Budapest Sports & Outdoors

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Climbing Gellert hill by foot is a real sport activity , climbing the 230 meters to see the view.

You can use a bus or taxi but climbing by foot is the better option to my opinion.

The view from the hill is stunning and it worth climbing.
I saw some people running up the hill for improving their shape and stamina.

There are a lot of people who run and jog on the parks of Budapest - i saw them on Margaret island and city park.

The better place to run is on Margaret island because there is a rubber surface made especially for that purpose.

The rubber surface is surrounding the island all around on the perimeter so beside the sport activity you can enjoy the view of the Danube.


Equipment: Good running shoes , water after the run.

On Margaret island there are a few options if you want to swim :

1. Relax near the water of the Danube - suntan and swim in the Danube - although the island is very rocky.
2. Swim in one of the swimming pools on the island

A small warning - If you want to swim in the Danube be careful from rocks , boats and the flow that can be very strong.


Equipment: Bathing suit , sun cream , hat , tower.

Beside bicycling around the city to see the attraction there is an option to ride your bicycle for sport activity purpose.

For this option a lot of local go to Margaret island , to ride their bicycle without cars around them or the need to stop to cross main roads.
If you don't have bicycle you can rent here in a few places.


Equipment: bicycle and a helmet of course.

Beside the fact that walking around the city will make you explore it in the best way to my opinion , walking will make you be in good shape.

There are so many things to see here and some of them are far from each other , so you can find yourself walking more than 10km per day , like i did.



Equipment: Good walking shoes , a hat to avoid the sun and a lot of water.

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If you want to ride your bicycle in Budapest there are a lot of bicycle lanes around the city and a lot of the people use them , both locals and tourists.

There are traffic lights for bicycles so they can pass busy streets.

There are places where you can rent bicycles for a few hours.


Equipment: Bicycle of course and don't forget helmet and water.

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If you are not into thermal water and medicinal Spa`s, (only in summertime) you can select the normal outdoor swimming pools. Budapest has really plenty of them. The most famous ones can be found on the Margareth island. On my photos you see images about the Palatinus pool, but also the Dagály nearby is worth a visit/swimming.
You can reach this swimming pool easily: just take the Bus number 26 at the nyugati Railway station and get off the homonimous stop. Of course you can go there by foot following the line of this bus on the island.

Note: currently in the northern part of Budapest is beeing constructed the biggest swimming pool & aquapark in Central Europe. It will be really impressive. As soon as it will be finished I add a tip about it.

Equipment: Well, just bring the usual ones: swimming trunks, towels, sun cream and a little money for the ice cream, beer, hot dog...whatever-that`s just enough:)

Biking in Budapest is still not the easiest in the world, but slowly and surely its getting better.
Critical Mass participants are fighting for the recognition of biking in the city and for more bike roads.

Here, we have actually reached the critical mass, since last April there were 50000 bikers participating! It was amazing! :)

If you happen to be around, join one of the CM City tours (there is usually one in April and one in September).

Equipment: Bike and maybe a funny costume :)

In winter, when attractions park is not working, as amusement starts to work big old openair skating rink. At day time and evenings there all time lots of people, even when it was +5 and was raining, people still were having fun there. Its very beutiful in the evenings, when lightings start to work and light up a castle in the nearby.

Equipment: You can rent skates there, but, as I know, you will need to leave your ID to guarantee you will gave them back...

Budapest might not be the ideal city for bikers, but it certenly is worth to use one to see a lot more of the city.

Especially in summer, bikes can prove very useful. The transportation is very good, but with that you miss a lot of details. And since Budapest is a big city, walking is a good choice but not for all the destinations...:)

There are bikeroads in Budapest, but not everywhere...but you have to be really carful even on this sort of roads, because car drivers often "forget to think" about bikers...

Lots of nightspots are easily accesble with bikes as well, so this might also be a good choice for party people :)

And if you are here and need a bike-partner, just drop me a note! :)

Equipment: Rent a bike here if you don't have yours with you.

Bike rental options:

Charles Rent-a-Bike
Address : 11th district, Hegyalja út 23.
Tel : (+36-1) 201 1796 Email :info@charleshotel.hu
Website : www.charleshotel.hu
Open daily :00:00-24:00

Rent-a-Bike
Address : Locations at 5th district, Ferenciek tere and near Nyugati Train Station.
Tel : (+36-30) 922 3113

Yellow Zebra Bikes
Address : 5th district, Sütõ u. 2. (next to main Tourinform office at Deák Sq.)
Tel : (+36-1) 266 8777
Website : www.yellowzebrabikes.com
Open daily :09:00-20:00