Budapest

Budapest is one of Europe’s most wonderful and entertaining towns, with a distinctive, young ambiance, world-class classical music scene, vibrant nightlife increasingly recognized by European youth, and, last but not least, an amazing offer of natural thermal spas. It is known as the “Paris of the East” because of its breathtaking scenery and architecture.

Budapest today is the product of the merger of two ancient towns located just across the Danube river. Buda lies on the western (left) bank, with the steep hill above which the Buda castle is located. Pest is the comparatively flat eastern (right) bank side, with the Parliament and several other majestic structures, as well as lively streets that have been preserved in their original 19th century architectural style.

Budapest was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987 for the cultural and architectural value of the Danube Banks, the Buda Castle Quarter, and Andrássy Avenue.

The city receives around 4.4 million visitors every year, ranking it as the 25th most popular city in the world and the 6th most popular in Europe.

OFFICIAL TOURISM INFORMATION

• Tourism Office of Budapest, 1115 Budapest, Bartók Béla út 105-113 ( ‘Móricz Zsigmond körtér’ further Tram 19, 49 to ‘Karolina út’),  +36 1 438-8080. You can receive some great freebies, such as a map of Budapest, a map of Hungary with all the youth hostels and pricing, and a very detailed booklet on Hungary’s northern region (available in many languages).
• Tourinform Call Center, Sütő utca 2 (Deák Ferenc tér) ( Deák Ferenc tér),  +36 1 438-8080, toll-free: +800 36 000 000, e-mail:[email protected] M-F 08:00-20:00. Can assist with local information, lodging, and the distribution of complimentary pamphlets, maps, postcards, and souvenirs.
• Tourist Information Centre, Buda Castle (Szentháromság tér), I. district, Tárnok u. 15 (From : Deák Ferenc tér or Szél Kálmán tér take Bus 16 to Dísz tér). Daily 09:00-18:00. This Information Point has a wide selection of free pamphlets, maps and listings, periodicals, and free guidebooks with information on sights and sounds, cuisine, shopping, by night, and lifestyle. You may also purchase tickets to events, concerts, and sightseeing tours.
• Tourist Information Centre – City Park, XIV. district, Olof Palme sétány 5 (Ice Rink –  ‘Hősők tere’). M-Th 10:00–18:00, Fr-Sa 10:00–20:00 (09:00–18:00/20:00spring and summer time). The office is an attraction in and of itself since it is at a really excellent position with a lovely view from the window. In the summer, you may see people boating on a small lake, while in the winter, the lake freezes and is used for ice skating. You may order tickets for plays, concerts, and sightseeing, as well as get information on local parks, free maps, and free guide books.

Budapest has a humid continental climate with chilly winters and hot summers.

Winter (November to early March) may be chilly, and there is little sunlight in the city. Most years, snowfall is prevalent, and overnight temperatures of 10 °C (14 °F) are not unusual between mid-December and mid-February.

The spring months (March and April) are marked by unpredictable weather and a quick rise in average temperature. The weather in late March and April is often pleasant during the day and crisp at night.

The long summer in Budapest, which lasts from May to mid-September, is warm or extremely warm. Summer in Budapest is as sunny as it is in many Mediterranean locations. Sudden severe rains are also common, especially in May and June.

In Budapest, the fall season (from mid-September to late October) is distinguished by minimal rain and long sunny days with moderate temperatures. Temperatures often drop rapidly in late October.

Budapest, strategically located in the Carpathian Basin, is located on an old road that connects the highlands of Transdanubia with the Great Plain. By car, it’s 216 kilometers (134 miles) south of Vienna, 545 kilometers (339 miles) south of Warsaw, and 1,565 kilometers (972 miles) south of Moscow.

Budapest’s 525 square kilometers (203 square miles) area is located in Central Hungary, surrounded by agglomeration communities in Pest county. The capital is 25 kilometers (16 miles) long in the north-south direction and 29 kilometers (16 miles) long in the east-west direction. The Danube flows into the city from the north and eventually encircles two islands, Buda Island and Margaret Island.

Csepel Island, the third of the Budapest Danube islands, is the biggest, yet only its northernmost point is inside city boundaries. In Budapest, the river that divides the two sides of the city is 230 m (755 ft) wide at its narrowest point. Pest is located on the Great Plains’ flat topography, while Buda is hilly.

Because all main European highways and railway lines connect to Budapest, the city is very important in terms of transportation. The Danube was and still is an important waterway, and this location in the Carpathian Basin’s center is at a crossroads of trade routes. Budapest is the world’s only capital city with thermal springs. A total of 125 springs generate 70 million litres of hot water every day, with temperatures reaching 58 degrees Celsius. Because of their high mineral concentration, several of these waters have therapeutic properties.

Budapest is a key economic center that has been designated as an Alpha-World city. On a national scale, Budapest is unquestionably Hungary’s primate city in terms of economics and business, accounting for 39 percent of national GDP.

The city was ranked 52nd in the world in the MasterCard Worldwide Centres of Commerce Index, ahead of Beijing, Sao Paulo, Warsaw, and Athens.

In Hungary and across the area, the city is a key center for banking and finance, retailing, commerce, transportation, tourism, real estate, new and traditional media, advertising, legal services, accounting, insurance, fashion, and the arts. Budapest is home to not just practically all national institutions and government organizations, but also numerous domestic and foreign businesses; in 2014, the city had 393.289 registered enterprises.

Budapest is one of the top 25 most visited cities in the world, with over 4.3 million international visitors each year. As a result, the traditional and congress tourism industries deserve special mention, as they contribute significantly to the city’s economy, with the capital housing many convention centers as well as thousands of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and party spots, in addition to the full range of hotels. The best quality Michelin-starred restaurants, such as Onyx, Costes, and Borkonyha, may be found among the restaurant options. In 2010, the EIU’s quality of life index classified the city as the most liveable in Central and Eastern Europe.

Mobile phones are usable on the metro, including tunnels between stations.

Some phone booths accept cash (even € coins), whereas others accept only pre-paid cards. The displayed credit card number will result in surprisingly high costs (USD1 for a one-minute call to the US) and should be avoided. Unfortunately, you can’t rely on T-Mobile to charge fair rates for their pay phones. International calls may be made at a lower cost from call centers and internet cafes.

Budapest is one of Europe’s most Wi-Fi-enabled cities. Hundreds of free Wi-Fi hotspots may be found around the city, including cafés, restaurants, shopping malls, and hotels, as well as parks and main streets.

At the VII district (Erzsébetváros), which is encircled by Károly kört, Király utca, and Rákóczi t, the government provides free Wi-Fi throughout the area – in cafés, businesses, and on the streets.

There are several internet cafés located across the city. HUF200/hour is the average price.