Every year, around the 20th of August, St. Stephen’s day, you can meet great Hungarian Folk Art designers and artists, truly amazing people creating Hungarian handicraft products in the Buda Castle District.
The best of the local pottery, jewellry, wooden products, ceramics, fabrics an much more can be seen and purchased. You can also try some of the hard work as weaving, sewing or doing embroideries. Also, it’s a great opportunity to taste some Hungarian treats!
Yes, I agree, it’s becoming more and more of a tourist attraction, it’s hard to believe that it still is one of the favorite shopping places of Budapesters.
I went to the market with my grandmother for the first time when I was some 5-years-old. Honestly, that time I couldn’t tell he difference between the poors’ and riches’ aisle but was fascinated by the smells and the products.
The visit of the 120-year-old building, which looks exactly like a train station is part of my Foodie Tour (except on Sundays when it’s closed), I’d be glad to introduce you to our shopping and eating culture and I’ll also make sure you taste the best sausage and strudel at the market.
I always encourage my guests to take public transport, it’s cheap, convenient and very easy. What’s more is that you can enjoy such a great view from the trams, buses or boats, don’t miss it!
The second largest park of Budapest, the locals’ favorite, a beautiful green oasis in the middle of Pest. There are so many things to do and to see in the City Park. You can visit the 150-year-old Budapest Zoo, the City Circus, enjoy the truly relaxing warm water of Széchenyi bathhouse, admire the various architectures of Vajdahunyad Castle or simply have a picnic topped with a boat ride on the lake.
Although Füvészkert seems to be hard to pronounce but it’s surely woth a try, as it’s a true hidden gem in the 8th district of Budapest.
The oldest and largest botanical garden of the city is from the 1770’s and is home to more than 7.000 plant species on a 3-acre area. The 150-year-old Chinese gingko is the oldest tree in the park.
You can admire the tropical and subtropical plants in the Palm House, Amazonas water lily in the Victoria glass house and the rich collection of palms, cactuses, bromelias and orchids. It’s one of the major locations in Ferenc Molnár’s ‘Paul Street Boys’, a famous Hungarian novel.
I love the evening tours, I tell my guests all the time that Budapest has two entirely different faces as it looks different during the day and during the night. My favorite building is the Parliament, it looks like a magnificent gingerbread cake with all the lights and colors of the night.
The largest Budapest park, the place chosen by princess Margaret when she gave up her life as a princess and started a new life in the monastery or an island where lepers lived isolated a long time ago; it is literally the favorite park of the Budapesters. I’m not a big fan of comparing places to other places but I can tell that it’s like our very own Central Park.
Unfortunately we very rarely include the visit of the island in the tours, because it’s a rather long walk from the city center. Still, when we do, my guests always appreciate it because it’s pretty, unique and it’s also an off-the-beaten-path experience.
The best method to discover the island is to rent a special bicycle for maximum 6 people. I’d suggest to ride all the way from the south to the north and not to miss the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden, the small zoo, the Water Tower. Also, take some time to enjoy the music of the Musical Fountain.
I’ve received this article from three guests of mine at different occasions – and thank you so much guys for your preparations before your actual trip to Budapest. I need to tell that most of the places recommended by The New York Times are both fun and nice, still, I have the impression I can show you so much more when you come to visit my beautiful city.
Feel free to ask for my special recommendations!
To show how much local people love the Széchenyi baths, I can tell you that we also have a nickname for it and call it simply ‘Szecska’. It opened in 1913 and has a total of 18 indoor and outdoor swimming pools. It’s one of the most richly ornate buildings of the city with an architecture combining Neo-Renaissance and Classicist elements. One really has to see the main foyer where both the statues and mosaics are all realted to water and bathing culture.
I only recommend going to the Szecska in the summer for those who don’t mind crowds but it’s really quiet and enjoyable in the winter. I can take you to the Széchenyi if you book the Baths of Budapest walking tour with me.
More information about prices and opening hours.
