hot spring waters in the pools and cabins/steam rooms, huge night parties are also hosted in the outdoor pools.
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| Szechenyi Baths main outdoor pools |
We did not pre-book our tickets when we visited. We only came as walk-ins, but it was not that busy during that time - we arrived around 7AM. I recommend going really early in the morning and buying the ticket with a cabin usage rather than just the locker usage so that you have your own cabin for changing/dressing. Otherwise, you will be changing in a changing room with other people and just having your own locker for storing your stuff. Girls are separated from boys of course. As the day goes by, the place becomes packed with a lot of people.
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| One of the heated indoor pools |
Central Market Place
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Central Market Place
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Also known as the Great Market Hall, the central market is a restored neogothic hall for traders with grocery produce on the ground floor, and souvenirs and food stalls on the first floor. Apart from shopping and sight/people-seeing, you can also get to watch free Gypsy concerts on Mondays and Fridays in the market at 11 and 11.30 AM.
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| Don't be fooled into adding extra toppings on your goulash. Just order the traditional one. |
Make sure to try out the famous Hungarian Goulash - a beef stew, and Langos - a deep fried dough, from one of the food stalls upstairs.
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Beef goulash with loads of unnecessary toppings
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For Sale Pub
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| For Sale Pub |
Located across the Central Market Place, For Sale Pub is known for its shaggy interiors with its walls covered with pieces of paper stapled and pinned by customers throughout the years and the floors covered with peanut shells which are free for customers while they wait in the queue or to be served.
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| Letters/Notes on For Sale Pub |
Make sure to try out the famous Hungarian crepe-like pancake, gundel.
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| Gundel |
Gellert Bridge
Also known as the Liberty Bridge, the Gellert Bridge crosses the Danube River and connects two squares on its ends: the Gellert Square at the foot of Gellert Hill on the Buda side, and the Fovám Square with the Great Market Hall on the Pest side.
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| Gellert Bridge |
The Gellert Bridge is the shortest bridge of Budapest and was the first in the city to be reconstructed after the second World War.
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Fovám Square with the Central Market Place
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Cave Hill Church
Built into a natural cave system, the Cave Hill Church was the seat of Hungary's Pauline Order up until 1951. Behind the church is a monastery with neo-Gothic turrets that are visible from Liberty Bridge. The walls are formed of all-natural living rocks.
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| Cave Hill Church |
Gellert Hill
Rising 140 meters high, Gellert Hill is a dolomite rock on the Buda side. It is named after a bishop from Italy, Gellert, who was invited by King Stephen to come over and assist in converting the Hungarians into Christianity. There is a bronze statue of Gellert on the side of the hill facing the Erzsébet bridge.
Enjoy panoramic views of the Danube River and Budapest from the hill at daytime and at nighttime.
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Danube River - Dusk
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Citadella
Citadella is a fortress on Gellert Hill built for the purpose of reminding the rebellious Hungarians who ruled the country, i.e. The Habsburgs, during the 1848-49 Revolution and War of Independence. It used to be the most despised establishment in Budapest and Hungarians used to call it the Bastille of Budapest.
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| View from Citadella |
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is an enormous female statue on top of the Gellert Hill commemorating Hungary's liberation from the Nazi rule.
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| Statute of Liberty |
Hungarian Parliament Building
The building is worth seeing when it is lit up at night time from across the Danube River on the Buda side.
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| Hungarian Parliament Building at night |
Gozsdu Udvar
Gozsdu Courtyard is a popular meeting point in downtown Budapest. It is a series of inner courtyards connecting Király utca and Dob utca. Grab a bite and some booze in one of the numerous restaurants and cafes.
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| Gozsdu Udvar |
