Related Budapest Favorites Tips

4 more images

Favorite thing:
I was here in 1986 and this was still solidly behind the Iron Curtain. My group had already been through Yugoslavia and we didn’t expect things like good tasting beer and shops with food in them. In fact they had great beer and the shops had wonderful sausages, cheeses and breads. We kept worrying the Communists might put a stop to this! On a trip that included (over 6+ week) the sights of the Soviet Union and East Germany – Hungary came out completely on top for food.

The only other vague memories I have of Budapest was that the only shops they did have were food shops, most building were derelict and the city tour guide kept pointing out bullet holes of from the 1956 uprising.

I still think Hungry was ahead of the curve on the collapse of Communism just a couple of years later.

By the way the photos were taken by my Mum in 2010.

1 more image

Favorite thing: Oktagon is one of the beating hearts of Pest. It's in a strategic position on the Metro 1 line, and the tram 4/6 line, which is a major artery of the city. It's also on glamorous Andrassy Ut. It's the focal point for a number of classy bars and restaurants, but it's not so touristy as some places. So if you get off the tram or metro here, you'll quickly find yourself somewhere nice to eat or drink. A good place to start hunting is grassy little Jokai Ter, hidden around the corner from Oktagon about 10 meters away.

Favorite thing: The Smithsonian Magazine January 2008 came up with an exclusive list of 28 places in 7 categories, the Smithsonian reader might wish to visit before ...it's too late.
I have been to 7 of the 28 places of Smithsonian's Life List:

Feats of Engineering : – Pyramids of Giza near Cairo
A Matter of Timing: – Iguazu Falls by the light of a full moon in Argentina and Brazil
Triumphs of Vision: – The Louvre in Paris and – Uffizi Gallery in Florence
Scale New Heights: – Grand Canyon in Arizona
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow?: – Venice in Italy
In the Presence of Gods: – Parthenon in Greece

Unfortunately, in 1 categorie, Portals into the Past, Mesa Verde – Pompeii – Tikal – Petra.
do not have any experiences, but I never forget, that experience is the name we give to our mistakes.

Favorite thing: After years of delay and controversy, reconstruction at the World Trade Center site is now well underway. Both One and Four World Trade Center are on track for completion and occupancy by 2013. The 9/11 memorial is complete, with the museum set to open in 2012. Two and Three World Trade Center, as well as the Transportation Hub, are also making progress, set to be finished before 2015.

1 more image

Favorite thing: Have you ever heard that New York City has ten historic sister cities? If yes then you surely know, the Sister City Program of the City of New York was restructured and renamed New York City Global Partners, Inc. in 2006 with the aim of expanding the City’s interaction with foreign cities while maintaining its historic ten sister city relationships.

Favorite thing: http://www.budapestinfo.hu/index.php?id=home_en
This is the official site of Budapest Tourism. It belongs to the non-profit organisation of Budapest Tourist Office, so you won't find less crappy ads on it, like on other city websites.

General information about traveling in and around, weather, sights and news about current events. You basically find almost everything you want to know.

1 more image

Favorite thing: It was built 1875-79 by Miklós Ybl. Originally this is a waterworks building 1881-1905. From 1905 it was cafe. From 1913 it was bandstand. After the II. World War it had more ovnership change. From 1992-2007 it was elegant casino (Várkert Casino). Today it is venues of events.

Address: 1013 Budapest, Ybl Miklós square 9.
www.varkert-palota.hu

Favorite thing: Moskva Ter was one of the few communist flavoured place names to survive the transition to democracy, but will now change its name to the incredibly forgettable Szell Kalman Ter. It's the big concrete centre of Buda, and not a pretty sight. Most of the square is made up of the metro and tram station. The station is usually filled with beggars and sorry looking drunks, but is so busy that you'll rarely get any trouble. Around Moscow Square you'll find a few decent restaurants, like Marxim the communist themed pizza place. There's also the huge Mammut shopping centre, which is one of the best and most easily accessed of Budapest's malls.

It's not the nicest part of Budapest, but if you want to get to the castle, or see any of the other sights in Buda, you'll probably have to pass through here at some point.