Attractions in District II (Budapest)

Tomb of Gul Baba

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 Monument

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.

Cogwheel Railway

To get to this delightful ride, take tram 56 from Moskva ter to the cylindrical Budapest Hotel. The railway, which was originally built in 1874, hauls itself up the amazingly steep hills using a cog system underneath the train, which engages with a rack on the tracks. The train is Swiss-made (which stands to reason really, as the Swiss certainly know a thing or two about getting up steep hills). First, it goes up Svab Hill and then up to the top of Szechenyi Hill. At the top, there is a pleasant picnic area, which is popular for dog-walking and kite-flying. The restaurant in the hotel at the top offers a superb view over the city.

Kiraly Medicinal Bath

This is one of the few remaining Turkish baths in Budapest. Built in 1565 by the Pasha of Buda, it remains popular to this day. The Turks were so concerned that they might not be able to use the hot baths if the city was besieged, they had this one constructed within the castle walls. They piped the water in over a considerable distance, and today the building stands as a magnificent testament to their ingenuity. The four baths range in temperature from a pleasing 26 degrees centigrade right up to an endurance-testing 40 degrees centigrade.

International Baptist Church

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.

Pálvölgyi Cave

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.

Mushroom hunting

A fun and popular family pastime is mushroom hunting in the Buda hills. The optimal time to hunt fungi is late summer, after a rain. It is best, but not essential, to go by car to reach areas off the beaten track. Use baskets and box tops to keep from crushing your specimens, separating the types with newspaper. Field guides are useful, but don't rely on them exclusively.

Margit (Margaret) Bridge

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.

Rozsadomb

This is a terribly romantic area; the name means Rose Hill. The roses came from the Turks, and were planted by the same Gul Baba as the street is named after (ironically the only street in Budapest to be named after a Turk), and the same man is commemorated by the Gul Baba tomb. There are some fine views out over the city from the heights, and it's pleasant to randomly walk around the streets. Here and there, there are small local restaurants (vendeglos) as well as lots of pensions and small stores. Many of the houses are very fine as well, and then of course there are the roses...

Moszkva ter

This busy and bustling square is an important transport hub and a good location to become familiar with. The red metro line (M2) passes through here on its way to Deli station, the Castle Hill bus starts and ends here, and it's also the starting point for catching transport up into the beautiful green Buda hills. The name means Moscow square.The square is also like a small bazaar, with every type of activity going on. There is a large shopping center right next to it (Mammut).

Bem Jozsef ter

This square lies at the foot of the Margit (Margaret) Bridge, on the Buda side. It is dominated by a statue of Jozsef Bem, a beloved Polish general during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848-49. He was fondly called Bem Apo ('Father Bem'). The square commemorates the strategic recapture of the Pilski Bridge in 1849, which was unfortunately not sufficient to win the war. Bem fled to Turkey and became governor of Aleppo after converting to Islam.

Szent Lukacs Gyogyfurdo

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.