Page 220 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Budapest

218  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

Sports Particularly popular is the
Hajós Olympic Pool on Margaret
Hungarians are fine athletes, as is testified by their consistently Island, which is named after
outstanding performances at competitive events, such as the Hungary’s first Olympic gold
Olympic Games. Budapest’s world-class sports facilities serve winner for swimming, who
as venues for many of these international events, including was also the pool’s architect.
Busy open-air swimming
European and World championships. Sporting opportunities options include Császár
for visitors to the city are both varied and accessible. Komjádi Uszoda and the
neighbouring Lukács Baths
(see p105), both of which can
Spectator Sports Horse Racing and be enjoyed even in winter as
Riding
Most competitive sporting events the hot spring water creates
are held either in the Ferenc As a nation of former nomads, a steamy atmosphere over
Puskás Stadium (see p159), the Hungarians have retained the water’s surface. For the
which currently seats 78,000 a great love of horses. In deepest spa water in the city,
spectators and is planned to be Budapest this passion finds head to the Széchenyi Baths
fully reconstructed by 2017, or its expression in horse racing, (see p155), which is the largest
in the mod ern, indoor Papp which is enormously popular. bathing complex in Europe.
László Budapest Sportaréna. A few hours spent at a racetrack However, the most atmospheric
Football remains the most can be a cheap and fun way and beautiful baths, and also
popular spectator sport, although of soaking up the local the hottest, are undoubtedly
it’s been some time since the atmosphere. Near the Albertirsai the 16th-century Turkish Rudas
national side was highly út is the Trotters’ Racecourse, Baths (see p97).
successful. In the 1950s, for at the Kincsem Park. Cycling is also gaining in
instance, Hungary beat England Those wishing to be rather popularity, particularly since the
6:3 at Wembley. League matches more energetic and ride instead introduction of cycling lanes to
in Budapest attract big crowds. of watch horses, should contact the city’s roads (see p237). If you
The atmos phere is particularly the National Riding School, want to play tennis, there are
electric when local favourites the Petneházy School, or the numerous courts available, but
Ferenc város, FTC, take to the pitch. Aranypatkó Riding Club. these tend to be monopolized
Two of the three great events by local Hungarians. Your best
regularly held in Budapest are the bet for a game is to befriend
Vivicitta Half Marathon and the Sporting Activities a local tennis player, or find a
Budapest Marathon. These are Practising sport for fitness hotel that has its own court.
run mid-April and mid-October, and pleasure is both cheap Despite the moderate climate,
respectively. The third big and popular in Budapest. it is also possible to undertake
sporting event is the Formula 1 Strolling through the city’s winter sports in Budapest.
Hungarian Grand Prix (see p63), parks, particularly on Margaret From December until March the
which takes place in August at Island, you will encounter scores Városliget Lake (see pp146–7)
the Mogyoród racing circuit. of eager joggers, both young is turned into a skating ring and
Hungarians achieve and not so young. The indoor many people take to the ice.
impressive results in boxing, and outdoor swimming pools Sváb Hill (see p165) is generally
canoeing, swimming, water are also full of regular visitors, snow-covered from December
polo and fencing, which are who come here for an hour to March and has several ski
all widely supported. or so of healthy exercise. runs and ski lifts.
DIRECTORY
Spectator Sports Horse Racing Petneházy School Lukács Baths
and Riding Feketefej utca 2–4. Frankel Leó utca 25–29.
Ferenc Puskás Tel (06 1) 397 50 48. Map 1 C1.
Stadium Aranypatkó Riding Tel (06 1) 326 16 95.
Istvánmezei út 3–5. Club Swimming Pools ∑ budapestspas.hu
Map 8 F1. Aranyhegyi út 18.
Tel (06 1) 471 41 00. Tel (06 70) 363 15 53. Császár Komjádi Rudas Baths
∑ magyarfutball.hu Kincsem Park Uszoda Döbrentei tér 9.
Albertirsai út 2–4. Frankel Leó út 55. Map 4 D2.
Papp László Map 1 B1. Tel (06 1) 356 13 22.
Budapest Sportaréna Tel (06 1) 433 05 20. Tel (06 1) 212 27 50.
Stefánia út 2. National Riding Széchenyi Baths
Map 8 F1. School Hajós Olympic Pool Allatkerti körút 11.
Tel (06 1) 422 26 00. Kerepesi út 7. Margitsziget. Map 6 D3.
∑ budapestarena.hu Tel (06 1) 210 26 63. Tel (06 1) 450 42 20. Tel (06 1) 363 32 10.

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