WWW.BUDAPESTGUIDE.HU
USEFUL INFORMATION Don’t put your luck to the test, we provide you with some useful information about Budapest.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT Though locals love to complain about it, Budapest has a quite wide and well-organized public transport system. Metros, buses, trams and suburban railways generally run until midnight, but there are also night services on the most frequented routes. For example, the tram 4 and 6 operate all night long. A single ticket costs 350 HUF (about 1,2 EUR) in advance, and 450 HUF if you buy it on the spot from the driver. The system is kind of old- fashioned: if you have a single ticket, you will have to validate it on the vehicle by placing the ticket into the ticket-machine. Passes must be shown to the controllers. Daily travel cards are also available: a 24-hour pass costs 1650 HUF, a 72-hour pass is 4150 HUF. Passes are personalized and not transferable. Valid for an unlimited number of trips within the administrative boundaries of Budapest. For detailed information, prices and timetables, check out www.bkk.hu Are you on a budget in Budapest? In case you are interested in cultural programs, visiting museums, baths with discounts, we suggest to purchase a Budapest Card, that works just like the other tourist cards in every capital of the world. For more information, check out www.budapestcards.com.
CAR RENTALS Europcar, Hertz, Avis, Budget or Fox Autorent, so basically all major companies offer car rental in Budapest, so if you decide to explore the city by car or take a trip to attractions in the countryside, you will surely find a reliable company. You must be at least 21 years old to hire a car, but you won’t need an international driving license, a license registered in your home country will just do. The tolerated alcohol level while driving is zero, so you might be fined even you had just one glass of beer before!
PARKING Budapest is divided into several parking zones, and different hourly fees for parking are charged depending on which zone you park your car in (between HUF 175 and 525). Generally, you have to pay a parking charge between 8 am and 6 pm, but there are some frequented areas where you have to pay until 8 pm. You may pay your charge at the parking meters with coins, the tickets must be placed behind the windscreen on the dashboard. If you see a Mobile Parking sign on the meter, that means that you can pay by cell phone as well. Registration to pay by phone is via SMS (you text your license plate number to the phone number indicated on the sticker and you text 'stop' when you wish to finish parking). Be sure to ask your mobile provider in advance to find out whether they are part of the Mobile Parking program. Please note that if you park in prohibited areas, you may get a wheel clamp! In this case, you will find an information sheet in several languages stuck to the windscreen to inform you on how to go about having the clamp removed.
TAXI SERVICES Since Uber has been outlawed in Hungary, it is strongly suggested to use the official taxi companies in case you need a quick lift in Budapest. The fare is composed of 3 parts: Basic fee (450 HUF), Per kilometer charge (280 HUF/km) and Waiting fee (70 HUF/min.) Here are some of the trusted providers: Budapest Taxi: Taxi 4: Taxi Plus: Tele5: 6x6 Taxi: City Taxi:
+36-1-7-777-777 +36-1-4-444-444 +36-1-8-888-888 +36-1-5-555-555 +36-1-6-666-666 +36-1-2-111-111
MONEY The official currency is the Hungarian Forint, with an exchange rate of 300-315 FT / EUR. Some stores, shops, and restaurants also accept EUR but please note that they use a much lower exchange rate, usually around 250-280 HUF. Credit cards are widely accepted, you are free to pay with cards at almost every food store, petrol station, and restaurant. Do not accept any offers from individuals to exchange currency covertly on the street, because it is illegal and you will most likely be scammed by being given counterfeit bills. Always look for an official exchange office.
GENERAL Like in every capital, safety in a major issue in Budapest. Be aware of pickpockets in frequented areas and keep your money, documents, mobile phones safe and secure.
INFORMATION SITES AND SERVICES IN ENGLISH Budapest.com Gotohungary.com Budapestbylocals.com Budapestinfo.hu Visitbudapest.travel
TIP Tipping is not a city in China – so they say in restaurants and bars. If you are satisfied with the service, you may give a cca. 10% tip when paying. This is commonplace in Hungary.
BUDAPEST BATHS Budapest, just like many other regions in Hungary is famous for its historical thermal baths and spa culture. So, if you’ve been through an exhausting sightseeing tour or just have a mean hangover after the party last night, it’s high time to visit one of the cities famous thermal baths. Let off the steam and splash in one of the 21 pools of Széchenyi bath, where you can recharge your batteries and enjoy the view of the neo-baroque architecture at the same time. Entry tickets include the use of the several saunas and steam cabins as well. Another must-see is the Rudas Bath located near the Buda side of the Erzsébet bridge. Rudas was built in 1550, during the Ottoman occupation of Hungary.The bath went through a great deal of renovation in 2006, and was retrofitted with a rooftop jacuzzi, so now you can admire the beautiful panorama of the Danube river while soaking in the water. Trivia: Rudas bath was used as a location for the opening scene of the 1988 action movie Red Heat, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Belushi.
SZÉCHENYI BATH - 1146 Állatkerti krt. 9-11.
Whether you are a skilled or just an enthusiastic chess player, you may challenge the local masters of the bath for a match. They reside at the thermal pool every day waiting for challengers to outmaster them. Be aware, these old foxes are mean chess players! Are you more of a party animal? Check out the so-called SPArty held on Saturdays at Széchenyi and mingle with the local and international partypeople.
RUDAS BATH - 1013 Döbrentei tér 9.
CYCLING IN BUDAPEST Well, it’s not like in the Netherlands and some drivers may still have a lot to learn about how to be cooperative, but Budapest is actually a bikeable city. Thanks to the recent activity of the Critical Mass (now I Bike Budapest) movement, the city has made a remarkable progress in terms of cycling infrastructure.
Budapest has more than 200 kilometers of roads and lanes dedicated for cycling. You can grab a rental bike at one of the few rental shops throughout the city, or you may try the local bike sharing system called Mol Bubi. Explore the city in a unique way or take a bike trip to the surrounding hills on the Buda side. Up for a bigger challenge? Head north and explore the Dunakanyar, one of the most diverse and picturesque rural areas of Pest county. If you get exhausted on your way there or coming back, public transport got you covered, just hop on a train or HÉV (suburban railway) to reach your destination.
HAVE A BITE OF CITY CULTURE
Looking for something more unique than your average hop-on- hop-off bus ride through the touristy spots of the city? Why don’t you join in one of the free walking tours that Budapest has to offer? Explore the city with a local guide who will make you feel like you are watching the tonight show!
www.triptobudapest.hu
TERROR HOUSE - 1062 Andrássy út 60.
FREE WA TOURS LKING
Walkaround tours start from Vörösmarty square, in the very heart of the city. The one called „Original” is an insightful, fun-filled and informative journey about history, society, architecture and what Hungarians are actually like. The „Communism Walk” gives you a short overview about the life of an average Hungarian during the communist era.
Expect insider stories about religion, education, propaganda and strict travel rules from behind the Iron Curtain. The Jewish Quarter Walk offers a glimpse inside the life of the Jewish community in Budapest throughout history.
Budapest - Vörösmarty square
The Jewish quarter you are about to visit was declared part of the UNESCO World Heritage in 2002. All the tours are led by an English speaking guide, however the Original and the Jewish Quarter Walk are also available in Spanish. All tours are free, but if you enjoyed the experience you may tip your guide – just drop the selected amount of cash into the honesty box at the end of the tour.
LOCAL SPECIALTIES BEYOND THE CSIRKEPAPRIKÁS RETRO LÁNGOS - 1051 Arany János merto Station
Yes, you may already know „gulyás” and „csirkepaprikás” (for the record, gulyás is the soup and paprikás is the stew), but the Hungarian cuisine has much more curiosities to offer. Let’s see a few frequented dining areas and some examples of the great Hungarian meals. One of them is „lángos”, a salty deep-fried flatbread that comes with a variety of toppings from vegetables to bacon chips. Still, our suggestion is the classical sour cream-garlic-cheese trio. Though it is a traditional street food with a long history, it is not sold at many places since frying lángos is a messy process that creates a thick, oily smell too. If you are staying in a downtown accommodation, the nearest spots to try lángos are the kiosks right at the entrance of the Arany János Street metro station.
Are you into fine dining? Then visit one of the several glamorous restaurants around St. Stephen's Basilica, which delivers the latest trends of gastronomy. At Tom George you may enjoy a nice Italian meal and also have the chance to meet international celebrities. TOM GEORGE - 1051 Október 6. street 8.
Pampas Argentine Steak House offers not only the finest beef, but also shark, salmon, chicken, and lamb dishes.
Are you a real carnivore?
PAMPAS STEAK HOUSE - 1053 Vámház Krt. 6.
Another strong competitor is the Prime Steak Restaurant located, that accommodates its guests with business lunches, a wide selection of a-la-carte dinner entries, approximately 200 different wines and an expansive selection of cocktails. PRIME STEAK - 1051 Sas street 18.
Are you the kind of person who likes to keep it simple, grab a fine burger or sandwich and wash it dow with a cool beer? You better head to the old Jewish Quarter with its several restaurants, bars, and bistros. For something predictably good and international, just visit Kandalló Kézműves Pub, just one block away from Erzsébet Avenue. Award-winning burgers, great atmosphere, excellent service and a wide selection of craft beers awaits you every day until 2:00 am, KANDALLÓ KÉZMŰVES PUB - 1073 Kertész street 33.
which can be a lifesaver in case you need a bite to eat after partying at one of the nearby clubs and cafes. In case you need a high-quality quickfix, Bors Gastro Pub is just like your place. A variety of soups including Hungarian specialties, or a crunchy baguette stuffed with cheese and ham are both perfect solutions to ease your hunger. You will love this hip streatfood restaurant. BORS GASTRO BAR - 1075 Kazinczy street 10.
There are several Japanese restaurants throughout the city, but if you are looking for the best quality sushi prepared in a traditional way, we strongly suggest a visit to Bambuszliget Restaurant. This is the perfect spot to eat healthy in a friendly and calm atmosphere while enjoying the view of Gellért Hill and the Statue of Liberty. BAMBUSZLIGET - 1056 Belgrád rkp. 18.
For the dessert, why don’t you try a traditional cake that originates from Transylvania? Well, we call it Kürtőskalács, but you may have heard about is as chimney-cake, for its chimney-like appearance. Kürtőskalács is made of sweet dough, which is wrapped around a truncated cone–shaped baking spit, rolled in granulated sugar which will caramelize during the baking process and give it a crispy-crunchy coat.
You will find Kürtőskalács at every open-air festival and event, but if you just walk around in the city, our suggestion is the Cafe Molnár.
Finally, we have a challenge for you. Have you ever tried the one called Túró Rudi (literally: cottage cheese Rudolph)? It’s an ongoing debate whether the original recipe is Russian or Hungarian. Basically, it is a slightly sour bar of flavored cottage cheese cream, covered in dark chocolate. You will either love or hate it, there is just no in between! If you are up for the challenge you can grab one in every single food store or supermarket in Hungary.
MOLNÁR CAFE - 1052 Váci street 31.
3 ATM
2 ATM
4
18 15 17 16
1 ATM
20 1
7 5
11
13
10 6
1
12
2
1 ESCAPE ZONE - 1065 DESSEWFFY street 25-27. SZÉCHENYI BATH - 1146 Állatkerti krt. 9-11. 3 2 RUDAS BATH - 1013 Döbrentei tér 9. 2 MASSAGE HOUSE - 1064 Rózsa street 101.
1
3
TERROR HOUSE - 1062 Andrássy út 60. 3 TERROR HOUSE - 1062 Andrássy street 60.
4
4 Station RETRO LÁNGOS - 1051 Arany János merto RETRO LÁNGOS - 1051 Arany János merto Station
5
TOM GEORGE - 1051 Október 6. u. 8.
6
6 6. PAMPAS STEAK HOUSE - 1053 Vámház Krt. PAMPAS STEAK HOUSE - 1053 Vámház Krt. 6.
7
PRIME STEAK - 1051 Sas street 18.
8
8 street KANDALLÓ KÉZMŰVES PUB - 1073 Kertész KANDALLÓ 33. KÉZMŰVES PUB - 1073 Kertész street 33.
9
9 10. BORS GASTRO BORS GASTRO BAR - 1075 Kazinczy street 10. 8 BAR - 1075 Kazinczy street
5
7
TOM GEORGE - 1051 Október 6. street 8. PRIME STEAK - 1051 Sas street 18.
10 BAMBUSZLIGET - 1056 Belgrád rkp. 18. 10 BAMBUSZLIGET - 1056 Belgrád rkp. 18. 11 MOLNÁR CAFE - 1052 Váci street 31.
11 MOLNÁR CAFE - 1052 Váci street 31.
12 EZ - 1065 BUDAPEST, DESSEWFFY U. 25-27. 12 SZÉCHENYI BATH - 1146 Állatkerti krt. 9-11. 14
9 13 MASSAGE 13 RUDAS BATH - 1013 Döbrentei square 9. HOUSE - 1064 Rózsa street 101. 14 SZIMPLA KERT - 1075 Kazinczy street 14.14 SZIMPLA KERT - 1075 Kazinczy street 14. 19 15 BOB - 1051 Széchenyi István square 7. 15 BOB - 1051 Széchenyi István square 7. 16 KRAFT - 1051 Széchenyi István square 7.16 KRAFT - 1051 Széchenyi István square 7. 17 ÖTKERT - 1051 Zrínyi street 4.
17 ÖTKERT - 1051 Zrínyi street 4.
18 BADGIRLZ - 1051 Széchenyi István tér 11. 18 BADGIRLZ - 1051 Széchenyi István square 11. 19 TESLA - 1075 Kazinczy street 2.
19 TESLA - 1075 Kazinczy street 2.
20 PEACHES AND CREAM - 1065 Nagymező20street PEACHES 46. AND CREAM - 1065 Nagymező street 46. 1 ATM
ERSTE Bank ATM, Tesco Áruház
1 ATM
EURONET ATM
2 ATM
CIB Bank ATM
2 ATM
EURONET ATM
3 ATM
OTP Bank ATM
3 ATM
WESTEND CITY CENTER - ERSTE ATM
MAKE A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE IN BUDAPEST You have already heard about escape room games, haven't you? Picture yourself locked in a room or maze together with your fellow players. Once the game has started, you will have 60 minutes to get out of the room or stage by finding keys, manipulating objects or solving puzzles. This is an active brainwork while the ticking clock gives you an extra rush of adrenaline too! Escape rooms are not only fun and challenging activities for children and adults, they also improve your memory, maths skills and other cognitive functions for a price of only 5 to 10 Euros per person. Among the numerous escape games in Budapest, one of the most challenging ones is Escape Zone, located downtown in Dessewffy street. Currently, they operate three stages where you can get lost in a world of puzzles.
LIVE ESCAPE GAME
LABYRINTH There is The Labyrinth for groups of 2 to 8 person, where you will have to find your way out of the dark and a mysterious maze. Pay attention to the clock, because after escaping from the maze, you will face some more challenges that need to be solved within the given 60 minutes!
BACK TO THE PRESENT Do you know how much is 1,21 Gigawatts? Back To The Present is the perfect stage for you then! Find Doc and fix the Flux Capacitator to get back to the present.
For the sci-fi fans out there, Escape Zone offers the Star Wars stage. Is the force strong with you? Then no worries, you will manage to steal the plans of the Death Star and escape with the help of R2D2.
STARS WARS
WWW.ESCAPEZONE.HU 1065 BUDAPEST, DESSEWFFY U. 25-27. +36 30 692 6399
RELAX WITH A SENSUAL MASSAGE Had a long day with endless meetings and running errands? Well, there is no better way to wind down than enjoying a sensual massage in one of Budapest's best parlors, The Massage House. Based on the many excellent reviews, Massage House with its chill out atmosphere and relaxing music is the one that’s definitely worth a visit! They have beautiful and skilled Hungarian masseuses with all the certifications, experience and natural kindness you could wish for. The basic yet most popular treatment/ session is a special combination of traditional Japanese and modern erotic, sensual and tantra massage, but believe me, there is much more to it!
I bet that you have already heard a lot about the famous Nuru massage where the masseuse uses not only her full body for stimulation but also the original and super slick Japanese Nuru gel.
Treat yourself to an unforgettable experience with one of our stunning ladies, visit www.massagehouse.hu and you will see that it’s no easy feat to choose from the abundance of exquisite masseuses. Are you here on your honeymoon? Surprise your loved one and spice up your married life with the speciality of the House, an erotic and sensual massage for couples!
The aforementioned techniques are focusing on erogenous zones of the body. Please keep in mind that the masseuses are all skilled professionals and their services do not include sexual. Want to know more? Visit www.massagehouse.hu for detailed information!
MASSAGE HOUSE - 1064 RĂłzsa street 101.
THE NIGHTLIFE OF BUDAPEST Feel like dancing today? Want to get lost in one of the famed ruin pubs, or maybe you wish for something more classy and shiny? Then dive into the vibrant city nightlife at one of the numerous clubs and party venues! Just like in many other cities of the world, the party scene in Budapest has shifted from the 90’s style jam-packed mega-rave and nowadays it’s more about hanging out in trendy, smaller clubs with their own selection of music. There is no better way to kick-start your night out than grabbing a few beers or shots (of Pálinka) at one of the popular ruin pubs. Budapest was one of the trailblazer cities of the ruin pub phenomenon, by creatively transform old, abandoned buildings with an artistic touch into cool new party places. So even if you visited ruin pubs elsewhere, don’t miss the chance to check out one of the originals, like Szimpla Kert.
Szimpla Kert, the forefather of all ruin pubs is a mustvisit. It was named as the 2nd Best Bar in the world in 2011 by Lonely Planet and continues to be among the top 50 since. Settle in one of the cozy corners, join a „csocsó” (foosball) game, or grab a pen and doodle on the wall, because yes, in Szimpla Kert you can. While ruin pubs are kind of hidden away behind large doors in quiet streets, the city has much to offer for people with a more exhibitionist side. SZIMPLA KERT - 1075 Kazinczy street 14.
BoB (Bacardi Original Bar) at Széchenyi square is where the classy people meet up for drinks and vibrating deep house tunes. Just a few steps further you will find KRAFT, with all its industrial chic, colorful neon tubes, energetic design and state - of - the art sound system.
KRAFT - 1051 Széchenyi István square 7.
BOB - 1051 Széchenyi István square 7.
Here the days of the week are themed by RnB, hiphop, EDM, Club and deep house music, so you will definitely find something you like. Still within shouting distance, in a beautifully renovated 19thcentury building operates Ötkert, the ultimate club and restaurant for the modern youth.
ÖTKERT - 1051 Zrínyi street 4.
BADGIRLZ - 1051 Széchenyi István square 11.
BadGirlz is a modern and sexy club next to the BOB Bar. If you prefer elegant style and deep house music this is your choice!
You may enjoy a live gig at the terrace or join the crowds inside and raise the roof to the beats of the latest international hits. If you are more into electronic music Tesla is the place to go. Fittingly situated in the old transformer building of the Electrotechnical Museum, Tesla is one of the newest and biggest additions to the Budapest club scene. TESLA - 1075 Kazinczy street 2.
Peaches and Cream is the best R & B and Hip-Hop Club in Budapest. If you're looking for this kind of music you'll find there. And good to know... This place is always full of nice chicks! PEACHES AND CREAM - 1065 Nagymező street 46.
Why don’t you go all out and party in style? Here is an exclusive offer for you from Partyhostess.hu to make the most out of your time. Start with a pre-party dinner, then jump in the VIP limo all the while with our stunning hostesses by your side. Pop a bottle of champagne and enjoy the ride through Forget about the long, sneaking lines at the city’s most beautiful the door, this package includes night spots, while your VIP entrance: no hassle, no wait, just reserved table awaits pure fun. And this is just the beginning. you in the club. Wait until the ladies hit the dancefloor.
You will have no other choice but to join them and party until the sun comes up. Sounds like a deal you can’t refuse, right? You know the score: sometimes we have to go too far to see how far we can go...