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Active tourism

The Tragedy Behind Budapest’s Old National Theater

Should you be wandering through one of Budapest’s most bustling intersections, Blaha Lujza Square, surrounded by the rush of people, trams, and ugly concrete buildings, it can be rather difficult to concentrate on anything but all the chaos surrounding you. However, once you notice the strange dark stones protruding from the pavement, forming some sort of monument blocks, you will soon realize that there is more than just street art here. In fact, these stones are a monument erected in memory of the tragic destruction of the Old National Theatre. The Golden Age of the People’s Theater Our tale starts in the year 1875 when an opulent eclecticism-style building opened its doors here, called the Népszínház, otherwise the People’s Theater. An immense and magnificent building, adorned with an elaborate facade, arches, and spectacular halls that could accommodate thousands of enthusiastic visitors. In 1908, the building became home to the Hungarian…

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Active tourism

Exploring the Hungarian Technical and Transportation Museum

There may be just one museum in Budapest which reflects the pure energy of human inventions and innovations and this is the Hungarian Technical and Transportation Museum (Közlekedési Múzeum). Be it an interest in railways, vintage cars or anything related to the engineering behind moving a whole city; this museum is surely one of the most ancient and interesting of such kind in Europe. However, for a visit to this place it will take some insider information because the museum has gone through quite a dramatic change in recent years. And here is all you need to know about its history and collections. A Century in City Park: The History In order to get a better understanding of the museum, we need to take a look back at 1899. The first incarnation of the museum in City Park (Városliget) opened during the 1896 Millennium Exhibition and it was an elegant,…

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Active tourism

A Quiet Retreat from the Hustle of Budapest: Revealing the Mysteries Behind Japan’s Garden

When you feel the need to find some inner peace amid the bustling streets of Budapest, but at the same time do not want to leave the urban environment, then one secluded place is sure to give you just what you are looking for. This quiet spot located in the northern part of the Margaret Island is called the Japanese Garden, which, in its native language, means Japánkert. This is more than just an area with Asian flora; this is an artistically crafted living masterpiece that can be traced back to the end of the 19th century. The Vision of a Master Gardener The garden was founded in 1882, and its creation was inspired by the vision of György Magyar, who was at that time the main gardener at the royal estates located on the island. In the last decades of the nineteenth century, there occurred the craze for all…

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Active tourism

The Magic of Fisherman’s Bastion: Budapest’s Best View

If you have come across pictures of Budapest, chances are that you must have seen Fisherman’s Bastion at least once. Its beautiful white stonework, conical towers, and magnificent view over the Danube river make it look like something out of a fairy tale. However, it’s much more than just a scenic site; this place is a real gem of Hungarian architecture and history. This article covers all there is to know about one of the most enchanting places of Budapest, from construction through to how to enjoy it without the crowd. Who Built It (And What’s With the Name?) Despite looking like an ancient medieval fortress, Fisherman’s Bastion (Halászbástya) is surprisingly modern. It was built between 1895 and 1902 by architect Frigyes Schulek. His goal wasn’t to build a defensive fort, but rather a panoramic viewing terrace that would complement the stunning Matthias Church right next to it. It was…

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Active tourism

Art, History, and the Best View in Town: Exploring the Hungarian National Gallery

As one explores Budapest, chances are one will come across the Buda Castle located on the opposite side of the river, a massive and majestic building standing high on the Castle Hill. However, here comes one interesting fact that many travelers have not realized before: the best use of time spent within these ancient castle grounds cannot be in searching for any rooms of royalty. The best thing to do in the castle is to explore the Hungarian National Gallery (Magyar Nemzeti Galéria), which is located within the wings of the royal castle. Why Visit? (Hint: It’s Not a Typical “Palace” Tour) Setting the right expectations from the beginning, the castle will not offer you any gilded halls decorated with magnificent furniture belonging to the Habsburg family. The reason being that most of the castle’s decor was destroyed in the war. Therefore, instead of royal rooms, you are presented with…

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Active tourism

Frozen Magic in the Shadow of the Castle: The Tale of the Budapest City Park Ice Skating Rink

Visiting Budapest during winter time can take you to only one magical spot in this enchanting city. Lying right behind Heroes’ Square, you will find the City Park Ice Skating Rink (Városligeti Műjégpálya). What makes this particular ice skating rink more special than any other is its sheer size and location, making it seem like it was straight out of a fairy tale. The castle-like Vajdahunyad Castle, combined with the neo-Baroque pavilion, makes this particular place even more enchanting for those looking for an adventure that you cannot find in any other European country. A Playground for the High Society of the Late Nineteenth Century What makes the history of this ice rink unique is that it dates back even further than most people would think, thus making this an old, large-scale artificial ice rink facility in North America. The first records date from 1869, when a local skating club…

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History

Inside the Puskás Aréna: Budapest’s Spectacular Temple of Football

Being in Budapest, it is hard not to get lost in its impressive architecture and rich history. Even though many tourists tend to pay their attention to the iconic buildings built according to the neoclassic style, there is one modern building which dominates the whole city panorama; it is the Puskás Aréna. Whether you are an ardent supporter of football or have a passion for outstanding architecture projects, this place cannot leave anyone indifferent. Allow me to share my experience and guide you through this impressive building with a long history. From the “People’s Stadium” to Honoring a Legend It is impossible to talk about Puskás Aréna without mentioning the past of this place. From 1953 until 2016, it housed the former stadium of the Népstadion (The People’s Stadium). It was an enormous structure, consisting of a concrete bowl able to hold more than 100 thousand spectators who enjoyed watching…

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Art

The House of Music – Magyar Zene Háza

Imagine wandering through the dense, leafy trails of Budapest’s City Park (Városliget) and suddenly stumbling upon what looks like a giant, golden mushroom floating among the trees. This is the House of Music Hungary (Magyar Zene Háza). Since opening its doors in early 2022, this spectacular, undulating structure has completely redefined the city’s architectural landscape. It doesn’t just house music, the building itself is designed to feel like a visual symphony, thanks to his beautiful structure. Here is everything you need to know about how this beautiful structure was conceptualized, engineered, and what awaits you inside. The Vision and History For decades, the plot of land where the House of Music now sits was a dead zone, occupied by a cluster of abandoned, dilapidated Hungexpo office buildings. In 2014, as part of the massive Liget Budapest Project (the same initiative that built the nearby Museum of Ethnography), the city launched…

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Active tourism

Inside & Outside the New Museum of Ethnography

If you walk through Budapest’s Városliget (City Park) today, it is impossible to miss the striking structure rising smoothly from the ground like a massive half-pipe. After a century and a half of wandering, the Museum of Ethnography (Néprajzi Múzeum) finally opened the doors to its custom-built, permanent home in May 2022. Designed by Marcel Ferencz of the Hungarian firm NAPUR Architect, who beat out architectural heavyweights like Zaha Hadid and Rem Koolhaas for the commission, the building acts as a physical and visual gateway between the bustling city and the tranquility of the park. By placing the vast exhibition buildings below ground level, this building achieves the perfect balance between preserving the old scale of City Park and offering a large amount of space for one of the most important cultural collections in Europe. A 150-Year Journey Home The museum’s collection now boasts over 250,000 items from the Carpathian…

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Food & Drink

Water Quality & Sourcing in Budapest

Budapest is blessed with a geological jackpot. As the city lies at the intersection of a fault line that connects the Buda Hills with the Great Hungarian Plain, it boasts of a tremendous number of sources of both thermal and filtered water. No matter if you use the water supplied by the municipality or look for mineral-laden spring waters, the city provides some of the best waters available in Europe. Here you will find all that you need to know about the water quality in the city, where to find natural spring water, and make sure that the water you are consuming is completely pure. The Municipal Supply: Is the Tap Water Safe? The water coming out of Budapest taps is among the cleanest and purest in the world and can be consumed without any fear of any adverse effects on health. The reason behind its exceptional quality lies in…

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