Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

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Hungary : Budapest - October 2008

Country Code: Dial for Hungary

Budapest is known for its Indian summers. October may be chilly one day and downright warm the next. The highlight of the season is the 10-day-long Budapest Autumn Festival (10-19 October), which brings music, theatre, art and fi lm to venues around the city. Carolyn Bánfalvi tells us more

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).

PEST DANUBE BANK

One of Budapest’s best features is its gorgeous Danube panorama. Explore the Pest side of the river for great views of the Buda castle and the hills, or hop on No. 2 tram for a quicker trip.

Sleep soundly – Splurge at the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace. Every room at the Budapest Marriott Hotel (4 Apáczai Csere János utca, tel. , marriott.com, rooms from €165/HUF 39,000) has a Danube view.

Culture vultures – The city seems to be cultivating a new cultural district, building both the National Theater (1 Bajor Gizi park) and the Palace of Arts (1 Komor Marcell utca), which also holds the Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Arts.

Must eat – The Spoon Café & Lounge (3 Vigadó tér, tel. ) is located on a boat docked on the Danube. Further along, L’Enoteca Wine Shop & Deli (13 Belgrád rakpart, tel. ) offers a wide range of wines. Its sister, Trattoria Toscana (same contacts) does more Italian specialities.

BLAHA LUJZA TÉR

Located on the ring road, Blaha Lujza tér is convenient for an increasing number of great bars.

Sleep soundly – The Mercure Budapest Nemzeti looks like a wedding cake from the outside, while the nearby Mercure Budapest Metropol (58 Rákóczi út, tel. , accorhotels.com, rooms from €84/HUF 20,000) has a more modern feel.

Must eat – Low-key Jelen Bisztró (1-2 Blaha Lujza tér, ) serves Hungarian and Serbian dishes.

Must drink – Located on the roof of a Communist-era department store behind unmarked doors, Corvinteto (1-2 Blaha Lujza tér) offers panoramic views with your drinks. New York Café (9-11 Erzsébet körút) is a nice stop for coffee.

Shop til you drop – Rakoczi tér Vasarcsarnok (Rakoczi tér) is a smaller version of the city’s more famous market hall.

BUDA CASTLE

Wandering through the castle is a must. Come to get your fill of art, history and culture. But go elsewhere for eating and drinking, like the locals do.

Sleep soundly – One of the country’s first luxury hotels, the Hilton Budapest is the most obvious option here. The elegant Szent György Residence (4 Fortuna utca, tel. , stgeorgehotel.hu, rooms from €220/HUF 52,000) is an all-suite hotel.

Culture vultures – The eclectic Matthias Church (14 Országház utca) stands behind the Fisherman’s Bastion. There are several museums in the castle district, most notably the Hungarian National Gallery (17 Dísz tér) which occupies three wings in the Royal Palace. Explore the Buda Castle Labyrinth (9 Úri utca) or catch a performance at the National Dance Theater (1-3 Színház utca).

GELLÉRT AND SURROUNDINGS

Rocky Gellért hill rises above the Buda side of the Danube. Take the trails to the very top for fantastic views, the citadel and the Statue of Liberty, the only communist monument that wasn’t pulled down.

Sleep soundly – Though the rooms are a bit dated, the Danubius Hotel Gellért is a Budapest institution.

Culture vultures – The art nouveau Gellért Spa (4 Kelenhegyi utca) is one of the city’s most elegant. The atmospheric 16th-century Turkish Rudas Spa (9 Döbrentei tér) has separate bathing days for men and women. Located in a natural cave, the Cave Church (across from Szent Gellért tér) was walled up by the communists in the 50s, only to re-open in 1989.

Compiled by Carolyn Bánfalvi