USEFUL INFORMATION OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Hungarian English and German are the most frequently used second languages. Hungary has been a member of the European Union since 2004 OFFICIAL CURRENCY: forint (Ft or HUF) TIME ZONE: UTC + 1 hour; summer time (March – October): UTC + 2 hours BANK HOLIDAYS: 1 January, 15 March, Easter Monday, 1 May, Whit Monday, 20 August, 23 October, 1 November, 25–26 December IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS POLICE: 107 AMBULANCE SERVICE: 104 FIRE BRIGADE: 105 GENERAL EMERGENCY LINE: 112 INQUIRIES: 199
REGULATIONS ON SMOKING AND ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION: Tobacco products can only be purchased at licenced 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 metres from the entrances of shops and public buildings. Elsewhere smoking is allowed at designated places only. 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 en- tertainment may also bar them from entering. TIPPING: 10% is the accepted rate in restaurants and for other services.
HELLO BUDAPEST 4 SPA BUDAPEST 9 TOP5 BUDAPEST 13 SZIGET FESTIVAL 18 CITY MAP 21 FASHION 25 GASTRONOMY 27 GAY BUDAPEST 36 PUBLIC TRANSPORT 44
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, Gareth Jon Hunter, Zoltán Tóth • GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Zsuzsanna Gere PRINTED BY: Belvárosi Nyomda Zrt. H-1101 Budapest, Albertirsai út 10. PUBLISHER & EDITORIAL:
HELLO BUDAPEST
UPPER DOWNTOWN AND VÁROSLIGET
Divided roughly in half by Andrássy Avenue, one of the most luxurious shopping streets in Budapest, from Elizabeth Square (Erzsébet tér) to Heroes Square (Hősök tere) in the City Park (Városliget), the Downtown area of Budapest is a vibrant chaos of old and new, rich and poor, underground and mainstream with tucked away sidestreets guarding the secrets of Budapest for those who care to look for them. Andrássy Avenue itself is 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, discover the Vajdahunyad Castle (Vajdahunyad 4
vára) built in 1896 to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the conquest of the area by the Hungarian and 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. The area of the Városliget is calm and peaceful but worth a trip for the stunning architecture, the most famous thermal baths in Budapest and to escape the city feel for a short time. Further into the city centre you can find a lot of bars/cafés and nightlife. Instant is a regular favourite for those visiting Budapest, as well as the infamous Szimpla bar. You can find further information about the bars and clubs of Budapest if you read forward. To show a bit of the typical contrast that can be found here in Budapest, the long-stretching Grand Boulevard (Teréz and Erzsébet körút) hosts countless bars and cafés, cinemas, restaurants (fast-food and gourmet) and shops – however, a stone’s throw away near Opera metro station M1 you can find the State Opera and the Budapest Operetta Theatre as well as other theatres, smaller galleries and artist’s spaces. In recent years, the areas of Gozsdu Courtyard (Gozsdu Udvar) and
HELLO BUDAPEST
Király Street (Király utca) towards the city centre have cropped up as very trendy, fashionable places to eat, dine and party. The ruin pubs of Budapest are found in this area – with a few notable exceptions of course. Decorated in a rather quirky, unusual fashion with mostly old, used furniture these abandoned buildings have been revamped and have been given a fresh breath of air instead of being simply demolished. Quite retro, quite alternative – they are simply indescribable. Each ruin pub has its own atmosphere and adds something different to the city. Anker’t seems quite trendy and industrial – Szimpla is simply full of interesting things everywhere. Every corner has something different. Also situated near Deák Ferenc Square and Király utca is St Stephen’s Basilica, which is one of the largest and most beautiful buildings in Budapest, named in honor of Stephen, the first king
of Hungary. Today it is surrounded by restaurants, beautiful cafés with terraces and it is a great place to spend an afternoon while having a stroll through the city. As the Basilica is one of the biggest buildings in Budapest (and Hungary), we highly recommend that visitors go to the top of the dome to see one of the most spectacular views of the buzzing city below. The top can be reached by walking up 364 steps or by taking the elevators, when they are running in high season. Last but not least, the beautiful and architecturally stunning Hungarian Parliament building (Országház) can be found directly on the Danube in this area of Pest. 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. Guided tours of the halls of the Parliament where you can view the Holy Crown of Hungary are given regularly. 5
HELLO BUDAPEST
BUDA CASTLE Budapest consists of two parts – respectively, Buda and Pest –, two former cities which were joined together in 1873. 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. This wonderful area is connected to the Danube River by the Castle Hill funicular (with a station directly opposite the Chain Bridge past the roundabout). Also known in Hungarian as the Budavári Sikló, this is the easiest way to get to the top of the hill as well as being an experience in itself. Subject to special fare. Certainly something not to miss when arriving in this district are the Matthias Church (Mátyás-templom) and the Fisherman’s Bastion (Halászbástya). The Matthias Church has a magnificent 6
white facade and the Fisherman’s Bastion offers panoramic views of the entire city from one of the highest points in Buda. Inside the Buda Castle itself, you can find the beautiful Matthias Fountain, statues of the Turul bird and the lions of the courtyard, the National Széchényi Library, the National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum. The streets here are lined with beautiful, distinct and diverse types of architecture, restaurants, sweet shops and artisan workshops which give a feeling of the past preserved within such a vibrant, bustling city like Budapest. A note of interest: A local tradition exists for bachelor parties to polish the balls of a horse on the statue of András Hadik within this district for good luck and fertility in marriage. Try it for yourself and see what happens!
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CITY CENTRE TOWARDS PETŐFI BRIDGE The city of Budapest is well known for its mish-mash of high-class style and trashy, underground grit. This area of the city, however, falls mostly under the first category. Stylish and sleek, the streets of the city centre (Belváros) contain some of the grandest architecture in the country and the postcard-perfect sights of Budapest that everyone knows well. Váci Street (Váci utca) is one of the biggest and busiest shopping streets in the city spanning from Vörösmarty tér to Fővám tér.
The biggest market hall in Budapest, the Central Market Hall (Nagy Vásárcsarnok) can also be found at Fővám tér near the river. Inside you can find an enormous daily market filled with everything from butchers, paprika stands, traditional lángos and souvenir shops. Every visitor to Budapest should spend some quality time relaxing at Gellért spa. This hotel-spa is as glamorous as it looks, with thermal spa waters of around 38 degrees, sauna facilities and steam rooms. Massages and treatments can also be booked.
1072 BUDAPEST, DOB UTCA 2.
kupakbar@gmail.com • www.kupakbarcafe.hu
HELLO BUDAPEST
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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.
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. 9
SPA BUDAPEST
RUDAS BATHS
Rudas Baths is open only to men every weekday apart from Tuesday and is a relatively well-known and well-frequented 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.
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 powers of the water at this spa, ranging from curing stomach and kidney problems to a lack of calcium in the bones.
KIRÁLY BATHS
LUKÁCS BATHS
The spring water at Lukács is probably the best known of all the spas in 10
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.
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Grandma’s home style Hungarian kitchen. www.pest-buda.com +36 1 225 0377
Simple delicious food, created using superbly sourced produce. Great food, great value, beautiful surroundings. www.jamiesitalian.hu
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Hungarian kitchen as it is used to be in the gold old days, updated to the 21st century. www.21restaurant.hu +36 1 375 6971
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Modernized cosmopolitan cuisine of the AustroHungarian Monarchy. www.pierrot.hu +36 1 375 6971
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HELLO BUDAPEST
TOP5 BUDAPEST
TOP 5 THINGS TO DO
IN BUDAPEST TAKE A TOUR AROUND THE JEWISH DISTRICT
The Jewish District (around the 7th district) is a total gem in Budapest. Here you can find any number of alternative bars, hip clothing stores and beautiful streets and buildings. Take a walk around Madach tér towards Gozsdu Udvar, where you can experience the best of Budapest’s nightlife and bars, then follow the path up Király utca on a Saturday night to see how the locals (really) party. In this district there is also a great deal of history and culture - the biggest synagogue in Europe is here, the statue of Carl Lux and a great indoor market at Klauzál tér. In this district, there is always a heartbeat. You can really experience what it is like to live in Budapest while meandering around and we promise that you’ll always find something new and inspiring around the corner.
VISIT THE HOUSE OF TERROR AND INDULGE IN SOME HISTORY The House of Terror is a museum dedicated to the brutal history of Hungary under fascism and communism. Outside the museum itself is even an original piece of the Berlin Wall. The museum itself hosts a fascinating exhibition into the 40 year period of communism as well as the fascist German regime exerted upon Hungary around World War II. Located on Andrássy út, this museum is also in prime location around the corner from the Hungarian Holocaust Museum. For history buffs, this area is loaded with cultural capital. 13
THE ORIGINAL BUDAPEST GAY GUIDE IN FOUR LANGUAGES (English, German, Spanish, French)
www.pinkbudapest.com INFORMATION WITH ONLINE MAP: • • • • •
about Budapest accomodation culture fashion gay life
• clubs and parties • food & drinks • restaurants, bars and cafes • events
TOP5 BUDAPEST
SIT ON THE SZABADSAG HÍD WITH A BEER
This bridge is a true beauty. Its name literally means Freedom (or Liberty) Bridge. Apart from its stunning design, one of its main features is as a meeting point and a place to relax and enjoy the sunset. Just imagine the spectacular view with Danube cruise boats floating by underneath and the sun setting over the hills. People congregate by sitting on the giant steel beams in the middle of the bridge, some people climb, some people sit, some people bring hammocks and tie them between the pillars that hold up the bridge. We recommend to experience this view with a friend. Best served with a cold beer.
TAKE A CRUISE ON THE DANUBE
On the topic of cruising, we absolutely recommend taking an afternoon cruise along the Danube before sunset. Many companies offer
tours of the Danube across Budapest, visiting sights like the Hungarian parliament, the Chain Bridge (and many others) as well as viewing parts of the beautiful Margaret Island. Some boats offer dinner cruises, beer cruises, or just standard hop-onhop-off tours of some of the most stunning parts of Budapest along the river
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. 15
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SZIGET FESTIVAL
Sziget Festival is one of the largest annual music festivals in the world, bringing the entire population of a small city to the island it is held on in the middle of Budapest. It is also by far the largest cultural event on the city’s calendar and is also regularly voted as Europe’s Best Major Festival. With countless stages hosting a large array of music, you can find anything from mainstream pop to industrial techno, from gypsy folk music to Kylie Minogue. This festival has been continuously morphing and evolving into the wonderful creation it is today for over 18
25 years, bringing people from around the world to celebrate life, music, art and that wondrous glory of sleeping in a tent surrounded by thousands of others. To name just a few, previous headliners at Sziget include Rihanna, Muse, Kings of Leon as well as Sum 41, Blur and Chase and Status, but 2017’s lineup is set to be the biggest and best ever. On the topic of accommodation, one of the best features about Sziget is its location. The festival takes place on an island inside the city which enables visitors to reach the city centre and main sights of Budapest
SZIGET FESTIVAL
in less than 10 minutes by public transport. Essentially, you can slum it up in your tent and public showers or you can very easily travel in from the city and stay at your slightly more glamorous apartment. On the official Sziget website, there is also the opportunity to rent special upgraded tents, rent a double bed in the Flexotel village on the island or rent Podpads which are marketed as ‘a quirky boutique camping alternative to the traditional nylon tent.’ There are also VIP camping areas complete with exclusive showers for those who need a little bit of luxury. Magic Mirror is Sziget’s hetero-
friendly queer venue, normally found slap-bang in the middle of the island. The stage hosts daily film screenings, LGBT-related talks, variety shows, acrobatics but, later at night, turns into a giant party famously hosting a wide selection of international DJs and with a great atmosphere. The Magic Mirror is a historical stage at the Sziget and fits perfectly into the slogan of the festival ‘Island of Freedom’. Alongside Budapest’s everchanging gay nightlife scene this is a very very very good place to be to enjoy the best of Hungarian LGBT life in a welcoming, friendly and culturally diverse setting. 19
HELLO BUDAPEST
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FASHION CITY MAP
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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.
HOTEL 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 21
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CRUISING GAY CLUBS 01 AlterEgo Club Dessewffy utca 33.
BARS & CAFES
Keleti Railway station
02 Anker’t Ruin Pub Paulay Ede u. 33 03 Habroló Szép utca 1. 04 Kupak Bar & Cafe Dob utca 2. 05 Megálló Bistro & Club Erzsébet körút 26. 06 Tuk Tuk Bar Paulay Ede utca 31. 07 Why Not? Cafe & Bar Belgrád rakpart 3-4.
RESTAURANTS 08 Abszolút Pho Vietnamese & Thai Food Kazinczy utca 52. 09 Gastro Bistro Budapest Belgrád rakpart 18. 10 SonkaArcok Kecskeméti utca 2. 11 Wokame Király utca 58. 12 Club 93 Pizzéria Vas utca 2.
SAUNA 13 Szauna 69 Angyal utca 2. 14 Magnum szauna Csepreghy utca 2.
15 Action Bar Magyar utca 42. 16 CoXx Men’s Bar & cruising Dohány utca 38.
SEX SHOP
17 Black Dream Mária utca 9.
GYM 18 Tempelfit Paulay Ede utca 25-27.
HOTEL
19 Casati Budapest Hotel Paulay Ede utca 31.
CULTURE
20 Trafó House Liliom utca 41.
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21 Footure Sneaker store Kertész u. 24-28. 22 Szputnyik Shop D-20 Dohány utca 20. 23 Szputnyik Shop K-22 Király utca 22.
BEAUTY 24 TYUTYU TATTOO Holló utca 3-9.
HEALTH, MEDICAL 25 Downtown Medical Center Ferenciek tere 7-8.
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GASTRONOMY FASHION
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. The visitor of these stores that represent the „revolution” of freedom and unlimited creativity 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. 20 DOHÁNY UTCA MON-SAT: 10AM-8PM SUN: 10AM–6PM SZPUTNYIK SHOP K-22 VI., 22 KIRÁLY UTCA (THE ENTRANCE IS AT 1 KÁLDY UTCA) MON-SAT: 11AM-9PM SUN: 11AM–7PM www.szputnyikshop.hu facebook/szputnyikshop instagram/szputnyikshop
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HELLO BUDAPEST
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HELLO GASTRONOMY BUDAPEST MEGÁLLÓ BISTRO & CLUB
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! Let me start from the beginning but first of all, allow me to say: I am not stating that whatever is on the list is invented by us. I am not going to say we are the one and only kitchen that gave birth to every single delicacy in universe. I just made you a simple list with good stuff that you might want to try in Hungary.
SOUPS
What you can always spot in the menus in restaurants: Goulash soup This is a nice soup that you might 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 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. The chefs and also everyone has their own secret recipe therefore chances are that you will never ever find two identical fisherman’s soups.
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GASTRONOMY MEGÁLLÓ BISTRO & CLUB
MEGÁLLÓ BISTRO & CLUB
MAIN DISHES Chicken paprika This is a chicken stew with lots of onions, tomatoes, paprika (both the vegetable and the already well-known spice) and a couple of spoonfuls 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 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. 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 flat bread 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. 29
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GASTRONOMY MEGÁLLÓ BISTRO & CLUB
DESSERTS Dobos cake This layered cake is really popular in Hungary; one cannot take a walk without seeing whole Dobos cakes in the confectionery windows. This cake is simple but delicious and addictive so watch out! The soft sponge cake layers are glued to each other with cocoa cream and the top is a layer of caramelized sugar. Absolutely lovely. Somlói sponge cake My personal favorite, the Somlói sponge cake is a light and super delicious dish made of sponge cakes,
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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. Gundel pancakes Again, this is not the American pancake but the thinner version from France but this time it is filled with ground walnuts, raisins (soaked in rum) and is topped with dark chocolate sauce and served flambéed.
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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. If you are about to start a nice meal or just hanging out with friends and preparing for a party in downtown you might want to try pálinka. This is basically a fruit brandy, drunk in shots – obviously – made of plums, apricots
or cherries but there are a lot of other versions of it. Due to the high alcohol percentage 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
GAY BUDAPEST
!SZKAFANDER’S BEAT
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 in-between. Famous for its thermal waters, rich colourful history and beautiful architecture, Budapest is now just as famous for its party scene. We are becoming a massive part of that. 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 explore what it means to be gay in Hungary. Not only that, Budapest holds an annual Pride event, two gay film festivals 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.
GAY BUDAPEST
A LITTLE PARTY NEVER HURT NOBODY
SECRETO
ALTEREGO is probably the most wellknown gay club in Budapest (Dessewffy utca 33). From midnight on Saturday drag shows with the fabulous Lady Dömper plus good drinks prices and a mixed clientele are the perfect recipe for an easy-going, carefree atmosphere. Mostly chart hits and classics are played here. Come with a smile and an open mind. REGULAR PARTIES/CLUB NIGHTS are a big thing here in Budapest. The most notable ones to mention are:
ALTEREGO
GARCONS and HELLO parties cater for the more fashionable and pop-oriented amongst us. Hello parties are regular themed pop music parties in every month. Garcons offers a place for queer art junkies to play in changing locations. Underground, chic, pop. Check both on Facebook for details. (www.facebook. com/garconsbudapest) (www.facebook. com/hellopartybp) 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 within Corvin club (Blaha Lujza tér 1-2). Techno, electronica with a nice splash of soulful, groovy house to keep you going until the small hours. Not a Madonna track in sight. (www. facebook.com/OMOHbp)
VIBE
HELLO GAY BUDAPEST
SECRETO at Tuk Tuk Bar (Paulay Ede utca 31) is a monthly party within this gorgeous, glamorous cocktail bar. Serve yourself a bit of luxury in a queer-friendly atmosphere. Mostly themed nights with musical sommelier DJ Mahogany. (www.facebook.com/ secretobudapest) VIBE – Pop Up Club – This ‘pop up club’ for gays, lesbians, urban queers and their friends. With a house/disco stage, pop stage and special performances throughout the night, be sure to catch something new and fresh. QUEST – Brand new gay party in Buda with no labels and no limits. Deep and vocal house music for queers and their friends. For further information, please check their Facebook page. (www. facebook.com/questbudapest) WOW! – Lesbian party at Toldi 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 inbetween. (Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út 36-38.)
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 at the bar. 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.) MEGÁLLÓ BISTRO – this three-storey place is much more than a simple pub: a gay-friendly street food heaven & popular pub in the middle of the city. Good value for your money. Mixed clientele. (Erzsébet körút 26. near Wesselényi utca 4-6 tram station)
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. 37
GAY BUDAPEST
GARCONS
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.
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.
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 kinds of saunas, plunge pool, videos, cabins, sling, glory hole cabins, cruising labyrinth, gym, massage and free wifi. Szauna 69 is a more conventional sauna with young boys. Finnish/infra sauna and steam room, jacuzzi, massage service, sunbeds and private rooms await the visitors. It also has a built-in café with free internet access.
Budapest has two specifically gayfriendly restaurants: CLUB 93 PIZZERIA (Vas utca 2.) and GASTRO BISTRO Budapest (Belgrád rakpart close to Why Not? Cafe & Bar). Both offer delicious dishes and excellent service.
In addition to the above mentioned places, we also have Budapest’s only gay sex shop, BLACK DREAM (Mária
The city centre location of the city’s only gay gym TEMPELFIT (Paulay Ede utca 25-27) 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).
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GAY BUDAPEST
ALTEREGO
WWW.PINKBUDAPEST.COM
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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 Transvestite 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 41
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
BUDAPEST PUBLIC TRANSPORT Budapest’s public transportation is one of Europe’s most efficient and inexpensive system and runs throughout all of the major tourist areas of Budapest. The best internal travel option you can choose for your visit.
FROM AIRPORT TO BUDAPEST CITY CENTRE
Budapest Airport Terminal 2 can be easily access from Nyugati railway station by nearly 100 trains per day. From Ferihegy train station, Terminal 2 can be access by bus number 200E, and at night time by bus number 900. Another option is to take the mentioned buses from Kőbánya-Kispest station by Metro line 3.
TICKET AND TRAVEL CARDS
MORE INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT:
bkk.hu/en
Source: Budapesti Közlekedési Központ www.bkk.hu