Hungary: Budapest (Her Fun Side)

Frank J Peter

Straddling the Danube in the center of Hungary, Budapest has risen from the dark days of Nazi and Soviet occupation to blossom into a top-notch travel destination…

Welcome to a photo essay of the fun side of Budapest: the architecture, cuisine, art, music, history, language, and street life that will wrap you in a delicious mix of old-world charm and modern comfort.

For my taste, Budapest is a cozier, grittier version of Paris at one-third the price. So, grab a fistful of Forint, buy a multi-day day metro pass, and let’s go!

Hungarian Forint
Money Exchange Kiosk

Budapest Metro System

7 Day Budapest Metro pass
Oktogon stop on Line 1, the very first metro on the European continent
Budapest Metro, going down
Newest Metro Line
Going Up!

Sightseeing

Chain Bridge and Saint Stephen’s Basilica
View of Pest from Gellert Hill
Mathias Church
The hilly Buda side of the city
The Chain Bridge
Basilica of Saint Stephen, the founder and patron saint of Hungary.
Hungarian Parliament Building, one of the most gorgeous pieces of architecture anywhere.
Changing of the Guard
Vajdahunyad Castle
Nighttime view of Parliament and Buda Castle from Margaret Bridge

Hungarian National Museum

Franze Liszt’s Piano! (Liszt Ferenc)

Hungarian National Art Gallery

Food & Drink

Breakfast at Maimano Cafe
Gulyas Leves (Herdsman’s Soup) at Paprika Vendeglo (the best in the city)
Kolbasz es kenyer (sausage & bread) at my favorite deli with my favorite lady!
Czirke Paprikas (chicken with paprika and dumplings), with a salad of pickled everything.
Langos, a Hungarian comfort food.
The classic Langos!
Great Market Hall…
the freshest food anywhere all under one roof…
Paprika, all you want!
A Hungarian dozen!
Hungarian Menu (Hint: “Levesek” means soups)
Czirke Leves (Chicken soup)
Hungarian wine is a well-kept secret. Here’s an Egri (literally, of Eger) Pinot Noir.
Supposedly the very first McDonald’s behind the Iron Curtain!
Taverna Dionysos, super tasty and super friendly Greek
Cafe Intenso, Kalvin Ter (Calvin Square)
Eszterhazy torta and a cappuccino
Do you see the inverted beer price?
(Soproni means “of Sopron”. .. Sopron is a city in Western Hungary)
Egészségedre! (To your health!)
Palacsinta (Hungarian crepes) for dessert
Stuffed cabbage
Pálinka (Hungarian fruit brandy)
Best seat in the house at Jack Doyle’s

Street Scenes

Lively Szell Kalman Ter (Square) on the Buda side
Peace Sign, Ligetvédők (park protectors)
Shisha bar
Rubik, inventor of the Rubik’s cube, is Hungarian!
A nice example of an udvar (court)
Public performance at the opera house
Oktogon (literally and actually and octagon)
Astoria
Mammut (Mammoth) Shopping Mall
Hungarian Alphabet
Jehovah’s witnesses
Graffiti
Hussars
One of the calling cards of the infamous Two-Tailed Dog Party
The Budapest Eye
Dixieland Jazz Band
Hungarian lesson: Days of the week
Spingtime along Andrassy Ut (Boulevard)
Men playing ping pong in City Park
Gentlemen playing chess in City Park
Old car with Hungarian licence plate, kids
Michael Jackson Memorial

Szimpla Kert Mozi

Szimpla Kert Mozi (literally “Simple movie garden”), the most famous of the “ruin pubs”.
Simply called “Szimpla” by those in the know…
Visit by day, when you have the place all to yourself…
and by night for the people and atmosphere.
Grab a drink and enjoy the silent, kooky black and white films.
Closed on Christmas Day

Szechenyi Bath

Finally, no visit to Budapest would be complete without an evening of relaxation at Szechenyi Bath.

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