Budapest in winter. Hungary: Budapest in winter

Budapest in winter is simply a magical city. Remember the illustrations for the fairy tale “The Snow Queen”? Narrow streets covered with snow, ancient Gothic buildings, real cobblestone streets... yes, you find yourself in a winter fairy tale called Budapest.

Sometimes travelers wonder what to do in the capital of Hungary in winter? But if you know the places, you can spend the most unforgettable vacation week of your life, because Budapest is one of the most beautiful capitals in Europe.

Just keep in mind that to fully explore Budapest you need at least 7 days, because the beauty of this city is truly immense.

Photo: view of the Danube and the Hungarian Parliament

It’s not for nothing that Budapest is called a resort city. In winter, we will definitely visit the baths, of which there are as many as 27 in the city, 13 of which are therapeutic. The most beautiful medicinal bath in the city is Gellert. This is a truly amazingly beautiful complex, and although visiting it is a little expensive, the pleasure is worth it! Imagine, the bathhouse has 13 pools, all kinds of spa treatments, massages, baths and saunas, and there is even a terrace on the roof for those who like to sunbathe naked.

Local residents do not pursue the exotic and prefer to visit the less expensive Széchenyi Bath, which is the largest medicinal bath in Europe. And it is provided with water by the hottest source of thermal water - the St. Stephen's spring. This water, at a temperature of 70C, has healing properties for the spine and joints, neuralgia, and also strengthens the skeletal system. Did you buy it? Now let’s drink this magic water, which is good for diseases of the digestive tract, gall bladder, respiratory tract, and also normalizes metabolism.

Ideally, devote a whole day to self-care in the bath, and even this time will not seem enough to you.

Well, did you want to eat after swimming? Did you know that Hungarian cuisine is recognized as perhaps the best in the world? Moreover, even the most modest bars and cafes are distinguished by the high quality of the dishes they serve. And the prices – the prices will please you very, very much, because Budapest ranks 10th in the world as the most attractive city for tourist shopping. It was noted that in the capital not only the prices of branded goods are good, but also the cost and quality of food products.

So, as soon as we feel frozen while walking, we quickly run into any warm, cozy cafe, of which there are a great many in the city. Do you know what we will treat ourselves to? Well, of course, first of all we’ll try hot, spicy Hungarian goulash - the main national dish. And let's wash this down with the world famous Tokay ace. This is a truly extraordinary wine in taste and aroma, which simply has no equal. By the way, Tokaj asu, as well as Unicum (medicinal herbal bitters) are considered mandatory gastronomic “souvenirs”. We will also take home the most tender goose liver and marzipan - the famous sweets of Hungary. And don’t forget to indulge in some gorgeous Sachertorte or Esterhazy Torte for dessert….or both!

In good weather, which is not uncommon in winter Budapest, be sure to set aside one day for a walking tour around the city center. Look at the beautiful bridges that connect the two parts of the city: Buda and Pest. Historically, Buda is a quieter residential area, and Pest is the business center of the city, which is where we are now walking. Here is the famous Chain Bridge, over which you can cross to Buda, and then take the funicular to the Royal Palace - a stunningly beautiful architectural monument. In general, the buildings of Budapest amaze the imagination with their archaic beauty....it feels like each of them is a monument and keeps historical secrets.

By the way, a 5-minute walk from the Royal Palace is the stunningly beautiful Manyasha Church, and then the Fisherman’s Bastion. Just look at the amazing view from here over the whole of Pest! If there is snow, it’s a fairy tale.

It's great if you're in Budapest before Christmas. The night city is colored with billions of colorful lanterns, filled with noise and hustle and bustle, and this festive chaos seems to take us back to a happy childhood. New Year's Budapest is simply fantastically beautiful!!! On December 31, Hungarians gather together at Heroes' Square (which we will also definitely visit), where music plays, artists perform, fireworks roar, everyone starts blowing special pipes, drinking champagne and shouting “Buek!”, “Happy New Year!” that is.

In winter, when you don’t have much to do, it’s worth admiring the masterpieces of architecture not only from the outside, but also from the inside. So we go to the Opera House. By the way, although the Budapest opera is not as famous as the Viennese one, it is no less good.

Further, the cultural program of winter Budapest includes visits to such attractions as the Hungarian National Gallery and the Museum of Applied Arts. The older generation will be extremely interested in visiting Memento Park. There are monuments from 1950-1990 – the socialist period.

And finally, we will definitely visit the outdoor skating rink in Városliget Park, where every day until late in the evening both young and old skate to classical music.

Target: spend a vacation in Europe, but not expensively (without euros); see parliament.

Travel time: February 1-13, 2015. We didn’t regret that we went in winter - the weather was good, the grass was green, there were a lot of sunny days.

Flight cost : very cheap if you book in advance (RUB 16,738 for two round-trip) with wizz air - a cheap airline where you have to pay extra for everything (luggage, large hand luggage, etc.).

Accommodation: for 12 days 17100 rub. (RUR 1,175 per day plus site fee). The apartment was booked on airbnb - the site has been checked more than once, the apartment has reviews. While choosing, we noticed that it is fashionable for them to have a bed on the second level - under the ceiling. We decided to see what it was like. They also looked at the availability of wireless Internet (to communicate with home, plan routes for the next day) and seating besides the bed. We took an apartment closer to the center, but it turned out that the terrain was also important. The city is located on a river and one of the banks (Buda) is high - we took an apartment there, and it turned out that we often walked uphill, which could have been avoided if we had taken an apartment in the lower part of the city (Pest).

Honey. insurance: 1321 rub. for two at Tinkoff. We took it online and simply printed out the papers - it was fine for a visa.

Visa: 35 euros per person plus 2600 rub. for service visa fee. I had to go to Moscow. All documents can be given by one relative, but it is necessary to have the original (and a copy) of the document confirming the relationship (marriage certificate).
We bought a three-day card in advance Budapest map (Budapest card, 4074 rub. for two) [hereinafter referred to as “card"] - when purchased online there was a discount on it. Unfortunately, there are few places with free admission, mostly small discounts, but for the sake of free travel it’s very good to take it (although there is a travel card and separately).

Car rental: 8500 rub. for 4 days plus 35.56 euros for driving on motorways (toll roads). 900 euros were blocked for the duration of the rental, but were returned on time. The car was booked with Enterprise. There are also local car rental companies, but they have very negative reviews (for example, they charge extra money for minor scratches). Gasoline cost 85 rubles at that time. liter and 1200 km. we spent approximately 7000 rubles.
Business lunches - about 300 rub. The average bill per person when ordering local cuisine and alcohol is 1000 - 1500 rubles.
In the end it didn't work out cheap. Tickets to museums and excursions - from 500 rubles.
But we were very pleased, because Budapest is a beautiful European city, with good weather, helpful people who speak English. And plus a great bonus - THERMAL SPRINGS.

There is a free tour in Budapest , however, in English. More details:http://www.triptobudapest.hu/v2/tours/the-original-tour/ . We recommend going! We learned a lot about the history of the city and the country, and also got our bearings in the city. At the end of the tour, the guide asks if we would like to give some money. The guides are excellent, so you can give them. There are two separate free excursions on the map - in Buda and Pest.

Public transport website - specify the addresses of the place of departure and arrival and the route is drawn on the map indicating transport, final and intermediate stops:http://www.bkk.hu/en/timetables/ . The cost of 1 journey is 80 rubles. But all the main attractions are within walking distance - we recommend walking. For trips, it is better to take passes for a day or a couple of days.

Briefly about the sights and our impressions of them:

1. Fisherman's Bastion - very beautiful building and SUPER view of the city day and night!


2. Historical Museum - free with a map, nothing special, but the palace in Buda, where this museum is located, is worth a stroll.


3. Hungarian National Gallery - this is a must for art lovers! Located in the same palace as the Historical Museum in Buda.


4. Matthias Cathedral - It’s very beautiful from the outside, but we haven’t been inside.


5. Labyrinth - it's worth going, but take a flashlight!


6. Funicular - expensive and no card discount.


7. Parliament - there are 2 daily excursions in Russian - worth going, although expensive - 1000 rubles. per person.


8. St. Stephen's Basilica - it’s worth coming in, walking around, looking. We also went to an organ concert - nothing special.


9. Opera theatre - you can go inside and see how beautiful it is for free.


10. Great Synagogue - we entered the territory for free, looked in, but did not go inside - there is a fee there.


11. Adrashi Street - you can take a walk.


12. Miniversum (model of a mini railway and towns “from Hungary to Austria”) - we really liked it, it was interesting for both adults and children


13. House of Terror - it didn’t touch us, and without an audio guide (for an additional fee) there’s nothing to do there - there are very few worthwhile exhibits.


14. Heroes Square - interesting, if with history and explanation (on excursions they take you there on a map and tell you about it).


15. Városliget - beauty! Inside is the Museum of Agriculture - the entrance is expensive.


16. Gul Baba's grave - a unique structure, and there are very picturesque residential neighborhoods around. You can look there on the way to the Baths of St. Lucas, which is free with a map.


17. Margaret Island - nothing special, not worth your time.


18. Mount Gellert - stunning views, but it’s not worth going to the Citadel. It’s worth climbing the mountain only if you have extra time.


19. Cave church in Mount Gellert - funny, but expensive.


20. Statue Park - few statues, not very picturesque and far to get to.


21. Vintage car museum - Yes Yes Yes! A huge number of luxury American cars! You can take pictures. Far from the center.


22. Oceanarium and tripicarium - small and nothing special. Far from the center.


23. Samlekhedi and Palveldi caves - very picturesque caves, worth a visit! If you buy a ticket to visit both at once, it will be cheaper, and between them it will be a 20-minute walk.


24. Cafe with cats (Budapest, Damjanich utca 38, 1071) - you can stop by after visiting the Szechenyi Baths. An anti-cafe type cafe - you pay to be there and get tea and a piece of pie. Just four lazy but helpful cats.

Trip around Hungary
We rented a car and went to 4 directions. We left in the morning and returned to Budapest in the evening. You can park your car near the house for free from 18:00 to 8:00 (this is not everywhere, check with the locals), there were also free places on the river embankment.
Having a navigator, enter the address there “tourinform” of the corresponding city, come there. You pay for parking your car - all parking is paid and the fine for violation is large! Come inTurinformpoint, ask for any information in Russian/English (maps, brochures), ask what to visit in the city and after 10 minutes you have a clear plan where to go!
We highly recommend visiting the following cities:

North of Budapest:

1. Szentendre (tourinform address: 2000 Szentendre, Dumtsa Jenő u. 22) - a cute town with the most famous Marzipan Museum, perhaps worth a visit!


2. Visegrad (tourinform address: 2025 Visegrád, Fő Street 81) - a picturesque but small castle high on the mountain. A very beautiful view of the Danube River and the surrounding area from the castle walls.


3. Esztergom (Basilica address: 2500, Esztergom, Szent István tér 1) - a giant cathedral, an excellent view of the beautiful city and river, and the bridge-border with Slovakia. And also to the Slovak city. The border is open, you can cross.

1. Eger (addresstourinform: 3300, Eger, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Endre 9) - a beautiful fortress on a hill in the city center, walked along the walls. On the outskirts of the city, the Valley of Beautiful Women (Kulacs Csárda Panzió), a place where representatives of wineries come to sell their products, we tasted and bought Hungarian wine (sold by the glass).


2. Miskolc (addresstourinform: 3525 Miskolc, Városház tér 13) - the city itself is not very interesting, but the Barlangfürdő bathhouse in the suburb of Miskolc-Tapolca (http://www.thermal.hu/miskolc-tapolca/ ) is very worth a visit! It's a cave bath!

West of Budapest (towards Lake Balaton):

1. Tapolca (addresstourinform: 8300, Tapolca, Fő tér 17) - a city with a lake underground - you can take a boat ride (http://www.tavasbarlang.hu/index.php/en ) - an unforgettable experience! Before this, you really have to walk around the museum (a la local history museum) - it’s a good museum, and they show a film in 3D, but the total visit time increases to an hour (of which about 20 minutes by boat). In the same city there is also a beautiful lake with an old water mill.


2. Keszthely (addresstourinform: 8360, Keszthely, Kossuth Lajos u. 30) - a city on the shore of Lake Balaton, where it is most convenient to approach the shore and touch the water, admire the lake and ducks.


3. Heviz (addresstourinform: 8380, Hévíz, Rákóczi utca 2) - town and swimming lake! A small thermal lake where in winter the water temperature is 24C. On the shore of the lake there was an indoor swimming pool and a park - very beautiful!

1. Gyor (addresstourinform: 9021, Győr, Baross Gábor út 21) is just a city where all the sights can be visited in 1 hour.


2. Sopron (addresstourinform: 9400, Sopron, Liszt Ferenc utca 1) - you can climb the old fire observation tower and admire the charming old town. You can walk along the old fortress walls. Nice, but nothing special.

1. Goulash soup ( Gulyas leves- they read “guyash”) - delicious meat soup, a lot of meat, large portions


2. Goulash


3. Fish soup ( Halasz leves) - usually brought in a pot and with a ladle, you serve it yourself, very tasty


4. Fried goose liver ( Rantott libamajszeletek, Libamaj) - a la foie gras, tasty, but expensive


5. Pancakes ( Palacsinta) - they are pancakes in Africa too


6. Lecho ( Lesco) - without meat, there is often a lot of meat in this dish, and very tasty


7. Langos - their “fast food” is a dough fried in oil with a diameter of 20 cm and a thickness of 1.5 cm on which they put the filling as desired - we recommend just sprinkling with cheese!


8. Pleskavica be sure to drink


9. Tokaj ( Tokaji) - buy in any stores, try, very tasty wine.

And it’s completely unfair, because this city is distinguished by its magnificent architecture, original and special atmosphere, which is difficult to find anywhere else. What is especially surprising is that Budapest is especially beautiful in winter, in the cold, before Christmas.

Therefore, when thinking about where to go on your winter holiday, be sure to consider visiting the Hungarian capital.

During the snowy months the city becomes even more beautiful than usual. As numerous reviews about Budapest say, in winter, beautiful views begin from the airport itself. The fact is that the Hungarians only clear the runways. Everything else is covered with puffy snow caps, so the only things visible through the terminal windows are planes taking off from a sea of ​​snowdrifts. All this looks fantastically beautiful and puts you in a festive mood. Another attraction that Budapest can be proud of in winter is the Danube River. It freezes very, very rarely; on the contrary, it is from December to February that the water here becomes especially stormy. Small crusts of ice, light frost and the entire embankment, shining with cleanliness and freshness - all this is definitely worth seeing. In summer the river looks completely different. Another must-see place is the fairs. The capital's central market is good at any time of the year. The famous seasonal fairs before Christmas help you find the New Year's mood and feel the holiday before it arrives.

Stroll through the aisles with all kinds of goods, try traditional pastries, buy Christmas tree decorations and handmade souvenirs - this is what you should go to Budapest for in winter.

New Year in the capital of Hungary

The Christmas holidays are the center of the entire winter season. New Year and Christmas can transform any city, and Budapest is no exception. Therefore, planning a vacation just in time for the holidays will be very, very useful. Both wide avenues and small streets are decorated with lights, and sales begin in stores. And after long walks, you can treat yourself to something pleasant by going to the famous baths, the water of which comes directly from the Warm Pond under

The open winter sky will be remembered for a lifetime. So you can visit Budapest in winter at least for a visit to the bathhouse. On New Year's Eve, residents gather in the main squares with glasses of champagne, tourists and locals party until the early morning at parties in bars and restaurants. The hotels also have festive dinner programs, so even those who prefer quiet evenings will be able to find an option to their liking. Be sure to try the national cuisine. Delicious goulash or thick soup with paprika, hot wine and delicious sweets with marzipan are ideal for cold weather. Therefore, Budapest in winter will certainly not disappoint even the pickiest gourmet. Marzipan candies are also good as a souvenir, so don’t forget to buy them for your loved ones when going home from vacation.

Tatiana Afanasyeva

I dreamed of seeing Christmas Europe for a very long time: so that round dances of Christmas trees, little lights, vanilla clouds, mulled wine flowing, magical gnome-elves and a holiday without borders. And then it happened! With a slight amendment, that while I was dreaming, in Russia they also learned to create fairy-tale spaces, and in Moscow it became an annual and good tradition. And that's cool! Moscow is a two-hour drive, Budapest is a 2.5-hour flight. The first is more accessible, the second is more unusual.

— We buy tickets on the official website of Hungarian airlines wizzair.com, one way, about 2-3 thousand rubles (depending on the day of departure, status and luggage). We book a double room in a hostel (4 rubles for two nights, and this is in the coolest area of ​​Budapest - Erzsebetváros). We provide travel insurance (500 rubles per person). Let's fly!

We already had one - I’ll try not to repeat it. Yes, and it’s unlikely that I will succeed - another season, another route, another view.

About currency

In Hungary, Hungarian forints are used. Course for December 6−9, 2017: 1 euro = 314 forints. Rubles, by the way, are also exchanged: 1 ruble = 4.2 forints. The exchange rate at the airport is not at all favorable (don’t waste your money).

How to get from the airport to the city

As easy as pie! We leave the airport building, go left, buy at the cash register through ticket(bus + metro) for 530 forints. By bus No. 200E we go to the final metro station Kobanya-Kispest, from there to the station you need (Deak Ferenc ter - city center). There is a menu in Russian - just click on the native tricolor and the picture will immediately become clearer.

Don't forget to compost tickets at the entrance, otherwise you will be fined (and not too bad! 16 thousand Hungarian forints, which is almost 3.5 thousand rubles).

The Budapest metro operates from 4.30 to 23.00. But the Internet is full of schemes, how to get there at night. When we returned home, this became relevant for us. We went like this: from the Deak Ferenc ter metro station by bus №950 to the Honved utca stop, there will be a map where to look for the bus №900 (two steps away, but on another street), on it - to the airport. Buses run exactly on schedule, minute by minute.

About the New Year's mood

It's everywhere! :) Starting from the metro, where smiling ticket inspectors in Santa hats dream of warming you up for 16 thousand Hungarian forints and handing out chocolate-covered marzipan. And ending with shop windows and traditional Christmas markets, which ring bells, rustle with garlands, crackle with roasting knuckles and gurgle with mulled wine. The whole city is an endless string of lights. Everything is magical down to the smallest detail.

Traditional street dishes: the famous Hungarian goulash in a bread “pot” and a large potato kremzlik (aka potato pancake, aka terunok), jammed with sausages/meat/vegetables. Plus mulled wine in different variations. People party non-stop :)

I was glad that the knives and forks were wooden :)

Drinks are in buckets, shanks are in giant frying pans :)

Everywhere someone is singing, dancing and playing music. I was very surprised by the cartoons on the facade St. Stephen's Basilica - the main cathedral of Budapest. In the first photo you can see that there are 12 minutes before the show (projection above the entrance), in the second - the facade came to life, and some hands began to crawl out of the windows, gnomes jumped out, candy canes fell, marzipan wheels rolled... And all this to the accompaniment of funny songs: )

About the Basilica and the observation deck

St. Stephen's Basilica(Stefan), was the first major attraction we visited in Budapest. It was built in 1851-1905 and accommodates 8,000 people. The interiors are luxurious - marble and gold, gold and marble. To the left of the altar is a gilded shrine, which contains the right hand of St. Stephen himself, the first king and founder of Hungary. Failed to shake.

Made the strongest impression observation deck on the bell tower. Entrance fee is 600 forints. It's better to get up just before sunset. If you're lucky, you'll see non-existent snowy peaks, fiery whirlwinds, and angel wings over the city of sins :)

The height of the bell tower is 96 meters. The main bell weighs 9 tons and is the largest bell in Hungary. He, of course, “talked” to us while we were upstairs :)

I didn’t want to go down at all: time stopped as usual, as happens in such places, and the landscapes didn’t let me go. As a result, we became voluntary prisoners of the bell tower. First they turned off our lights, and then they completely locked us up :)

Remember the time: The bell tower is open from October 1 to June 30 - from 10.00 to 16.30, from July 1 to September 30 - from 10.00 to 18.30. But, as I understand it, this is the cash register opening time, you can stay a little longer, like us :) To the right of the exit there is a small button that opens the door.

About Parliament

The second attraction from the “must see” category is Parliament. Crazy beauty neo-Gothic! Built in 1885. If in numbers it’s like this: 691 rooms, 20 kilometers of steps, 10 courtyards, 28 gates, 240 sculptures and only 199 gentlemen assessors. This is one of the tallest buildings in Budapest (96 meters). Under socialism, its spire was topped with a red star, like on the towers of the Moscow Kremlin.

We didn’t go inside, we were afraid to go blind from the unearthly beauty for 3.5 thousand forints (777 rubles in ours). But in principle there is such an excursion, and with a Russian speaking guide: Monday-Saturday - at 15.00, on Sunday - at 12.30. And this is a reason to return to the amazing city of Budapest :) Although, of course, there are many more reasons!

Wherever we walked, as soon as Parliament appeared in the frame, our hands naturally reached for the camera. This is a real fairy-tale palace: lacy, mysterious, indestructible!

Parliament is naturally under protection :)

Around the parliamentary tree there is a touching fence made of deputies' sleighs :)

There are a lot of monuments in the vicinity of the Parliament. I'll show you two. The first one is dedicated Count Gyula Andrássy- the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria-Hungary, a participant in the revolution of 1848-1849, the main goal of which was the proclamation of the independence of Hungary, the struggle for Hungarian culture and language (which, by the way, is such an abyrvalg that in three days in Budapest we remembered only five words: cabbage, medve, let's take it, igen, nem. Even “thank you” turned out to be beyond our control - kyooseonyoom! :)

The second is so piercing and screaming that it literally tears apart the soul and overturns the sky! It's created in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. Just a few steps from the Parliament on the Danube embankment there is a discordant row of old shoes: shoes, sandals, children's boots... As if on the edge of life. It is impossible to look at all this without tears.

Here, on the banks of the Danube, the Nazis carried out mass executions of Jews; in Hungary during World War II there were about 800 thousand of them: they lined up people in a long chain of 50-60 people, took off their shoes, tied them up, and then shot one of the victims. The man fell into the water and pulled everyone else with him...

The shoes are made of metal, but they look as if everything happened a few minutes ago. It's terrible to watch, terrible to realize.

Everything feels even more monstrous when you walk away from the embankment and literally with every cell you feel that you are alive and are in the arms of one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, in which life is not just seething, in which it is overflowing! A Jewish quarterErzsebetváros- the most party and lively quarter in the capital. It also houses the largest synagogue in Hungary (accommodates 3,000 believers) and a whole network of ruin pubs, which were our refuge for all three evenings.

There will be a separate story about ruin pubs;) In the meantime, here’s the facade of “Simply” - Budapest’s number one pub, which every evening, without waiting for Friday kidnaps people, drugs them with alcohol, gives them invisible wings and turns them into disco dancers.

About bridges

The Danube in Budapest is crossed immediately eight bridges, two of which are railway, and three are considered works of art.

I'll start with the most famous and oldest. In frame - Széchenyi Chain Bridge. Built in 1849 according to the design of a British engineer, Hungarians respectfully call it the “old lady”. It's funny that it's in the feminine gender like this :)

Named after Count István Széchenyi, who is famous for donating the entire annual income from all his estates to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 1825. And also because he supported the construction of a permanent bridge between Buda and Pest (this was the first bridge!). By the way, I’m sitting on the Pest side, Buda is behind me :)

The length of the bridge is 380 meters, width is 14.8 meters. And the bridge, of course, has its own legend. The essence of which is that Istvan Széchenyi, while still a hussar in the Austrian army, vowed to build a bridge across the Danube, because he was late for his father’s funeral due to heavy ice drift and lack of a crossing.

The “Old Lady” is guarded by four huge stone lions. There is a funny belief: if a married man who has never thought about cheating on his wife walks between the lions of the bridge, the lions will roar loudly.

They say that the Nazis, retreating, blew up all the bridges in Budapest.
But the Hungarians restored
them at their best!

Margaret Bridge- another absolute masterpiece. Opened in 1876. The bridge consists of two parts that connect at an angle of 165 degrees, and in this very place there is a descent to the Margaret Island of the same name. The pillars with sculptures reminiscent of the figures on the bow of a ship, the unusual color, French authorship and the close proximity to the Parliament make it special.

In addition, people walk across this bridge 54-meter, 6-section tram No. 4, which until recently was considered the longest in the world! Recently, the Hungarians broke their record by launching 9-section trams that can accommodate 345 people at a time (route No. 1). Do you have any idea? At the same time, we did not see a single empty tram; Hungarians love trams and enjoy riding them on business or just for fun :)

Freedom Bridge was opened in 1896, the event was timed to coincide with the 1000th anniversary of the Hungarian state. The project is purely Hungarian. Emperor Franz Joseph I himself was present at the ceremony. He personally hammered in the last symbolic rivet of pure silver, completing the construction. The bridge bore his name until 1946.

The mythical Turula birds, messengers of the gods, sit on the supports, and the arch is decorated with an imperial crown.

On major holidays, the Freedom Bridge really becomes free from the endless flow of cars and trams, and all its beauty can be seen in detail while walking along the wide railings. And some don’t wait, some go for walks on weekdays :)

Erzsebet Bridge(Elizabeth, better known as Empress Sisi) is the fourth bridge built in the Hungarian capital. And this was in 1903, more than 100 years ago! But you can’t tell by appearance...

The fact is that this is the only bridge that has lost its original appearance. In 1903, the Erzsebet Bridge looked more elegant.

In 1945, it was blown up by the Nazis, and in 1964, when it was restored, the bridge appeared in a new guise, completely losing its “lace.”

In 2005, a world record was set on the Erzsebet Bridge: 5,875 couples in love kissed on it at the same time.

About unusual transport

We have already discussed the longest tram, but in Budapest you might be surprised by a couple more representatives of the “transport department”. For example, this one handsome waterfowl. When we met him, water was still dripping from him. Just from the Danube :) If you want to take a ride, look for the amphibian at the address: Istvan Széchenyi Square, 7/8. Departure: From April 1 to October 31 at 10.00, 12.00, 15.00, 17.00; from November 1 to March 31: 11.00, 13.00, 15.00. The excursion lasts 1.5 hours and costs 28 euros for an adult passenger, 20 euros for schoolchildren and students, for children under 6 years old free.

And here The oldest operating funicular in the world! Siklo station (as it is called) is located just behind the Széchenyi Bridge if you go from Pest to Buda. But this is more of a tourist attraction: 95 meters, 2 minutes of travel, ticket for 5 euros. You can also get to the walls of the Buda Fortress using a regular staircase :)

Everyone knows that the London Underground proudly bears the laurels of being the oldest metro in the world. But few people know that the Budapest metro is the oldest on the European continent. The very first and oldest branch is yellow(Vörösmarty ter ↔ Mexicoi ut, forgive my Hungarian), has been in existence since 1896. We took a ride on it on the way to the Szechenyi Baths (there will be a separate story about them). Platforms, trailers and halls are like toys. It feels like you’re in some kind of plasticine cartoon: walls made of sugar cubes and chocolate bars, curlicues, wooden houses for cashiers...

The icon on the left represents the metro, and the icon on the right represents HEV commuter trains.

Trolleybuses! The story goes that Budapest received them as a gift from the former Soviet Union in honor of Stalin's 70th birthday, and they all have two-digit numbers starting with "7". But! We met this one - with all the signs of Icarus and number 83. Enemy of the people, oppositionist and provocateur :))

In total, the city has more than 200 bus routes, 15 trolleybus routes
and 30 trams.

Most popular among tourists tram route No. 2 runs along the banks of the Danube and gives you the opportunity to see from the window the Parliament, the Royal Palace, the Buda Fortress, Gellert Hill with the Statue of Liberty, bridges, and much more... If you get tired of walking, take a ride;) The ticket costs 350 forints (78 rubles with our money).

In fact, there are many ways to save on travel by buying a day ticket (1650 forints) or 10 tickets at once (3000 forints). The ticket is the same for all types of transport.

There are not many seats inside the tram.

Tourist buses, tickets for which you will be offered at every step look very funny. All passengers purchase new bodies along with their tickets :) But during the winter season, buses are not very popular.

No matter how the bus dealer tried to drag us into this adventure, we did not fall for it. By the way, this was almost the only black person we met in Budapest. Surprised. Especially after France and Italy, where they are at every turn.

The price of a two-day ticket (25 euros) includes: a Russian audio guide, goulash, pizza, three glasses of beer and two drinks of local liqueur, plus a ticket for an hour-long boat trip on the Danube.

About flowers

What we didn’t expect to see in Budapest on New Year’s Eve were flower carpets and flower beds. It’s winter :) It turns out that temperature +4 is quite normal for pansies, geraniums, and ornamental cabbage. Cool.

February 24th, 2010 , 01:34 am

Each city has a certain set of places that every tourist should visit. There are also countless such places in Budapest, but I want to highlight three - in my opinion, the most necessary after all the main attractions (or even instead of them).

1 - Baths and baths built on numerous hot healing springs.
I won’t even say that these springs with mineral salts relieve various misfortunes (rheumatism, nervous disorders and back pain in the first place!!!) - this is absolutely something magnificent and wonderful.

Széchenyi Baths. +3 air, +38, +40, +28, +20 water in different pools.
Open in winter from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., entrance fee: 3,100 forints (just under $16)

Urgently go yourself and send your parents on vacation!

2 - Hungarian curly pig Mangalitsa

This is also something absolutely amazing! If you have not tried this pork, then consider that you have not been to Hungary.
More recently (in 1990), these pigs would have almost disappeared completely if advertisements had not been advertised in newspapers throughout Hungary - then they managed to collect 90 pigs, breed, multiply and preserve them. Now there are three farms in the country where these unique animals are raised, and in Budapest there is a restaurant called Casablanca, where they serve Mangalitsa pork on a stone.
Expensive, but worth it. Delicious.
Instead of a plate, tourists are served a stone heated to 400 degrees and a piece of almost raw pork - we cut it into pieces ourselves and fry it on our own personal grill.

3 - Labyrinth. There is nothing particularly stunning here, but it is interesting and unusual.
A string of long and intricate corridors with a total length of 1200 meters in the underground (under a residential area on Buda Hill). The extremely dim lighting illuminates only rock paintings, stone statues, gratings, pillars and other chains - you have to walk by touch, holding on to the “guiding rope” with your hand. The hike is accompanied by the dull sound of dripping water and an alarming cave melody (from the speakers).
The main attraction is the only illuminated cave hall with the “Manyasha fountain” - an inexhaustible source of dry red wine. Despite the fact that the guidebook advises taking a glass on your hike, I don’t recommend drinking it - it’s a rare disgusting thing.

Entrance (in winter) - 900 forints (4 euros), before 18.00 just a walk, after 19.00 - hiking in complete darkness with oil lamps.

Well, now about the sights, where would we be without them?

It was sunny in Budapest these days. I would even say juicy, bright and colorful, not winter-appropriate.

The excursion will be called "Akin's Song" - what I see, I sing.
I left the hotel early in the morning and walked along the Pest embankment towards the Lions Bridge. At first I saw a girl with a dog (against the background of the Royal Palace)

Then - a boy (ibid.). True, the guidebook says that this is also a girl - supposedly the sculpture is called “Little Princess” and every tourist dreams of taking a photo with her

I reached the Chain Bridge. Before entering the bridge you are greeted (and seen off before leaving) by four lions - that’s why the bridge is also called the Lion Bridge

I switched to the Buda side and wanted to go up to the Royal Palace by cable car

But it turned out that I didn’t take forints, and cards and euros are not accepted. I had to trudge up the mountain on foot. In the middle of the way I stopped to take a break and took a photo of the Chain Bridge and Pest again

Went straight up to the Ornamental Gate. On the right on the column sits the mythical bird Turul, which allegedly showed the Hungarian nomads the way to the lands of Budapest in 896

And she ended up in the first courtyard of the Royal Palace, where the Hungarian National Gallery is now. In the center of the courtyard is a statue of a “Cowboy” taming a zealous horse.

Through the Lion Gate - the second courtyard, there is the National Széchenyi Library

It’s a five to ten minute walk from the Royal Palace and I ended up at the absolutely stunning Manyasha Church. The only thing, as always, is the scaffolding spoils the whole thing.

Next to the church is St. Stephen (Stefan) on horseback - the king who introduced Christianity to Hungary and was anointed to the throne by the Pope himself.

Behind Istvan is a gallery with hipped towers, arches and balustrades - Fisherman's Bastion

From the Fisherman's Bastion there is a wonderful overview of the Hungarian Parliament and the whole of Pest in general.

Next to the Plague Column on Holy Trinity Square, another beautiful cathedral roof appeared. What kind of cathedral I still don’t understand. Marked on the map as "National Archives".

to the Church of St. Anne

passed by the Calvin Church

And returned to the Chain Bridge

I went to Pest, photographed the beautiful turret on the Gräşen Palace - now the Four Seasons Hotel

Then I walked to St. Stephen's Basilica

Then I took a couple more shots along the way

And she returned to the hotel to continue treatment for her annoying cold.
Belvarosi Church, or the parish church of the Inner City, right opposite our hotel

Well, I’ll add an evening boat trip here too.
3000 forints ($15)

Parliament.

Royal Palace

This is also the Chain (Lion) Bridge

Calvinist Church, Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church

Belvarosi Church near the Erzsebet Bridge. By the way, the second house from it with three turrets is our hotel. I strongly recommend: the very center, Wi-Fi in the room, smoking rooms available, breakfast - and 33 euros for all the pleasures of the “Visit Budapest in Winter” promotion (regular double price 139 euros)

In my opinion, the most beautiful bridge in Budapest is the Freedom Bridge.

Hotel Gellert (the most luxurious, elite and expensive baths there)

And this is almost on the outskirts. Nothing to do with historical heritage, just an Expo Center.

In general, I want to tell you - Budapest is beautiful in winter. I highly recommend it - the city is interesting, there are few tourists, prices are low. For the weekend - it's absolutely wonderful.
For example, a round-trip Aeroflot ticket from Moscow is 10,188 rubles, a decent hotel in the very center with Wi-Fi in the room and breakfast is 33 euros for a double, hot Hungarian goulash soup is 990 forints for a large plate ($5).