Watch Olypic Games in Budapest

The Tourism Office of Budapest has compiled a list of outdoor places, pubs and restaurants, where you can see the Olympic games in Budapest. The list is available here: Watch Olympic Games.

Best Money Exchange in Budapest

You might aware of the fact that in Central and Eastern Europe one has to be cautious by exchanging currencies. Sometimes it is because of bad exchange rates (not communicated properly ) or because of culture of cheating naive tourists. As a local citizen I also have plenty of thinking where to change money on the best rate for our own trips abroad. Some weeks ago I discovered a small exchange office (June, 2008 ) in the downtown of Budapest, which has very good exchange rates. It is a really small place in the Bajcsy-Zsilinszky ut 56. (between Basilica and Nyugati Square ) and in the Nagymező utca 25. Rates are lot better here than you find in the banks or at railway stations. Since both of their exchange offices in the downtown (close to the Opera) I recommend to go there if you want to save bucks and euros. They also have a daily exchange rates published on their website.
Finally a recommendation: NEVER CHANGE MONEY WITH UNKNOWN PEOPLE ON THE STREETS!

Summer Festivities On The Lanchid / Budapest

Summer On The Chain Bridge
(source: www.budapest.hu)

On the hottest weekends of the summer, no vehicle traffic on the Chain Bridge, one of the symbols of Budapest, it gives way to pedestrians, baby strollers, roller skaters and onlookers. At both ends of the bridge hospitality centres with big sunshades await our visitors with cool drinks and delicious specialities of different nations.

On the bridge the best Hungarian craftsmen and applied folk artists offer their wares, and not just to tourists.

“Wonders of Budapest” – the street acrobats and musicians, often taken for granted, are a very important part of a city’s atmosphere. Each weekend we have different surprises in store for children and adults alike: there will be acrobats and fire-jugglers, bubble-blowers and kite-fliers, demonstrations of musical instruments and portrait painters, pottery-pipe and accordion players.

You can have your photograph taken against a historical background or with strange figures, hire a modern bike and explore further, then come back to hear a concert or simply be outdoors in the centre of the city.

Regular musicians:
accordionist
zither-player
cimbalom-player
pan pipe-player

Regular attractions:
fire-eaters
jugglers
acrobats
bubble-blowers
yo-yoers
kite-fliers
devil stickers
diabolo jugglers
portrait sketcher
silhouette-cutter
photographer

Detailed program

(source: Festivalcity.hu)

Hungarian Pop Music

The Nox is one of the most popular pop bands in Hungary. They mix the traditional folkmusical elements and instruments with the modern pop music. Their song the "Embermadár" or "Human bird" glorifies and courages the "human" be brave to fight with natural elements like altitude or water. Not miracle, this song has happened to be the title song of the European Swimming Championship 2006 in Budapest. Listen: here.

Year of Renaissance - 2008

The Renaissance Program Office operating within the Ministry of Education and Culture organizes an event series with this title. The event series referring to the 550th anniversary of King Matthias' ascending the throne of Hungary covers issues of culture, gastronomy, science and others. The season will be launched on 22nd January 2008 and will come to an end on the same day a year later.

An inventory of the plans so far shows that circa 66 museums and exhibiting facilities, 20 institutions, 25 associations and organizations have already entered for participation in the season's events. We hope that those who come across the programs of the season will not only obtain experiences but also valuable knowledge and a tinged outlook upon life.

For further details please visit the Official Website of the Reneszánsz Év

About Hungarian Wines...

We, Hungarian people are addicted to our wines despite the global wine industry which off course, has serious impact on our drinking habits. In parties, family gatherings even today is very common to taste home-made wines. In the countryside if someone has some grape feels the pressure from heart to produce wine... The culture of preparing wines goes back to the medievals (to 10-12. century) when Hungarian kings invited monastic orders from Italy, France and Germany. They established monasteries all around the country and disseminated modern methods for agricultural cultivation. As being part of this development vineyards were planted. During the centuries - based on unique geographical circumstances- excellent type of wines were developed. Unfortunately between 1945-1990 the socialist mass production and industrialization degraded the quality of wine production. But in 1990 a new era has started. Young and/or talented entrepreneurs established or reestablished wine houses and planted wineyards emphasizing old values of quality instead of quantity. See below the names and location of various Hungarian Wine Regions. So be aware: not the Egri Bakavér and the Tokaji Aszú are the only excellent wines in Hungary! Be brave to discover small wine houses and dare to try these and you will be amazed how good are these!

Borvidékek / Wine Regions:
1. Csongrád »
2. Hajós-Baja »
3. Kunság »
4. Ászár-Neszmély »
5. Badacsony »
6. Balatonfüred-Csopak »
7. Balatonfelvidék »
8. Etyek-Buda »
9. Mór »
10. Pannonhalma »
11. Somló »
12. Sopron »
13. Balatonboglár »
14. Pécs »
15. Szekszárd »
16. Villány »
17. Bükkalja »
18. Eger »
19. Mátra »
20. Tokaj »
21. Balatonmelléke »
22. Tolna »

Hungary Card : Discounts

Relax in the best way: Hungary Card is in your pocket, and your holiday budget never gets out of hand...

Please read this introduction carefully, and learn about all the services and opportunities that are available to you at a reduced price, or sometimes even free of charge.

How can you use the Hungary Card?

1) You may claim certain discounts simply by showing the card, taking advantage of the opportunity an unlimited number of times during the validity period.

2) Other discounts are available to you only a limited number of times. In order to take advantage of these reduced or free services, use the vouchers you find in the voucher book you received with the card. Each voucher gets you one discount - usually for one person, at times for everybody in your company. Just hand your card and booklet over to the service provider. They will tear out a voucher, and if applicable, stamp or date the remaining part. Please keep your card and booklet ready, as in case of a control it serves as proof of your eligibility. Reduced fare tickets are valid only together with the corresponding card and booklet. You can purchase reduced fare tickets or services, as long as you have a correspondent voucher in your book. Therefore, take the card and the voucher book with you every time you set out on a trip.


Examples of Discounts:

10 - 20 % discounts on accommodation
10 - 20 % discounts on restaurants
10 - 50 % discounts on museums entry tickets
10 - 15 % discounts in baths and thermal spas
10 - 100 % discounts for certain tourist services and events
20 % reduction on Well-PRess travel guides and publications
20 % discount on Lake Balaton boat tickets for two people.
50 % discount on the Balatoncard
15 % discount at FOX Car Rental

Other Cards:
Balaton Card: www.balatoncard.hu
Budapest Card: www.budapestinfo.hu

Where to buy a Hungary Card?

In the Tourinform Büros are available at www.tourinform.hu

National Circus Festival Budapest (January 24 - 28, 2008)

This will be the 6th time that Budapest hosts and organizes the International Circus Festival. Once again the task is to present the best of International and Hungarian circus arts, comparing the best performances of the exceptional talents appearing during the five live shows at the Capital Circus.

The Festival is a celebration, a unique event for the circus arts and a serious competition for the participating professionals. Many carriers have started right here, since producers, directors and agents are always searching for new talents and interested to discover acts for their shows. This event is held only every two years to guarantee exclusivity and maximum interests among the International circus community.

We are proud of the fact that Budapest is establishing itself as a circus city and its festival is more and more popular among circus lovers and professionals than ever.

Further information: www.maciva.hu

How to get there: walking distance from Heroes Square ( Hősök Tere) / Állatkerti körút (Boulevard), City Park (Városliget)

Magnificent Synagogue in Budapest

The Great Synagogue in Dohány utca (Street), also known as the Dohány Synagogue, or the Tabac-Schul, the Yiddish translation of dohány (tobacco), after the Hungarian name of the street, is located in Belváros, the inner city of Pest, in the eastern section of Budapest. It was built between 1854-1859 by the Neolog Jewish community of Pest according to the plans of the Viennese architect Ludwig Foerster. The synagogue neighbors a major Budapest thoroughfare expressing the optimism and the newly elevated status of the Hungarian Jews in the mid years of the 19th century.

It is a monumental, magnificent synagogue, with a capacity of 2,964 seats (1,492 for men and 1,472 in the women's galleries) making it one of the largest in the world. The building has a length of more than 53 meters while its width has 26.5 meters. The design of the Dohány Street synagogue, while basically in a Moorish style, also features a mixture of Byzantine, Romantic, and Gothic elements.

How to get there: It is 2 minutes walk from the central Deak Square, same distance from Astoria. Search on a map: junction of Károly körút-Wesselenyi utca-Dohány utca.

Close to this place in the Rumbach Sebestyen utca you can find gorgeous neglected other synagogue (Rumbach Synagogue). If you are lucky enough to find it hopefully the security guard admits you to admire the building inside. Guided tour with an expert also available from us. E-mail: danubebendtour@gmail.com

Budapest Winter Invasion Campaign once again!

- 4 nights for the price of 3 in participating Budapest hotels !!!

Conducted for the first time last year under the name Budapest Winter Invasion (BWI), the campaign, which attracted a unique pool of 70 participating service providers, generated 25,500 extra guest nights for Budapest. The hotels that participated in the successful endeavour opted to continue, which prompted organizers to get down to uniting their forces and financial resources once more this year and to launch a campaign again using the same name, under identical terms and for the same period (December 1, 2007 - March 31, 2008).

The purpose has also remained the same: to promote Budapest, Budapest hotels and restaurants, Malév Hungarian Airlines and the turnover of guest at Budapest Airport in the winter period. Essentially, the sales action offers guests the 4 nights for the price of 3 in participating Budapest hotels.

"Come to Budapest for 3 nights and stay longer as there is so much to do. Participating hotels offer visitors one additional night’s stay free as a gift for every three they booked, thus allowing guests to fully enjoy what Budapest has to offer."- says the ad.

After 400 years of the Romans,

150 years of the Ottomans

and 45 years of the Soviets

You’ll be the first who’s welcome to

stay longer, so have an extra night on us!

The Hungarian National Tourist Office supplemented by the independent website of the campaign www.budapestwinterinvasion.com radiating its own unique image in six languages (English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Russian) and providing space for each participating partner to appear as well as detailed information on Budapest.

5 star hotels l 4 star hotels l 3 star Hotels

Budapest in picture! - Click on the image below!!!

Budapest winter visitor facts: Budapest is one of the world’s most beautiful capitals, with its unique atmosphere and its delightful panorama from the two banks of the Danube, which has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for good reason. The city is historical, romantic and modern, all in one. Hungary’s diverse history with many foreign peoples having spent time in the territory gives Budapest a special feel. Guests have the opportunity to visit the Roman city of Aquincum, to relax in a Turkish bath, to admire Hapsburg era architecture or to discover huge statues of the Soviet times all within the city limits!

Budapest is unique in the world in respect to the natural springs that can be found all over the city - there are more than one hundred thermal springs and the baths built upon them offer marvelous health and wellness programmes. And as with every great city there are interesting museums, art galleries, churches, monuments, parks, concert venues, restaurants, bars and cafés all easily accessible in this dynamic metropolis. Source: www.budapestwinterinvasion.com

Antiquity Shops and Flea Market in Budapest

If you have time to spend more time in Budapest you will see that almost in every corner of the downtown there is a small antiquity shop. Whatsoever there are "2 must to see" places. First of these because of the atmosphere ( flea market called "Ecseri piac"), the another one because of the quality of goods ( in the 5th District, close to Parliament: Falk Miksa utca").

The Ecseri Piac is in the ourskirts of Budapest and about a 30 minutes drive from the downtown ( any taxidriver knows the place, you should calculate 3-4000 HUF one way fare, but if you call or e-mail me I provide you personal guidance and after a good shopping I bring you back to the hotel with your luggage for only 5000HUF (roughly 19-20 EUR, or 30 USD). My pleasure! Contact details below...

Ecseri is worthy place to buy small antique souvenirs in the weekends (old iron, stamp, military things etc.) or even porcelain or small design furnitures before WW2. I especially recommend to look for natural textile product, like towels, skirts, tablecloths etc. frankly: you will find amazingly nice pieces!

The other must-to-see place is the Falk Miksa street where are about 30 antiquity shops next to each other. I especially recommend to look for (even if you dont purchase anything) paintings of Hungarian young artists from the 60-ies till now. You will be amazed how good are the contemporary Hungarian painters!

Any other information you need about shopping antiquity or drive your to Ecseri Market in Hungary I am glad to answer your questions. My e-mail: danubebendtour@gmail.com.


Thanks, Tamas - your guide in Hungary

What To Do at Summer in Budapest? To Swim of Course!

Budapest has plenty of public places to enjoy swimming. An excellent place can be found at the Margitsziget ("Margarit Island") called Alfred Hajós National Swimming Center. Besides this place is in the heart of the city it`s also the right place to swim and have a lazy sunbath on hot Summer days. In the evenings the place is popular for Hungarians to see great waterpolo matches and swimming competitions.

More on Alfred Hajós:
Hajós Alfréd

Ludwig: the Only Contemporary Art Museum in Hungary

If you are really interested in to learn more about Central European Contemporary Art or you are already well-versed guru of in its global aspects you should definitely visit the Ludwig Museum in Budapest, which not long ago has been removed to the new building of the Palace of Arts. The Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art offers delightful and fresh collections from contemporary Hungarian and foreign artists. One of the most interesting exhibitions is right now is about Marcel Breuer Bauhaus designer and architect (with the help of the with Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein Germany.

More about the Ludwig Collection: http://www.ludwigmuseum.hu/2005/gyujtemeny/gyujtemeny_e.htm
How to reach the museum by public transport from the center of the city:
http://www.ludwigmuseum.hu/2005/info_e.htm
Other regulary updated programs, concerts of the Palace of Arts in English: http://www.mupa.hu/

More about Marcel Breuer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcel_Breuer

Hungarian Railway Museum

The foundation-stone of the Hungarian Railway Museum was laid on 22 November 1999, on the site of the former Budapest North Depot of the Hungarian State Railways (MÁV). The first phase of the project was completed in less than eight months, funded by the Ministry of Transport and Waterways, MÁV and MÁV Nosztalgia Ltd, the heritage division of MÁV. After many months of effort, Europe's first interactive railway museum opened on 14 July 2000, displaying over a hundred railway vehicles and equipment of varying ages on a site of over 70,000 m2... Access to the Museum: RAILWAY MUSEUM Further details: MAIN PAGE RAILWAY MUSEUM

Budapest Opera

Hello, if you visit Budapest it is obligatory so visit the Opera, which is really in the middle of the town right on the Andrássy Street, between Deák Square and Oktogon Square (Address: VI. Andrássy út 22, Tel: 353 0170, Box office open: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm (or until the start of the programme on performance nights), M1 Metro Opera Station. As Budapest's principle venue for opera and ballet productions, Miklós Ybl's fine neo-Renaissance building has, over the years, played host to the likes of Ferenc Liszt and Gustav Mahler. The main season here runs from September to mid-June and includes over 50 major productions, many of which are familiar to opera lovers abroad. For tickets, it's advisable to book a couple of days in advance, though cheap seats are often available at the last minute.On the opera.hu website you should click on "Műsorkalendárium" to figure out what is the actual programme :) .

15, March Hungarian National Holiday

Each year 15, March is a National Holiday in Hungary. On this nice and colorful day Hungarian people remember to the outbreak of the 1848-9 Revolution. Since the end of the 17th century had been a Habsburg dominion, with a Habsburg on the royal Hungarian throne. Revolution broke out in many large European cities during the early months of 1848, creating conditions under which Hungary's aspirations for reform might be realized by lawful means. On the same day the March Youth, a small group of writers, poets and other intellectuals, took to the streets of Pest to read out their Twelve Points containing their main demands for the Hungarian nation. One of their leaders, the popular radical poet Sándor Petofi, recited a poem of his, "National Song". As bystanders joined them, they requisitioned a press to print the two pieces. Within hours there were tens of thousands processing through the streets. (Further exciting details in history books...)

Hungarian Military Museum in Buda Castle (unfortunately it is only available in Hungarian): www.hm-him.hu

Ladies' day in the Rudas Turkish Thermal Spa

Budapest, which is famous for its health and thermal spas, offers a unique opportunity for ladies to use the thermal pool of a Turkish bath, the Rudas Health Spa. Rudas Health Spa launches a Women-only day every Tuesday between 06:00 and 20:00 for ladies wishing to enjoy the experience of bathing without a bathing suit... This service, which is not provided anywhere else in Europe in an original, functioning Turkish bath, is accompanied by another important change: the days of the weekend have also been opened for women, so both sexes can enjoy Rudas in bathing outfits on Saturdays and Sundays.

Those who wish to combine bathing and entertainment will enjoy the great parties on Friday and Saturday nights! For further information, go to: budapestspas.hu

Budapest Spring Festival 2007

Tickets are already avaliable for the Budapest Spring Festival March 16th - April 1st, 2007. Tickets can be ordered on the festival's webpage, or purchased at tourist's offices. The Spring Festival is not thematic - it is characterised by variety and abundance, by the concentration and juxtaposition of highly promising concerts, stage productions and exhibitions. More info on the official website: festivalcity.hu

Painting: Springtime landscape / Béla, Iványi Grünwald / Hungarian National Gallery

Happy New Year! Boldog Új Évet!

I wish all of you a happier new year! I hope you will visit Hungary this year so your life indeed will be happier than the previous one! In this period of the year you can find pigs and chimney-sweepers on Hungarian postcards to invocate a wealthy and lucky year. Special greetings to Rachel in Spain!

Van Gogh in Budapest Museum of Fine Arts

The Museum of Fine Arts celebrates its 100th birthday with a true museum sensation. To commemorate the centenary, a large-scale exhibition from the works of Vincent van Gogh will be launched. Visitors will have the opportunity to see nearly 80 works by the Dutch painter genius till 20, March, 2007. Starting from 2nd December, those interested can view such masterpieces as the Farmhouse in Provence, painted in 1888, on loan from the National Gallery of Art in Washington. The importance of the celebratory exhibition is demonstrated by the fact that masterpieces will arrive from more than 40 collections, from museums such as the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the Musée D’Orsay in Paris, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington.

Tickets purchased in advance on the Internet, at jegymester.hu, in the museum, and well-known ticket offices in about 50 towns will be cheaper. Tickets are valid for specific time slots. In collaboration with Vince Books, the Museum of Fine Arts will publish a 600-page catalogue in Hungarian and English. The curator of the exhibition: Judit Geskó

Website of the museum: szepmuveszeti.hu