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Active tourism

Heroes’ Square: a journey through Hungarian history

At the end of the elegant Andrássy Avenue, just before entering City Park, there is one of the most impressive and symbolic places in Budapest: Heroes’ Square, or Hősök tere. The square is huge, open and monumental, and at first sight it can seem like just another beautiful place for taking photos. But almost every statue here tells a part of Hungarian history, from the arrival of the Magyar tribes to some of the most important kings and national leaders. Heroes’ Square is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage area connected to Andrássy Avenue and its surroundings. UNESCO World Heritage Centre Why is Heroes’ Square so important? The square was created as part of the celebrations for the 1,000th anniversary of the Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin, traditionally dated to 896. Construction of the Millennium Monument began around the celebrations of 1896 and the entire monumental complex was…

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History

House of Terror: a journey through Budapest’s darkest history

Walking along Andrássy Avenue, it is impossible not to notice the large black TERROR sign above number 60. This is the House of Terror Museum, one of the most intense and unusual museums in Budapest. The building itself is part of the exhibition: it was once used by the Hungarian Arrow Cross movement and later by the communist political police. Today, its rooms tell the story of these two dictatorships through original objects, documents, videos and immersive installations. Inside the museum The visit starts on the upper floors and follows Hungary’s history during the Nazi occupation and the following communist period. One of the first impressive areas is the central courtyard, where a Soviet tank stands in front of a huge wall covered with photographs of victims. From here, the exhibition becomes increasingly immersive. Several rooms are dedicated to the Arrow Cross Party, the Soviet occupation, deportations and forced labour…

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Active tourism

Hockey in Budapest: a different kind of Friday night

When I think about my Erasmus experience in Budapest, I think about all the new things I get to discover almost every week. Sometimes it is a new place, sometimes a new food, and sometimes, like last Friday, a completely new sport. On Friday evening, I went to the Tüskecsarnok in Budapest to watch an ice hockey game between FTC-Telekom, the local Ferencváros team, and Milano HC. It was my first time watching a real ice hockey match, so I didn’t really know what to expect. A new sport for me The match was part of the ICE Hockey League, an international league in which teams from different Central European countries play. Milano HC is actually a new team in the league this season, and before coming to Budapest they had won their first three games. As an Italian student living in Budapest, seeing Milano playing here was also quite…

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Active tourism

Budapest’s Lucky Statues: Touch Them and Make a Wish

Budapest is full of impressive monuments, but some statues are famous for a completely different reason. According to local traditions, touching a particular part of them can bring luck, love, inspiration or even success in exams. If you walk around the city, you can actually see which parts people touch the most: the dark bronze becomes bright and almost golden after thousands of hands have rubbed the same spot. There is no official number of lucky statues in Budapest. Different local guides include different ones, but there are several famous examples spread between Buda and Pest. The Fat Policeman – probably the most famous one One of the easiest lucky statues to find is the Fat Policeman, standing on Zrínyi Street, only a few steps from St Stephen’s Basilica. The first thing you notice is his enormous shiny belly. It has become golden because tourists have been rubbing it for…

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Active tourism

Puskás Aréna: a different side of Budapest

If you have been in Budapest for Erasmus for more than a few days, you have probably already noticed the Puskás Aréna. It is one of the most impressive buildings in the city and, even if you are not a big football fan, it is definitely worth seeing. The stadium is located quite close to the city centre and can host more than 67,000 people. It opened in 2019 and is named after Ferenc Puskás, one of the most famous Hungarian football players in history. The stadium tour One of the coolest things about the Puskás Aréna is that you can actually visit it even when there is no match. There are guided tours where you can explore the stadium and see places that are normally closed to visitors. You can walk around the stands, discover the areas behind the scenes and get an idea of what happens inside the…

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Active tourism

The Moon of Budapest: a little piece of the sky in the city

If you have been in Budapest during the summer, you have probably noticed that the city is full of unusual things to see. But one of the most unexpected ones is definitely the giant inflatable Moon that appears in the city. The first time I saw it, I honestly had no idea what it was supposed to be, but it immediately caught my attention. As an Erasmus student, I have started to realise that Budapest is a city where you can find something interesting almost everywhere. And sometimes, you don’t even have to look for it. The Moon The giant inflatable Moon is basically exactly what it sounds like: a huge Moon installation that you can see in Budapest during special events and exhibitions. It looks like a giant version of the real Moon, complete with all its craters. During the day it is already quite impressive, but when it…

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Active tourism

Margaret Island: Budapest’s Green Escape

In the middle of the Danube, between Buda and Pest, there is a place that feels completely different from the rest of Budapest. Margaret Island, or Margitsziget, is one of the best places in the city to slow down, walk around and spend some time surrounded by nature. The island is almost completely covered by parks and green areas. There are no busy streets like in the city centre, so the atmosphere is much quieter. You can come here for a short walk, but you can also easily spend half a day exploring the different parts of the island. How to get there Margaret Island is quite easy to reach from the centre of Budapest. One of the simplest ways is to take tram 4 or 6 and get off at Margitsziget / Margit híd. From the bridge, you can walk directly onto the southern part of the island. Bus…

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Active tourism

Buda Castle: A Free Afternoon in Budapest

If you are in Budapest for Erasmus, visiting Buda Castle is definitely something you should do. It is one of the most famous areas of the city, and the best part is that you can explore most of it without spending any money. How to get there for free The easiest way is to walk. From Pest, you can cross the Chain Bridge and then walk up towards the Castle District. It is a bit uphill, but it is completely free and the views along the way are really nice. You can also take public transport and walk the last part. If you are trying to save money as an Erasmus student, we would skip the funicular and use the money for something else later. What should you see? The Castle District is quite big, so you can easily spend a few hours walking around. Start with Buda Castle and…

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Active tourism

Red Bull Ládaderbi: Budapest’s Craziest Race Takes Over Tabán

Yesterday, 20 September, Tabán looked very different from usual. Instead of people relaxing on the grass, the hill became a race track full of strange vehicles, costumes, music and thousands of spectators. It was the Red Bull Ládaderbi, probably one of the funniest and most unusual events we have seen in Budapest. But what exactly is Ládaderbi? The idea is quite simple: teams build their own vehicles and race downhill using only gravity. There is no engine. The cars have to be handmade, but apart from some safety rules, creativity is almost unlimited. And this is what makes the event so entertaining. Some vehicles actually look fast and well designed, while others look like they should never move at all. This year there was everything: a racing bathtub, a giant anvil, a Nimbus 2000 broom, a rocket launcher, a dinner table and even a kayak transformed into something similar to…

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Active tourism

The Best Danube Cruise with Unlimited Drinks in Budapest

If you are in Budapest for Erasmus, going on a Danube cruise is definitely something you should try. The city looks completely different from the river, especially in the evening when all the buildings and bridges are illuminated. There are many different cruises to choose from, but if you are looking for something fun and not too expensive, an unlimited drinks cruise is probably one of the best options. Here is the one we tried and why we liked it. Bud By Boat Bud By Boat offers a 75-minute cruise on the Danube with unlimited drinks. The ticket is currently around €24.80, which is quite reasonable for an Erasmus student, especially because you don’t have to pay for every drink separately. The cruise goes along the centre of Budapest, so you can see some of the most famous places from the river, including the Parliament, Buda Castle, Gellért Hill and…

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