Attractions in District V (Budapest)

Cityrama Sightseeing Tours

This is one of the most established and reliable tour operators in the city. Prices quoted are per adult; children can go for half-price. Several tours are on offer and visitors can choose from Tours of the City, Parliament, Jewish Budapest, City by Night or in the Puszta countryside. You can also visit the Danube bend, Lake Balaton and Szentendre. Tours are offered in most languages, and a pick up service can be offered right at your hotel.

Danube tour

It is a beautiful river and this is a beautiful way to see it and the surrounding area. The tour will bus you to the Danube bend (a point where the river makes a sharp ninety-degree turn) at Visegrad, site of an ancient castle (allegedly that of Vlad The Impaler), and then on to Esztergom where there is a fine cathedral. After lunch, you will be taken back to Szentendre, a charming old Slav town which is now an artists' hang-out. There are lots of art galleries and also plenty of opportunity for shopping. Finally, you will return to Budapest by boat. NB the return trip is available only in summer - May to the end of September. The trip lasts around ten hours.

Lake Balaton Tour

Lake Balaton is the largest freshwater lake in Europe and was traditionally the only place West and East German families could meet. It still very much caters for Germans, though many Hungarians have a small summer house here. The south shore is a little tacky while the north is rather more upmarket. This tour starts at the famous Herend porcelain factory and goes on to the Tihany peninsula on the north shore. You will see the nature reserve and the 1000-year-old abbey. Have lunch in a country Csarda and then take a look around the spa town of Balatonfured. The tour lasts around nine hours. Tours operate on Saturdays from 9a, but hours may vary seasonally. Call or check the website for details.

Statue Park

Statues from the Communism era were all brought to this park after the era came to an end. The park is located a little away from the city and makes for an interesting outing to catch a glimpse of the communist history of Hungary. When you buy your ticket, be sure to also purchase the very well-researched and extremely informative guide-book. Without it the meaning and history of the statues will be lost to you. Guided tours are also offered throughout the week, check the website for details. 

Architecture

Much of Pest was built around the end of the 19th/early 20th century, and much is in the art-nouveau style (called 'secessionist' in Austria and Hungary). Just wander around the 5th, 6th and 7th districts and keep your eyes open, remembering to look up as well. Particularly note the fine buildings on Andrassy ut. and how similar they are to many Parisian buildings. (Budapest shares with Paris the fact that within one building are offices, shops and residences). Look inside the main doorway, as many of the buildings have fine courtyards and elaborate entrance doors and portals. Particularly see Szabadsag ter (Liberty Square - nearest metro Kossuth Lajos ter). The huge building on the west side was originally the Stock Exchange, now the HQ of Hungarian TV. The US embassy is at the NE corner at No.12. The National Bank at No.9 has some excellent relief carvings. (A number of scenes for the movie 'Evita' were filmed in this square.) Just the other side of the squar e to the east is Hold u. Here at No.4 is the outstanding National Savings Bank building, a riot of coloured ceramic Zsolnay tiles. Don't miss it. (The same architect did the Museum of Applied Arts on Ulloi u., which you probably passed on the way in from the airport.)

Tram number 2

Tram number 2 and 2a are used for normal public transport, but they also offer the tourist a wonderful ride. Running along an elevated section on the Duna side of the Danube, the tram windows offer exceptional views of Castle Hill, Gellert Hill, the Fisherman's Bastion and so on. Conveniently, the tram ends just past the parliament buildings. It's a great tour and only costs the price of a normal tram ticket.

Embankment Duna Korzo

This pleasant elevated walkway is much less crowded than Vaci utca and has magnificent views across the Danube to the Buda side. You will pass several of the city's finest hotels - all of which are equipped with spacious, sun-drenched terraces - as well as many private restaurants and cafés. You will also see the famous, ever-popular Budapest wooden chairs and benches - if you have a good look around you'll eventually find a free one. The No 2 tram runs between the korzo and the river and down below is a road where cars rush by out of sight. If you continue walking to the northern end of the korzo, you'll reach the Chain Bridge.

Boats

Being a city cut in two by the Danube, it's only natural that there are quite a few options when it comes to taking a boat trip. In fact you can go to Vienna or Bratislava by hydrofoil, or a little closer to home, to Szentendre or Visegrad. You can also just see the city, not really going anywhere. To Szentendre: boats leave from Vigado ter starting April 1, at 9am. These boats are getting increasingly overcrowded, so arrive early to get a seat. To Visegrad: boats leave at 8am and 9am. To Bratislava and Vienna: boats leave from Belgrad rakpart at 9am in April and 8am from May 1 (tel: +36 1 318 1743). Along the river: from Boraros ter, Thu-Sun, 9am, 11:40 am, 12:40 pm and 3:20 pm (the trip takes about an hour).

Inner City Parish Church

The first version of this church (which is still in use) was built in the twelfth century. A fourteenth century replacement was turned into a mosque by the Turks (a prayer niche indicating the direction of Mecca can still be seen near the altar). After a fire in 1723, it was partly rebuilt in the baroque style we see today.

Petofi ter

This small grassy square is dedicated to Sandor Petofi. The statue in the centre is of the great man himself. He was both a poet and a revolutionary. His most famous poem ('Arise Hungarians!') is partially credited with starting the revolution of 1848 (which Petofi participated in as a leader). Petofi went on to fight in the War of Independence. He died in the Battle of Segesvar. The bronze statue (the work of Miklos Izso) was put up in 1882 and since then the park has become an important national rallying place. It is still used for ceremonies on Hungarian National Day.

Információs Irodák

This open and airy office has all kinds of pamphlets, brochures, maps and information. They cover not only Budapest, but the whole country as well. Some of their best pamphlets are not on the shelves; you must ask for them specially (baths for example, or museums). The agency is run jointly by the National Tourist Office and the Tourism Area of the Economic Ministry. Their services are free. They have two other locations in Budapest as well; Nyugati train station and Kiraly utca 93.  

St. Stephen's Basilica

This church is said to be second in size only to St. Peter's in Rome and can allegedly hold 7,000 people. It was completed in 1905 and has been undergoing cleaning and restoration work for the last eight years. It contains the mummified hand of St. Stephen himself, which is paraded around the city on his name day. The cathedral has a height of 96 metres - exactly the same as the Parliament building. As part of the guided tour you can visit the viewing platform above the cupola from where, needless to say, you will be able to enjoy splendid views.