Budapest interesting places. Sugar shop "Sugar!". Former Turkish Bank Building

In the Middle Ages, it was believed that there were three pearls in Europe: Venice - on the water, Florence - on the plain and Buda - on the hills. Buda is one of the three Hungarian settlements, which in 1873, together with Obuda and Pest, formed the city of Budapest.

1. Philosophical garden

Mount Gellert is one of the main attractions of Budapest. Tourists from all over the world strive to its top to see with their own eyes the memorial of St. Gellert, the statue of "Liberty" (Szabadság Emlékmű), the Citadel, the famous baths, and also admire the views of the city.

And few people know that, in addition to the above, there is another amazing place on Mount Gellert. This is the so-called philosophical garden. It contains 8 bronze sculptures: Abraham, Akhenaten, Jesus, Buddha, Lao Tzu, Mahatma Gandhi, Daruma and Francis Diaz. The first five represent the major world religions. They stand on a round pedestal, in the center of which is a small steel ball. Nearby are the statues of Gandhi, Daruma and St. Francis - people who lived in different time, V different places but reached a high spiritual level.

The author of this philosophical message to humanity is the famous Hungarian sculptor and artist Nandor Wagner. This is one of the most important projects of the master, he worked on it for the last 15 years of his life.

"Philosophical Garden" is a quiet and cozy place. The figures of great spiritual leaders suggest various reflections. But, looking at them, everyone thinks about something of their own.

Address: Gellert-hegy
Wiki: Nandor Wagner

2. House "Gourmet Samosh"

There lived Mladen Savitch (Szavits Mladen). He was very poor, but madly in love with sweets and studied pastry skills in one of the pastry shops in Budapest. Once a Danish confectioner came there and gave a master class on making marzipan roses. Mladen learned this lesson well. After some time, he met a girl named Samosh. They fell in love with each other and got married. And the young man taught her whole family to make marzipan roses.

Thus began the history of the Szamos confectionery house, known throughout Hungary. There are more than 10 establishments in Budapest where you can buy branded sweets, but the best of them is located on Vörösmarthy Square.

It is there that the legendary Gourmet Samosh House is located, which is simultaneously a cafe, a chocolate boutique and a chocolatier school.

At the entrance, guests are greeted by a girl with a tray in her hands, carrying hot chocolate. This is an exact copy of the maid from the painting "Chocolate Girl" by the Swiss artist Jean-Étienne Lyotard (XVIII century). It took 800 hours and 70 kg of marzipan to make the figure.

IN local cafe you can taste more than 40 types of handmade chocolates, as well as treat yourself to the favorite dessert of the Queen of Austria-Hungary Elisabeth - the famous Dobos cake. The recipe for this sweet miracle of sponge cake, chocolate cream and caramel icing was invented in 1885 by a confectioner named Jozsef Dobos, since then the cake of the same name has been one of business cards Hungarian cuisine.

But, perhaps, the most interesting thing in the Gourmet Samosh House is the chocolatier school. Do you want to know how sweets were made many years ago and what technologies are used now? Or learn how to make chocolates with your own hands? Then be sure to visit one of the Szamos workshops.

3. ParaPark

You enter the basement. The door closes tightly behind you. Trap. Trap. In the hands of the card. Twilight. A chilling silence. And suddenly a bright flash of light. We need to go, because the timer is already ticking... There is only one way to get out - to think!

This is not the plot of an American horror movie - this is a game popular among the youth of Budapest. The essence is simple: you and your comrades (from 2 to 5 people) are locked in a labyrinth. You have a map and a collective mind at your disposal. To get out of there, you need to solve logical puzzles, be attentive and ingenious. It is very similar to an action-packed computer game, only the difference is that you are not just controlling a character - you are on the other side of the monitor, you are in the thick of things.

The ParaPark game has an age limit - people over 14 years old can take part in it. However, this "quest" is completely safe. There are no life-threatening tasks, you just need to search for artifacts and solve puzzles. If you love adventure, then this is the place for you.

Address: Vajdahunyad 4
Website: parapark.hu
Working mode: Thursday-Sunday from 13:30 to 24:00

4. Cafe with cats

Do you love cats? Come on, admit it - everyone loves cats. After all, they are so mi-mi-cute. However, not everyone has the opportunity to have a cat. Someone is too lazy to care, someone's wife does not allow, and someone's living conditions do not allow. If you are one of those "unfortunates", then you have a direct road to the Cat Café.

"Cafe with cats" is a new type of leisure for Europe. The bottom line is this: an ordinary-looking cafe, where you can drink coffee and eat a pie, also turns into a cattery. As a result, visitors can not only eat, but also play with cats. Isn't it lovely?

For the first time such a cafe appeared in Taiwan already in 1998, but they gained particular popularity in Japan, after the opening of the Cat Cafe in Osaka in 2004. By the way, in the country rising sun it was the "housing problem" that caused the spread of Cat Café - many Japanese do not have the opportunity to have pets.

Now fashion has reached Europe. First in London, then in Vienna, and finally, in the winter of 2013, Cat Café appeared in Budapest.

Rather, in the capital of Hungary today there are already two such establishments. One of them is located on Rue Révay. You can't smoke at the Cat Cafe in Budapest, but you can bring your own kitty toys and eat free wifi. This is one of rare places, where you will not be bored, even if you came to drink a cup of coffee alone.

It should be noted that the idea of "Cafe with cats" has its supporters and opponents. The former simply enjoy the opportunity to communicate with their tailed, whiskered friends, while the latter say that this is a “mockery” of our smaller brothers and sheer unsanitary conditions. Would you like to go to such a cafe?

Address: Revay, 3
Website: catcafebudapest.hu
Working mode: daily from 10:00 to 22:00

5. Rack railway

The transport network of Budapest is very developed: there is a metro (the oldest in Europe), and trams (the longest in Europe), and buses, and trolleybuses and trains. But perhaps the most outlandish public transport the Hungarian capital is a jagged Railway.

A rack railway is a railway with an additional gear wheel and, accordingly, the same rail. The toothed rail is laid in the middle, between the usual ones. Thanks to gear wheel and rail, the train can overcome steeper slopes, so such railways are often built in mountainous areas.

In Budapest, a gear "piece of iron" was built in 1874, its length is 4.5 km. The route runs from Városmajor, through the Buda Mountains to an altitude of about 400 meters, to Szechenyi Mountain. As you understand, these places are extremely picturesque, so in a few minutes of lifting you can fully enjoy the views of Budapest. True, there are also disadvantages - the gear mechanism is quite noisy.

But it's still a great attraction. Moreover, not far from its final station there is another amazing piece of iron - one of the best in Europe, the famous Budapest Children's Railway.

Address: Városmajor (two stops from tram number 59 on Moszkva tér) - Széchenyi Hill (two minutes walk from Normafa)
Website: bkv.hu
Wiki: Rack railway

6. Sugar shop

Another incredibly sweet spot in Budapest is the store with the gaudy name Sugar!. If you think that sugar is a white "sand" or molded refined sugar that we put in tea, then you are deeply mistaken. Sugar is art.

At least for people with imagination. After all, you can make Cinderella's shoe, a flower pot, the Eiffel Tower and many more bizarre multi-colored figures out of it. And all of them can be purchased by Sugar! Such masterpieces even have a pity.

And in the sugar shop you will find a huge amount of lollipops, dragees, sweets, cupcakes, unusual cakes (for example, in the form of a Coca-Cola can), ice cream and other sweets.

From the variety and bright colors just run your eyes. According to the owners, the purpose of their establishment is to make our life sweeter. At the Sugar Store! you will definitely be able to sweeten the gray everyday life. But going there with women and children is not recommended - there are too many temptations, and the prices are by no means sugary.

Address: Paulay Ede 48
Website: sugarshop.hu
Working mode: Monday - from 12:00 to 22:00, Tuesday-Sunday - from 10:30 to 22:00

7. The boys from Pala street

In 1906, the Hungarian writer and playwright Ferenc Molnár wrote one of his best works, the teenage novel The Boys from Pala Street (A Pál utcai fiúk).

This is a simple story about how boys become men. At that time, the youth of Budapest were raving about militarism, and the boys on Pala Street also played "army".

The protagonist of the novel is "Private" Erno Nemechek. The smallest, but the most fearless, he shows by personal example that for a man the word "honor" is not an empty phrase. At the end, Nemechek, as befits a hero, dies.

The monument to the boys from Pala street shows one of the first scenes of the novel. Teenagers on the way from school stop in a vacant lot to play balls. But local hooligans liked their balls. That's where it all started...

Molnar's novel earned respect in the literary environment, was translated into several languages (including Russian) and filmed. For example, the story of the boys from Pala Street is the basis for the 1934 American film No Greater Glory.

Address: Prater utca
Wiki: Ferenc Molnar

Tells about when it is better to go to the city on the Danube, what to see if you have only two days, where you can see a stunning panorama, where you can find ice cream in the form of a rose and much more interesting for everyone who dreams of spending an unforgettable time in the Hungarian capital .

Why go to Budapest?

We have all heard about how romantic Paris is, majestic Rome, beautiful Barcelona and beautiful Amsterdam. However, few people can say what Budapest is famous for. Only in the last couple of years have travelers begun to pay attention to one of the most beautiful cities of Eastern Europe, and there are many reasons for that. Budapest is an original city that harmoniously combines past and present. This city is unlike any other in terms of atmosphere. Budapest is a city on the banks of the Danube, a city of majestic bridges, a city that sinks into the soul once and for all.

When is the best time of year to visit Budapest?

Budapest is beautiful at any time of the year. People come here for Christmas markets to drink mulled wine with gingerbread, in autumn they wrap up warmer and climb Mount Gellert, in summer they spend days on end in the famous baths, and in spring ... In spring, the city comes to life and becomes special. Therefore, to explore the capital of Hungary, I recommend the second half of March and April.

Do you know why Budapest is special at this time? It is in the spring that the three most important holidays for Hungarians take place here. The first - the Spring Festival - is the brightest cultural event not only in Hungary, but throughout Europe. Classical music, opera, jazz, pop, ethnic music, dance and theatrical performances, art installations - all this is arranged right on the streets of the city. The second is a national Hungarian holiday: the whole country celebrates the beginning of the revolution and the war for independence. And finally, the third - Easter. Thematic fairs are held in the city center where you can taste dishes national cuisine and buy original souvenirs.

But this is not the most important thing. While everyone is frantically updating the weather forecast at home, rejoicing at even a slight warming, magnolias, almond trees, cherries, apple trees and even sakura are in full bloom in Budapest! The air warms up to +20 degrees and the best thing to do is to take a bike and ride around the city from morning to evening, interrupted by coffee in the morning and Tokay wine in the evening. Arriving here in the spring, along with the city, you yourself come to life.

What is the best way to get to the city from the airport?

The simplest and inexpensive way- bus 200E. If I'm not mistaken, this is the only bus that stops at the airport, so you definitely won't get confused and go the other way. The route goes to the metro station on the outskirts of the city, from where the journey to the center takes a maximum of 20 minutes. By the way, the fare for public transport is fixed - 350 forints for one trip.

What is the best way to get around the city?

Budapest is divided into two parts: hilly historical Buda and modern Pest. Along the banks of the Danube lie the most beautiful and convenient routes for tourists, along which the legendary yellow trams run. The tram in Budapest is not only the most convenient and common means of transportation, but also great way to see the city. Moreover, Hungarians love trams so much that even decorate before Christmas. Looks fabulous!

Which of tourist spots a must see and visit if you only have two days in the city?

Two days for Budapest is quite a bit, but quite enough to fall in love with the Hungarian capital and someday return again. So the minimum program is:

Take the old funicular up fishermen's bastion, enjoy the view of the city and try the main gastronomic pride of Hungary - marzipan. It is sold here at museum and so fresh that even those who do not really like this sweetness will like it. After you can go down on foot, cross the Danube along chain bridge and walk along the promenade towards the building Hungarian Parliament- the main attraction of the country.

From the Parliament, you can drive a couple of stops towards the center by tram or walk on foot to St Stephen's Basilica- the main cathedral of Budapest. Upstairs there Observation deck, but after the view from the Fisherman's Bastion, it is unlikely to impress you, but there is something that definitely deserves attention - the famous ice cream Gelarto Rosa. It is served here in the form of a rose, the petals of which can be not only with the taste of classic strawberries and chocolate, but also with the taste of olive oil, rosemary, pumpkin and even whiskey! This is a must taste.

Not far from the Basilica is the main tourist street cities - Vaci. Here you can buy souvenirs and eat delicious food. For example, in For Sale Pub. After the famous ruin pubs of Budapest, this pub is undoubtedly the most atmospheric. Delicious food here traditional dishes and there are chips: on the tables there are plates with peanuts, the husks from which you can throw right on the floor, and the ceiling and walls are hung with checks, tickets, banknotes and even passports.

And finally, to the most interesting. A boat trip along the Danube at night is a mandatory item, which I strongly advise against refusing. Words are redundant here. It's amazing.

Which non-tourist places should be seen to feel the atmosphere of the city?

The first thing that comes to mind - margaret island. It is located in the city center between the Margherita and Arpad bridges. Margit plays the role central park and is a favorite vacation spot for all residents of the city. They arrange jogging and cycling here, come with their families for picnics, go in for sports, meditate, walk with dogs, which joyfully run after frisbees through green meadows. If somewhere in Budapest there is an idyll, then it is here.

Another place is the famous Hungarian baths. There are a lot of them in Budapest, but, in my opinion, the most beautiful and atmospheric - Széchenyi. Locals buy subscriptions and go to the baths all year round. In the morning, tourists relax here, grandfathers play chess right on the water and the residents just relax, but in the evening Széchenyi changes dramatically and becomes a platform for stylish parties. Not every day, but quite often, pool parties are held here, where students gather and come off in full.

Favorite "secret" places in Budapest?

Undoubtedly Mount Gellert. While all the tourists crowd on the Fisherman's Bastion, Gellert is quiet and beautiful. The reason is that tourists are too lazy to climb Gellert on foot. It's like a mountain, climbing which takes about an hour, but it's worth it. As a reward, you will get a stunning view not only of the Danube and Pest, but also a view of another part of the city behind the hill. This is the only place from which you can see absolutely the whole of Budapest.

ruin pub Szimpla Kert is not a secret for tourists, but this particular pub is the most atmospheric in the city. It will not be difficult for you to find other creative bars, for example, in the Gozsdu Udvar , where I highly recommend visiting for bar-hopping. However, ruin pubs are a separate feature. Forget everything you've seen before. Szimpla Kert is a flight of the designer's fantasy, not without the image of a hangout, but very, very stylish. There are themed creative rooms on two floors, and juicy burgers are grilled in a cozy courtyard. Ruin pubs are the essence of Budapest: a bit of tasteful madness hidden from prying eyes.

tips:

The Smart City application will build a public transport route to any point in the city and works offline, just like the excellent navigator for pedestrians maps.me.
In addition to buses, trams and the metro, Budapest has water trams that run along a specific route and cost five times cheaper than tourist boats. For example, a ticket from a promoter on the coast will cost 3,500–4,000 forints, and 750 forints for one trip on a water tram. Great option to see the city. Best routes- D11 and D12.
Login to observation deck Fisherman's Bastion costs 700 forints. However, you can come before 9 am and enjoy the view for free without tourists and fuss. If you're not a morning person, then it's better to go up to the cafe in north tower, buy a coffee with a croissant and admire the panorama from there.
If you decide to go up to the observation deck of St. Stephen's Basilica, there is one loophole: usually tourists buy a ticket and go up the spiral staircase without hesitation, but you can go 20 meters to the left from the entrance and take the elevator.

What mistakes do many tourists make when they come to Budapest?

They walk exclusively along Vaci and go to the sights using the navigator. All the most authentic is hidden from tourist routes. Use public transport, deviate from the guidebook routes more often, pay attention to details and get a feel for the city. Taking impressions with you is more important than magnets and postcards.

A couple of non-touristic restaurants and coffee houses for breakfast, lunch and dinner:

Delicious lunches with large portions, reasonable prices and friendly service in

Budapest is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world; it is the "pearl" of Europe with chic architectural monuments, hearty cuisine and affordable prices. Here are the top attractions in Budapest:

The building of the Hungarian Parliament. This is a majestic building on the banks of the Danube with a chic facade. Perhaps this is not just a landmark, it is a symbol of the whole of Hungary. After all, not every capital managed to get so much beautiful building which guests of the city do not get tired of admiring! Important state meetings are held in the parliament, but there is also a place for tourists here. Anyone can take a tour of and admire the crown of St. Stephen, the saber of the Renaissance period and the mace of power.

Sights of Budapest: Hungarian Parliament

Hungarian National Gallery. This huge gallery houses about 100,000 works by Hungarian artists. The National Gallery, which takes an honorable second place in the list of interesting places in Budapest, is located in the building Royal Palace and occupies three wings.

Baths Gellert. Budapest is famous for its famous baths with thermal water, the Gellert bath is rightfully considered the most unusual and beautiful of them. The building of the bath looks more like a palace than a hydropathic. Beautiful not only the facade with stained glass windows, but also the interior with 13 therapeutic pools, marble columns, fountains and bronze statues.

Park Varosliget. The picturesque park is located in the Pest area and is popular place Budapest for family walks. On its territory there is an artificial lake, a zoo, Botanical Garden, museum fine arts and "Merry Park" with attractions for children.

Hungarian National Museum. This museum is more than two hundred years old, its exposition is represented by collections of coins, manuscripts and books. All museum exhibits are devoted to history, culture and art.

Széchenyi Bridge. Finally, we got to the most recognizable landmark of Budapest! It is a bridge connecting the districts of Buda and Pest across the Danube River in the heart of the city. The design of the bridge is striking in its scale; at the time of its construction, it was considered a miracle of engineering and construction. , as the Szechenyi bridge is also called, had great importance in the life of the city - it symbolized the unification of Buda and Pest into a single whole.

Sightseeing in Budapest: Chain Bridge

Basilica of Saint Stephen. This basilica is the most famous temple Hungary, the relics of St. Stephen, who is the founder of this country, are kept here. Attention is attracted by the magnificent dome and observation deck with beautiful view to Budapest.

Mount Gellert. The name of the mountain is dedicated to Saint Gerard of Hungary, the enlightener of the country. Gerard of Hungary died a prisoner in a barrel that was thrown down a mountain. At the top of the mountain rises the Citadel, which was built in the 19th century to control the city. Today it is a wonderful recreation area with a restaurant, cafe and panoramic views of the Danube and the beauties of the city.

Interesting places in Budapest - view from Gellert

Royal Palace. A chic baroque palace is located in the very center of the city. It plays an important role cultural center, in the building of the palace there is a national gallery, a museum of the history of Budapest, a library named after Szechenyi. The palace is surrounded by a beautiful square with a magnificent view of the Danube and Pest.

Széchenyi bath. This is a popular bath in Budapest and the largest health complex in Europe. Water procedures V thermal pools will bring great pleasure to the guests of Budapest. The architectural design of the baths is also beautiful, the walls and ceilings are decorated with patterns, stucco, statues and paintings.

1. Philosophical garden

And few people know that, in addition to the above, there is another amazing place on Mount Gellert. This is the so-called philosophical garden. It contains 8 bronze sculptures: Abraham, Akhenaten, Jesus, Buddha, Lao Tzu, Mahatma Gandhi, Daruma and Francis Diaz. The first five represent the major world religions. They stand on a round pedestal, in the center of which is a small steel ball. Nearby are the statues of Gandhi, Daruma and St. Francis - people who lived at different times, in different places, but reached a high spiritual level.

"Philosophical Garden" is a quiet and cozy place. The figures of great spiritual leaders suggest various reflections. But, looking at them, everyone thinks about something of their own.

Address: Gellert-hegy
Wiki: Nandor Wagner

2. House "Gourmet Samosh"

It is there that the legendary Gourmet Samosh House is located, which is simultaneously a cafe, a chocolate boutique and a chocolatier school.

In a local cafe, you can taste more than 40 types of hand-made chocolates, as well as treat yourself to the favorite dessert of Queen Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary - the famous Dobos cake. The recipe for this sweet miracle of sponge cake, chocolate cream and caramel icing was invented in 1885 by a confectioner named Jozsef Dobos, since then the cake of the same name has been one of the hallmarks of Hungarian cuisine.

3. ParaPark

Address: Vajdahunyad 4
Website: parapark.hu
Working mode: Thursday-Sunday from 13:30 to 24:00

4. Cafe with cats

For the first time such a cafe appeared in Taiwan already in 1998, but they gained particular popularity in Japan, after the opening of the Cat Cafe in Osaka in 2004. By the way, in the Land of the Rising Sun, it was the "housing problem" that caused the spread of Cat Café - many Japanese do not have the opportunity to have pets.

Now fashion has reached Europe. First in London, then in Vienna, and finally, in the winter of 2013, Cat Café appeared in Budapest.

Rather, in the capital of Hungary today there are already two such establishments. One of them is located on Rue Révay. The Cat Cafe in Budapest is non-smoking, but you can bring your own kitty toys and there is free Wi-Fi. This is one of the rare places where you will not be bored, even if you came to drink a cup of coffee alone.

Address: Revay, 3
Website: catcafebudapest.hu
Working mode: daily from 10:00 to 22:00

5. Rack railway

A rack railway is a railway with an additional gear wheel and, accordingly, the same rail. The toothed rail is laid in the middle, between the usual ones. Thanks to the gear wheel and rail, the train can overcome steeper slopes, so such railways are often built in mountainous areas.

But it's still a great attraction. Moreover, not far from its final station there is another amazing piece of iron - one of the best in Europe, the famous Budapest Children's Railway.

Address: Városmajor (two stops from tram number 59 on Moszkva tér) - Széchenyi Hill (two minutes walk from Normafa)
Website: bkv.hu
Wiki: Rack railway

6. Sugar shop

And in the sugar shop you will find a huge amount of lollipops, dragees, sweets, cupcakes, unusual cakes (for example, in the form of a Coca-Cola can), ice cream and other sweets.

Address: Paulay Ede 48
Website: sugarshop.hu
Working mode: Monday - from 12:00 to 22:00, Tuesday-Sunday - from 10:30 to 22:00

7. The boys from Pala street

In 1906, the Hungarian writer and playwright Ferenc Molnár wrote one of his best works, the teenage novel The Boys from Pala Street (A Pál utcai fiúk).

This is a simple story about how boys become men. At that time, the youth of Budapest were raving about militarism, and the boys on Pala Street also played "army".

Address: Prater utca
Wiki: Ferenc Molnar