Things to do in Hungary
-
Bird-Ringing Camp
A bird-ringing camp run by the Hungarian Ornithological & Nature Conservation Society in Fenékpuszta near the delta of the Zala River has very knowledgeable staff and can fill you in on bird species on and around the lake. The camp is just one stop on the train heading for Balatonszentgyörgy; if you're driving from Keszthely, the exit is at the 111km stone on Rte 71.
reviewed
-
A
Han Kuk Guan
No one is going to be able to tell you what a Korean joint is doing way out in district XIV southeast of City Park, but who cares? It’s about as authentic as you’ll find. If you can afford it, try one of the barbecues. Otherwise stick to things like the pajon (green onion pancakes) served with seafood or any of the rice and noodle dishes (2600Ft to 3200Ft).
reviewed
-
B
Timpanon
This seldom-noticed shop in Óbuda sells antique Hungarian folk art of every shape and size: mangle boards, woodcarvings, chests etc. But don't expect any bargains. An early 19th-century tulipán láda (trousseau chest with tulips painted on it) from the Felvidék area of Slovakia will cost you around 130,000Ft. There's a Buda branch called Almárium.
reviewed
-
C
Giero
We won’t say anything about the food beyond that it comes out of the kitchen on a plate, it’s stodgy and there’s lots of it. And the choice of wine depends on what wasn’t drunk by customers and musicians the night before. But you come here primarily to listen to Gypsy music as Roma musicians play it when they’re off duty from playing that saccharine junk at the top-end hotels.
reviewed
-
D
Budapest Eye
This attraction exaggerates just a titch when it claims, 'The Budapest Eye is to Budapest what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris and the London Eye is to London.' In reality, it's a hot-air balloon tethered to ropes, on a site between Nyugati train station and the West End City Center mall, which ascends to 150m for some hair-raising views over Budapest. But the kids will love it.
reviewed
-
E
synagogue
The lovely twin-towered Moorish building across the street from the Szombathely Gallery is the former synagogue designed in 1881 by the Viennese architect Ludwig Schöne. Today it houses a music school and the attached Béla Bartók Concert Hall. A plaque marks the spot from where '4228 of our Jewish brothers and sisters were deported to Auschwitz on 4 July 1944'.
reviewed
-
F
Rozmaring
You probably wouldn’t want to come all the way up to this part of Óbuda just for the food (it’s mostly average Hungarian at best) but the flower-bedecked, covered terraces at this ‘garden restaurant’ that look out onto the Danube and the western side of Margaret Island, with the water tower just visible above the trees, are a delight in warm weather and well worth the schlep.
reviewed
-
G
Semmelweis Museum of Medical History
This museum traces the history of medicine from Graeco-Roman times, through medical tools and implements and photographs; yet another antique pharmacy also makes an appearance. Ignác Semmelweis (1818–65), the ‘saviour of mothers’, who discovered the cause of puerperal (childbirth) fever, was born in this house and much is made of his life and works.
reviewed
-
H
Lekvárium
This little speciality shop stocks homemade jams and bottled fruit and honey, wine from the Siklós and Villány regions of southern Hungary and fruit-flavoured brandies. It is the place to visit to pick up a jar or two of Hungary's greatest edible contribution to humanity - traditionally made lekvár (fruit jam), especially the apricot variety.
reviewed
-
I
Franz Liszt Memorial Museum
This small but perfect museum is housed in the Old Music Academy, where the great composer lived in a 1st-floor apartment for five years until his death in 1886. The four rooms are filled with his pianos (including a tiny glass one), the composer’s table, portraits and personal effects. Concerts (included in the entry fee) are sometimes held here on Saturday at 11am.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
J
Terv Eszpresszó
‘Plan’ (as in ‘Five-Year’) is a retro-style cafe-bar on two levels decorated with photographs of Hungarian athletes, politicians, actors and so on from the 1950s and ‘60s. Unlike a lot of such places, the theme doesn’t get old in a half-hour and it’s a useful place for a quick beer or coffee on the way down to Váci utca.
reviewed
-
Móri Kisvendéglő
Probably the most popular of its type, with some of the best home-cooked food in Budapest, this simple borozó (wine bar) and restaurant a short walk north from Szent István körút serves home-cooked Hungarian Jewish food. But, as the owner would like to warn our 'dear readers', get here by 3pm if you want to taste the famous főzelék vegetables.
reviewed
-
Budapest Segway Sightseeing Tour
Varies (Departs Budapest, Hungary)
by Viator
The tour starts with a 30-minute orientation session. You will have time practice on the Segways so that everyone feels comfortable and ready to go out and…Not LP reviewed
from USD$77.98 -
Iguana
Iguana serves decent enough Mexican food (not a difficult task in this cantina desert), but it’s hard to say whether the pull is the chilli (1390Ft to 2290Ft), the enchilada and burrito combination platos (plates; 1990Ft to 2390Ft), the fajitas (2390Ft to 3390Ft) or the frenetic and boozy ‘we-party-every-night’ atmosphere with its canned music.
reviewed
-
Herend
For both contemporary and traditional fine porcelain, there is no other place to go but Herend, Hungary’s answer to Wedgwood. Among the most popular motifs produced by the company is the Victoria pattern of butterflies and wildflowers designed for the lemon-lipped British queen during the mid- 19th century. There’s also a more central Belváros branch of this Hungarian icon.
reviewed
-
K
Cella Septichora Visitors Centre
On the southern side of Dom tér is the Cella Septichora Visitors Centre, which links and explains a series of half-a-dozen early Christian burial sites that have been on Unesco’s World Heritage List since 2000. The highlight is the so-called Jug Mausoleum, a 4th-century Roman tomb whose name comes from a painting of a large drinking vessel with vines found here.
reviewed
-
György Kohán Museum
The György Kohán Museum , in quiet Göndöcs-Népkert, is Gyula's most important art museum, with more than 3000 paintings and graphics bequeathed to the city by the artist upon his death in 1966. The large canvases of horses and women in dark blues and greens, and the relentless summer sun of the Great Plain, are quite striking and well worth a look.
reviewed
-
L
Champs Sport Bar
Established by five Olympic medallists (swimmer, runner, pentathlon, kayaker and racer), Champs is the place for sports fans and the vicarious, with two giant screens and 35 TVs. There’s a wide choice of low-fat ‘fitness meals’ along with the less healthy favourites of armchair athletes. There’s also a Buda branch, which keeps the same hours.
reviewed
-
M
Mountex
This huge (though somewhat far-flung) emporium on two levels with branches throughout the city carries all the gear you’ll need for camping, hiking, trekking and climbing. In fact, there’s a climbing wall (open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 8pm Saturday and Sunday) round the corner should you want to get in a little practice while shopping.
reviewed
-
N
Pasha Memi Baths (Ruins)
One of Pécs' most enjoyable pedestrian streets, Ferencesek utcája, runs east from Rákóczi út to Széchenyi tér, where Király utca also becomes pedestrian. You'll pass the ruins of the 16th-century Pasha Memi Baths, three beautiful old churches and, on Király utca, the neo-rococo Pécs National Theatre (Király utca).
reviewed
Advertisement
-
O
Almárium
This wonderful shop near the entrance to the tunnel under Castle Hill sells antique and country Hungarian folk art of every shape and size: mangle boards, woodcarvings, chests etc. But don’t expect any bargains. An early 19th-century tulipán láda (trousseau chest with tulips painted on it) from Transylvania will cost you as much as 150,000Ft.
reviewed
-
P
Bakery Museum
From the House of the Two Moors, walking west along Fövényverem utca, you'll soon reach Bécsi út and the Bakery Museum, a fantastic reminder of a bygone era. It's actually the completely restored home, bakery and shop of a successful 19th-century bread and pastry maker named Weissbeck, and contains some interesting gadgets and work-saving devices.
reviewed
-
Q
Great Church
Kecskemét's main square is dominated by the Catholic Great Church built in 1806. The big tablets on the front honour (from left to right) a mounted regiment of Hussars that served in WWI; citizens who died in the 1848-49 War of Independence; and the Kecskemét victims of WWII. From June to August its tower can be climbed for views of the city's sun-bleached rooftops.
reviewed
-
Tokaj Museum
The Tokaj Museum, in the 18th-century Greek Trading House, leaves nothing unsaid about the history of Tokaj, the Tokaj-Hegyalja region and the production of its wines. There's also a superb collection of Christian liturgical art, including icons, medieval crucifixes and triptychs, and Judaica from the nearby Great Synagogue, and temporary exhibits by local artists.
reviewed
-
R
Szent Jupát
This is the classic late-night choice for solid Hungarian fare – consider splitting a dish with a friend – though there’s half a dozen vegetarian choices as well. It’s just north of Moszkva tér and opposite the Fény utca market – enter from II Retek utca 16 – so within easy striking distance of both Buda and Pest.
reviewed