Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
yet seen the fruit of the changes that were promised. Enjoy and learn about Hungary and
the Hungarians by traveling outside of the capital. That is where you will find Lake Bal-
aton and vineyards and a Mediterranean lifestyle. Visit the dynamic and young city of
Eger, or travel to the Great Hungarian Plain, where Hungary's horsemen once lived.
THE REGIONS IN BRIEF
Life in Hungary revolves around its capital, Budapest. Here, life moves at lightning
speed, and sometimes you are taken in by the whirlwind without even noticing it. In
order to best appreciate Budapest, give it time, and get to know the people. The best
bars or curious hangouts tend to be secretive areas known mostly by word of mouth.
The capital is also a romantic feast for the eyes at night, and feast on the beautiful
architecture of Andrássy út, which is on the UNESCO world heritage list. After
exploring the capital, venture off to the Mátra, Bükk, or Zemplén hills, where you will
find the quiet and sleepy village life a welcome change of pace. Hungary's great plain
and Tisza lake offer yet another experience: that of an untouched wildlife like the flora
and fauna of the dry plain and the marshland of the Tisza Lake. Finally, there is the
“Hungarian Sea” of Lake Balaton, where you can swim the shallow shores of the lake,
and enjoy horseback riding, vineyards, and traditional restaurants.
SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
Most visits to Hungary center around Budapest, so these itineraries give you a detailed
2-day tour of Budapest, followed by various side-trip options.
Day 1
On your first day in Budapest, start at Deák tér, or anywhere in Inner City.
decade and a half since the systemic
changes of 1989. You might try the
Vali
Folklór
folk craft shop (p. 336), the
VAM Design Gallery
(p. 334), and vari-
ous clothing and bookstores (avoid the
touristy cafes here).
Walk from Déak tér to the Danube Promenade.
Then make your way toward the Kossuth tér
metro for:
2
Parliament
You can't miss Budapest's grand, eclectic
Parliament building, which hugs the
Danube. Designed by Imre Steindl and
completed in 1902, the building mixes neo-
Gothic style with a neo-Renaissance dome.
It has been from the outset one of Buda-
pest's symbols, though until 1989 a demo-
cratically elected government had convened
here exactly once (just after World War II,
before the Communist takeover). Since
2000, in addition to its government func-
tions, it has also been home to the fabled
Hungarian crown jewels. Unfortunately,
1
Inner City & Central Pest
Budapest, a city whose wide boulevards
were designed a little over a century ago,
is a city that can be walked, so start off in
the center city, wander the grand boule-
vards, and admire the architecture.
Or take a more leisurely stroll around
the area and visit a few museums and high-
lights of the area. You might duck into the
Hungarian National Museum
(p. 311), the
Budapest Holocaust Memor-
ial Center
(p. 311), or the
Inner
City Parish Church
. As you tour the
area, you'll begin to understand the incredi-
ble changes that the city has seen in recent
years. Many buildings have been completely
restored and renovated. Old, decrepit spaces
have become complexes, and many more
projects are being developed.
Head over to
Váci utca,
which is the
main shopping and walking street of
Budapest. This booming shopping area
developed in Hungary over the past
