Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

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Hungary : Budapest - July 2008

Country Code: Dial for Hungary

Summer in Budapest can be sweltering. Fortunately, it’s easy to escape the dusty sidewalks for the hiking trails and lookout points of the Buda hills. Closer to the centre, Margaret Island is home to swimming pools, a few bars and lots of picnic spots. Carolyn Bánfalvi cools off

Getting around

Ferihegy International Airport

Bus: The No 93 bus leaves Terminal 1 and takes about 20 minutes, leaving every half hour from 4.55am to 8.50pm. Tickets cost €1 /HUF 230. A travel card gives you unlimited use of Budapest’s buses, trams, metro and cog-railway. A one-day card costs €5/HUF 1,350, a one-week card costs €15/HUF 3,600.
Taxi: A taxi from the airport to the city will take about 30 minutes and there’s a fixed price of €17/ HUF 4,200. Go to the Zona Taxi window at arrivals.
Tourist information: Located at 7 Március 15 tér (tel. , www.budapestinfo.hu).

MARGITSZIGET (MARGARET ISLAND)

Budapest’s answer to Central Park, Margaret Island is an oasis of green in the middle of the Danube between Margit and Árpád bridges

Sleep soundly – Danubius Health Spa Resort Margitsziget has one of the country’s best thermal spas. Danubius Grand Hotel Margitsziget next door feels more like a hunting lodge, but guests also have access to the spa.

Culture vultures – Take a dip at the Olympic-sized Alfréd Hajós Sportuszoda (swimming pool). Less serious swimmers should head to Palatinus Strandfürdo (baths), which has fun pools, children’s pools and slides. Stick around for a performance at Margitsziget Open-Air Stage.

Must drink – Holdudvar (holdudvar. net) is a garden bar with a restaurant and open-air cinema, which frequently plays host to guest DJs.

BUDA HILLS

Take the cog-wheel train up the hills for a scenic view. You can also hike in Normafa and take the ski lift down from János hill.

Sleep soundly – If you can’t get to a concert at Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music (8 Liszt Ferenc tér), at least take a peek inside the art nouveau hall.

Must eat – Retro-style Menza Étterem (2 Liszt Ferenc tér, tel. ) is the best restaurant on the square, and serves slightly souped-up Hungarian food.

Must drink – Café Vian (9 Liszt Ferenc tér) is one of the most popular places on the square. Buena Vista Café (4-5 Liszt Ferenc tér) is a nice spot for drinks and light meals.

RÁDAY UTCA

This road in the ninth district is lined with bars, restaurants and galleries.

Culture vultures – The Goethe Institut (58 Ráday utca) holds lectures, screenings and events for the Teutonic-minded. Ráday Galéria (8 Ráday utca) is one of the street’s oldest residents and holds contemporary art exhibitions.

Must eat – Soul Café (11-13 Ráday utca, tel. ) offers a varied international menu and is one of the street’s more serious restaurants. Café Eckermann (58 Ráday utca, tel. ) at the Goethe Institut serves simple, affordable dishes.

Must drink – Laid-back Fecske Presszó (34 Ráday utca) is one of the street’s newest bars and has lots of comfy couches. Paris, Texas (22 Ráday utca) is perenially popular, not least because it serves pizza from the Italian restaurant next door.

Shop til you drop – Bortársaság (7 Ráday utca) is the place to pick up wine to stash in your suitcase

Compiled by Carolyn Bánfalvi