'''Buda''' is the western side of the Danube River in Budapest, Hungary.

Get in

Only Metro line 2 (red) crosses the Danube from Pest to the Buda side at present. (A fourth line linking Buda and Pest is currently under construction.) It stops at three major transport hubs: '''Batthyany ter''' (gaze at the view to the Parliament before changing to the ''HEV'' suburban train for Szentendre), '''Moszkva ter''' (gateway to the Castle Hill) and '''Deli palyaudvar''' (southern railway station).

You can take trams (no. 4, 6, 47, 49) from Pest all these lines (except no. 4) cross at the southern hub '''Moricz Zsigmond korter''', south of '''Gellerthegy'''. Trams 4 & 6 now run modern Siemens Combino trams in contrast to some of the other rolling stock in use. Tram 47 and 49 run from '''Deak ter''' (the central hub for Budapest metro lines) through '''Szabadsag Hid''' (''Freedom Bridge'') to South-Buda.

Clark Adam ter is at the western end of the '''_Rhain Bridge''' (''Szechenyi Lanchid''), and is considered to be the most beautiful of the bridges over the Danube. The ter is also home to the zero statue that signifies the start (or end) point of jourenys from the capital as shown on the roadsigns on major roads.

Buda has two '''railway''' stations: '''Deli palyaudvar''', already mentioned, is the terminus of metro line 2 (red). Situated in the outskirts, '''Kelenfoldi palyaudvar''' is becoming more and more important. (Many trains leaving from ''Keleti palyaudvar'' stop here.)

Get around

A convenient tram (no. 19, ''currently under construction'') goes along the Buda bank of the river. There is also a bicycle route in parallel to it.

Bus number 7 (or the red 7/153 service) is a very frequent service running via Buda to Keleti (eastern) Station in Pest and is a very easy and convenient way to get around.

See

Castle Hill

See details in the Castle Hill article. You can walk around in the old romantic streets of the hill or see the great view of Pest from there.

Western Buda

  • '''Elizabeth Lookout''' (''Erzsebet kilato'') is Budapest's highest peak with its 527 meters. One possible 'vehicle' to reach it is the chair lift [http://www.libego.hu/index_eng.htm] (''Libeg?''), starting out from the terminal of bus 158. Open hours of the Chair-lift: between 15th of May and 15th of September: 9am-5pm, between 15th of September and 15th of May: 9:30am-4pm. A single ticket costs HUF 500 and and a return ticket HUF 1000.
  • Southern Buda

  • '''Citadella''', the former fortress on top of '''Gellert Hill''' (''Gellerthegy''), offers a superb panorama over Central Budapest including bank of the Danube River, Buda Castle and Pest city. To get good views up and down the Danube, take the steps going down in front of the Liberty Statue in front of the Citadella. There are several outposts offering good photo opportunities (or the chance of a breather if you're walking up the hill!). Catch bus 27 from the end station of tram 6 ('Morics Zs. Korter').
  • '''Gellert Hotel and Bath''' at Szent Gellert ter is a very popular spa among tourists. Worth seeing even if you don't intend to swim (in summer, the outdoor part is open to visitors; entrance to indoor part is paid). See the Baths section in Budapest for details.
  • '''Rock Church''' (''Sziklatemplom'') at the southeastern edge of Gellert Hill. The church was created from a natural cave system, following the Lourdes cave as sample in 1926. To reach the church, go to Gellert ter, turn towards Gellert Hill and look for the big white cross or the statue of King Saint Stephen - you can find the church below the cross and next to the statue.
  • Statue Park. t the corner of Balatoni utca and Szabadkai utca. 36-1) 227-7446. ttp://www.szoborpark.hu. aily, 10am-16pm. 500 forints (1000 for international student card holders).. Rather than smash the statues of the Communist era, the Hungarians arranged them with a twist of irony in a park to the south of Buda. Visitors may well interpret this as an assertion that the Hungarian spirit is stronger than communism. The Statue Park, was first conceived by the literary historian Laszlo Szorenyi in 1989 when he suggested the various Lenin statues from all over Hungary could be gathered into one "Lenin garden." According to Akos Ele?d, the architect: "This park is about dictatorship. And at the same time, because it can be talked about, described, built, this park is about democracy. After all, only democracy is able to give the opportunity to let us think freely about dictatorship." Possible souvenirs are t-shirts which poke fun at communism, German Trabant car models, CDs of Hungarian communist fight songs, reproduction Hungarian Communist Party membership booklets and kitschy postcards of old communist advertisements. The park is in a badly-kept state, signs are in Hungarian only. Buy a booklet in English. Get there from the blue metro line station Ferenciek tere; take the 7-173 red-blue bus to Etele ter, then the yellow suburban bus called "Erd, Diosdon at" to Szoborpark Muzeum stop; buses run every 10-30 minutes; buy your ticket at the desk before boarding.

    Northern Buda

  • '''Museum of Victor Vasarely''' at Szentlelek ter. -- Take ''HEV'' from ''Batthyany ter'' and get off at ''Arpad-hid'' stop. The museum entrance is just next to the square where many buses stop. The museum contains the work of Vasarely, a figure of 'op art'. The works are excellent and are fun to watch.
  • '''Margaret Island''' (''Margitsziget''). Margaret Island is connected to the city by Arpad Bridge to the north and Margaret Bridge to the south. You can stroll for hours in its large parks.
  • On '''Hajogyari-sziget''' Island on the Danube, Budapest hosts the '''Sziget fesztival''' every August. It is Central Europe's most popular summer festival attracting more than 300,000 visitors. Young and old, Hungarian and foreigner can find his/her entertainment. Take ''HEV'' from ''Batthyany ter'' and get off at ''Filatorigat'' stop. Follow the crowd.
  • Buda Hills

  • The '''Children's Railway''' (''Gyermekvasut'') and '''Cog Railway''' (''Fogaskerek? vasut'') in the Buda Hills. A great escape from the city. The Cog railway leaves from near Moscow Square (take tram 56 for two stops) and climbs through the wooded Buda Hills. At the top, take the Children's Railway through the hills and take the tram back down from the far end. Note: if you have an old map, you're supposed to find Pioneers' Railway (Uttor?vasut) instead of Children's Railway in it, which is the former name of the railway from the soviet era.
  • Museums

  • '''Museum of Aquincum''' [http://www.museum.hu/museum/index_en.php?ID=6] - The remains of Aquincum the former capitol of Pannonia Inferior, built by the Romans.
  • '''Tomb of Gul Baba and Rosegarden''' [http://www.museum.hu/museum/index_en.php?ID=27] - Built around 1548 by the turkish occupants of the city. It is the northernmost place of muslim pilgrimage. The beautiful view and the peacefulness of the place makes a visit worth.
  • '''Bela Bartok Memorial House''' [http://www.museum.hu/museum/index_en.php?ID=9] - The final home of one of the greatest Hungarian composers. Located at a very beautiful place and has a big garden.
  • '''Foundry Museum''' [http://www.museum.hu/museum/index_en.php?ID=67] - A foundry from the 18th century in the very heart of the city, preserved as a museum.
  • '''Semmelweis Medical History Museum''' [http://www.museum.hu/museum/index_en.php?ID=66] - The most important museum and archives on the history of medicine in Hungary
  • '''Museum Kiscell''' [http://www.museum.hu/museum/index_en.php?ID=3] - A beautiful complex of baroque style buildings originally built for Trinitarian monks. The museum exhibits fine arts and items of modern history.
  • '''Museum of Obuda''' [http://www.museum.hu/museum/index_en.php?ID=63] - A museum of the local history in the Zichy Castle.
  • Do

  • Cave walking in the '''Buda Hills'''. Another way of passing a few hours is to visit the Caves on the Buda hills. The caves in Buda have special origin, they where not formed by cold waters from the outside, but formed by warm springs. Some of the caves are still active and filled up with thermal water, like the Molnar Janos cave, which contains the largest known water filled cavity in Europe and feeds the nearby spa "Lukacs". The caves of the area have special kinds of formations rarely seen in other places. There are 2 caves open to visitors, Palvolgy Cave and Szeml? Hill Cave. Some of the guides do not speak any English but they give a free English pamphlet for the tour.
  • Rent a bike or a tandem on '''Margaret Island''' (Margitsziget). There's also plenty sports facilities on the island--and air is really clean.
  • ''See also: New Year holidays in Hungary.''

    Buy

  • '''FONO Music House''' XI. district, Sztregova u. 3. Tel.: 206-5300, 203-1752. Fax: 463-0479 ''(Take tram no. 18, 41 or 47 southward from ''Moricz Zsigmond korter'' and get off at ''Kalotaszeg utca'' stop. Walk backwards 2 minutes and take the first street on the right.)'' Fono provides a high quality selection of Hungarian folk, etno and world music. They offer concerts, folkdance performances as well dance houses called ''tanchaz'' in Hungarian. Every Wednesday evening they have Hungarian dance club which is a perfect place to see how young Hungarians revitalize traditional culture.
  • Eat

    Restaurants

    Budget

  • Granny's pancakes. agyi palacsintazoja. 4/7. Sweet and salt pancakes with various fillings for a quite low price. They have two restaurants in Buda: one at ''Batthyany ter'' at the stop of Metro line 2 (red line), the other at the corner of Hattyu utca and Csalogany utca, next to ''Moszkva ter''.

  • Marxim. isrokus utca 23. 5 minutes walk from Moszkva ter. Follow the 4/6 tram tracks and find Kisrokus utca on the left after a big ugly office building. Look for the Red Star.. 16-02-31. An athmospheric pub-like restaurant. It is rather smoky and usually packed with local youngs but the post-communist interior is a must. You can have pizzas like "Usonka" or "Lenin's favourite" (around 1000 Ft).

    Mid-range

  • Szent Jupat Soroz? & Etterem restaurant. etek utca 16 (''near Moskva ter metro''). 12-29-23. A well-known restaurant serving tasty and authentic Hungarian food, but the service leaves a little to be desired.

  • Kisrablo. enta u. 3 south of Gellert Hotel. While the pirate ship decor says 'pub', the Duck in Orange Rosemary Sauce says 'restaurant'. Excellent service, great creme brulee, and exceedingly reasonable 5 puttonyos Tokaji. A winner when you want something other than gulyas.

  • Mongolian Barbecue. II district; Marvany utca 19/a. 12-1859. 12-3743. All-you-can-eat format. Fantastic restaurant which is not far from the Deli Train Station; unlimited beer and wine included.

    Splurge

  • Seoul House. o utca 8. ear the Chain Bridge. 01-9607. Some of the most authentic Korean food this side of

    Sleep

  • Total number of hotels:
  • 3 star and below price range: '''$22 - $127'''
  • 4 star price range: '''$32 - $252'''
  • 5 star price range: '''$90 - $328'''
  • ''Price in US Dollars. Statistics aggregated from [http://www.hotelscombined.com/AboutUs/Providers.aspx over 30] major hotel reservation databases. Updated Aug 2008.''

    See also Budapest#Apartments for a listing of cross-district apartment providers.

    Budget

  • Buda Guesthouse Budapest. udakeszi ut 57. 36 (20) 262-7387. ivestar@freemail.hu. private rooms from ?34. ttp://www.travelshotel.com/. Opened in 2002, this hostel is located in the hills of Buda and 10 minutes from center. The Rege and Europa Hotel 50m from the hostel.
  • Grand Hostel Budapest. uvosvolgyi ut 69. 36 (1) 274-1111. nfo@grandhostel.hu. orms from ?10, private rooms from ?24. ttp://www.grandhostel.hu/index.php. Recently opened in 2005, this hostel is located right beside the lovely hills of Buda and 10 minutes from downtown. The unique and colourful design of the Grand Hostel was created by an renowned artist.

  • The Backpacker Guesthouse. akacs Menyhert Utca 33. 36 (1) 385-8946. ackpackguest@hotmail.com. orm 3000-3500HUF, double 4500HUF. ttp://www.backpackbudapest.hu. A highly recommended backpacker favourite. This small-to-mid size hostel is laidback and extremely friendly and personable. Kitchen access, inexpensive beer for sale, a great lounge with lots of (free) movies to watch, hammocks in the backyard, a grocery store nearby, in a residential neighborhood near the 51/53 tramline.

  • '''Diaksport Hostel'''. The flagship of Budapest's largest hostel chain. Huge and impersonal, but a good way to meet other backpackers.
  • '''Travelers' Hostel Schonherz''', Irinyi ut 42, District XI. Mainly functions as the student hostel for Budapest University of Technology and Economics, but has some rooms for travellers (off the academic period there are more rooms). Easily accessible with tram No. 4 (stop ''Budafoki ut''), and easily noticeable, because it's an 18 story high building.
  • Mid-range

  • '''Danubius Hotels''', Hotel chain with 3-, 4- and 5-star hotels in Buda, Pest and Margaret Island. Business & Conference Facilities. Resorts with Health Spas & Wellness Centers. Special Offers available. Tel: +36 1 888 8200, Official Website: [http://www.danubiushotels.com]
  • Astra Hotel. am u. 6. 36 (1) 214-1906. nfo@hotelastra.hu; hotelastra@euroweb.hu. 36 (1) 214-1907. ttp://www.hotelastra.hu/m1_en.html. High/low season: single ?97/?84, double ?112/?99, suite ?139/?129, family suite ?145/?165. Don't expect any views, but beyond that, standard rooms are charming. Furniture is bit old-style but quite simple and fully functional. Bathroom equipment is more or less up-to-date, but not more than that.

  • Art Deco Apartment. apor utca 2/B. 36 (20) 426-3990. nfo@apartdeco.hu. ttp://www.apartdeco.hu. A self-catering, well-equipped, 78 sqm vacation rental apartment close to Margaret Island, on the 2nd floor of a Bauhaus-style building. Comfortable for 1-6 people, with a quiet garden-side balcony. The apartment is furnished in art deco style. The Lukacs Bath is only 4 tram stops away.

  • '''Buda''' Panzio, Kiss Aron u. 6. Quiet surroundings, guaranteed rest. Located in a residential area. Pleasant caretakers. Pricing in low season, ?40 to ?55. Unless you are driving, assume ?7 for taxi ride into Buda or Pest.
  • '''Budapest Easy Let''',Exclusive vacation apartments for rent in downtown Pest and Buda starting 65?/day,Long/short term rentals. Tel: +3630-700-40-16, Email: info@budapesteasylet.com [http://www.budapesteasylet.com],
  • '''Grand Hotel Margitsziget''', Moszkva Ter. The 164 rooms are elegantly furnished in classical style softly blending historical atmosphere and modern comfort. It is located in a picturesque surrounding on Margaret island, yet in the heart of Budapest, in a natural park. Direct connection through corridor to the spa therapy center of the neighboring Danubius Thermal Hotel Margitsziget--see Baths section in Budapest for details.
  • '''Kalmar Pension B&B''', Kelenhegyi ut 7-9. 3-star category pension near to the major sights and the city: Gellert Bath, Vaci utca, Central Market Hall.
  • '''Luna Hotel''', Vegyesz utca 17, tel. 204-6868. A 3-star hotel built in 2001, the major downside to this otherwise pleasant place is the inconvenient location far to the south of town, twenty minutes from the center by tram line 47. On the plus side, rooms start at €49 including breakfast, and there's a fair selection of "real" Hungarian restaurants, bars and stores nearby with prices far below those in the city center.
  • Apartments Budapest. agymanyosi Utca 26. We offer you the best vacation rentals at the best locations in Budapest. 3619994907. nfo@only-apartments.com. ttp://www.only-apartments.com/apartments-budapest.html.

    Splurge

  • Danubius Hotel '''Gellert''' is one of the most traditional hotels in Budapest and Hungary. Located at the foot of the Gellert Hill, on the bank of the Danube, is ideally situated for both business and leisure travellers. Located within walking distance to Budapest's most fashionable shopping and business district with one of the most beautiful sights of Budapest, the Liberty Bridge. The hotel boasts one of the most famous baths, see the Baths section in Budapest article.
  • '''Novotel Budapest Congress''', Alkotas u. 63-67, tel. 372-5400. A conference hotel close to the city centre with good transportation facilities to the spectacular places.
  • '''Budapest Easy Let''',Exclusive vacation apartments for rent in downtown Pest and Buda. Tel: +36 20 345 30 42, email info@budapesteasylet.com [http://www.budapesteasylet.com]
  • Get out