Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the cast-iron Erzsébet híd (replaced by a new bridge) and a few links of the original chains
from the Lánchíd, which is now supported by cables.
While you're here, check out the
Hungarian Federation of the Blind and Partially
Sighted
nearby at Hermina út 47, an extraordinary pink concoction designed by Lechner.
The northern end of the Városliget
Three major attractions lie on Állatkerti körút, the road that runs round the top of the Város-
liget. The best access is by foot from Hösők tere, by #72 trolleybus, which passes the door of
all four, or by the yellow #1 metro line to the Széchenyi Fürdő stop.
The Zoo
Állatkert • XIV, Állatkerti körút 6 • Daily: Jan, Feb, Nov & Dec 9am-4pm; March & Oct 9am-5pm; April &
Sept 9am-5.30pm; May-Aug 9am-6.30pm; animal houses open 1hr later and close 30min before the zoo itself
• 2500Ft, family 7300Ft • 1 273 4900,
zoobudapest.com
Tucked behind the Fine Arts Museum you'll find the delightful Elephant Gates of Budapest's
Zoo
, which opened its doors in 1866, thus establishing itself as one of the world's oldest.
The wonderful Art Nouveau pavilions, designed by Kornél Neuschloss and Károly Kós and
originally dating back to 1912, seem like the last word in zoological architecture: the exotic
ElephantHouse
, resembling a Central Asian mosque, the
IndiaHouse
with its big cats, and
the
America Tropicana
(formerly the
Palm House
) with its magnificent
aquarium
below.
In recent years, there have been some notable arrivals: in 2007, the zoo announced the
world's first birth of a rhino conceived by artificial insemination; and in 2013, the zoo wel-
comed its first elephant calf, Asha, for more than fifty years. Look out for
children'sevents
,
evening concerts and exhibitions under the Great Rock. Next door to the zoo is the
Once
Upon a Time Park
(Hol Nem Volt Park, 500Ft, or free with zoo entry), in the grounds of
the former Funfair. As well as some of the old Funfair rides such as the magnificent carousel,
you'll also find the Children's Corner and petting zoo.
The Municipal Circus
Fővárosi Nagycirkusz • XIV, Állatkerti körút 12 • Wed & Thurs 5pm, Fri 3pm, Sat 11am, 3pm & 7pm, Sun
11am & 3pm • 1900-3900Ft; children 1500-2700Ft • 1 343 8300,
fnc.hu
Next door to the Zoo, the
Municipal Circus
traces its origins back to 1783, when the Hetz
Theatre played to spectators on what is now Deák tér. Today the building has a changing pro-
gramme featuring anything fromtiger-taming andhorseshowstomusical clowns,illusionists
and Chinese and Cuban acrobats. It also hosts a big international circus festival every even-
numbered year in late January or early February - check the website for details.
The Széchenyi Baths
Széchenyi Gyógyfürdő • XIV, Állatkerti körút 11 • Daily 6am-10pm • 1 363 3210,
szechenyibath.com
•
See
Széchenyi Fürdő
for details
