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

Foreign Language Newspapers in Budapest

Hungarians like to read newspapers. The most popular socialist national daily is the Népszabadság ("People`s Freedom", the name obiviously left from the communist times) nol.hu. Its rightist and nationalist counterpart is the Magyar Nemzet (transl. "Hungarian Nation") mno.hu, which embodies the proud newborn national and cultural "Hungarianism".

Hungarian homeland news for foreigners in English:

Budapest Times budapesttimes.hu
Budapest Business Journal bbj.hu

and in German:
Budapester Zeitung budapester.hu

Late November in the forest

Last weekend we could enjoy the latest sunny day in November. I went for a nice 1 hour jogging in the forest of the Budai hegység. One week before that I saw deers who just runned across the path in front of me. Simply, I just cant imagine better relaxation that to have a jogging in forest. Each season has its colors, sounds or silence. So, if your feel the same while you are in Budapest, call or e-mail us and I take you to the best running places.

Mátra Mountains in Hungary

The Mátra Mountains are part of the Northern Mountain Range and belong by origin to the largest young volcanic zone of Europe. They are situated between the valleys of River Tarna and River Zagyva. Although this mountain range is not of the largest area, the two highest peaks of Hungary can be found here: Kékes rises to 1014 metres and Galyatető to 964 metres. The Landscape Protection Area of the Mátra was established in 1986 - on a territory of 12141 hectares - to protect the nature and landscape of the Mátra region. This organization, which belongs to the Directorate of the Bükk National Park, makes sure that the original state of the Mátra is not disturbed by any interventions that may cause damage to its landscape and nature in the long run. The special natural values are kept safe on a strictly protected area of 2209 hectares, covered mainly with forests. All the beauties of a montane forest landscape can be found here, with natural habitats, a unique flora and fauna, geological formations of various shapes.

The most beautiful, montane beech forest communities can be found on the northern slope of Kékes, where the red-flowered, thornless Alpine Rose (Rosa pendulina) lives. Linden forests on talus slopes and in gorges indicate that this northern area has a special microclimate, with botanical rarities like the blue-flowered Alpine Clematis (Clematis alpina) that blooms in summer, and Honesty (Lunaria rediviva) that can typically be found on rocky areas. Several protected fern species also live here. More details are available on matrahegy.hu website.

Matra with Kékes peak is a famous excursion area for MTB bikers, ideal for trekking, cross-country running and forest walks. In wintertime its skislop is popular for families with small children are about to learn skiing.

Budapest Skating Rink is Open!

One of the most popular places of Budapest in the winter season is the famous skating rink right behind the Hősök tere (Heroes Square) monuments. It is a relatively huge skating ring, where all lovers of skating can enjoy this healthy sport with good hot tea even with red wine... :) The place is owned and maintained by the Budapest Municipality. They recently have launched a website for informing guests on upcomming events and open hours. It is unfortunately avaliable only in Hungarian but they promised to launch the English version soon. mujegpalya.hu Have a good skating!

Sumeg Fortress and Heviz Thermal Spa

I especially recommend you to visit town Sümeg sumeg.hu a legendary 13th century fortress in Middle-West Hungary. The town's fortress is Sümegvár sumegvar.hu one of the nicest restored and preserved forts of the present Hungary. Unfortunately the town and the fort's website only available in Hungarian. Not far from there (about 20 km) you can enjoy the famous Hévíz thermal spa heviz.hu with amazing kinds of wellness services. Hévíz has a well-developped tourism industry specialized on German and Austrian clients. A trip from Budapest to reach Héviz is about 1.5 hours on highway M7 direction SW.

Sziget Festival 9-16, August 2006 Budapest

Please, learn more about the biggest Central European Rock, Pop and Cultural Festival, which has started today.

www.sziget.hu