A Budapest summer adventure glossary

Cogwheel Railway: special tramway ascending the Buda Hills
Bike: to be rented to discover Pest, which is flat – much less fun in hilly Buda!
Boat tours on the Danube: head for Margaret Island, Római part, or Szentendre
Children’s railway: winding through the Buda Hills, operated by 10 to 14-year-old children
Bringó hintó: a Margaret Island speciality vehicle, four-wheeled and pedal-driven – fun for the family
Skateboarding: best seen in Erzsébet Square and Heroes’ Square
BMX cyclists: easiest to spot at Heroes’ Square
Segway Tours: ideal for Budapest – a space age vehicle, always used in small groups, with a guide
Tram No. 2: on the Pest riverfront – incredibly scenic route
The chair-lift (‘Libegő’): enjoy the fresh air and a panorama of the Buda Hills
Pedicab: a new form of sightseeing with the minimum of effort
‘Sikló’ funicular railway: ascend to Buda Castle in style

The garden of Apacuka restaurant

A lesser-known summer student hangout is Apacuka (the name is from a nursery rhyme). It is very near some university halls of residence, in the courtyard of a former factory, with a large chimney. There is a gallery and some ateliers inside the building, and a large terrace outside: a nice mix.

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Address: VIII. Horánszky utca 5.
Web: http://www.apacuka.com

Szent István Park and Café Dunapark

Szent István Park is a large and well-kept green area, ideal for reading and observing local people, right at the Pest end of Margaret Bridge. There are many little shops – among them half a dozen independent bookshops – and restaurants from the cheap to the luxurious. If you’re hungry, you should go to the split-level grand café called Dunapark. You can even join in a card party upstairs.

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Address: XIII. Pozsonyi út 38.
Web: http://www.dunapark-kavehaz.hu

Zöld Pardon – ‘the longest summer festival’

A very large green area by the Buda end of Petőfi Bridge, between two engineering and science campuses. In the summer the halls of residence operate as youth hostels. Live music, cool drink and food at reasonable prices – the perfect place to get to know the new Hungarian generation.

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Address: XI. Goldmann György tér, Southern part
Web: http://www.zp.hu

Romkert

Don’t be fooled by first impressions: over the few years of its existence Romkert (‘garden of ruins’) has become one of the most popular open-air spots. Located on the riverfront by the Buda end of Erzsébet Bridge, next to the ancient walls of the Rudas Baths, its bar and dance floor are always crowded. You can sit at tables and listen to a good mix of music, from electronic to R’n’B, or even rock. This is a place to start or finish your ‘grand tour’ of night adventures!

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Address: I. Döbrentei tér 2.
Web: http://www.romkert.hu

Ráday Street –Budapest’s Soho

Nowadays this street is often called ‘Budapest’s Soho’: a street with about two dozen cafés, bars and terraces, from Kálvin Square to Bakáts Square, frequented by locals, visitors and students from the universities and halls of residence nearby. The trendiest places are Soul Café, Paris Texas, IF and Jaffa. It is home to theatre festivals, concerts, small designer shops and galleries. (From Kálvin square to Bakáts square.)

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Address: IX. Ráday utca

Hajós utca

Hajós utca is a side street off Andrássy út, near the Opera House. It is a rapidly growing café and restaurant area with a cosy atmosphere. The trendiest places are Balettcipő (‘ballet shoe’), Chagall and Picasso Point. (Between Andrássy út and Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út)

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Address: VI. Hajós utca

Jazz Garden

A group of former jazz musicians decided to create the club of their dreams. As they are in the waterproofing business, they dared to buy a cellar – near the river! They managed to create the feeling of a starry sky, with over six hundred little lights built into the ceiling. These form changing patterns, according to the calendar! It’s great fun, with live jazz and an upscale crowd.

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Address: V. Veres Pálné utca 44/a
Web: http://www.jazzgarden.hu

Jardinette

This is a great garden restaurant in an unusual place: on a hilltop opposite a large cemetery. It was once called ‘The Grey Donkey’ – in earlier times there was no mains water supply here, and fresh water was brought daily in tanks on carts drawn by donkeys. It is now an upmarket place patronised by the cultural elite. Choose a light meal, have a glass of wine and enjoy the shade of the mature trees. Most probably you will be the only tourists here.

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Address: XI. Németvölgyi út 136.
Web: http://www.jardinette.hu

Falafel Faloda – oriental delicacies

A vegetarian salad bar with good falafel (chickpea balls) and a crowded seating area upstairs. Guests include students from the nearby music conservatory, and sometimes professors– including one of the greatest cellists of our time.

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Address: VI. Paulay Ede utca 53.

Főzelék Faló – for a quick lunch like the locals have

This is a very small shop with hardly any space to stand up in, and a constant queue at lunchtimes. A specialist in főzelék (a vegetable dish with roux), it is in the heart of ‘Budapest’s Broadway’, the theatre district (and more) in the city centre.

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Address: VI. Nagymező utca 22.

Hold utca Market – a quick bite at a typical market

A traditional market with a great choice of all kinds of quick bite. Bank ladies of all ages mix with tourists and construction workers. You can find a good fishmonger here – not to be overlooked.

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Address: V. Hold utca 13.
Web: http://www.csapi.hu

Ice Cream Adventures in Budapest

The traditional Auguszt (Fény utca 8, District II); the ‘only known by locals’ Daubner (Szépvölgyi út 50, District II); the elegant Dunapark (Poszonyi út 48, District XIII); the famous Gerbeaud (Vörösmarty tér 7, District V); the retro Jégbüfé (Ferenciek tere 10, District V); the chic Lukács (Andrássy út 70, District VI); and the homely Szalay Cukrászda (Balassi Bálint utca 7, District V).

Rómaifürdő – a lido built on ruins

Rómaifürdő (‘Roman Bath’) is on the site of the former Roman garrison Aquincum, not far from the museum and two amphitheatres. There was most probably an open-air bath here in Roman times. Very near the Danube riverfront, it is a leisure pool complex, with modern equipment.

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Address: III. Rozgonyi Piroska utca 2.
Web: http://www.spasbudapest.com

Csillaghegy pool

These open-air baths are built into the hillside – the swimming pool and lido are o¬n the lower level, with the children's pool and sun-bathing area further uphill. Open all year round. Patrons love its chilly water and the topless part.

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Address: III. Pusztakúti út 3.
Web: http://www.spasbudapest.com

Aquaworld

The latest huge beach complex, and certainly the biggest in Hungary and the region. Under a vast plastic dome there are pools, steam baths and water slides – there is even a training pool for windsurfing! It is all connected to a large open-air section, just opened this year.

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Address: Ramada Resort – Aquaworld Budapest, IV. Íves út 16.
Web: http://www.aqua-world.hu