You can easily spend a leisurely day seeing the sights and exploring what this neighborhood has to offer. Visit the unique town of Szentendre, or the beautiful Queen Elizabeth’s (Sissy) favorite Hungarian palace, Royal Palace of Gödöllő. There is a fee to access the upper levels, but since it’s quite a small area and the views from the rest are just as beautiful, it’s not really worth paying it. It is noisier than Buda, but it has its own beauty. I definitely recommend Pest for culture-lovers as all the major museums, theatres and exhibitions are situated in Pest. Pest is often too crowded and sometimes it is good to get out of the noisy buzzing. Where I stayed. Accept Read More. I recommend the Campona Shopping Center on the Buda side, as apart from shopping you can spend a whole day in the Tropicarium. Let’s not forget about the must-see sights of the Buda Castle District, as it is at the center of the history of Buda. Budapest - Buda side. The Palace of Wonders located on the Buda side is quite popular, but there are times when it is less crowded. To actually be in the Buda side of Budapest, you have to cross the Danube River. In addition to being the site of such an important historical event, Matthias Church is an incredibly beautiful monument with a rich and fascinating history—it was even a mosque at one point! The unification of Pest, Buda, and Óbuda was already a topic under the Árpád dynasty, mainly under Béla IV. The main draw for visitors is the panoramic view of the Danube and the entire city. The first two have several shops and showrooms, while Artizan is located in Hold Street in District 5. The slightly shabby building of the Király Baths, one of Budapest’s Turkish Baths, is hiding shyly among a bunch of trees at the side of a small plaza. Oscar Bar has had its regular clientele for decades – most of the elite dine here on a regular basis. The fact that Buda and Pest became the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy – beside Vienna of course – after the Compromise, greatly facilitated its development. Who do I recommend each side to? Today, the castle is home to two museums, the National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum, and various other cultural institutions. Although Buda is said to be the more elite and expensive of the two sides, most of the luxury hotels (Gresham Palace, Hyatt, Intercontinental, Kempinski, Marriott) are located in Pest. Gellért Hill, towering over the Danube at 235 meters, is one of two famous hills in Buda. If you are only here to see Budapest, I wouldn’t recommend renting a car. There are two paths: take the stairs by the Elizabeth Bridge, or take the longer but easier pathway near the Gellért Baths. Hop On Hop Off Boat Tour. One block from the river with tram and bus stops almost outside the hotel. Both sides offer some super sights and programs. Due to the many green areas and the less traffic, the air is also cleaner. Gellért Spa, Kelenhegyi út 4, Budapest, Hungary, +36 1 466 6166, Rudas Baths, Döbrentei tér 9, Budapest, Hungary, +36 1 356 1010, Kiraly Medicinal Bath, Fő u. No smoke signals: How can we get tobacco products in Hungary. However, there are elite districts in Pest as well, like districts 5 or 7, where real estate is also very expensive. Several trains and long-distance buses leave from Buda taking you to attractions in the western part of the country. kerület Budapest, 1124, Hungary, Budapest seen from Gellért Hill | © Jason Halsall/Wikicommons, Balatoni út - Szabadkai utca sarok, XXII. It is really up to you what you prefer to see. The Buda Castle was built in the 13th century, surrounded by manors, church estates and the villages of servants. If you are in the Buda Castle, visit Matthias Church, the most beautiful church in Hungary. You can reach Lake Balaton, Pécs, Sopron and Lake Velence from Déli Railway Station. I was asked for the way several times by tourists as they felt so lost. There are several differences between Buda and Pest, but both parts of the city have a variety of valuable and amazing sights. The most popular bridge in Budapest is the Szechenyi Chain Bridge, that connects Buda … Public transport in Pest is excellent – just like that of Buda – you can get from one end of the city to the other within minutes using the connecting lines. These are places that we, Budapest citizens, prefer over tourist destinations. Families would rather spend their holidays engaging their children in meaningful programs for kids, while the elderly prefer some peaceful time. This is the place to have great fun with millions of pubs, bars and other kinds of clubs and events waiting for you. Where Are the Best Ruin Bars in Budapest? and looking around the relatively small area accessible to the public is exerting enough to feel like an adventure. It is still filled with bars and restaurants, so there’s a little bit of everything in the Taban, even though it’s not as trendy as Pest’s seventh district. Public transport in Buda is superb. Thus, there are many city attractions that are definitely worth a visit. The inhabitants of Buda and Óbuda continued to work in viniculture and wine production, while the inhabitants of Pest made their living from commerce and industry. It's on the Buda side within walking distance of plenty of attractions. Szentháromság tér 2, Budapest, Hungary, +36 1 355 5657. Planning travel to Hungary? Show Prices. – You are wandering around ruined dingy houses. #2 Best Value of 61 places to stay in District I / Buda (Budapest). 0. If you are interested in public security in Budapest, read my article on this topic. Several well-known churches were built on Buda, like Matthias Church or Christina Church. Both places are special in their own way. You can get there by walking over several beautiful bridges. After several years of tasting and testing, I prefer three bakeries. Right next to the bath there is the Budapest Zoo, one of the first zoos in the world. Perched atop of Castle Hill overlooking the Danube River is the domineering Buda Castle. You must have heard of this island as Sziget Festival – the largest festival in Europe – is organized here every year. I love wandering and looking around and tasting. I recommend the following hiking trails: Sas Hill, János Hill, Nagy Kopasz or the Budaörs Mountains near Budapest. View Details. The conquering Hungarians also settled in Aquincum located in Óbuda in the 9th century. See the main Budapest page to understand, get in, get around, see, do, and … Message Noémi B. – There isn’t too much traffic and buzzing around you. – A Complete Guide. Besides restaurants offering Hungarian dishes, you can taste every major world cuisine, as well. 1-2 Hours . The history of the area of Budapest goes all the way back to Prehistoric and Ancient Times as it has been inhabited for several thousand years. At times I only go to Szentendre, sometimes I come back as well, but occasionally I sailed to Visegrád or Esztergom with my partner or friends. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. #3 Best Value of 61 places to stay in District I / Buda (Budapest). You are on the Buda side if: You are on the Buda side – You can hardly breathe from the number of uphill walks. And if you are already in this famous part of Pest, travel by the first electrically driven underground in the world! It is worth rowing on the Városliget Lake from spring to autumn. The City Park (Városliget), the biggest and most beautiful park in the city is also located in Pest. Everything you need to know about the metro in Budapest. The Buda side of the Danube, Budapest. Well, the beautiful baths of Gellért, Rudas, Lukács, and Király are located in Buda. – You are near one of the following traffic junctions: Deák Square, Kossuth Square, Blaha Lujza Square, Keleti Railway Station, Nyugati Railway Station, Kálvin Square, Astoria or Oktogon. If you are done with the sites in Budapest, you might want to go a bit further away. Tandem Paragliding Flight. Buda is the more upscale of the two districts with its baroque-era buildings and quiet pedestrian streets. If it is silence and nature, Buda is your side. I collected the most romantic places in Budapest. Some of them are hardly known even to locals. Find out about ticket prices and other information on the Király Thermal Bath. "Budapest" rolls off the tongue pretty easily, and the Hungarian capital itself feels as if it's been around for a long time. "You'll find here beautiful views of Budapest (both the Buda, as well as the Pest side of the river Danube) with lots of tourists, folk music, artists, restaurants, bazars, coffee shops, cake shops, ice cream parlo..." Where Are the Best Ruin Bars in Budapest? The wonderful Andrássy Avenue – the longest avenue in Budapest – is located in Pest with all the luxury brand shops. I believe that a person born in Budapest, who knows the history and attractions of Hungary and can truly provide his reader with useful advice, can’t be other than: AUTHENTIC! The city was rebuilt with difficulty just to fall under 150 years of Turkish occupation hindering its development. Take a stroll to the Fisherman’s Bastion and the newly renovated Castle Garden Bazaar. Altogether, Buda is quieter than Pest and awaits you with more natural sights, like forests, parks, and caves. And at the same time, because it can be talked about, described, built, this park is about democracy. You probably got to the “ghetto” part of district 8. The Buda side of the river is home to Castle Hill, one of the prettiest districts in Budapest and a World Heritage Site. Before that, they developed relatively independently of each other, giving them distinct atmospheres. They still work at fair prices and there is a party with a DJ every weekend. While Buda is mainly located in a woody area with mountains and hills (Buda Hills), Pest is mostly a flat area (Pest Plain). They know something for sure as they have been around for more than 130 years! Fisherman’s Bastion, or Halászbástya in Hungarian, is a neo-gothic and neo-romantic terrace that takes its name from the fishermen who defended this part of the city in the Middle Age. Later, the Romans created the province of Pannonia-Inferior with both Buda (Aquincum) and Pest (Contra-Aquincum) as its seats. Here you can pet rays and watch the sharks swimming above your head while walking through the underwater tunnel. 84, Budapest, Hungary, 99 Németvölgyi út, XII. There are altogether 23 districts in Budapest today, 6 of which are in Buda, 16 in Pest and 1 on Csepel Island. I always take some bread and salty snacks for my walks – and for home as well – from the best bakeries. It is true that all of them are located at the bank of the Danube so that guests can enjoy the perfect view of the Buda Castle, the Fisherman’s Bastion and the Citadel, and of course the Chain Bridge. The history of Buda and Pest: The Buda and Pest side, the attractions of each, the differences and my recommendation depending on your interests. – You wake up drunk round one of the ruin pubs. Most of the forest hiking trails and mountain lookouts can be found in the Buda Hills. I recommend Nobu and Bock Bistro Pest. This was the beginning of the unification of Buda and Pest. Hotel Clark Budapest. Pest has innumerable sights. Tropicarium is an indoor zoo and is one of my favorite places in Buda. In Buda, then, visitors will find the beautiful Gellért Spa, famous for its Art Nouveau entrance hall, the Ottoman-built Rudas Baths and Budapest’s oldest thermals baths, and the expensive but historical Kiraly Bath. – There is a flat terrain on the other side. There lie, among others, the graves of renowned Hungarian figures like composer Bela Bartok (who died in exile in America in 1945), conductor Georg Solti, as well as infamous Communist personalities like Hungary’s Stalinist dictator Matyas Rakosi. Both sides have their advantages and disadvantages. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. The real development of Pest started in the 18th century and by the beginning of the 19th century, it had become the commercial center of Hungary. Show Prices. Budapest has more than 1,000 restaurants and other eateries. In addition to the so-called ‘Castle Labyrinth’ underneath Buda Castle, two natural caves can easily be visited: Szemlgőhegyi and Pálvölgyi. – There is a flat terrain on the other side. The royal seat was established in the Buda Castle District with several major city defense lines, such as the Citadel on Gellért Hill and the Fisherman’s Bastion on Castle Hill. Availability : All year . About me. 0. I usually sit in here for a pastry and coffee before my wanderings in Pest. – There’s too much traffic and buzzing around you. I also recommend Pest when it comes to entertainment. I definitely recommend Pest since it lies in a much larger area than Buda. Read on for our selection of the top 10 things to do in Buda. From €85. Not only the Celts, but also the Romans and the Hungarian conquering tribes chose Buda, and after the conversion to Christianity, Óbuda became the residence of kings. In 1849, Prime Minister Bertalan Szemere issued a decree on the unification of Buda, Óbuda, and Pest, but the plans were overshadowed by the Revolution and War of Independence. One of them is Jókenyér Bakery, the other one is Lipóti Bakery and the third one is Artizan Bakery. It offers a myriad of events and activities, and a medieval castle and museum – the Vajdahunyad Castle – is located here as well. As a strategic defensive position, it played an important role in Budapest’s history, but is now a quiet, wealthy residential area and a part of the the ‘Banks of the Danube’ World Heritage Site since 1997. Buda may be more beautiful to the eye, but Pest has such beautiful and unique buildings that it’s impossible to say that Buda or Pest is nicer or better. If I feel like enjoying the unique panorama of the Danube and the view of Budapest, I usually walk up to Gül Baba’s Tomb and Rosegarden. Well, while in the Castle District of Budapest, that’s exactly what you’ll get. I have already mentioned a few outstanding tourist attractions that are worth visiting, but there are several other places I recommend to you as a local. There is no better place for a little romantic stroll than the cobblestone streets of the Buda Castle. There are several restaurants in Budapest satisfying all culinary experiences. On Margaret Island, I like to sit in the Japanese garden or go on a Bringohinto ride with friends, but when I’m alone, I like visiting the Wildlife Park and petting horses – they are awesome. Szemlgőhegyi, on the other hand, is easier to explore and features some lovely walls lined with crystals and minerals. The National Gallery focuses on Hungarian art from all periods, while the History Museum retraces the city’s history from Roman times to the present day. In addition, there are countless sights in Buda, such as the famous Buda Castle funicular, the Cogwheel train, the Buda Forest Railway, the Chairlift, the Normafa and the most beautiful caves, such as the Pálvölgyi Stalactite Cave or the Szemlő-hegyi Cave. – You see the Parliament, the Budapest Eye or The view of the Danube and Pest is just amazing from the Rosegarden and Lavender garden and it isn’t as crowded as the Fisherman’s Bastion or the Citadel. Pest is the perfect place for shopping. Public security is better than in Pest. Just cross one of the bridges and you are already in Buda with birds singing and a beautiful panorama. – You see the Buda Castle, the Fisherman’s Bastion or the Statue of Liberty. Tabán. – You are near one of the following traffic junctions: Gellért Square, Batthyány Square, Móricz Zsigmond Square, Déli Railway Station or Kelenföldi Railway Station. There are peace and tranquillity with crystal-clear water and perfectly clean baths. 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