BUDAPEST LOVES YOU
Whenever I walk around downtown Budapest it always occurs to me what a fantastic city I am in – and not only fantastic, but sexy, too! Budapest is not only one of the most beautiful cities in Europe but the world. Its history goes way back to ancient times and with that kind of age come amazing buildings, bridges and other monuments – against all historical odds, many of them are still standing to dazzle us every day. Budapest is a city of leisurely elegance where you can enjoy historical treasures during the day accompanied by delicious meals both from Hungarian and international cuisines, while in the evening, the coolest bars await you and your friends. The City of Spas – Budapest holds the title since the year 1934, as it has more thermal and medicinal water springs than any other capital in the world. Budapest is a city where I never get bored. There is always some kind of festival and a variety of other programs to choose from. When it comes to entertainment, you can’t leave without going to a gay party to get acquainted with a few handsome and charming Hungarian guys. Budapest is everyone’s city. Discover the Hungarian capital with us, and remember: Budapest loves you! Zsolt Erdei President of Humen Travel Tourism Association
HELLO BUDAPEST! DISCOVER ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CITIES IN THE WORLD
Budapest consists of two parts - Buda and Pest, respectively - which were united in 1873 to form the Hungarian capital. Today, it is a vibrant and bustling modern city; however, the beautiful historical buildings, the traditional restaurants, sweets shops and artisan workshops evoke a feeling of the past. Today’s Budapest has a very lively gay scene. The past decades have brought a great deal of general tolerance as well as possibilities for LGBTQ people. As a result, the city now arguably has the best gay scene in Central Europe. Budapest is gaining more and more popularity among tourists including gay people, straight people or anybody inbetween. Besides its thermal spas, the wide variety of historical monuments and exquisite architecture, Budapest is now also famous for its animated gay party scene. Budapest has a constantly increasing array of clubs, bars, gay-friendly restaurants, saunas, cruising areas and drag shows, as well as underground and mainstream parties for every LGBTQ+ person. Whether you’re here to do some sightseeing or party hard and leave the city tipsy, we are excited to have you here. Come to Budapest and discover the one of the most beautiful cities in the world!
THE SEXY CITY THE CASTLE DISTRICT AND HISTORICAL PEST
The Buda Castle, one of the most visited tourist attractions in the city, can be found directly on the River Danube on the Buda side overlooking the Chain Bridge and its majestic lion statues. Certainly something not to miss when arriving in this district are the Matthias Church (Mátyás-templom) which has a magnificent white facade and the Fisherman’s Bastion (Halászbástya) which offers amazing panoramic views of the entire city from one of the highest points in Buda. On the Pest side, you can find Andrássy Avenue, lined with haute-couture stores, art galleries and cafés; it is truly one of the most beautiful streets in Budapest. The metro M1 (the first subway line ever built in continental Europe) runs directly underneath this avenue and takes you all the way to the City Park (Városliget) where you can take a plunge in the Széchenyi thermal baths and discover the Vajdahunyad Castle (Vajdahunyad vára). The area of the Városliget is calm and peaceful so it is definitely worth a trip in case you want to escape the city feel for a short time. Last but not least, the stunning Hungarian Parliament building (Országház) can be found directly on the Danube. You do not have to look hard to find it since it’s one of the grandest, largest buildings in Budapest and certainly not something you would want to miss.
BUDAPEST
365 ALWAYS BUDAPEST SPRING
With Mother Nature shifting her chilly winter temperatures to a warmer spring, new life is arriving in Budapest. Offering numerous indoor and outdoor activities and countless cultural programs you have no choice but to enjoy the thousand faces of this magical city.
SUMMER
Summer vacation is not the same without a beautiful waterfront - next to the city, Lake Lupa creates the illusion of the beach. In case you would rather stay in the city, the island of freedom, Sziget is one of the largest music and cultural festivals in Europe. On Sziget, anything and its opposite can happen. Bands like Years and Years and Franz Ferdinand, superstars like Ed Sheeran, Martin Garrix and Sigala, weird creatures and strangers from faraway countries will surprise the residents of Sziget this year. Magic Mirror is definitely one of the most special venues of Sziget; they aim to reach the widest possible audience by presenting the diversity and colorfulness of the LGBTQ community.
FALL
Hiking on Gellért Hill in the middle of the city is a must when trees and plants are just beginning their winter preparation, showing a range of lovely colors. Depending on the temperatures, bring a basket full of goodies and have a picnic along the way. Despite the area being hilly there are picture-perfect spots to sit, eat and chat. While aiming for the top, don’t forget to stop at the lookout points along the trails from which you can enjoy a view of the bridges and buildings at various heights.
WINTER
The perfect way to immerse yourself in the Christmas spirit is none other than visiting at least one of Budapest’s many Christmas fairs. It is worth mentioning that the Budapest Advent and Christmas Fair on Vörösmarty Square is listed among the 10 most beautiful fairs in Europe.
LGBT IN BUDAPEST A LITTLE PARTY NEVER HURT NOBODY
HIGLIGHTS OF THE NEW LGBTQ QUARTER OF BUDAPEST
The heart of Budapest’s gay scene, Alterego Club offers both a relaxed drink bar and a lively are where you can dance the night away. Don’t miss the Drag Show on Friday and Saturday night followed by a late night chart hits party with two dancefloors and two DJs. 1066 Dessewffy utca 33. The most important regular parties and club nights in Budapest are Garçons, HELLO, LÄRM, VIBE Club, Ooops and WOW!
Kimberly Café Kimberly Café is an LGBTfriendly, popular gay bar in Nagymező Street in the center of Budapest. Kimberly offers international and traditional Hungarian breakfast, local beer and other drinks, live music, drag queen shows and karaoke.
I WANT TO TAKE YOU TO A GAY BAR Why Not? Café and Bar A legend in Budapest, this café and bar boasts a great view of the Danube. Regular karaoke and quiz nights are organized in a relaxed atmosphere to meet your friends for a drink or two. A mainstay of Budapest’s gay scene, this bar is well worth a visit. Habroló The oldest bar with a mixed clientele, reasonable prices and a cheerful, friendly atmosphere. Tütü For the wild ones, for the free-minded, for those who are in love with the night. Step inside the world of Tütü where all kinds of art are appreciated! Experience glam in its purest form. Tütü is known as the most exciting club and bar in Budapest.
Phoenix Bar Budapest’s newest cozy gayfriendly bar is located in the city center of Budapest, next to the famous Opera House. With its Great Gatsby-ish interior, Phoenix evokes the feeling of a real American cocktail bar from the 1930s. 10 Sixty-Six Bar With its special breakfast offer and regular stand-up comedy programs this bar quickly became one of Budapest’s most exciting LGBT-friendly clubs. It is worth visiting here on both weekdays and weekends if you want to have a little color in your everyday life. Tempelfit The city’s only gay gym, Tempelfit (Paulay Ede utca 25-27.) is right in the heart of the city. Expect great service, a wide array of machines and equipment as well as a Finnish sauna for members.
SIGHTSEEING THE BOHEMIAN WAY
You better forget traditional sightseeing and prepare for a unique and lovely experience. Lay back and enjoy the beauties of our marvellous capital! Budapest by TukTuk Discover Budapest with a three-wheeled cabriolet! The Budapest TukTuk experience allows you to discover every corner of Budapest. Your driver is also your personal guide – following your interests, temperament and pace, they give you the memorable experience you’re looking for. budapesttuktuk.com Discover the ghost of communist dictatorship and statues at Memento Park with the Trabant tour Memento Park hosts one of the most unique open-air exhibitions. After the end of the communist regime in Hungary in 1989, the political memorials of the era were gradually removed and transferred to this park. These statues were originally spread around in the city, but here you can find everyone from Lenin and Marx to ordinary freedom fighters and soldiers. Rent-A-Trabant Budapest has been organizing interactive and entertaining Trabant tours and activities around Budapest since 2006. Their team of enthusiastic managers and welcoming guides will introduce you to the city’s history and cultural life. The team’s goal is to create unique and unforgettable programs for their customers. rentatrabantbudapest.com RiverRide floating bus How does RiverRide’s floating bus resemble the Millennium Underground line? Both are yellow, both operate in Budapest and both were the first of their kind in continental Europe. The floating bus of Budapest started its journey 113 years after the ”small” underground. Many people think the greatest advantage is that it can go into the Danube. But it’s even more important that it can also get out of it. Therefore, we’re asking you not to call the emergencies when you see a yellow bus floating in the river because this is the bus that can swim in the Danube. riverride.com
HUNGRY
IN HUNGARY TASTE HUNGARIAN CUISINE AT THE COOLEST PLACES
THE CLASSICS Goulash soup – the must-have You will love goulash soup: it is made of meat, vegetables, lovely little dumplings, some (actually, a lot of) spices and the most essential Hungarian ingredient, paprika powder. Chicken paprikash (csirkepaprikás) This is a chicken stew with lots of onions, tomatoes, paprika (both the vegetable and the already well-known spice) and a couple of spoonful of sour cream in the end to make it creamy. Dobos cake – very well-known & very Hungarian This layer cake is really popular in Hungary. The soft sponge cake layers are glued to each other with cocoa cream, topped with a layer of caramelized sugar. Somlói sponge cake (Somlói galuska) Somlói sponge cake is a light and super delicious dish made of sponge cakes, apricot jam, chocolate and vanilla sauce, raisins soaked in rum, walnuts and finally, whipped cream.
TASTE HUNGARIAN CLASSICS AT LGBTQ-FRIENDLY PLACES Antré Modern Hungarian kitchen located in the very heart of Budapest. Antré serves traditional Hungarian dishes with ’farm to table’ ingredients in a modern but cozy environment. 1061 Budapest, Király utca 8. (Central Passage building)
Baltazár Baltazár is a gastronomic hub, an institution owned and managed by a family in the Buda Castle district. 1014 Budapest, Országház utca 32.
KIOSK The metropolitan meeting point where you will find the perfect mood and ambience, adjusted throughout the day. 1051 Budapest, Március 15. tér 4.
HILDA Wonderfully fresh, clean food in a truly pleasant atmosphere. The highest quality ingredients are brought to HILDA’s kitchen from the best local organic farms and artisan bakeries. 1051 Budapest, Nádor utca 5.
Pest-Buda Bistro Grandma’s home-style kitchen, using the best ingredients with love and care close to the Matthias Church in the Buda Castle district for several decades. 1014 Budapest, Fortuna utca 3.
Szamos Today and Szamos Gourmet House At Szamos, you can not only taste their quality marzipan goodies, but you also have the chance to try iconic Hungarian desserts like the Dobos cake, the Esterházy cake, the ‘zserbó’ or the ‘krémes’. Szamos Today 1055 Budapest, Kossuth Lajos tér 10. Szamos Gourmet House 1052 Budapest, Váci utca 1. FINE DINING AMONG THE STARS An assortment of artistic dishes awaits guests in the Michelin-star restaurants of the Costes group. Costes 1092 Budapest, Ráday utca 4. Costes Downtown 1051 Budapest, Vigyázó Ferenc utca 5.
THE SPAS OF BUDAPEST City of Spas – Budapest holds the title since the year 1934, as it has more thermal and medicinal water springs than any other capital city in the world. There are 118 springs in Budapest, providing over 70 million liters of thermal water a day. The temperature of the waters is between 21 and 78 Celsius. Budapest has been well-known for its thermal springs ever since the 2nd century, when Romans colonized the area to take advantage of the location and the enormous network of healing waters below. During the Turkish occupation of the area, in the 16th century even more baths were built (some of which are still standing today). Thankfully, this tradition has not died in recent times.
THE LGBTQ-FRIENDLY HOTEL LIST A fashionable boutique hotel in downtown Budapest, or a romantic hideaway in the Buda Castle? Would you prefer the buzzing shopping district, or rather stay close to gay bars and other entertainment options?
In the list of LGBTQ-friendly accommodations by Pink Budapest you can find a wide range of options – we hope that everybody will be satisfied with the hotel they finally choose as the “headquarters” of their Budapest adventure.
02
03 04 05
01
06
07 08
01 02
CLOSE TO THE GAY DISTRICT CASATI BUDAPEST HOTEL 1061 Budapest, Paulay Ede u. 31.
JUST A FEW CORNERS FROM GAY BARS AND OTHER ENTERTAINMENT VENUES CORTILE BUDAPEST HOTEL 1066 Budapest, Dessewffy u. 14. Open in 2019. Q3
03 04 05
ROMANTIC PLACES IN THE BUDA CASTLE BALTAZÁR BOUTIQUE HOTEL 1014 Budapest, Országház u. 31. PEST BUDA BOUTIQUE HOTEL 1014 Budapest, Fortuna u. 3. BUDA CASTLE FASHION HOTEL 1014 Budapest, Úri u. 39.
06 07 08
CLOSE TO THE BUSY SHOPPING DISTRICT LA PRIMA FASHION HOTEL
1052 Budapest, Piarista u. 6.
COSMO CITY HOTEL 1056 Budapest, Váci u. 77. ESTILO FASHION HOTEL 1056 Budapest, Váci u. 83.
BUDAPEST LOVES YOU
+34 638 910 465 hello@pinkbudapest.com
pinkbudapest.com
pinkbudapest