Travel Diaries - Budapest

TRAVEL

DIARIES

Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. 20% of the country's population lives in the capital so every fifth person living in Hungary is a 'Budapester'.

Today's Budapest was formed in 1873 through the joining of three cities - Buda, Pest and Obuda (old Buda).

BUDAPEST

KUWAIT HUNGARY

64 It is 1982.4 miles (3190.4 kilometers) from Kuwait to Budapest. You must make at least one connection to fly from one city to the other with a minimum flight time of 7 hours and 45 minutes.

You would land at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport. The airport is named after the famous Hungarian pianist and composer, Franz Liszt.

Budapesters speak Hungarian although English is also widely spoken, particularly in tourist areas. The Hungarian Forint is the official currency of Hungary although some businesses, including supermarkets, accept Euros.

Make sure you dress appropriately. Budapest's climate is humid with very warm summers. The winter months from November to March can be cold and snowfall is frequent. Night time temperatures of -15o C (5o F) are not uncommon!

After London, Budapest has the oldest underground train system in Europe. The line opened in 1896 - the year Hungary celebrated its 1000th anniversary - hence the name Millennium Underground

You can also travel by tram. This is the oldest form of transport in Budapest. Along the Danube Promenade you will find the 'Shoes on the Danube Bank' memorial - a series of 60 pairs of steel sculpted shoes commemorating the Jews shot in Budapest in World War II.

Budapest straddles the River Danube and attracts 20 million visitors every year.

The Hungarian flag is a horizontal tricolor of red, white and green. It has been the official flag of Hungary since 1957.

Budapest has more thermal springs than any other capital city in the world. 70 million litres of thermal water rises to the surface every day. The hot springs have resulted in dozens of medicinal baths and a bathing culture dating back to Roman times. You cannot miss the huge green dome of Buda Castle. The Castle is home to the Budapest History Museum and Hungarian National Gallery.

The Millennium Monument is a 36 meter column located in Heroes Square. It is crowned by a figure of the Archangel Gabriel and surrounded by a group of bronze horsemen. Budapest is home to the third largest Parliament building in the world. Building began in 1885 and was completed in 1902. The building has 90 statues on the facade, 12.5 miles of stairs and 691 rooms!

No trip to Budapest is complete without a visit to Fisherman's Bastion which provides stunning panoramic views of the city. It has 7 turrets to represent the 7 Hungarian tribes who founded the present day Hungary.

There are over 40 theatres and more than 100 museums and galleries in Budapest - and its Opera House is said to be one of the best in the world.

You will find the largest synagogue in Europe in Budapest. The Dohany Street Synagogue is the second largest in the world and can accommodate 3,000 worshipers. It is 44 meters high and covers an area of 2000 sq meters. The synagogue was built between 1854 and 1859. Budapest is famous for its Sziget Festival. This annual musical festival attracts around 400,000 people from around the world every August. The week-long celebration of music is named after the Shipyard Island where the festival is held.

Budapest Zoo is one of the oldest in the world. It opened in 1865.

The inventor of the 'biro' or ballpoint pen was Hungarian. Laszlo Jozsef Biro was born in Budapest in 1899. Perhaps you could buy a souvenir pen during your trip!

The northernmost holy place of Islam is in Budapest. It is the burial site of a Turkish dervish who came to Hungary during the Turkish invasion in the 16th century. He was honored as a holy man and after he died in 1541, his tomb became an Islamic sacred place and a site of pilgrimage. The chapel, built between 1543 and 1548, is one of the few remaining Turkish buildings in Budapest.

Don't forget to try a typical Budapest dish before you leave - a bowl of goulash is a must! 1.What do you call someone from Budapest? 2.What three colours make up the Hungarian flag? 3.Who is Budapest's international airport named after? 4.Where would you find the Hungarian National Gallery? 5.When did Budapest Zoo first open? 6.What is the name of the famous musical festival held in Budapest every August? 7.How many pairs of shoes make up the 'Shoes on the Danube Bank' memorial? 8.Name the famous synagogue in Budapest. 9.How many rooms are there in Budapest's Parliament building? 10.How many turrets are there at Fisherman's Bastion?