Description

Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. It is considered as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is also known as the 'Queen of the Danube'. It is a romantic city formed on the river Danube by the union of two cities, the medieval town of Buda and the cosmopolitan town of Pest. It is also the political, commercial and cultural capital of Hungary. Visitors can take a cruise on the river Danube or a thermal bath in a Turkish-era bathhouse. Visit the Fisherman's Bastion, located in the castle district which was built between 1895 and 1902. It is today used for sightseeing with great views over the Pest side of Budapest. The Basilica or the Szent István Bazilika is a church dedicated to King István and has fine architecture that must be seen. The architect Imre Steindel built the Parliament based on the Westminster Abbey in London between 1885 and 1904. One side of the Parliament is used by the government of Hungary and the second is for visitors and tourists. The real charm of Budapest lies in the shadowy courtyards and the long vistas down paved streets which should be experienced.

Shopping

Visitors looking for unique traditional folk art look in the Inner City and the Castle Quarter. You can buy ceramics, embroideries, painted eggs, dolls in folk costume, hand-painted Herend and Zsolnay porcelain, crystal and Halas lace. The Castle Quarter (or District) is the place to buy antiques and folk art items which are available in small shops on the streets. The House of Hungarian Wines has a huge selection of wines from the Hungarian wine regions. Visitors can buy apricot and plum brandy, Hungarian liqueur and regional wines like (Tokaji, Badacsonyi, Egri). The Great Market Hall is a large indoor market and is a major tourist attraction. Váci utca (street) a pedestrian shopping street which begins on the opposite side of the Great Market Hall at the foot of Liberty (Szabadság) bridge should be visited. There are antique, folklore shops, jewellery shops, galleries, designer boutiques, book-shops, wine-shops, restaurants and cafés that can be found.

Restaurants

Budapest has a lot of wonderful places to eat. There are all kinds of cuisines like Asian, Sushi, Wok dishes, Italian and German. Hungarian dishes have a distinctive flavour with sour cream, onions, eggs, butter and wine. Hungarian cuisine has paprika which is a spicy pepper found in soups and sauces.

Night Life

Bars, cafes and pubs are the places to go in Budapest. The bar offers visitors everything from sleazy sex bars to calm cafes and there is plenty of space to experiment. Many bars are open until dawn. Szimpla kert is a famous night club that must be visited.

Activities

Budapest lies on the geological fault separating the Buda Hills from the Great Plain. There is 30,000 cubic metres of steaming mineral water that gush from the thermal springs. The city is a major spa centre and 'taking the waters' baths or swimming in the pools is an unforgettable experience. During winter a huge outdoor ice-skating rink in City Park is opened for all visitors who want to try skating. The best place for canoeing and kayaking is on the Danube at Romai-part.

Communications

The international access code for Hungary is +36. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g., 0044 for the United Kingdom). City/area codes are in use, e.g., (0)1 for Budapest. There are often high surcharges on calls made from hotels; it is cheaper to use public telephone boxes or calling cards. Local directory assistance is available by dialling 198, and international directory assistance is 199; callers may have to hold for a few moments, but English-speaking operators are available. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators. Internet cafes are available in the main towns.

Contacts

Hungarian Tourist Office: +36 (06)1 438 8080 or www.hungarytourism.hu
Hungarian Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 362 6730.
Hungarian Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7201 3440.
Hungarian Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 230 2717.
Hungarian Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6282 3226.
Hungarian Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 430 3020/30.
Hungarian Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 661 2902.
Hungarian Consulate-General, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 973 7507.
United States Embassy, Budapest: +36 (06)1 475 4400.
British Embassy, Budapest: +36 (06)1 266 2888.
Canadian Embassy, Budapest: +36 (06)1 392 3360.
Australian Embassy, Budapest: +36 (06)1 457 9777.
South African Embassy, Budapest: +36 (06)1 392 0999.
Irish Embassy, Budapest: +36 (06)1 301 4960.
New Zealand Embassy, Berlin, Germany (also responsible for Hungary): +49 (0)30 206 210.
Emergencies: 112.

Currency

HUF

Attractions

The castle district is the most famous part in Budapest and also a piece of history. On top of castle you can find the Matyas Church, the Fisher Bastion, the Military history museum, the Vienna gate, the Museum of commerce and cathering, the Labyrinth of Buda Castle, the Budapest history Museum, the Hungarian national gallery and the Széchenyi library. The Citadella on Gellert Hill was placed for the soldiers who died in World War 2. The statue can be seen from every part of the city. She originally held a propeller in her hands dedicated to the son of Miklós Horthy but was later replaced by a palm leaf. It is believed that Miklós Horthy had good contacts with Hitler and the people did not want a reminder of him. From the top of the hill visitors have a remarkable view over the city and the Danube. You can see places like the chain bridge, parliament, castle district and the opera. Gellert hill should be visited especially at night when all the lights of Budapest are on and the city looks like a Christmas tree. The Statue Park is a collection of old socialistic statues. The statues were brought to the Statue Park from all over the city. They are showcased here for people who are interested. The Hungarian State Opera on the Pest side was built between 1875 and 1884 by Miklós Ybl. It is decorated luxuriously from the inside it is a wonderful and is a masterpiece. It was formerly known as Budapest Royal Opera House and is supposed to be one of the most good-looking and stylish opera houses in the world. The thermal water is not only responsible for famous baths but also the famous caves in Budapest and is a big attraction. The 700-year-old Church of Our Lady is popularly known as Matthias Church after the nation's famous ruler King Matthias. The church is one of Budapest's best-known structures and should be seen. The Chain Bridge was the first stone bridge to be built over the Danube. It is the most famous with its lion statues. Today there are nine bridges linking Buda to Pest but the Chain Bridge is the city's symbol.

Language

Hungarian (Magyar)

Language Description

Hungarian (Magyar) is the official language, but German is widely spoken. English is spoken in tourist areas and most hotels.

Tipping

Taxi drivers and waiters expect a tip of 10 to 15%. Waiters should be handed the cash, rather than have it left on the table. Most people in the service industry expect to be tipped about 10 to 15%.