Budapest

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Budapest Hungary

Budapest (pronounced Budapesht) is the capitol of Hungary, and the country's political, cultural, commercial, industrial and transportation hub. The official language spoken is Hungarian, only related to the Finnish language (both languages are in the Finno-Ugric language group).
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Budapest had 2,421,831 inhabitants in 2005, steadily rising (this number doesn't count the number of people commuting to Budapest for jobs and shopping). Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube with the joining of three cities, Buda and Obuda on the west bank of the river Danube, and Pest on the east bank of the river, on the 17th of November 1873. Budapest has various nicknames given to the city for its rare beauty and the heroic fight of its residents for freedom, exhibited by the examples of the revolutions in 1526 (against the Turkish invasion of the Osman Empire); 1848 (against Habsburg oppression), 1956 (against communist terror), and most recently, the role Hungary played in ending the era of communist oppression and Russian occupation, during which Hungary was (erroneously) referred to as a member of the Eastern Block. It was erroneous because Hungary lies directly smack dang in the middle of Central Europe (but the term "Eastern Block" was a military, strategic, and political expression, rather than a true geographic location). Some of the nicknames lovingly given to Budapest are: "Pearl of the Danube;" "Queen of the Danube;" "Heart of Europe;" "Capital of Freedom;"  the "Athens of the Eastern Block"and "Paris on the Danube." After the collapse of the communist regime in Hungary 1989 the country returned to its pre-WWII free-market economy and today its commercial / business life is more flourishing than ever. [In this picture you can see the Royal Palace of Buda, sitting atop the hill and overlooking the river Danube, for centuries. In the evening, the Palace is illuminated. Hotel Hilton Budapest is built in the palace territory, incorporating elements of chapel ruins from the middle ages].

Historical Overview of Budapest

Budapest's recorded history, according to wikipedia, begins with the Roman town of Aquincum founded AD 89 on the site of a Celtic settlement Óbuda, and from 106 until the end of the 4th century the capital of the province of lower Pannonia. The word Pest(or Peshta) comes from the Bolgar language,(a Turkic language, not related to modern Bulgarian, which is a Slavic language) because at the time of the reign of the Bulgarian Khan Krum (796-814) the town was under Bulgar rulers. The area became home for the Avars later, and was occupied in 896 by the Magyars of Central Asia, the linguistic ancestors of today's Hungarians who founded the Kingdom of Hungary. Already a place of some significance, Pest recovered rapidly from its destruction by Mongol invaders in 1241, but it was Buda, the seat of a royal castle since 1247, which in 1361 became the capitol of Hungary.

Matthias Corvinus was 15 when he was elected King of Hungary. Matthias was educated in Italian, and his fascination with the Italian Renaissance led to the promotion of Mediterranean cultural influences in Hungary with the encouragement of his Italian wife Beatrice. His library the Bibliotheca Corviniana was Europe's greatest collection of historical chronicles, illuminated text (known as Codex); philosophic and scientific works in the 15th century - second only in size to the Vatican Library. Matthias was also the most popular King of Hungary, ever due to his wise ruling and the fun he obtained from mixing with the crowd in disguise to fight injustice.

The Ottoman Empire's conquest of most of Hungary in the 16th century interrupted the cities' growth: Buda and Pest fell to the invaders in 1541. While Buda remained the seat of a Turkish pasha, and administrative centre of a whole vilayet, Pest was largely derelict by the time of their recapture in 1686 by Austria's Habsburg rulers, who since 1526 had been Kings of Hungary despite their loss of most of the country.

It was Pest which enjoyed the faster growth rate in the 18th and 19th century and contributed the overwhelming majority of the cities' combined growth in the 19th century. Originally Budapest had 10 districts after coming into existence upon the unification of the three cities in 1873. On 1 January 1950 Budapest was united with several neighboring towns and the number of its districts was raised to 22. At that time there were changes both in the order of districts and in their sizes. Now there are 23 districts, 6 in Buda, 16 in Pest and 1 on Csepel island between them. Each district can be associated with one or more city parts named after former towns within Budapest.

Who are the Hungarians also known as Magyars?

A nation that has been known from being related to Attila the Hun and as a people of high temper, hot red Paprika, Goulasch, Zigeuner Musik (Gipsy Music), beautiful women and quick horsemen (i.e., the Hussars) only, Hungary has so much more to offer than this false tourist romantic! One of the myths, that Hungarians are related to the Gypsies, is definitely not true. Gypsies live in almost all Central European and Western European countries, as well as in the Balkan countries; and the Hungarian people have nothing in common with them regarding their origin or culture. May be, they just understood how to market the Gypsy romantic like no other people around them understand? Hmmm. Hungarians are only related to the Finnish people, their language is not even similar to any other but the Finnish. Both languages are in the so-called Finno-Ugric language group. It is, however, true that the Hungarian nation has been historically friendly with minorities. Due to its rich soil, very pleasant climate and hospitality, some gypsies settled there permanently. Hungarians appreciate their music, which is just as much an exoticum for them as it would be for the visiting tourist, and mostly enjoyed in restaurants.

There is a lot of refined value embedded in the Hungarian culture that remains, even today, somewhat hidden to people from other cultures. This can be partly explained by the relative secludedness of the Hungarian language (there are about 11 million Hungarians living in Hungary, another approximately 4 million in other countries, the majority of them in Transylvania). Relying on (sometimes rather bad) translations of the cultural treasures of Hungarians, at best, helped deepen the biased and incorrect views about the Magyars. Those few who managed to defeat their prejudiced, misinformed and suspicious attitude towards Hungarians, and / or who learned to speak their language fluently, usually found them highly intelligent, kind and faithful in love and friendship alike; as well as generously giving, artistically talented and hard working, with a huge portion of intellectual humor! But, this must be the topic of another lens, at another time point. In Budapest, you'll find Fine Art Museums (yes, Degas, too!), Cafes (try Gerbaud first!), gorgeous historical buildings and luxury hotels, with some of the most beautiful views European capitols can offer. Good food, and music on a wide spectrum, from medieval to Liszt and to Gypsy serenade.
Number of Hungarians per Country (in 2007):
9,968,000 Hungary
1,563,000 United States
1,434,500 Romania
520,500 Slovakia
315,000 Canada
300,000 Serbia
175,000 Argentina*
157,000 Ukraine
120,000 Germany
86,000 Brazil*
80,000 United Kingdom
55,000 Australia
41,000 Austria
40,000 Chile
17,000 Croatia
15,000 Czech Republic
10,000 South Africa
7,000 New Zealand
6,000 Slovenia
4,000 Russia
3,000 Ireland
2,000 Macedonia
1,000 Philippines
900 Bosnia and Herzegovina

Budapest Hungary

This youtube video was made by a German tourist

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Budapest Panorama

This picture shows the view from the top of Gellert Hill, overlooking the river Danube (known as Duna to Hungarians). The Chain Bridge (known as Lanc-hid in Hungarian) is close to the foot of that hill. In the distance, the Margaret Island is visible with its bridge Maragit Hid (= hid means bridge in Hungarian, and Margit is the Hungarian version of the surname Margaret).

Budapest Parliament House

Also known as the House of the Country to Hungarians

Budapest Parliament represents one of the city's many architectural masterpieces. Its neo-Gothic main style and the river-side location makes it similar to London's Houses of Parliament. The architect, Imre Steindl mixed medieval features with national and his own style. The result is an eclectic classic. A Renaissance dome crowns a neo-Gothic facade, that lies on a Baroque base ground. The main cupola is decorated with statues of Hungarian kings. Fierce turul birds guard the main entrance. The interior decor is mainly neo-Gothic. The Parliament is 268 m long and 123 m wide accross the centre. It occupies 18.000 square metres on the surface and 473.000 cubic metres of space. About 50 five-story apartment blocks could fit into the Parliament, just to give you an idea about its vastness. Budapest Parliament is the third largest parliament in the world. At the time of its construction Hungary formed part of the Habsburg Empire, that stretched from the Tatra Mountains to the Adriatic Sea.

The Parliament has 691 rooms. The length of all the stairs together measures about 20 kilometres. The most impressive is the grand staircase. The building contains spacious halls. The central dome's height reaches 96 m. The building has 27 entrance gates. 90 statues and the coats-of-arms of various cities adorn the exterior. There are 152 statues and pictures of national fauna. The decorations needed about 40 kg 22-23 karat gold. Until the 19th century the Hungarian diet held its sessions in different parts of the county. In the Reform Era the idea of a "House of a Motherland" became more and more popular.

Constructions began in 1884 and lasted for two decades. It opened in 1902, altough it should have been finished by 1896 for the Milennium to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of Hungary's foundation. Leaders of the country chose the Pest bank of the Danube as premise, to counterweight the Royal Palace rising high on the other side of the river. The architect, Imre Steindl got his inspirations for the design from London's Houses of Parliament. After World War II the diet became single-chambered and the government uses only a small portion of the building today. In the communist regime a red star perched on the top of the dome, that was removed in 1990. Mátyás Szurös declared the return of Hungarian Republic from the balcony facing Kossuth Lajos tér on 23d October in 1989. The Hungarian parliament has 386 memebers who are elected every 4 years.

Inside the Parliament of Hungary

Organised Tours in Budapest Parliament:
A perfect way to visit the Parliament building and the Holy Crown of Hungary is to go on an organised guided tour.

First the group will take a walk around the impressive building dominating Kossuth tér on the Pest side of the Danube.

After seeing and learning about the Parliament from the outside an interior tour will guide you through the famous rooms and sights (session room, the magnificient staircase) of the building.

Guiding is avaiable in the following languages:English, German, Spanish, Italian, French.

Parliament Tour-Details

Prices: 19.25 Eur/5000 HUF/adults, 9.6 Eur/2500 HUF for children

Reserve your Guided Budapest Parliament Tour online here:

in Eur

in HUF

Parliament + City Tour

Combine the Parliament tour with a guided bus sightseeing tour:

Prices: 38.45 Eur/10 000 HUF for adults, 19.25 Eur/5000 HUF for children

Reserve your ticket for the a Tour of the Parlament + Budapest City Tour package online:

in Eur

in HUF

Pickup is included in the price. We would kindly ask you to fill the hotel name and telephone number fields on the ordering form, and at the day of the event please beat the reception of the hotel 30 minutes before the start of the program.

Meeting point for the tour (if you do not request the pickup): Apáczai Csere János street 12

Budapest Hungarian Parliament Inside

Budapest Concerts

Numerous Budapest concerts offer entertainment to both classical and pop-rock music lovers, jazz and folk music fans throughout the year.

As one of Europe's and the world's main cultural centres, the Hungarian capital hosts a wide range of cultural events, so whichever season may you come, you won't have to rack your brain to find programs for a good evening out.
Let's not forget about the reasonable ticket prices that make Budapest concerts even more tempting entertainment opportunities.

Danube Symphony Orchestra Concerts in the Danube Palace
Organ Concerts in St Stephen's Basilica
Classical Music Concerts in Budapest
Main Venues of Budapest Concerts
Open-air Concerts
Ticket Offices
Light Music Concerts
Related Pages
Classical Music Concerts in Budapest

Tip: Danube Palace (Duna Palota) - Danube Symphony Orchestra Concert with Cimbalom Show

Address: Zrínyi utca 5., V. district, tram 2, Roosevelt tér stop, or a short walk from Deák Ferenc tér metro station (M1, M2, M3 metro lines)
Tel: (+36 1) 317 3085

Danube Palace Concert hall

Danube Palace Concert hall Budapest

Classical Music concert in Danube Palace, Budapest

Night Cruise with Dinner on the danube, Budapest

The charming neo-Baroque Palace is the permanent concert hall for the Danube Symphony Orchestra.

The Danube Symphony Orchestra was formed in 1961. Since then they have given many performances both in Hungary and abroad. The Orchestra consists of 60 professional musicians.
Their repertoire covers almost every musical style from the Baroque music to music of the 20th century.

They perform the most famous classical melodies combined with typical Hungarian instrument, the Cimbalom (Hummer Dulcimer). It is a unique opportunity to hear most popular masterpieces of classical music interpreted by cimbalom

Dates of Concerts in 2010:

* January: 1.
* April: 3.
* May: 1. 8. 15. 22. 29.
* June 5. 12. 19. 26.
* July: 3. 10. 17. 24. 31.
* August: 7. 14. 21. 28.
* September: 4. 11. 18. 25.
* October: 2. 9. 16. 23.
* December: 25. 27. 30.

Concerts start at 20.00 and consist of two 40-45-minute sessions with an intermission.

Prices:

* adults:
o 31,15 Euro/8100 HUF
o 27,70 Euro/7200 HUF
o 24,65 Euro/6400 HUF

* students
o 27,70 Euro/7200 HUF
o 24,65 Euro/6400 HUF
o 21,55 Euro/5600 HUF

Reserve your ticket for the danube symphony orchestra concert with cimbalom show:

* Booking in Euro

* Booking in HUF

Discount: 10% with Budapest Card(please order the card, plus the performance with 10 % discount for the same day).

TIP: enjoy a night cruise with dinner on the Danube after the concert and save money by booking the two programs together. You'll get a discount package price and you pay 700 HUF ( Euro) less for the two programs than you would if you bought them separately.

Price:

Adult: 58,85 Euro / 55,40 Euro / 52,30 Euro
Student: 55,40 Euro / 52,30 Euro / 49,25 Euro

Reserve your ticket for the Danube Symphony Concert + Cruise & Dinner:

* Booking in Euro

* Booking in HUF

NOTE: after payment you'll receive a confirmation email with all the details.

Tour of the Parliament of Hungary

The text is in Deutsch (German)

From this text we learn over 1,000.000 bulding blocks were used to create the Parliament building, and almost 50 kg (100 lbs) of gold for the decorations. The final architectural steps were completed in 1904. Imre Steindl, the highly talented, visionary Hungarian architect and designer of this colossus unfortunately never got to see the building in the completion phase, as he became gradually blind during the years of construction. Note: The text was not written by me, it is part of the youtube video; although I do understand German and will probably translate the entire text and put it in here, when I have time to do so. Much of the information presented here in German is elaborately explained above in various parts of the lens, in English.
Budapest, Parlament
by matyohimzes | video info

19 ratings | 11,040 views
curated content from YouTube

Budapest Hungary Hungarian State Opera House

Magyar Allami Operahaz

In this long video you will see the interior of the Hungarian State Opera House, walk the staircases, indulge in the rich carvings, sculptures, frescos and ballustrades, while listening to a variety of famous arias from operas. The building also gives a home to various ballet performances with famous ballerinas from all over the world (and the Hungarian ballerinas and their male counterparts are good too!). Only the first few seconds of this video are narrated, and the speaker is speaking Hungarian. If you listen to the language carefully, you will hear how distinctly different this language is from all slavic languages spoken in countries around Hungary. The Hungarian language, just like its sibling, the Finnish language, is full of so-called closed "e" [ae] sounds.

After the first few seconds of narration, the music takes over. The translation for the last piece of music heard in the film (entitled Hazam, Hazam Te Mindenem {= My Homeland, my Homeland, My Everything} is from the Hungarian opera Bank Ban (which was the name of a ruler) composed by musician Erkel Ferenc. This aria has a very special meaning for Hungarians, a very patriotic song, the verses of which I am posting here in the original Hungarian language, as well as in English translation:

Mint szamuzott, ki vandorol [Like a cast-away, who is wandering]
A suru ejen at [Through the darkness of night]
S vad forgetegben nem leli (In the wild storm not finding]
Vezerlo csillagat [His guiding stars]
Az embersziv is ugy bolyong [So does the human heart wander]
Oly egyes-egyedul [Lonely]
Ugy tepi kunn az orkan [While the elements are tobing outside]
Mint az onvad itt belul [Just like the guilt does in my heart]

Csak egy nagy erzes eltetett [I only lived for this one great feeling]
Sok gond es gyasz alatt [Throughout mourning and worries]
Hogy szent hazam es hos nevem [That my holy homeland and my heroic name]
Szeplotlen megmarad [will remain without a flaw]
Most mind a ketto orvosra var [Now both need doctoring]
S mig itt toprenkedem [While I am brewing]
Hazam boritja szemfodel [My homeland is covered in mourning shroud]
S elvesz becsuletem! [And my honor seems to be lost]
[Note: He is referring to some battle-field losses for which he feels guilty to have dragged his soldiers into by not making the right choice as a leader - but actually, he had no other choice but the one he made]

Hazam, hazam, te mindenem! [My homeland, my homeland, my everything]
Tudom, hogy eletem neked koszonhetem [I know, my life I can thank to you]
Arany mezok, ezust folyok [Golden meadows, silver rivers ]
Hos vertol azottak, konnytol aradok [Soaked in heroic blood, swollen with tears]

Sajgo sebet felejti Bank [His immense wound Bank is trying to forget]
Zokog, de szolgalja nepe szent javat [Sobbing, but continues to serve his people's saint interest]

Magyar hazam, te mindenem! [My Hungarian Homeland, My Everything]
Te erted batran meghalok [I would die bravely for you]
Te szent magyar hazam! [You holy Magyar Homeland!]

Note: There is a second version also (that is the one Placido Domingo sings in the second video below), in which the last three lines are
Magyar hazam, megaldalak! [My Hungarian homeland, I bless you!]
Szep erted elni, erted halni, [It is nice to live for you, and to die for you]
Te szent magyar hazam! [You holy Hungarian homeland of mine!]

[Sorry, I had to remove the Umlaut and apostrophes from the text, because the print would show geometric symbols in their place] It is a beautiful historically themed opera, and often displayed not just in the Opera House in Budapest, but in open-air summer festivals for classical music held on the Margaret Island (in the middle of the Danube river, between Buda and Pest) and in southern Hungary, at the Szeged Summer Festival and Opera Days. Szeged is a famous, beautiful town close to the Kroatian border, on the river Tisza (known as Theiss to Germans), and it is this town that gave the world the Pick and Hertz Salami brands, made after much guarded century old recipe.
Hungarian State Opera Budapest
by franzhun | video info

12 ratings | 4,761 views
curated content from YouTube

Hazam, Hazam, Te Mindenem sung by Placido Domingo

Na ja, he has a cute accent in Hungarian, but I think his performance is phenomenal! The text for this aria is in the above module, both in Hungarian and English. I will add it in German when I have the time to do so. Please note, this is an open-air theater presentation, which is why both Placido Domingo and the conductor have to struggle with the wind blowing their papers. Once you are done listening to P. Domingo's interpretation of this song, and if you aren't tired of listening to the same in yet another version, look for the small video insert below the main video with a white haired gentleman, who is no other than the most famous contemporary (and now retired) Hungarian tenor: Jozsef Simandy [pronounced She-maan-dee]. He is singing the same song in his summer house, at the Lake Balaton. A great performance for his age! :o)
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Hungarian Rock Opera: Istvan a Kiraly (Stephen the King)

This historically themed rock-opera from which I posted a song below pays tribute to Stephen the King (also known as Saint Stephen) as he was trying to establish a Christian Hungary and led a heroic fight against the tribes of his nation who chose to remain barbarians. The opera is also a tribute to love and compassion, endurance and courage. He greatly expanded Hungarian control over the Carpathian Basin during his lifetime, broadly established Christianity in the region, and is generally considered to be the founder of the Kingdom of Hungary. Pope Gregory VII canonized Stephen I, together with his son, Saint Emeric of Hungary and Bishop Gerard of Csanad, on the 20th of August, anno domini 1083. Stephen became one of the most popular saints in Hungary, and the date of his canonization is celebrated as a state holiday commemorating the foundation of the nation, with fire-works everywhere, just like on July 4th in the USA. Please keep in mind, you are watching a rock opera, so the costumes, the stage decoration, and the coreography is not as elaborate as it would be in a real opera on stage. Neither are the singers professional opera singers, they are rock-stars, but I think they did a wonderful job here.

This particular song is, by the way, about their request that God please look upon them, have mercy on them and fill their heart with the goodness, faithfulness, the wisdom, and the love they need to lead their country in the right direction and to be worthy of God's name. Notice the word "Istenem" comes up quite frequently, this word means "My God." The word God = Isten [pronounced Ish-tan] , but in the Hungarian language, the possessive form "my" or "mine" is indicated by the letter "m" attached to the end of a noun, connected by either an e, o, u or a letter depending on the type of word it is. So, from Isten, the ending "em" makes "My God."
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Lily Felmery

This performance is by Lily Felmery, a Hungarian ballerina. In this video clip you can see her Lausanne 2008 award winning dance.
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Budapest Hungary Video

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Budapest Fine Arts Museum, National Gallery and Heros' Square

Hősök tere, Budapest
by matyohimzes | video info

25 ratings | 12,752 views
curated content from YouTube

Szentendre near Budapest An Artist town on the Danube River

While visiting Budapest, you can also take excursions to the its surroundings. This adorable Artistic community in Hungary with its hundreds of carefully restored, colorful old buildings, galleries, restaurants etc. is located about 20 miles outside of the Hungarian capitol Budapest, nestled among the hills of Buda. The town is on the bank of the Danube river, in Hungarian known as the Duna. Originally, in ancient times the settlement was created by traveling Serbian and Greek shipmen and clerics. Gradually, however, the town became a much enjoyed summer retreat for the Budapest elite society and Artists, who found the calm, slower pace of living and the beauty of the landscape irresistible. Many Artists have / had their studios overlooking the red tiled roofs in the higher lying areas. Annually, over 500,000 tourists from all over the World visit Szentendre (meaning Saint Andrew). If you visit there, you need good walking shoes because of the many narrow stairways and hilly layout of the town, much resembling Dalmatian coastal architecture alongside the Adriatic sea. You will find lots of great Art galleries (I recommend the Gallery of Art for Margit Kovacs first), hand made pottery, jewelry, embroidered linen ware and lots of exciting, old items for sale. Your culinary needs will be more than satisfied by the excellent Hungarian cuisine offered in neat restaurants, many of them having an internal court yard with lots of flowers and comfortable tables and chairs. Like most Hungarians, there is a fat chance that your waitress speaks at least two other languages fluently (often, these are German and English, but not rarely, Spanish or French, as well). Discover Art in Hungary in a pleasant way, by first hand experience!
Szentendre, Hungary
by pamacs51 | video info

49 ratings | 25,587 views
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Budapest on Amazon

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Typical Hungarian Wedding Photography

A bit sugary - but that is obviously not a problem when two people are in love...The song is written by Balazs Ferenc, and the title is "Touch me..." = "Erints meg" in Hungarian.
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A more contemprary version of the same

....a la 21st century
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A happy day

A funny and unusual wedding...typical Magyar sense of humor shining through! At first, the best men and the flower girls appear in traditional folklore outfits, chanting a typical Hungarian folk song; but then they all start dancing disco style, to the amusement and cheers of the wedding guests. .
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Budapest Hotels with Breathtaking Views

Below, please find a selection of hotels in Budapest, Hungary with some of the most beautiful views the hotelier industry can offer!

A Selection of Fine Budapest Hotels For a Variety of Budgets

Throughout the world, Budapest is referred to as the "Paris of the East". This is no surprise, given the exceptional beauty of this great city! And fortunately, tourists who visit Budapest agree. Budapest is a romantic city with a wealth of historical and architectural monuments, breath taking views, hospitality, and one of the lowest crime rates in entire Europe! Some of the hotels with exceptional views are listed here:
art'otel Budapest
art'otel Budapest - Art Hotel Budapest - In the city centre, on the banks of the River Danube, equally 10-minute walk from the world-heritage-site Buda Castle and the downtown pedestrian shopping area.
Hotel Helia Budapest: Danubius Thermal & Conference Hotel
New, centrally located superior first class, conference, business, fitness and spa hotel on Pest embankment of the river Danube, opposite Margaret Island.
Hotel Papillon Budapest : Cheap hotel in Budapest
Hotel Papillon is located in the most beautiful, peaceful and calm area, the exqusite residential district known as the Rozsadomb (= Hungarian for Rose Mound or Rose Hill), only a few minutes from the heart of the city and just 10 minutes away by foot from the Buda Castle.
Hotel Korda Villa Budapest
This classical style building is situated in the exclusive green belt of Budapest. There is clean air and a beautiful garden that surrounds the building. The downtown can be reached in 15 minutes by car, 30 minutes with public transportation.
Hotel Gellert Budapest
Danubius Hotel Gellert Budapest is a typical spa hotel from 1918 (Gellert Hotel Budapest Spa). It offers all the comfort of a city center hotel and a health spa hotel in one building.
Danubius Thermal Hotel Margitsziget Budapest
The newly renovated nine-story spa hotel - built in 1979 - is centrally located, in the picturesque surroundings of the Margaret Island, yet far from the noise of the metropolis Budapest.
Sofitel Atrium Budapest (Formerly Hyatt Regency) - Five Star Budapest Hotels
Budapest Hyatt Regency Hotel

Located in downtown Pest and near to Váci utca, the Sofitel Atrium - formerly the Regency Hyatt - is among the 'group of three' luxury hotels on the Dunakorzó (Danube Promenade). Comprising of 351 guest rooms, including 144 non-smoking rooms and 54 suites, each come equipped with air-conditioning, mini-bar, safe deposit, radio, colour TV (with pay channels), voice mail, high-speed transmission line and hair dryer.

The Sofitel also features an executive floor, fully equipped fitness center and indoor swimming pool, along with the following restaurants and bar:

Bridge Bar - elegantly decorated and adorned with art and decor celebrating the great bridges of the world, it offers a sweeping view of the Danube and the famous Chain Bridge. Live piano music every night adds to the atmosphere of luxury.

Palm Café - the Palm Café offers a selection of rich dessert specialities, fresh home-baked pastries and coffee specialities.

Atrium Terrace - offers innovative and delicious menus and buffets inspired by both traditional Hungarian and international favourites. It offers breakfast, buffet, lunches and dinner up to 160 persons.

Focaccia - the Focaccia restaurant serves sunny Mediterranean dishes and is renowned for its wood-burning oven. Flavoursome South-French, Italian and Spanish delicacies in a real Mediterranean atmosphere.
Hotel Hilton Budapest
Stay at the Hilton Budapest hotel, in the Castle district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, boasting attractions like Fisherman's Bastion and one of the last, truly beautiful Gothic / Neo-Gothic churches of Europe, the Matthias Church where kings of Hungary received their crown! The hotel offers great Danube views and is 20 minutes from the city center of Pest. Work out in the exercise room, relax in the sauna or indulge in a massage.

Enjoy fresh lobster and Hungarian dishes in the Hilton Budapest hotel's Dominican Restaurant, view the onsite medieval remains from the Lobby Bar or sample local wines in the historic Faust Wine Cellar. The Hilton Budapest hotel has 21 meeting rooms for 4-650, an Executive Lounge, a 24-hour business center and wireless internet access in all guest rooms and public spaces.

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Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden Hungary

With more than 700 animal species and 2000 different types of plants, one of the world's oldest zoos offers perfect relaxing fun for individuals or the entire family.

Transportation: The Budapest Zoo and Botanical garden is located in Budapest's XIV. district at the edge of Városliget (City Park) on Állatkerti körút (Zoo Boulevard) 6-12. By mass transit, the fastest way to get to the zoo would be with the millennium underground (M1, yellow metro line), via trolley busses 72, 75, 79, or by buses 4, 20, or 30.

The Zoo opened on August 9th, 1866. During the first few decades it was mainly home to creatures of the Carpathian Basin, but there were a few real specialties such as Empress Elizabeth's gift, a giraffe. Franz Joseph offered 35 animals to the Budapest Zoo from Schönbrunn, Austria. The nine different monkeys and the colorful parrots were also much adored. In 1873 Károly Serák became the director, and remained director for 30-years. In commemoration for the country's millennium celebration 1896, starting in 1890 they began to acquire new, fascinating creatures like the Nile hippo or the rhinos of Sumatra. Visitors were also treated with chimps, orangutans, sea lions, anteaters, the white-tailed gnu, elephant species, and bears. In 1896, the city decided to raise the rent, which the institution could not afford. In 1907 the zoo entered bankruptcy while its parent company Zoo and Botanical Group was dismantled. The city eventually purchased the zoo. Since 1990s Miklós Persányi is the director, and the zoo underwent major reconstruction and an expansion under his leadership.

Most of the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden's buildings are considered to be historical monuments and the recent reconstruction has restored them to their original beauty in the Romantic style. The Main Gate is decorated with elephants. The Elephant House, the Small and Big Cliff, the Palm House, the Monkey House, the Pheasant Preserve, the Deer House, the Rodent House, the Bird House, and the Bambi-house were added gradually. The Aquarium uses the latest technology to display 150 species. Colorful corals are also presented in the 150 thousand liter tank. For an unmatched tropical atmosphere visit the Palm House and its neighbor, the wax museum, showcasing the unique reptiles, dinosaurs, and giant ice-age creatures of ancient times.

Hungarian Landscapes

The title of this song is "You are beautiful, Hungary!"
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Budapest Zoo on YouTube

Video film made by pamacs51

In this video, you can see some of the inhabitants of the Zoo Park in Budapest, Hungary.
Zoo Budapest Hungary
by pamacs51 | video info

16 ratings | 15,241 views
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Cafe House Gerbaud Budapest Hungary

After a day of sightseeing or soaking in a mineral spa, do as Budapesters do and enjoy a cup of strong espresso coffee and sweet cakes in an old, beautifully maintained café house with crystal chandeliers, antique furniture, guild decorations and heavy velvet curtains. There were more than 400 coffeehouses in Budapest at the turn of the century, attracting everyone from soldiers and aristocrats to poets and actors, and some of the best are still in business today. One such example is the Cafe Gerbaud.

The most famous of Budapest's 'old style' coffee houses, the Gerbeaud has been in the business of creating mouth-watering cakes and pastries for over 140 years.

Originally established by the famous Swiss confectioner Emil Gerbeaud, the interior of this turn-of-the-20th-century building creates a wonderfully lavish setting. this is one café where indulging one's sweet tooth is elevated to an Art form. For here you'll find the finest range of pastries in the city, and in Europe if you like. Emile Gerbaud invented the Hungarian specialty known as Konyakos Meggy, dark chocolate with a cognac-soaked sour cherry in the center (similar to its successor Mon Cheri). Gerbaud is always busy, so Good luck finding a spot! Next door, the new Gerbeaud restaurant promises to offer culinary delights to the same high standard.

V. Vörösmarty tér 7, Tel: 429 9000, Website: www.gerbeaud.hu, Open: 9am 9pm daily, Metro: M1 Vörösmarty tér

Cafe House New York Budapest Hungary

Café House New York operates in a 19th century Art Nouveau townhouse of palatial proportions. The café's opulent interiors and literary associations have endowed it with near mythical status. Like other cafés, it was originally popular with writers for purely practical reasons: it offered a warm refuge from cold rented rooms that they could scarcely afford - and paper and ink were gratis. Though today you're likelier to rub shoulders with fellow tourists rather than struggling scribes, the New York still counts editors of literary magazines among its habitués.

Comparison: more expensive than average
Directions: On Grand Circle Boulevard, near Blaha Lujza ter. Accessible by metro M2, trams 4 6 28 37 37A, buses 7 7A 7exp 78 99 173exp (Blaha L. ter) and trolley-bus 74 (Erzsebet krt.).

Restaurant Gundel Budapest Hungary

According to Frommer's Guide for Budapest Hungary:
"Budapest's fanciest and most famous restaurant, Gundel was reopened in 1992 under the auspices of the well-known restaurateur George Lang, owner of New York's Café des Artistes. The Hungarian-born Lang, author of The Cuisine of Hungary, and his partner Ronald Lauder, son of Estée Lauder and a one-time New York gubernatorial candidate, spared no effort in attempting to re-create the original splendor for which Gundel, founded in 1894, achieved its international reputation. Located in the City Park of Budapest in Hungary (where the Zoo Park and the Amusement Park are also to be found, along with a lake and a replica of Hunyad Castle), Gundel Restaurant has an opulent dining room adorned with 19th-century paintings and a large, magnificent floral centerpiece. The kitchen prides itself on preparing traditional dishes in an innovative fashion. Lamb and wild-game entrees are house specialties. Gundel is also a place to be seen, and it is a very serious tradition in Budapest: many notable characters or dignitaries make a point of having at least one meal in Gundel's when visiting the Hungarian capitol."

Allatkerti ut 2
Budapest 1146 Hungary
+36 1 468 4040
info@gundel.hu
Open Hoursnoon-4p , 6:30p-midnight daily
http://www.gundel.hu

Matyas Pince or King Matthias Cellar Restaurant Budapest Hungary

Dedicated to the famous ad beloved 15th century Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus Rex Hungarorum, the Matyas Cellar (also referred to as Matyas Basement in some English texts) which is actually a very exclusive restaurant with excellent food and service is located close to the bank of the Danube river on the Pest side of Budapest.

The restaurant is in the same building as Matyas Hotel. The hotel is situated in the middle of downtown, at the Erzsebet hid (Elizabeth Bridge), in the business, financial, commercial district, near the main shopping pedestrian area of Vaci Street. Points of interest with local attractions are also within easy reach. The hotel with its famous Matyas Pince restaurant is a suitable destination, particularly for individual leisure travelers and businessmen seeking moderate first class facilities in the heart of the city. Upon arrival at the Budapest, Ferihegy Airport Terminal 1,2, airport transfer tickets need to be purchased at the LRI Minibus desk in the lounge.

City Matyas Hotel
Marcius 15 Ter 7-8
Budapest, 1056
Hungary
Book Online or Call 1-877-477-5817

Red Stagecoach or Voros Postakocsi Budapest Restaurant Hungary

Budapest restaurant with folk music and authentic cuisine. Anyone looking for down to the basics Hungarian culinary experience shouldn't pass it by! The restaurant is located in Raday utca on the Pest side of the city.

Since 1970 it has housed the Voros Postakocsi where a mixture of traditional and modern Hungarian dishes are served. Traditionally heavy dishes are rendered light, courtesy of organic meat, dairy products and vegetables. The menu offers several game and vegetarian options. The restaurant's wide selection of modern Hungarian wines is a treat for all.

In 2005 the Hungarian and European Catering Association rewarded the restaurant with " Vednoki Tabla". That means that these two organizations take responsibility for quality assurance in the restaurant and guarantee the quality of the meals and high level of service to their guests.

One of the specifics of interior design is that the walls are lined with book shelves so the waiting patrons can satisfy some cognitive needs while everything is set in motion to satisfy their culinary needs behind the revolving doors of the kitchen.

Budapest IX. Ráday u. 15., tel. (+36-1) 217 6756.
Open 11:30-24:00

Budapest Photo Collage

The music is composed by Somlo Tamas (or in English, Tamas Somlo) and it is entitled "Indulni kell, megint..." or in English: "We have to start, again..." In German: "Wir muessen anfangen, nochmals.." Enjoy the beautiful pictures from all over Hungary!
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Reader Feedback

  • PaulRyan Apr 13, 2012 @ 9:36 am | delete
    A wonderful lens. You obviously put a lot of hard work into it. Very interesting and informative. Thank you!
  • Murvi56 Oct 30, 2011 @ 3:32 am | delete
    An interesting insight into a great city
  • camptrip Mar 27, 2011 @ 1:58 pm | delete
    If you are thinking about traveling to Eastern Europe you have to stop off at Budapest. We are currently traveling through Europe and Budapest was one of my favorite places. It has this great feel to it and the architecture and history is just incredible. The Danube runs right through it separating Buda and Pest. Good job on the article!
  • isabella Nov 8, 2010 @ 4:03 pm | delete
    beautiful lens of a beautiful city. Hope to travel to hungary one day
  • Classic Oct 23, 2010 @ 2:14 am | delete
    Hi Mark Thank you for your visit, your kind words, and your omnipresent admiration of my lenses! :o) Yes, Hungary is indeed a beautiful country, with friendly people. Almost no drug use and very little crime, too, which is good for both the inhabitants and the tourists. :o) Have a good night! Classic
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Classic

Classic is a published poet and a teacher with a doctorate in Health Sciences. Promoting harmony within the self and the environment, Classic's lenses... more »

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