Obuda Attractions

This humble little island is home to the annual Sziget Festival, a week-long rock 'n' roll party during which the hottest acts from all over the world swoop in and woo the masses. Look for British pop combos like The Rakes, American dance collectives like !!!, and French techno artistes like Laurent Garnier.

Despite its central location, Margaret Island is extremely peaceful. In summer, it is popular with the locals who come here to relax. Rent a bicycle, jog, swim in one of two pools, throw a Frisbee or just stroll around. This was originally a religious centre. The ruins of St Margaret's Dominican nunnery are on the east side near the ruins of a Franciscan church. The water tower is a listed building. A very fine lunch can be had in the Ramada Grand Hotel at the north-east end of the island.

Hajógyári Island is the home of the huge Sziget festival for a week in August. However, it is the host of 10 fancy clubs year round. You can begin the night in any of these stylish clubs, white parties or live acts but if you are out to meet real party animals, head to Coronita. They open their doors at 5a to welcome you to the most popular day long after party in town. You may also consider sleeping until 4am and going directly there, but if you prefer the first option, don't be too drunk– they won't let you in. Well-known DJs play mostly classy electro music and a resident chef is there to ease your hunger.

Dokkolo is yet another famous nightclub where all the party people drop by to have a blast. With modern interiors and an easy-going ambiance, Dokkolo is quite an awesome spot for clubbers as DJs do a great job in supplying some brilliant club music ranging from trance to house to retro, techno and more. Dokkolo holds a high degree of glamour quotient, which means you'll come across a lot of glamourous people at this club.

This place ain't no garden of Eden and is definitely not the place for those walking around with a halo over their heads. With a name like Vörös Yuk that literally translates as Red Hell, this Hungarian nightclub is a haven for those who thrive on all things dark and mystical. This club is situated in an old factory building and the ambiance, live music, and crowd will definitely redefine your idea of 'brutal' and 'extreme'. The music at Vörös Yuk usually revolves around punk, goth, and rock. Call for event timings and additional information.

This tomb is the northernmost place of pilgrimage for Muslims. Hungary was under Turkish rule for 125 years (they got as far as the gates of Vienna before being beaten back). However, there's not much left of Turkish Budapest and this is probably the only remaining Turkish street. Gul Baba died soon after the capture of the city and did not have time to do very much here, although he is said to have introduced roses.

Raoul Wallenberg was a Swedish diplomat who is credited with saving the lives of 20,000 Jews during the war by providing safe houses and fake Swedish ID papers. He disappeared after the war and it is assumed that he died in a Soviet labour camp. By all accounts, he was a very brave man. This sculpture was put up in 1987 and it is here because the Communist authorities insisted that it was not to be placed in the centre of the city.

The Lukacs baths have become famous as a curative centre. The walls are covered with testimonial plaques from grateful visitors. Just about every type of water therapy is available here, including a drinking cure, Finnish sauna, dry room, steam room and much more besides. The site also has two swimming pools (20m and 25m), as well as a special weight bath for physiotherapy. If all of this sounds too strenuous, there is a sun deck on the roof. The outdoor pools are only open from May until October.

This huge swimming pool complex also features hot baths and lots of open space. It is rare in that it offers nude sunbathing in the heart of the city - there is both a women-only and a mixed area. There is also an exhilarating wave pool as well as lots of other facilities such as a children's playground and restaurant. This is a great place to stop off for a break after a walk around the island. Originally opened in the early 1920's, it has since expanded to what it is today 30 000 square meters of park and pool area. The large outdoor pool is approximately 100m long.

Catch Bus 65 and ride it to the terminus in order to escape the city. You'll wind up on Harmashatar-hegy (Three Border Hill), with unobstructed views of Budapest in all directions. It's a perfect spot for a picnic, a hike in the hills, or just to sit and dream. Sometimes hang gliders begin their flights here, but in general it's a very quiet and peaceful place. If you visit early in the morning or late at night, you may well find that you have the place all to yourself.

Why not explore one of Budapest's caves? This one is the city's largest (over seven kilometres have been explored so far) although the section available for visits is only 500 meters long. The walking itself is not so difficult, but at one point it is necessary to climb an iron ladder. There are stalactites and bats down here. Guided tours (mandatory) leave every half hour. Don't try this in high heels.

Sunday morning worship begins at 10:30am, preceded by 'Fellowship coffee' at 10am.The church has an international congregation, and encourages newcomers. Services are in English. The church is located in the green and hilly second district, an area that is full of ex pats. The building is not actually a church, but rather a sports center used for once a week services.

The Margit (Margaret) Bridge not only spans the Danube, it also links two roads. It connects Buda to Pest via the Nagykorut (outer ring road), as well as to Margit Island in the centre of the Danube. It was completed in 1876, although the spur leading onto the island was added in 1901. This section is the only remnant of the original structure, which was destroyed during World War II. The vista from here is arguably the most spectacular in Budapest, with a view of Parliament and Castle Hill illuminated at night and the curving Danube shimmering in the midst of it all.

Liszt Ferenc ter is home to both an academy of music named after the great man and a commemorative statue. The artist is portrayed as a somewhat wild-looking man, with hippie-like hair flying in all directions as he dramatically plays the keys of an organ. This location is also where you will find many trendy cafés and bars. Liszt would have been flattered and impressed.

Budapest is so full of history that it's easy to forget the Romans were here two thousand years ago. Their settlement was known as Aquincum, and the Aquincum museum brings its' history to life. A large outdoor area full of ruins gives us a clear picture of building layouts and patterns, while the museum itself houses some real treasures, including the world-famous portable water organ. This musical device clearly shows just how advanced the Romans actually were.