Page 238 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Budapest

236  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

GETTING AROUND BUDAPEST

Budapest is a sprawling city with many The infrastructure of Budapest is chiefly
suburban districts. However, most of its determined by the körúts (ring roads) and
main tourist attractions are centrally the boulevards that radiate out from the
located and can be easily reached by the city centre and into the city’s suburbs.
city’s public transport system, or on foot. The metro system mainly operates in
The many choices of transport by rail, Pest with some stations in Buda, while
road and even water provide visitors efficient tram and bus networks are easy to
to Budapest with ample opportunity use and extend to all parts of the city. The
to travel through and around the city overland hév trains provide a service from
to reach their chosen destinations. the city centre to the suburbs.

Green Travel and suburban hév lines up to
Budapest has long suffered the city boun daries (see pp238–
from air pollution, and the 41). Daytime services run from
proliferation of cars has made about 4:30am to 11pm, with a
the problem worse. Moreover, good range of night buses
the difficulties of parking in the oper ating across the city every
city make it highly advisable to 15–60 minutes. Timetables for
leave your car outside the centre. buses, trams and trolley buses
A much better option is to are displayed at each stop.
use the excellent public
transport system, which covers
the whole city very well. The Budapest on Foot
preservation of trolley buses Budapest is a city in which every Pedestrians beside the Danube
and the extension of the tram pedestrian will find something
network (see pp240–41) is good of interest. Those who like to railway or bus Nos 20 or 21A
news for environmentalists. stroll through picturesque from Széll Kálmán tér to the
An increase in the number of alleyways should make a point Buda Hills (see p165).
cycle routes and the public of visiting the cobbled streets of When walking in the city it is
bike-sharing system MOL Bubi Buda’s Castle District. Another worth remembering that you
have also resulted in the grow- option might be to wander need to keep an eye on the
ing use of bicycles in Budapest. around the backstreets of traffic. Drivers in Budapest
central Pest. Here, there are expect pedestrians to get out
plenty of opportunities to peer of their way – they will often
Public Transport in into historic courtyards and swerve around you rather than
Budapest admire the wrought-iron stop if you use a zebra crossing.
Budapest has an excellent balconies and exterior
public transport system, which decorative details of Secession
makes it easy to get around the apartment blocks (see pp56–9). Driving in Budapest
city. Organised by the BKK Váci utca (see p131) is fully The large number of one-way
(Centre for Budapest Transport), pedest rianized and has seats streets in Budapest makes it a
it covers the metro, trams, buses, where weary walkers can rest very difficult city for visitors to
trolley buses, cogwheel railway, and watch the bustle. navigate by car. The many
Danube boat The promenade along the changes of direction often
Danube is also a pleasant place result in drivers unfamiliar with
to walk in Budapest. Visitors the city becoming lost. Any
who enjoy rambling along confusion brought about by
leafy trails should take the the complex system of roads is
further aggravated by the heavy
rush-hour traffic. There are also
Pedestrian zone few places to park in the city, so
it is much better to sightsee on
foot or by public transport. Most
road signs follow the European
New street name plate pattern, and people drive on
the right-hand side of the road.
Walk signal at a In towns the use of the horn is
pedestrian legally restricted to cases of
Pedestrian crossing crossing Old street name plate imminent danger.

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