GAY GUIDE
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FOR MEN’S SKIN IS DIFFERENT RE JU V ENATING AND ANTI - AGING TRE ATMENTS AES THE TIC FACIAL AND BODY TRE ATMENTS PL A S TIC SURGERY DERM ATOLOGY AND S TD CENTER PER S O N A L I Z E D TO YO U R N EE D S M O N DAY- F R I DAY 8 -2 0 KO EC . H U / B O U L E VA R D M E D I C A LC E N T E R .CO M Budapest, Szent István körút 24. (at the Nyugati Railway Station) info@koc.hu
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78 KG MARZIPAN SZAMOS CHOCOLATE MUSEUM 10, Kossuth Lajos Square, Budapest Opening Hours: Every day: 10 am - 6 pm www.csokolademuzeum.hu
HELLO BUDAPEST
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CONTENT HELLO BUDAPEST
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SPAS OF BUDAPEST
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TOP5 BUDAPEST
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CITY MAP
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FASHION 25 GASTRONOMY 27 GAY BUDAPEST
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PUBLIC TRANSPORT
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ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
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IMPRESSUM
Humen Media Hungary Kft. (Member of Humen Media Group), H-1132 Budapest, Kresz Géza u. 16. fszt. 1/A, +36 70 234 5507, hungary@humenmedia.com, www.pinkbudapest.com • MANAGING DIRECTOR: Zsolt Erdei zsolt.erdei@humenmedia.com EDITORIAL TEAM: Barbara Szij, János Kocsis, Zoltán Tóth • GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Zsuzsanna Gere PRINTED BY: Belvárosi Nyomda Zrt. H-1101 Budapest, Albertirsai út 10. PUBLISHER & EDITORIAL:
HELLO BUDAPEST
ONE DAY
Budapest is definitely not one of those cities that you can fully cover in only one day. However, if your stay here doesn’t span more than a couple of days, you still have a perfect opportunity to discover the most important sights, a few local entertainment spots and perhaps some hidden treasures. Let’s see what Budapest can offer to serious city-hoppers who have no time to waste!
Deák Ferenc tér
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Budapest may be a city sprawling over more than 500 square kilometres with around 1,7 million inhabitants, but its historical centre contains most of the sights, all of which can be easily reached. If you only have one day in our beloved capital, we would suggest starting your tour from Deák Ferenc tér. After you have stopped taking photos of the stunning buildings, you may enter Deák Ferenc utca aka Fashion Street where you are more than likely prone to do some shopping. This street takes you almost directly to the Danube and the River Promenade which was a favourite spot of socialites in the 20th century. After enjoying the panorama from the riverbank, you can cross the
Chain Bridge Buda Castle
HELLO BUDAPEST
Danube on the Chain Bridge, taking you directly to the station of the Castle Hill funicular (Budavári Sikló in Hungarian) which is the easiest way to get to the top of the hill as well as being an experience in itself. Inside Buda Castle, you can find the beautiful Matthias Fountain, statues of the mythical Turul bird and the lions of the courtyard, the National Széchényi Library, the National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum. Certainly something not to miss when arriving in the Castle district are the Matthias Church (Mátyástemplom) and the Fisherman’s Bastion (Halászbástya). The former has a magnificent white façade paired with an ornately coloured tiled roof, while the latter offers panoramic views of the entire city from one of the highest points in Buda.
Following that, just go back to the Pest side on the Chain Bridge and head north towards the magnificent building of the Parliament. If you are not so keen on actually taking a guided tour to visit the inside, you may indulge in something sweet on the corner of Kossuth tér in the Szamos Chocolate Museum, property of one of the oldest and most famous chocolate manufacturers of Hungary. History buffs will be more than happy to take a walk alongside Ronald Reagan(‘s statue) on the nearby Szabadság tér (Freedom Square) where you can still find a Soviet war memorial. From there, through the quieter streets of the financial district, you can reach Saint Stephen’s basilica (named in honor of Stephen, the first king of Hungary), its dome offering one of the most spectacular
Matthias Church
Saint Stephen’s basilica Fisherman’s Bastion
Parliament Szabadság tér
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HELLO BUDAPEST
views of the buzzing city below. The top can be reached by walking up 364 steps or by taking the elevators. Continuing your way behind the Basilica, you will find a road full of luxury shops, a nod to Paris’s avenues, called Andrássy út. If you feel your legs giving out, the metro M1 (the first subway line ever built in continental Europe) runs directly underneath this avenue and takes you all the way to Hősök tere (Heroes’ Square) and Városliget (City Park). The M1 metro can take you back to Deák Ferenc tér, but you can decide to get off early and take a look at the State Opera and the theatres of the ‘Broadway of Pest’ on your way. In recent years, the areas of Gozsdu Courtyard (Gozsdu Udvar) and
Hősök tere
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Király utca towards the city centre have cropped up as very trendy, fashionable places to eat, dine and party. Churches may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but missing the Great Synagogue in Dohány utca would be quite sad, so your next stop should really be this amazing house of worship – the biggest synagogue in Europe and the second biggest in the world. The historical streets of the surrounding Jewish Quarter are full of popular cafés, bars and ruin pubs; among them, Szimpla Bar is definitely a favourite with tourists and locals alike. Besides the never-ending parties, they also host a farmer’s market every Sunday morning.
State Opera
Great Synagogue Gozsdu Courtyard
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Talking about farmer’s markets, OR Budapest has quite a few 19th century market halls, with the one on Fővám tér being the biggest and most prominent of them all. If you would like to taste some local delicacies or just want to shop for some fresh products, this is the place to be. Continuing from tour one-day our, you can walk or take the tram to the Great Market Hall from Astoria station on the Kiskörút (Small Boulevard). Just a few steps from Fővám tér, you can find a lovely gay-friendly café called
TWO THREE DAYS
Great Market Hall
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Szabadság híd
Why Not? overlooking the Danube. If you haven’t found any food items to your liking in the Market Hall, you can always choose to try local specialties in the neighbouring Why Not? Bistro. Although the Chain Bridge is the oldest and most well-known bridge of Budapest, I personally have always been more fond of the intricate ironwork of Szabadság híd (Liberty Bridge) that connects Fővám tér and Szent Gellért tér, the latter being the home of the beautiful Gellért Hotel and Spa at the base of Gellért Hill, named after a martyr saint whose statue stands on the side of the hill. With a little hike, you can reach the top of Gellért Hill where our very own Statue of Liberty welcomes you. If you would like to have some more
Gellért Hill Statue of Liberty
HELLO BUDAPEST
experiences in greener environments, we would definitely suggest visiting Margit-sziget (Margaret Island). Although the weather is getting chillier, this island’s luscious gardens and woods may be their most beautiful in their fall colours. Besides a music fountain, a couple of medieval ruins and a mini zoo, the island also has a running track around its edges. When you have more time on your hands, you can always revisit the already mentioned sites for some more discoveries. For example, after taking the obligatory photos on Heroes’ Square, take a long and relaxing walk in the City Park, or book a spa treatment in the nearby Széchenyi Bath – we can promise that
you won’t regret it, especially in the winter months. Another perk of the City Park is the stunning architecture: discover the Vajdahunyad Castle (Vajdahunyad vára) built in 1896 to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the conquest of the area by the Hungarians or practice your skating skills on the City Park Ice rink (Városligeti Műjégpálya) which offers a giant ice rink in winter and a boating lake in summer. Similarly, if you are into the arts, take time to visit the National Gallery inside Buda Castle besides walking around outside the buildings: the permanent exhibition shows a concise history of Hungarian fine arts from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.
City Park Ice rink
Margaret Island
City Park
Vajdahunyad Castle
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BUDAPEST HOTEL
YOUR CHARMING HOTEL IN THE HEART OF BUDAPEST 1 HOTEL , 4 ST YLES...
C A S AT I B U DA PE S T H O T E L .CO M
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H O T T E S T C O C K TA I L S I N T H E C I T Y
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TUKTUKBAR.HU
SPA BUDAPEST
SPAS OF BUDAPEST Budapest has always been well-known for its thermal springs ever since the 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, even more baths were built (some of which are still standing today). Thankfully, this tradition has not died in recent times. Budapest has a wide array of spas to offer and we’re going to show you the best:
SZÉCHENYI BATHS Széchenyi boasts 18 pools and it is the largest medicinal bath in Europe. The building itself is arguably one of the most beautiful in all of Budapest, built in 1913 within the City Park (Városliget) in Neo-Baroque style. There are large outdoor and indoor pools, saunas, steam rooms, massage areas and more. This bath complex is well-recognised for the chess boards found in the outdoor pools - where old and young can relax in the water and unwind for hours on end. 1146 Budapest, Állatkerti krt. 9-11. szechenyifurdo.hu
GELLÉRT BATHS The second largest spa in Budapest is part of the Hotel Gellért in Buda near the Freedom Bridge (Szabadság híd). Built between 1912 and 1918 in Art Nouveau style, the bath complex contains 13 pools, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, saunas and medicinal water baths. Massages are also available upon advance booking. 1118 Budapest, Kelenhegyi út 4. gellertfurdo.hu 11
SPA BUDAPEST
RUDAS BATHS Rudas Baths is open only to men every weekday apart from Tuesday and is a relatively well-known and wellfrequented gay cruising spot. It was built in 1550 at the foot of the Gellért Hill in Buda under the reign of the Ottoman Empire and houses a typically gorgeous, Turkish bath with a central dome and other smaller rooms. The attached swimming pool is, however, always open for men and women. 1013 Budapest, Döbrentei tér 9. rudasfurdo.hu
LUKÁCS BATHS The spring water at Lukács is probably the best known of all the spas in Budapest. The building itself is a spa hotel and a former Ottoman powder mill completed in the 1880s and has space for 5 pools in total. Many people swear by the healing 12
powers of the water at this spa, ranging from curing stomach and kidney problems to a lack of calcium in the bones. 1023 Frankel Leó út 25-29. lukacsfurdo.hu
KIRÁLY BATHS Király is the smallest of our top spas in Budapest with four pools and the typical Turkish bath style. With one well-known octagonal bath and several other smaller pools and rooms, this is a quaint bath which is well hidden and therefore not so well-known by tourists coming to Budapest. 1027 Budapest, Fő u. 84. kiralyfurdo.hu
WWW.GAYSAUNA.HU
HELLO BUDAPEST
PUB CONCERTS EVERY NIGHT Created in the style of the American Phohibition and Gangster era of the 1920’s our place is worth visiting any time of the day. 1056 Budapest, Nyáry Pál utca 11. +36 1 266 8027 +36 70 623 8844 fatmo.hu FatmoHU
TOP5 BUDAPEST
TOP 5 THINGS TO DO IN BUDAPEST VISIT MÜPA AND/OR LUDWIG MUSEUM
If you are the kind of person who can’t imagine a holiday without submerging themselves in some culture, then you will really enjoy Müpa and the adjoining Ludwig Museum. Similarly to theaters, concert season starts in the fall, so you have a high chance of listening to some great contemporary performers at Müpa. If you are more into contemporary art, then Ludwig Museum will be perfect for you: their permanent exhibition juxtaposes Eastern and Western European and American art from the second half of the 20th century.
VISIT THE CHRISTMAS MARKET ON VÖRÖSMARTY TÉR
Budapest offers an array of Christmas markets on different locations, whether they are in the center of the city or in some outer suburb. But anybody can tell you that the biggest one with the widest variety of goods – including food, beverages and handcrafted items – is on Vörösmarty tér. This beautiful, eclectic square is located at the intersection of Váci utca and Deák Ferenc utca (aka Fashion Street), the two of them full of high street shops. When you are finished with browsing the latest winter collections, there is nothing more comforting than a mug of hot mulled wine and the sweetness of a chimney cake under the festive lights. 15
TOP5 BUDAPEST
RIDE ON THE CHILDREN’S RAILWAY
Possibly a bizarre experience for some, nostalgic and untainted display of youth for others, the Children’s Railway in the Buda Hills is notable for the children who work on it and keep it running. The only adults in sight are the drivers and the visitors themselves. Set high up in the hills, the Children’s Railway offers an unparalleled view of the more natural parts of Buda as well as an insight into the past of Budapest since it was originally created as part of the Communist regime’s youth programs. Although temperatures may be a bit chillier, riding through the misty forest is an unmissable experience.
GO ICE-SKATING IN VÁROSLIGET
Budapest’s main skating rink is located in the Városliget (City Park) next to Heroes’s Square. In operation since 1870, it has a picturesque setting at the foot of Vajdahunyad Castle, a 19th century building which is a replica of a medieval castle in Tranyslvania. Don’t be afraid if you have never tried skating; you can surely find a friend who will help you along. Just enjoy the beautiful surroundings and the music coming from the speakers! If you feel like you had enough of the icy fun, you can always choose to warm yourself up at the Széchenyi Bath which is just on the other side of the road.
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TOP5 BUDAPEST
TAKE A TRIP TO NORMAFA
A location easily reached by various means of transport, Normafa is located in the hills of Buda. Whether you choose bus 21 from Széll Kálmán tér or the aforementioned Children’s Railway, you are sure to have some fun skiing or sledding down the hill. The heights provide treats for both the eyes and the mouth: while you enjoy the beautiful views, be sure to eat a strudel (rétes) by the local vendor. If you choose to visit Budapest in the fall, Normafa is the ideal location for roasting some bacon and onions in Hungarian style by a campfire.
PARTYIN BUDAPEST RELAX IN AVENTURA aventura B O U T I Q U E H O S T E L
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GASTRONOMY
SWEET CULTURE AT KOSSUTH TÉR The recently opened Szamos Café on Kossuth tér has a chocolate museum on its second floor where you can not only view, but also taste their products during their interactive guided tours. The result of more than 30 years of passionate research from the Szamos family, the exhibition at Kossuth tér boasts a unique collection of 4500 objects evoking different moments from the history of chocolate production. The boxes, china sets, chocolate molds and a variety of 18
related items were organized into a chronological series of thematic units by museologist Anikó S. Nagy. Besides taking a journey among the devices used in the production of sweet treats, you can also get to know the process of how today’s chocolate bars came around.
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The actual novelty of the museum is in the interactive guided tours that showcase different stages of the history of chocolate production, during which visitors are able to taste dark, milk and white chocolate, as well as actual cocoa beans. They can also discover the deliciousness of marzipan dipped in dark chocolate, followed by a short film about the journey of cocoa from the equatorial plantations to the Belgian factories. An unmissable part of the tour is the 1940s sweets shop where you can taste different pralinés. However, probably the most amazing part of the whole exhibition is the manufacture where chocolate bars are created with the help of antique machines. Here, visitors can decorate their own personal bars with nuts, dried fruits, cinnamon or lyophilized raspberries among many others.
After the fresh chocolate bar comes out of the freezer, it is packaged right away so it can be taken home by the visitors. Besides antique items, the exhibition also showcases the creations of the Szamos marzipan manufacture, including the lifesized statue of the Chocolate Girl, inspired by Jean-Étienne Liotard’s famous painting; the model of the Hungarian Parliament, made of 36 kgs of marzipan and a copy of the Hungarian crown jewels. Guided tours are available on several days of the week, but registration for them is required on the website www.szamos.hu. The admission fee is 3500 for adults and it is 2990 HUF for children and pensioners. The exhibition can be visited individually, without a guided tour and the chocolate tasting. 19
Gastro Bistro offers trendy Hungarian cuisine as well as international dishes at the best prices on the riverbank.
1056 Budapest, Belgrรกd rakpart 18. +36 70 579 0719 whynotbistro.hu whynotbistro
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RESTAURANTS 01 21 Hungarian Kitchen Fortuna utca 21. 02 Baltazár Országház utca 31. 03 Jamie’s Italian Kitchen Szentháromság utca 9-11. 04 Pest Buda Bistro Fortuna utca 3. 06 Pierrot Cafe & Restaurant Fortuna utca 14.
ACCOMMODATION 06 Baltazár Budapest Hotel Országház utca 31. 07 Pest Buda Hotel Fortuna utca 3.
HEALTH, MEDICAL 08 Anonym AIDS (Free HIV testing) Karolina út 35/B
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RESTAURANTS 06 Abszolút Pho Vietnamese & Thai Food Kazinczy utca 52. 07 Fatmo’s Restaurant & Music Pub Nyáry Pál utca 11. 08 Why Not Bistro Belgrád rakpart 18. 09 Club 93 Pizzéria Vas utca 2.
SAUNA 10 Magnum szauna Csepreghy utca 2. 11 Szauna 69 Angyal utca 2.
CRUISING 12 CoXx Men’s Bar & cruising Dohány utca 38.
SEX SHOP 13 Black Dream Mária utca 9.
GYM 14 Tempelfit Paulay Ede utca 25-27.
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15 Aventura Boutique Hostel & Apartments Visegrádi utca 12. 16 Casati Budapest Hotel Paulay Ede utca 31.
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17 Szputnyik Shop D-20 Dohány utca 20. 18 Szputnyik Shop K-22 Király utca 22.
HEALTH, MEDICAL 19 Boulevard Medical Aesthetic Center Szent István körút 24.
TOURIST INFORMATION 20 Budapest Info Point Deák tér Sütő utca 2. 21 Budapest Info Point City Park Ice Rink Olof Palme sétány 5.
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Szputnyik Shop is a fashion concept born from the combination of old and new, romantic vintage and provocative modern styles – a stunning and unusual member of the Hungarian clothing scene where everyone can find items that fit their personality and lifestyle. Why should we discriminate between styles? The versatility of eclecticism carries uniqueness. Creating something completely different by combining various statement pieces is what makes fashion so interesting. The shops are an essential part of Budapest lifestyle and the life of a stylish and bold 21st century
person regardless to their age. Our stores represent the revolution of freedom and unlimited creativity where you can browse various vintage and contemporary pieces. The selection ranges from extravagant gowns through sequined tuxedos, stylish shades, fashionable bags and accessories to elegant hats. Fans of contemporary fashion are greeted with a varied, fresh and youthful range that renews multiple times every season, ensuring the presence of up-to-date streetwear. If you like mixing styles and seasonal renewal, Szputnyik is for you!
SZPUTNYIK SHOP D-20 VII. DOHÁNY UTCA 20. MON-SAT: 10AM-8PM SUN: 10AM–6PM SZPUTNYIK SHOP K-22 VI., KIRÁLY UTCA 22. (THE ENTRANCE IS AT KÁLDY UTCA1.) MON-SAT: 11AM-9PM SUN: 11AM–7PM www.szputnyikshop.hu facebook/szputnyikshop instagram/szputnyikshop
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Hungarian grill, bar with local wines and the best gins in town. www.baltazarbudapest.com +36 1 300 7050
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GASTRONOMY
HUNGRY IN HUNGARY
As soon as you arrive in Budapest after a long trip by plane, train or just a nice hitchhiking tour you might have some questions popping in your head: what can I actually eat here? The answer is what can´t you eat here? And what treasures are we hiding? A lot, my friends! Here is a guide on what to munch on while staying here, in this beautiful city! Before we begin, allow me to say: I am not stating that whatever is on the list was invented by us. I am not going to say we are the one and only kitchen that gave birth to every single delicacy in the universe. I just made you a simple list with good stuff that you might want to try in Hungary.
SOUPS The one you can always spot on the menus in restaurants: Goulash soup (Gulyásleves) This is a nice soup that you want to try at least once. The consistency is a bit thicker than a simple soup but not close to a ragout yet. It has meat, some veggies, lovely little dumplings, some (a lot of) spices and our main ingredient: the paprika powder. This vivid red powder is basically just ground paprika but it is just awesome in many dishes.
Like soup? Don’t like meat? No problem! Fisherman’s soup (Halászlé) Just like Goulash soup, Fisherman’s soup is pretty popular among the tourists and we Hungarians also love it. Instead of beef this has fish (not fishermen), some vegetables and again, ground paprika. Basically this is a spicy and hot soup and is eaten with huge slices of bread. Everyone has their own secret recipe therefore chances are that you will never ever find two identical fisherman’s soups. 27
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MAIN DISHES Chicken paprika (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. This dish has everything that you desire: nicely cooked meat and a rich creamy sauce served with dumplings. Beef stew (Marhapörkölt) Well, I will go with this: this is a stew made of beef. To add more, I would say this is one of the best Hungarian dishes. The lovely ground paprika is added to sautéed chopped onion and you add water, beef and vegetables to the whole thing and after a couple hours what you get is a thick, spicy stew with soft meat and lots of flavors. I can only recommend it. 28
Last, but not least (not at all!): Lángos I have seen so many translations for lángos that I don’t even know what to write here. They have been called flatbread or even scones (I have no idea how that one came up…). Anyway, this specialty is a deep fried (let’s just go with) flatbread made of only flour, water, salt and yeast. Simple, yet amazing! After deep frying it, we usually put some garlic oil, a LOT of sour cream and EVEN MORE grated cheese on top just to make it heart-friendly. I absolutely love this dish because it is easy to make, and if you are lazy, you can get it anywhere in Hungary.
GASTRONOMY
DESSERTS Somlói sponge cake (Somlói galuska) My personal favorite, the Somlói sponge cake is a light and superdelicious dish made of sponge cakes, apricot jam, chocolate and vanilla sauce, raisins soaked in rum, walnuts and finally, whipped cream. I mean what could possibly go wrong here? Exactly: nothing! If you spend only an hour in the city, please go to a restaurant, sit down, order this amazing dessert and then your visit was worth it. Chimney cake (Kürtős kalács) I should mention another treasure, the only thing that I cannot resist, like, ever, in my life. This is the king of street food desserts: kürtős kalács. This hot stuff can be bought at any fair or bigger events but nowadays
there are permanent little pop-up shops (or rather bodegas) on the streets where you can buy them daily. Imagine a sweet, yeasty dough that is spun into a long, thin strip which is then wrapped around a giant rolling pin. Then the whole tube of this dough is covered in granulated sugar and put above charcoal till the sugar caramellizes and makes a nice golden-brown, crispy layer. When done, kürtős kalács looks like a steaming chimney but most probably tastes better than a real one. Additional ingredients can be added onto the crispy sugar layer such as vanilla, cocoa powder, cinnamon or crushed walnut but my personal favorite is just the plain, sugary kürtős kalács. I’m going to get one now and you should do the same.
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GASTRONOMY
WHAT TO DRINK? Hungary has amazing wine regions therefore trying at least 3-4 different wines is a must. I would go for a glass of wine from Tokaj, but let’s not forget Hungary’s famous lake, Balaton, where we have excellent wineries in the hills surrounding it. If you are about to start a nice meal or just hanging out with a friend and preparing for a party in downtown you might want to try pálinka. This is basically a fruit brandy, drunk in shots
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made of plums, apricots or cherries but there are a lot of other versions of it. Due to the high alcohol content it might come in handy for digestion but also helpful to raise the mood! I hope this article helped a little with your choices and now you have some idea what to eat if you want to try something delicious. Let the Hungary Games begin! If you are hungry for more dishes, visit: www.pinkbudapest.com
1072 BUDAPEST, DOB UTCA 2.
kupakbar@gmail.com • www.kupakbarcafe.hu
LGBT IN BP Budapest is a blossoming city to be gay in. With tolerance and love for the gay community come massive opportunities, the results of which can definitely be seen in the nightlife scene. Budapest is opening itself up to tourists who flock here for a weekend away, be it gay, straight or anything inbetween. Famous for its thermal waters, rich colourful history and beautiful architecture, Budapest is now just as famous for its party scene. Partying isn’t everything though. One of the main stages at Sziget Festival, Europe’s Best Major Festival, hosts a wide array of cabaret, dance and theatrical productions as well as workshops and it is a great place to 32
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explore what it means to be gay in Hungary. Not only that, Budapest holds an annual Pride event, a gay film festival and many more smaller events which cater to a growing audience of gay and gay-friendly people in and around the area. This is not Berlin, it’s not Tel Aviv and it’s not San Francisco either but, simply put, you can find anything here that you’ve ever dreamed of – if you’re prepared to look for it. Budapest offers an ever-increasing number of clubs, bars, gay-friendly restaurants, saunas, cruising areas, drag shows, underground and mainstream parties. Whether you’re here to see the sights or party hard and get a little tipsy on your trip away, we are absolutely excited to welcome you to our fabulous city.
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VIBE – PHOTO: SIN OLIVÉR
GAY BUDAPEST
A LITTLE PARTY NEVER HURT NOBODY ALTEREGO is a slick and trendy club that serves as the essence of Budapest’s gay scene, while remaining a relaxed place to have a drink and dance into the early hours. We would recommend the Fri/Sat drag shows with brilliant performances by Lady Dömper and her troupe of fabulous drag artists followed by a late night chart hits party with two dance floors and two DJs. Event schedule is available on their website. District VI. Dessewffy utca 33. near Oktogon M1 metro station or 4-6 tram station. www.alteregoclub.hu REGULAR PARTIES/CLUB NIGHTS are a big thing here in Budapest. The most notable ones to mention are: GARÇONS bills itself as “underground as well as glamorous” and offers “a new era in chic clubbing”. We agree. Appealing mostly to a younger crowd, the parties attract big name guest DJs and a busy crowd looking for a good garconsbudapest time. 34
HELLO is one of the coolest parties in town. A chic, young and fun-loving audience comes together to celebrate and dance however they want with whomever they want. Mostly pop music and chart hits. Keep an eye open for the club photographer and get yourself immortalized on the hellopartybp Facebook page. OMOH is here and queer and ready to show you a good time. Distinctly underground in its musical tastes, it’s monthly parties are found way overground in Corvin Club (Blaha Lujza tér 1-2). The techno and electronica with a nice splash of soulful, groovy house will keep you going until the small hours. Not a Madonna track in sight. OMOHbp
VIBE – PHOTO: SIN OLIVÉR
GAY BUDAPEST
VIBE - POP UP CLUB - Don’t be basic, feel the VIBE! New party in downtown Budapest for gays, lesbians, urban queers and their friends with a fresh approach. Come vibebudapest with us! OOOPS is a band new trashy queer party for all kinds of love. Every Friday at Anker’t with the hits of the 80’s, 90’s, 00’s and Europop, Disco, Italodisco, Eurovision, House, Techno ankertbar and many more. WANNABE XL is 100% glam from the 90s. Pop, glitter and freedom. A new, ear-catching romance in remembrance of the old love. wannabebudapest WOW! - Lesbian party at Toldi which markets itself for lipstick lesbians, but in reality, it’s a great place for all of you beautiful ladies and your friends – straight, gay, male, female and everything in-between. (BajcsyZsilinszky út 36-38.)
VIBE – PHOTO: SIN OLIVÉR
I WANT TO TAKE YOU TO A GAY BAR HABROLÓ is the oldest bar with mixed cliente, great prices and a cheerful, friendly atmosphere. (Szép utca 1., near Ferenciek Tere M3 or Astoria M2 metro station) 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 and a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere to meet a few friends for a couple of drinks. Definitely worth a visit, this venue is a mainstay of the gay scene in Budapest. (Belgrád rakpart 3-4., near Fővám tér M4 metro and tram station) TUK TUK BAR – a gay-friendly cocktail bar with a very central location and a great signature cocktail menu. We have only good things to say about the quality and craftsmanship of the drinks in this beautiful yet cosy lounge bar. (Paulay Ede utca 31.)
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GAY BUDAPEST
VIBE – PHOTO: SIN OLIVÉR
CRUISING, SAUNAS AND SEX SHOPS IN BUDAPEST For everyone looking for that extra adrenaline rush, ACTION BAR (Magyar utca 42.) offers live sex shows on certain nights and the opportunity to interact with the live performers. COXX is also a major player in the gay scene of Budapest and definitely worth a visit. A cruising bar (including a car, a sling and a prison room) where you can live out each and every one of your wildest fantasies. Two saunas cater specifically to the gay clientele: MAGNUM (Csepreghy utca 2.) and SZAUNA 69 (Angyal utca 2). Both are very well equipped with everything you need to relax and cruise for fun. Mixed clientele and discounted entry on certain nights. Magnum is the largest sauna in Budapest and offers the following on two floors: jacuzzi, steam room, four kind of saunas, plunge pool, videos, cabins, slings, glory hole cabins, a cruising labyrinth, gym, massage and free wifi. Sauna aufguss on Thursday at 5, 6 and 7 pm. Dark and naked party on Friday at 10 pm and Sunday at 5 pm. Open non-stop from Saturday 1 pm to Sunday midnight. Tickets are valid for ten hours and they include a towel, slippers and a condom. Szauna 69 is a more conventional sauna. Finnish/infra sauna and steam
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room, jacuzzi, massage service, sunbeds and private rooms await your arrival. Café and internet access available. Towel and slippers are included in the fee. In addition to the above mentioned places, we also have Budapest’s only gay sex shop, BLACK DREAM (Mária utca 9). Whether you’re a hardcore fetish guy or just want to have some dirty fun, this is your place for everything kink-related. Budapest has two specifically gay-friendly restaurants: CLUB 93 PIZZERIA (Vas utca 2.) and WHY NOT BISTRO BUDAPEST (Belgrád rakpart, close to Why Not? Cafe & Bar). Both offer delicious dishes and excellent service. Why Not Bistro is a gay friendly restaurant directly on the bank of the Danube, its terrace offering an amazing view of Gellért Hill.
CHECK OUR PAGE FOR UPCOMING PARTIES AND EVENTS!
GAY BUDAPEST
The central location of the city’s only gay gym TEMPELFIT (Paulay Ede utca 2527) is perfect. Expect great service, a wide array of machines and equipment and a Finnish sauna for members. CASATI BUDAPEST HOTEL markets itself as a gay-friendly and welcoming hotel in the heart of Budapest’s city centre (Paulay Ede utca 31).
And finally, ANONYM AIDS TANÁCSADÓ SZOLGÁLAT is the city’s point of contact for STD check-ups, consultations and anonymous, free HIV testing for all (Karolina út 35/B). Now that you have all the necessary information about Budapest, it is time to book a ticket, or get out of your room if you are already here to discover our beautiful capital for yourself.
FROM MONDAY TO WEDNESDAY
6 PM - MIDNIGHT FROM THURSDAY TO SUNDAY
6 PM - 2 AM
KARAOKE
EVERY THURSDAY AND SUNDAY
FROM 9 PM TO 2 AM
BUDAPEST, SZÉP U. 1. +36 1 950 6644 WWW.HABROLO.HU
WWW.PINKBUDAPEST.COM
GAY BUDAPEST
ALTEREGO
– THE GAY CLUB OF BUDAPEST With its 9-year-history, AlterEgo is one of Budapest’s most popular and most renowned gay clubs. Located in the heart of the 6th district among many other party venues, the club is open from 10pm to 5am every Friday and Saturday. To get the party started, there is a Drag Show at midnight on both days. You can also enjoy a different drink promotion every week at one of the four bars. At AlterEgo, everybody can find the tunes that make them shake it like a polaroid picture: whether you like pop, r’n’b, dance or electro, you will have a chance to show off your skills on the two separate dancefloors. But what would a decent party
be without awesome company? You have nothing to worry about, because the sexiest guys of Budapest will definitely spend their nights at AlterEgo. If you have the chance, you should definitely visit AlterEgo more than once during your stay in Budapest to discover the continually renewed interiors, the newest parties and the ever-changing Drag Show that all guarantee a great experience.
ALTEREGO CLUB BUDAPEST Budapest, VI. district, Dessewffy utca 33. facebook.com/AlterEgoBudapest www.alteregoclub.hu Info: +36 70 565 1111 OPEN: FRI-SAT: 10 PM TO 5 AM
HELLO BUDAPEST
WHERE YOU INSTANTLY FEEL AT HOME! Game nights, concerts, karaoke parties and daily drink promotions. We welcome our cherished guests with a friendly atmosphere & an open-air terrace looking directly over to Gellért Hill across the Danube. 1056 Budapest, Belgrád rakpart 3-4. +36 1 780 4545 whynotcafe.hu whynotbudapest 39
OPEN EVERYDAY 10 AM - 5 AM
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN BUDAPEST
Running throughout all of the major tourist areas of the city, the public transport in Budapest is one of the most efficient and inexpensive systems of Europe. It is definitely the best internal travel option you can choose for your visit.
FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY CENTER
The city center can be easily accessed by various means from Budapest Airport Terminal. The most common route is to take bus 200E to Kőbánya-Kispest metro station from where Metro line 3 takes you directly to the city center. Another alternative is bus 100E which arrives in Deák Ferenc tér, so you can reach the city center directly from the airport, although it is subject to special fare. At night, you can board night bus 900 at Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út near Deák Ferenc tér to get to the airport.
TICKETS, TRAVEL CARDS AND PASSES One of the most important things about tickets (except for suburban railway, boat and ferry tickets) is that they need to be validated by stamping or punching prior to the start of travel on metro lines M1, M2, M3 and M4, on other vehicles immediately after boarding or departure. Boat and ferry tickets are validated by the crew while suburban railway extension tickets require no validation after purchase; the same goes for travel cards and passes which allow unlimited trips within the indicated validity period. 40
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
The validating machines located at the entrance of metro stations stamp the starting time of your trip onto your ticket. Trams, trolleybuses, buses and suburban railway trains have two types of validators: 1. Red, manual validators Please insert your ticket into the opening on top and punch it by pulling the black frame of the slot towards you. 2. The orange- or yellowcoloured electric devices Please insert your ticket into the opening on the front for automatic validation. A light indicates on the front of the machine if it is operational. Single tickets entitle passengers to one uninterrupted trip on the whole length of the line, but on the suburban railways only within the city boundaries. With the exception of travelling on the metro network, single tickets do not allow changes between lines. Tickets are valid for 80 minutes (120 minutes on night services) after stamping. You can purchase tickets, travel cards and passes at BKK customer service centers, ticket offices and ticket vending machines. TVMs are easy to use as they feature touchscreens and multilingual menu systems. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT, GO TO bkk.hu/en Source: Budapesti Közlekedési Központ • www.bkk.hu
GETTING AROUND IN BUDAPEST
If you decide to take a taxi from the airport or you just want to get around a bit more comfortably, be careful to only use the services of licensed Budapest taxies. They are always yellow with a chequered stripe on the side and a “Licensed Budapest taxi” statement. Their unified prices are written both on the outside and the inside of the car. They accept all major credit and debit cards.
GETTING OUT OF THE CITY
There are three main railway stations (terminals) in Budapest: Keleti (Eastern) and Nyugati (Western) Railway Stations in Pest and Déli (Southern) Railway Station in Buda. All of them can be easily reached by Metro lines. If you prefer to travel by bus, Népliget (a station of Metro line 3) is the main thoroughfare for both domestic and international bus lines. Domestic tickets can be purchased from TVMs or ticket offices and also directly from bus drivers. International tickets need to be booked in advance. 41
puBlic transport
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ESSENTIAL INFORMATION OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Hungarian (magyar) English and German are the most frequently used second languages Hungary has been a member of the European Union since 2004 OFFICIAL CURRENCY: Hungarian forint (Ft or HUF) Prices in shops are gross (VAT is included). TIME ZONE: UTC +1 hour; Summer time (March-October): UTC +2 hours PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 1 January, 15 March, Easter Friday and Monday, 1 May, Whit Monday, 20 August, 23 October, 1 November, 25–26 December CLIMATE: four seasons, with July and August being the hottest months (+25/+40°C) and December and January the coldest (–4/ –15°C). ELECTRICITY:
AC: 230V/50Hz (European standard) Sockets: Type F – (European standard 2 pin) If necessary, you can buy a travel adaptor in an electrical store in any mall.
GENERAL EMERGENCY LINE:
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REGULATIONS ON SMOKING AND ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION:
Tobacco products can only be purchased at licensed tobacconists called Nemzeti Dohánybolt. Smoking is forbidden in indoor public spaces such as bars, restaurants and pubs, and outdoors in the following: at public transport stops, and within five meters from the entrances of shops and public buildings. Elsewhere smoking is allowed at designated places only. Depending on district regulations, buying alcoholic drinks in shops is not allowed after 10 or 11 p.m. Alcohol consumption is forbidden in public spaces. Persons under 18 years of age cannot be served with alcohol, nor can they enter tobacconists. Certain places of entertainment may also bar them from entering. IN RESTAURANTS AND BARS:
Before you order, make sure you are familiar with the prices and service charges, which you can usually find on the menu and wine list. give around 10% (service is sometimes included in the price, so check the bill)
TIP:
card
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