Budapest - A Walking Guide to the Andrássy Avenue

Photo by zsoolt

The city is number 52 out of MasterCard's list of the world's top 75 financial centers and will be the site of the European Institute of Technology's headquarters. Located in central Hungary, the Danube River flows through the city from north to south, dividing the city - it is 755 feet wide at its narrowest point in the city. Castle Hill and other districts among the original 10 districts comprising the city have ben designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

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Sziget Festival

Sziget Festival. Photo by Balazs H


Wine Festival. Photo by zsoolt


Half-Marathon. Photo by ChadBriggs


Red bull air race.
Photo by adrie mooi


Budapest Parade. Photo by macskapocs

Sziget Festival is the biggest and best music festival in Hungary, annually creating a town within a town. The musical mayhem on 15 different stages features the fine Hungarian and international acts.Some 45 other venues are also used for over 1000 separate performances, including theatre and kids' events.

Budapest International Wine Festival

The main events at Budapest's Wine Festival take place at Buda Castle, with a Wine Academy, lectures and workshops, where 100 exhibitors offer more than 1000 wines for sampling.At Saturday's Vintage Parade, around 800 representatives from the various wine regions dress in folk costumes and stage a procession with dancing and music around the Buda Castle district, ending with a lively show on the festival stage.

Budapest Half Marathon

The Nike Budapest Half Marathon, like the city's marathon about a month later, was first run in 1984. It follows a scenic route from Pest, over the famous Chain Bridge to Buda, turning under Castle Hill on the west bank of the Danube (Duna), before crossing back over to Pest to end on Olof Palme promenade in City Park. There is usually a field of 6000 runners (including 1000 international entrants), and spectators line the streets to cheer the runners on.

Red Bull Air Race World Series:

A pilot takes his plane under a bridge as the Red Bull Air Race Series hits Budapest. The Red Bull Air race series stages spectacular stunt-flying competitions across the world. Fearless pilots race at speeds of up to 400 km/h through low-level inflatable "air gates" to the delight of thousands of spectators. This leg of the competition takes place above the hills of Budapest.

Budapest Parade

Budapest Parade revellers, literally bubbling with excitement!.Budapest Parade sees 50 carnival floats, sponsored by local radio stations and clubs, cross Budapest via Andrássy Street, thousands of revellers watch and follow the floats.The parade proper ends in a massive firework display, and then the fun really begins, as clubs across the city offer post-parade parties which run long into the night!

Festival of Folk Arts

Folk art. Photo by dalbera

A celebration of Hungarian folk culture and arts timed to coincide with St Stephen's Day . In addition to the craft demonstrations, folk dance and music performances are programmed throughout the day.In the evening, dance halls spring into life for anyone with the energy to join in. On 20 August, St Stephen's Day itself, there is a parade of master craftsmen and dancers and the ceremonial blessing celebration in the parade.

Vidám Park (Budapest Funfair)

Wooden Rollercoaster.
Photo by runlama

There are 50 major rides and attractions spread over six-and-a-half hectares of park landscape.Visitors can also test out Europe's longest wooden rollercoaster - one whole kilometre.The park built more than 70 years ago and still the park's most popular attraction.For the truly steel-nerved there is also the Super-Boat slide, which plummets from a height of 17 metres and flies through 7 metres of empty air before landing with a tremendous splash.

Jewish Summer Festival

Budapest's Jewish Summer Festival was first held in 1997 and has now become a firm fixture in Hungary's annual cultural calendar.The event offers a chance to discover the unique mix of Hungarian-Jewishness, with gastronomic specialities, orchestral concerts, theatre, dancing and kosher cabaret, tours around historical sites and the old ghettos, craft markets, film and fine art exhibitions.

New Year's Gala Concert

A full programme of food and entertainment and a magnificant setting makes this a very glamorous way to see.Cocktails are served in the assembly hall to welcome guests. Dinner is served in the boxes. on the stage and in the state rooms Erox Martini leads musical celebrations up to midnight. After the New Year toast, the Hungarian national anthem is played and the champagne is ceremoniously opened on stage. A professional dance show gets the ball started.

European Mobility Week

European Mobility Week closes to traffic Budapest's most famous street Andrassy Road and provides sporting, musical and educational activities and entertainment.The event is about promoting environmentally-friendly projects, products and ideas. The first day is entitled "In Town Without My Car!" and attracts around 100,000 participants.

The second day, European Car Free Day, finishes with around 40,000 people taking part in a cycling demonstration.

Syrano

Cuisine: Brasseries, Central European, French, Mediterranean

Expect excellent cuisine from head chef , and a young, funky feel. This place is definitely not for the anti-social! In May, the chairs and tables are spread right across the pavement towards the little fountain that grace..

Inside the mood is cool and refined with chunky metal chairs and painted walls. Many dishes of Brasseries, Central European, French, Mediterranean

Gerl CZY K vehz

Cuisine: Central European

Anytime of the day.It has seating options indoors or outside on the pavement, where you are promptly accommodated by the black-tied wait staff. Inside, the chalkboard announces the specials for the day.

Royal Palace Club

Cuisine: Contemporary

This spacious and comfortable nightclub is for those night owls seeking some late night entertainment. Watch various erotic dances, strip or lesbian shows in air-conditioned.Finally we found think the real one, The Royal Palace. If You call them, we send for you their free car service and you don't pay anything to get in.

Dionysus

Cuisine: Greek

Situated in a prime position, this Greek restaurant offers a great view over the Danube to Gellert Hill and the Liberation Monument. In summer, the terrace is a wonderful sun-trap..come here for a birthday party. it was wonderful, in a plesant environment and friendly people. the quality of food is excellent. you must try it.

Central Kavezo

Cuisine: Bistros & Brasseries, Central European, East European

First opening in 1887, This charming little cafe in the center of the Pest was a great place to grab a quick bite, or sit and have coffee and dessert. The service was very friendly and all the food we had there was great.

Sushi An. Photo by melyviz

Sushi An

Cuisine: Japanese

This sushi place is located in the very centre of Budapest, just off Vorosmarty ter, next to the British Embassy. It is designed in a simple, traditional way with a round counter... more Hi Everybody! This is the best japanese restaurant in whole of Budapest! favourite is the maki sushi, it's fantastic!!! Love sushi and one of the sushi-makers.

Tabani Kakas

Cuisine: Central European

This is a small and friendly Hungarian restaurant in Buda. The walls are decorated with traditional pots and pans and there are dozens of flags from all over the world behind.The walls are decorated with traditional pots and pans and there are dozens of flags from all over the world behind the counter. Foreigners often come by to taste Hungarian cuisine. Dishes on the menu include Hungarian chicken stew, sholet beans with smoked ribs and goose liver Hungarian style at fairly moderate prices.

Cactus Juice Pub

Cuisine: Bistros & Brasseries
Neighborhood: District VI

Cactus Juice opened several years ago during the craze for silly theme pubs. It provides the perfect populist antidote bar. The food was great, the waiters gorgous and friendly (they speak english which is a plus!) and the music had us bouncing all night. Interesting decor. Definite must!The portions of food are so huge, you will need elastic on your trousers. Your waist is guaranteed to expand by 4 inches!! And it's cheap.

Alfoldi vendeglo

Cuisine: Central European, East European

Hungarians like to celebrate here as the prices are good and the cooking reminds them of home. the Alfoldi attracts locals as well as visitors with its honest home-style cuisine. Alfoldi - offers wooden booths seating four at a time with red and white checked table cloths and traditional folk designs on the curtains and napkins. The emphasis is on meaty dishes with vegetarians limited to the usual fried cheese or fried mushrooms. Others can try rump steak , paprika chicken , or fried goose liver.

Duran Sandwiches

Cuisine: Breakfast & Brunch

Duran Sandwiches is an Austrian fast-food chain which has been around for a while. This place - located in the city center, Over thirty kinds of sandwiches are on offer with fillings that include ham, cheese, caviar, shrimp, eggs and salmon.The sandwiches are tiny but delicious. This is a good place to use for catering if you are throwing a party.

Royal Palace and Chain Bridge. Photo by kbovard

Royal Palace

The Royal Palace was first inhabited by King Béla in the 13th century who, after the Mongol invasion,Over the next 700 years it was the residence of many royal figures. The strategic location of Budapest, situated in the heart of Europe and straddling the Danube, offered whoever controlled the city a defensive position and potential control of the main waterway. The castle has a mixture of architectural styles, ranging from Gothic to Baroque. Today it is the country's most important cultural centre housing numerous museums and the majority of the buildings are historical monuments.

Fisherman's Bastion

Fisherman's Bastion.
Photo by Paul Mannix


Budapest Chain Bridge.
Photo by the jabberwock


Parliament Building.
Photo by Nagy David

Built in 1905 on the medieval castle walls, the neo-Romanesque ramparts were so named after the city's fishermen whose duty it was to defend this side of the hill during the Middle Ages, but the existing bastion never actually served a defensive purpose. It is solely ornamental with gleaming white cloisters and stairways connecting seven turrets symbolic of the Magyar tribes that conquered the Carpathian Basin in the 9th century.The view from Fisherman's Bastion, over the Danube, the Chain Bridge and the Parliament Buildings.

Chain Bridge

The Chain Bridge was the first stone bridge to be built over the Danube and is the most famous with its lion statues. Today nine bridges span the river linking Buda to Pest, but Chain Bridge takes pride of place as the city's symbol, a magnificent sight when floodlit at night.The Chain Bridge was built by William and Adam Clark, who also constructed London Bridge. It was considered an amazing feat of engineering when it was opened in 1849. At the foot of the bridge is Kilometre Zero, the point in Budapest from where all distances are measured.

Parliament Buildings

On the bank of the Danube stands one of the world's most beautiful parliament buildings, an imposing sight and a prominent feature of the city's panorama. With its red dome, white stone lace ornamentation and spires, it is the city's most decorative structure. Stone lions flank the entrance guarding a rich interior of marble and gold, statues and columns, and magnificent artefacts, including the 1,000-year-old crown of the first Hungarian King, all of which can be viewed on a guided tour.

Statue Park. Photo by Bill McIntyre

Statue Park

One of the city's popular but more bizarre attractions is Statue Park, containing the giant figures of the Communist era that once filled the streets of Budapest. monuments are the forms of Lenin, Marx and Engels, as well as memorials to the Soviet Soldier and the Communist Martyrs. This is the only collection in the world from the time of Communist politics. Some of the interesting souvenirs sold at the park are cans of air from the 'last breath of socialism' and Stalin and Lenin shaped candles.

Matthias Church

Matthias Church. Photo by MarenYumi

The 700-year-old Church of Our Lady is popularly known as Matthias Church after the nation's famous ruler, King Matthias (1458-90) With its distinctive multicoloured tiled roof and Gothic spire, the church is one of Budapest's best-known structures, and it was here that the nation's kings were crowned and King Matthias was married. Today the church continues to hold High Mass, as well as concerts, organ and choir recitals owing to its magnificent acoustics. Matthias Church is a mixture of styles from the various kings, occupations and periods. The interior is richly decorated with gilded altars, statues, rose windows and frescoes.

The Great Synagogue and Jewish Museum

The Great or Central Synagogue is the largest in Europe and the second largest in the world, able to seat 3,000 people. Completed in 1859 the style is typically Byzantine-Moorish.Gilded domed towers, archways and beautiful window designs are just some of the features that make this one of Budapest's landmarks. The splendid interior glitters with lights; gilded arches and balconies line the walls, the ceiling is covered in Stars of David, and the floor is tiled in decorative stars. On Jewish festivals it is packed with Jews from all over Hungary who come to celebrate within its splendour. In the courtyard is the Holocaust Memorial in the shape of a weeping willow tree, each metal leaf engraved with the names of Nazi victims.

Gellert Hill in Budapest Hungary. Photo by bartlec

Gellért Hill

A statue of the martyred Bishop stands at the base of the hill. On its summit stands the Liberation Monument, a female figure holding aloft the palm of victory, dedicated to the memory of Soviet troops who died freeing Hungary in 1945. Today it houses a hostel and a museum. The hill is also home to several historic spas, valued for their medicinal qualities since the Turkish occupation. The city's most famous spa, the Gellért Baths, is attached to the grand establishment of the Art Nouveau Gellért Hotel. Here visitors can relax in the thermal waters of the Roman-styled pool with its lion-headed spouts, surrounded by columns and mosaic patterns, or indulge themselves with private therapeutic treatments or a massage.