Sites to avoid visiting Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary and one of the most ancient capitals in Eastern Europe. It is a city full of historic buildings, palaces and beautiful parks. The city has made a positive spin on aesthetics over the past decade. Nowadays it is one of the most visited cities in Eastern Europe. There are many attractions that encourage us to walk the streets of this beautiful city, but you should also consider other important aspects while discovering Budapest. Here we will provide you with some tips to avoid any mishap you could have while visiting this city.
First, keep in mind that, although Hungary belongs to the European Union since 2004, its currency remains to be the Forint, so do not forget to change your Euros to Forints if you don’t want to have any inconveniences.
If you want to sample the local cuisine, get away from the restaurants that list their menus in English; there you’ll never try real Hungarian food and surely you are going to pay so much more than you are supposed to. My advice is to head to a local restaurant, where the prices are clearly indicated at the front door. If you find inns where locals occupy most of its tables, don’t even hesitate, this is the right place. Order gulyas leves or somloi galuska, which are two delicious Hungarian specialties. Restaurants located in the proximity of the Castle, generally charge too much.
Try to avoid visiting the district VII of the city. There you’ll find several slums located in the city center on the banks of the Danube. On the other side, district VIII deserves our special attention; here you will find historical buildings, museums and palaces of great interest, but try not to go further than Korut Josef (Grand Boulevard).
The Budapest Opera is not as spectacular as the one in Vienna; I recommend you not to waste a lot of time visiting it. On the other hand, the Budapest Parliament is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. The Fishermans Bastion and St. Stephens Basilica are also worth visiting.
Don’t go by taxi from the airport to the city; they are expensive and take advantage of the unsuspecting tourists. There is a line of the highly efficient public transportation that will take you to the city center.
In Budapest there are many underground tunnels built during the communist era. Avoid them, they are dark, abandoned and you could even meet a delinquent waiting his chance to get you.
Nevertheless, Budapest is one of the most beautiful capitals in Europe; its people are friendly and it is definitely worth visiting. Enjoy your stay in Hungary and make sure to send us a postcard or comment here if you want to add some advice to the list.
Salermico
If you are planning to spend a few days in the city, book apartments in Budapest as soon as possible. Prices are very affordable, you have a wide range of options to choose from and even special offers. I recommend this option if you want to save money.
Summer at Buda Castle
Buda Castle in Budapest is one of the most emblematic points of the city that, historically, was known as the Palace or the Royal Castle. This monument that has been constantly restored and remodeled had a very different aspect back in the 14th century, when it was the home of the Hungarian royal family, who used it as their residence.
Today, as well as having experimented considerable architectonic changes due to the huge amount of battles that it was involved in, its mainly a cultural landmark thats used as a museum and to hold art events.
The castle still preserves the walls that surrounded it and protected it and, together with two other nearby enclaves, it makes up one of the must visits for all tourists who arrive in Budapest.
The other two magical points that accompany the castle in its surroundings, as we said before, are the Chain Bridge and the Fishermans Bastion, without doubt two of the most spectacular views in Budapest.
To get to the castle, you can go up by foot or take a cable car that will make it easier for you and quicker to get up there, although perhaps the first option is best if one wants to see and feel the charm of the narrow streets and corners that are around the castle.
BUda Castle takes its name from certain historical events that took place during the Tartar invasions in the 13th century, when the Hungarian king decided to build a walled fortress which coincided with a location called Obuda, which didnt take long to grow and become a strategic, political and commercial hotspot.
In any case, and going back to the touristy points, we know that the castle is located 164ft above the Danube river, which guarantees us to enjoyment of some incredible views if we manage to get to the very top.
Another spot to highlight in this route or visit around Budapest is the Castle district, an area covered with mystical subterranean labyrinths that are even 6 miles long, atmospheres that bring us its most living history.
Many of the old buildings in this district were declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, given that they constituted works of great value and general interest.
Once inside the castle, one must highlight the beauty of one of its patios, the Patio of the Palace Lions. By going into it, the first thing that we can see on our visit is the Matthias Fountain and, further on, the Horseherd statue.
Another detail that can be interesting to capture, to keep special memories of your trip to Budapest, can be the dome of the Royal Palace or Castle and, if its at night time, it can be of great beauty.
Budapest, as the Hungarian capital and having such a mild climate, with hot summer and colder and shorter winters, is a touristic destination with a lot to offer, because it holds many interesting places with great Renaissance, Baroque and classic influences.
Other places that are worthy of a visit for their great beauty are the Budapest Opera, the Basilica of St Stephen and Central Market.
emejota
If you wish to stay a few days in Budapest and visit Buda Castle, dont hesitate to find accommodation in Budapest so you can enjoy this magnificent experience at your own pace.
What to Bring to a Music Festival
Budapest has a charm that you should not fail to discover this summer. One of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Budapest is bisected by the river Danube. The Buda area is more residential but it’s also where you will find the huge castle of Buda, facing the famous Hungarian parliament building. From the castle, you will have a clear view of all of Budapest, a city that was efficiently developed city that was organized during the nineteenth century. It’s a pretty flat city, which means it’s great for getting around by bicycle without much effort. If you are fond of bicycles, you can ride a bike around using the city’s bike lanes in various areas. Traffic is not a problem in this city; the buses, trams and metro are also efficient modes of transportation.
The heat in Budapest can, however, be quite intense during the summer. Moreover, in August, and especially if you’re going to the famous Sziget music festival, you must go well prepared. What are some of the most important things to bring to music festivals? Here is a short list that of things you shouldn’t forget for your visit to the Sziget festival:
A hat: Whether a light straw hat or sportier style, you should always wear something to cover your head during the summer. The sun can cause uncomfortable headaches and it will slow you down. During a festival, it is important that you cover yourself a little bit to protect your skin from the sun during the hours youll be standing in front of the stage. You can also use a light, colorful scarf or cloth that suits your style.
Earplugs: Sometimes, these ear protectors are available at the music festivals, where there are often stands that sell them. Before going to a major concert, make sure to bring a pair of these, because when a festival is very large the volume is very high and can damage your ears. You can buy earplugs at any music store.
An additional T-shirt: Sometimes the number of people at a festival and the close quarters in tight spaces and jumping during songs will make you sweat a bit more than usual. If you think it’s necessary, take along an extra T-shirt to change into so that you can avoid any discomfort or smelling bad. You may even avoid catching a cold from the rapid changes in body temperature.
Water: Water is essential for any music festival. Some festivals allow you to bring a bottle of water but others may not. If not, you should definitely buy water at the festival. Always have a little extra money on hand to buy some water. A cool beer will cool you off but it can also dehydrate. For more information about Budapest, go to this link: http://www.budapest.com/
Alexa Ray
Rent apartments in Budapest and enjoy the best outdoor music. Spending time in Budapest this summer can be a wonderful experience if youre looking to relax and explore new urban spaces.
Vajdahunyadvar Summer Music
From the 12th July to the 9th of August, Budapest is experiencing one of the most acclaimed parties for its residents and tourists, this is Vajdahunyadvar Sumer Music Festival in Budapest, held in the courtyard of the Vajdahunyadvar castle. This festival has a great agenda that includes classical, swing, klezmer and gypsy music to enliven the summer evenings.
The functions are performed on Mondays and Thursdays, beginning at 20:30 hours. Prices range between 10 € and 20 € depending on the specific program. This years program includes a violin and piano concert by Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, Vivaldi, Strauss, Tchaikovsky, baroque music, contemporary klezmer, gypsy music and zarzuela.
Music is a very important part of Hungarian culture. Just think back to the Romantic composer and virtuoso pianist Franz Liszt, as well as the pianist, composer, researcher and founder of the etno music, Béla Bartók, two major musicians who belong from the special bond between life and love for music, which is always present in the Hungarian culture.
This special love for music has its origins directly linked to the gypsy people, as you will be able to discover in the Hungarian Rhapsodies by Liszt written between 1846 and 1885. The Hungarian Rhapsodies are nineteen piano compositions that have versions for orchestra and for duets, in which Liszt music studied the jumps between tones, the absolute freedom of his music and his ability to feel and write his own notes.
Béla Bartók is one of the essential figures of contemporary music and the greatest Hungarian genius. Bartók earlier disclaimed from romanticism and took the sounds of music that manages to collect in a rudimentary phonograph, during his research in remote villages, where he sought the origins of Hungarian music. Then, he expanded his research to the Slovak, Romanian, Arabic and Turkish music, and included them in his compositions.
Zoltán Kodály is also one of the most interesting musicians of Hungary. His music evolved from the post-Romanticism to the search for new colors in the regional music of Hungary and Romania, which merges with complex mixes in his compositions. He worked with Bartók in the research of traditional music, while collecting more than 100 thousand songs. In 1907 he joined the Franz Liszt Academy as Professor, teaching music theory and composition.
These great men of the musical world music represent the special sensitivity of the Hungarians that will stay in the memory of those attending this summer event, which this year brings the best representatives of the music, and for the program Fugata and Orchestra, which has as artistic director Balázs Alpár with Veronika Harcza in voice and Miklós Szenthelyi.
Also, there will be the Chamber Orchestra and the Virtuosi Hungarians by the artistic director and violin soloist Miklós Szenthelyi with László Nyari, Mako Brigitta and Tünde Makó, who will be playing Vivaldi to close the festival.
For more information: http://www.vajdahunyad.hu/english.asp
Nancy Guzman
Music is great therapy, it helps to calm the spirit and gladden the soul. For this and other reasons, renting apartments in Budapest is the best idea for the summer, there you will be able to enjoy this traditional and unique festival.
Art on Lake in Budapest
Until the 4th of September, the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest will display an innovative exhibition that is already considered as one of the most exciting artistic productions of its kind. Art on Lake exhibits 25 works by artists from 14 European Union countries, which are screened outdoors at City Park Boating Lake.
The contemporary art exhibition continues the tradition of giving local artists the right to display their works. That is why this project has been planned during three last years in cooperation with the EU and the Government of Hungary, whose organization went to the Museum of Fine Arts.
This project has been considered as an extension of the Museum in public spaces. This exhibition changes the walls and corridors of the traditional museums for 35 thousand square meters of natural environment in the middle of the city. In this environment, artists from Belgium, Finland, France, the Czech Republic, Netherlands, Poland, Germany, Romania, Russia, Spain, Slovakia, Italy, England, Austria and Hungary present the best of their work.
The exhibited works are focused in giving visibility to the pressing problems of our time, while giving a positive look at the solutions they might have. In the selection process of the guest artists and their works for the exhibition were involved the Municipal Gallery director Peter Fitz, art historian and curator Krisztina Jerger and independent art historian and exhibition organizer Alexander Tolnay.
In the long list of participating artists are: Susana Solano and Jaume Plensa from Spain, Patrick Poirier from France, Günter Uecker, Via Lewandowsky and Willi Weiner from Germany, Daniel Knorr from Romania, Kristof Kintera from the Czech Republic, The Hungarian artists Róza El-Hassan, Zeno Kelemen, Ilona Németh and Balázs Kicsiny, among many others.
The conceptual sculptures are scattered around the lake and the page http://www.artonlake.hu/ shows a map of the distribution of the works, the artist and a photo of the sculpture.
Susana Solanos work, one of the best representatives of contemporary Spanish sculpture, has an interesting poetical approach referred to the human burden due to the limited natural space in modern cities. It is composed by two elements and the nature of the place that completes the meaning of the work. It consists of a white plane floating on the lake and on it a white boat.
Each sculpture is a visual poetry, there are small floating gardens, metal butterflies perched on the lake, suspended in the water jars, candles that are deployed on the lake, etc. All of them appeal to the beauty of nature and the need to preserve it.
For more information http://www.szepmuveszeti.hu/web/guest/articleview?mi_layout_id=29.30&mi_article_id=846
Nancy Guzman
Art on Lake is a great show not to be missed if you are on holiday in apartments in Budapest Enjoy the most beautiful natural environment of the city.
Translated by: Hans
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Jewish Summer Festival in Budapest
Festivals can also be a way to maintain the spirit of an important cultural tradition and keep it alive. Not everything is the market, industry and noise this summer, there are also options, although a bit more classic and traditional, that grant you the opportunity to enjoy with other people a different culture, or maybe yours, and learn a bit more and even enjoy with the family.
Thats how, the Jewish Summer Festival has been taking place in Budapest since 1998 thanks to the organization of the Cultural Centre of Jewish Tourism which is in the city. The centre of all festivities is no less than the Synagogue on Dohany Street, possibly the biggest and most spectacular synagogue in Europe. The synagogue isnt just one of the most beautiful places to visit in Budapest but also an ancestral symbol of Jewish culture in the city. Much before they began to organize the festival, concerts already took place in this synagogue. However, it wasnt until they had the initiative of this festival that the synagogue became a true concert hall. As part of the organization of the festival, one has to highlight that in 2006 they inaugurated the synagogue on Rumbach Sebestyen street to the public, built by the Viennese architect Otto Wagner, and therefore attracting even more visitors and public in general.
At the festival, Jewish culture is represented by different performances, concerts, exhibitions, open air programmes for the younger ones, crafts, book market and other artistic forms. As the centre of all events, the musical genre Klezmer is put forward. Klezmer is a genre that comes from the Jewish-Hebrew tradition from Eastern Europe. This style is played by professional musicians called klezmorim. The genre consists especially in dance and instrumental pieces for weddings and other celebrations. Although the genre has its origins in Eastern Europe, this style in particular has been developed more and was made popular in the United States during the Yiddish Jews immigrations between 1880 and 1924. However, little is known about the true origins of this folkloric music which is so unique and cheerful.
With the years, the festival hasnt stopped growing and its still expanding. This years programme has renown international artists. Budapest is, undoubtedly, the best place for this type of festival. Its streets never cease to have an aura of light and charm during the summer. The walks in Budapest always become infinite and the options to have fun never end. This Jewish Summer Festival is just another occasion for which the city is visited by many more tourists, and not just Jewish ones. With every year that goes by, the city keeps becoming more and more cosmopolitan, without losing its traditional and romantic style. Maybe thats why this festival is so welcome here. For more information and programmes of this event, you can visit the festivals webpage and there you can also find information on tickets, artists and other activities.
http://www.zsidonyarifesztival.hu/
Alexa Ray
The best thing is to get apartments in Budapest and not miss out on the chance to be part of one of the most interesting festivals this summer. You can also meet beautiful people everywhere. Summer in Budapest is like a dream.
Translated by: aleixgwilliam
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