Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter - Budapest - page 248

Neighbourhood Top Five
Marvelling at the exotic architecture of the Great Synagogue , the largest Jewish house
of worship in Europe, and taking a 2000-year tour at the attached Hungarian Jewish Mu-
seum .
Enjoying a performance at the Hungarian State Opera House , the capital's sumptuously
appointed temple to classical music.
Strolling along Andrássy út , the gracious tree-, shop- and sight-lined boulevard that ap-
pears on Unesco's World Heritage list.
Drinking and dancing the night away at any of central Pest's ruin pubs, such as Szim-
pla Kert , Lokál or Ellátó Kert .
Tasting something sweet along with something warm on the terrace of a traditional cafe
like the Művész Kávéház on Andrássy út.
Explore: Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter
The two main areas that visitors will want to focus on here are the densely packed tangle of
streets on the western side of Erzsébetváros, and the environs of long and stately Andrássy
út. There's plenty to occupy your daytime in the latter, with a simple stroll along the length
of the street, ending at Heroes' Sq (Hősök tere), the best way to get the measure of this part
of town. On or just nearby you'll find a number of museums and notable buildings, includ-
ing the House of Terror and the State Opera House. The eastern side of Erzsébetváros is
rather run-down, with little of interest to travellers except the Keleti train station on Baross
tér.
The western side, bounded by the Little Ring Rd, has always been predominantly Jewish,
and this was the ghetto where Jews were forced to live when the Nazis occupied Hungary in
1944. It's also where nocturnal Budapest really comes alive and you'll find most of its fam-
ous ruin pubs and garden clubs. It heaves on weekends with tourists and locals jumping
from bar to bar. In the day it's an atmospheric place to wander, with plenty of evidence of
the large Jewish community here, and some great shops, cafes and restaurants.