Page 12 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Budapest

10  INTRODUCING BUD APEST

GREAT DAYS IN BUDAPEST

This historic, sprawling city has so much to and then by length of stay. Sightseers should
offer it can be difficult to decide how best to manage everything on these itineraries, but
spend your time. Whether you are here for the selections can also be dipped into for
several days, or just wanting a flavour of this ideas. All routes are reachable by public
great city, you’ll find itineraries for some of transport. Price guides on pages 10 and
the best of Budapest’s attractions on the 11 are for two adults or for a family of two
following pages, arranged first under themes adults and two children, including lunch.

Afternoon The Finer Side of Life
A short walk along Tárnok utca
into central Buda, past myriad
souvenir shops, leads to Two adults allow at least
Fishermen’s Bastion (see p84). 35,000 HUF
From here there are glorious • A morning at the spa baths
views of Pest, especially • The Museum of Fine Arts
Parliament (see pp112–13) and
Chain Bridge (see p66), almost • A walk to the Opera
directly below. Do not fail to House
visit ancient Mátyás Church • Dinner at Gresham
(see pp86–7) – where there are Kávéház
organ concerts some summer
evenings – before walking along
the wonderfully preserved streets Morning
Passengers ride the antique Sikló funicular of Buda’s Old Town. Follow Start with coffee in Gerbeaud
railway up Castle Hill Fortuna utca round to Kapisztrán (see p201), the city’s most
tér and the lone, ruined tower of famous café. Then ride
St Mary Magdalene (see p88). the beautifully preserved
A Day on Castle Hill Peerless Lords’ Street (see Millennium Line (see p238)
p89), with its Gothic details and to Széchenyi Baths (see p155),
Two adults allow 25,000– peaceful courtyards, leads to and spend at least three hours
30,000 HUF the bizarre subterranean indulging in bathing, sauna,
• Art at the Royal Palace Labyrinth (see p89). Nearby massage and other treatments
Alabárdos (see p196) is the in glor ious imperial surround-
• Lunch in a Castle
courtyard perfect place for an early ings. Stop for lunch at Gundel
dinner in a medieval setting. Étterem (see p205).
• Concert at Mátyás Church
• A subterranean Labyrinth

Morning
Buda’s Castle District (see pp72–
89) towers over Pest. Winding
paths lead up Castle Hill from
Clark Adám tér, but the
traditional way up is by the
Sikló (see p239), a funicular
railway that opened in 1870.
Start the day with a tour of the
grounds of the Royal Palace
(see pp74–5). Take time to admire
the Romantic design of Mátyás
Fountain (see pp76–7), and to
visit the wonderful collection
of 19th-century Hungarian
paintings at the National Gallery
(see pp78–81). Leave the Palace
area through the ornamental
Habsburg Gate, then stop at
Rivalda (see p196) for a splendid
al fresco lunch. One of three outdoor pools at Széchenyi Baths, the deepest in Budapest
The coronation of Franz Joseph I by Ede Heinrich (1819–1885)

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