Budapest Hen Do

Did you know?

• Budapest is home to the third largest Parliament building in the world.
• Budapest has the oldest subway-line in mainland Europe. After London, Budapest has the oldest underground train system in Europe.
• Budapest is home to the second largest synagogue in the world – The Dohány Street Synagogue.
• The word ‘Budapest’ came from the combined city of Buda and Pest. The two cities were united into a single city in the year 1873.
• Buda and Pest are situated on opposite sides of the river and connected by various bridges.
• The largest thermal water cave system is located here.
• A right of passage when visiting Budapest is to take a Turkish bath, the mineral-rich waters of the natural hot springs are meant to cure bone, skin and muscular ailments in the body. Make sure you take a trip to one of the baths in the city!
• A beer in one of Budapest’s ruin pubs is a must when visiting the city. The pubs, or kerts, literally sit inside the many ruined and shells of buildings, with some even complete with bullet marks in the walls!
• Elvis Presley is an honorary citizen of Budapest. This is in recognition after his performance of “Peace in the Valley” on American television that brought attention to the 1956 revolution. This acknowledgement is also recognised in a local landmark, Elvis Presley Boulevard.
• Hungarian names are regulated by law. Parents are subject to a naming law when it comes down to choosing what to call their children. Names must come from a pre-approved list - any deviations from which must be approved by application to the Research Institute for Linguistics of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
• The Széchenyi Medicinal Bath in Budapest is the largest medicinal bath in Europe. Its water is supplied by two thermal springs.

Budapest in numbers

• Hungary has 13 Nobel Prize winners so far.
• Budapest is 525.2 km².
• Population, as of 2016, stands at 1.756 million people.
• The time zone is one hour ahead of GMT.
• There are more females than males living in the city.
• Over 80% of Hungarians make up Budapest’s population.
• Budapest has one of the most populous Christian communities in Central Europe.
• It’s estimated that over 20 million tourists visit this city every year.
• Budapest is the biggest city in Hungary. 20% of Hungary’s population lives in Budapest. This means every 5th person in Hungary is a ‘Budapester’.
• Budapest is home to one of the largest music festivals in the world. Around 400,000 people from all over the world flock to the Sziget Festival every August.

When in Budapest, there’s only one thing for it and that’s to try Gulyás, also known as – Goulash. This traditional Hungarian dish is served as a stew with beef, onion, paprika, tomatoes and pepper as the classic base. Most Goulash dishes are served with white bread to soak up the broth!

Heading to a restaurant in Budapest is a must whilst in the city. If you’re after some sophisticated dining whilst in Budapest then why not try one of the up-market restaurants such as Caviar & Bull, Babel Budapest or Aszu Restaurant. Just make sure you book a table for one of these as they’re very popular!

If you're in need of a pick-me-up in the day, or you’re looking for your next caffeine fix, then head to The Goat Herder or the FLAT WHITE.

The Goat Herder serves up some pretty impressive coffee and has a selection of quick-bites to chow down before you move on and explore more of the city.

The FLAT WHITE is another fab coffee shop serving up great espresso, tasty breakfast eats and delicious cakes to boot! Sit down at a table and spend an hour here to re-charge before you head out onto the streets of Budapest again.

For a great spot to have a drink why not head to one of Budapest’s many ruin bars and gaze upon the marvellous décor of these derelict buildings. For a swanky and sophisticated drink head to Bar Pharma, Budapest’s best cocktail bar and try a range of different cocktails that won’t disappoint your taste buds!

When in Budapest you’ve got to head to one, or a few, of the ruin bars. These bars have set up permanent residence in disused and derelict buildings, using the shells and turning them into amazing venues.

Many have inner courtyards, and where the ceiling has dilapidated it’s created an inner sanctum perfect to watch the stars from below with a drink.

With most of these ruin bars having the classic shabby chic décor, mis-matched furniture and some great music to boot they’re a popular choice for tourists and locals alike for either a quiet drink, or the end to a fab night out in Budapest.

Why not head to something truly unique and try a thermal bath spa party in Budapest. Get your group along and remember to bring those swimming costumes as the baths open up for the evening ready for party goers to descend.

If you’re looking for a quiet night out there’s many bars to grab a table at and get a bottle, or few, of wine and enjoy the evening without the music and dancing!

Naturally, when the weather is a little cooler, and bear in mind Budapest can get very cold, prices come down for accommodation as well as the restaurants and clubs being that little bit quieter. Everything will still be in walking distance but just remember to pack a thick coat, scarf and gloves if you want to do some sight-seeing!

With summer comes more tourists and a hike in prices, but this is true of most European cities. You’ll be able to walk around the city with ease as the sunshine warms up the streets. Even head on a bike tour and soak up the sunshine as you explore both Buda and Pest. It’s totally up to you which season you’d like to come in!

The Metro system is the quickest and easier way to get around this city as it’s well connected to every corner. The metro system in Budapest is the second oldest in the world after London. You can even hop on the BKK which is a ferry services that runs along the river!

Budapest is a lovely city to walk around in, especially in the warmer months, as there’s something new to discover on every corner. Take a stroll along the river and cross one of the bridges from Buda into Pest, or Pest into Buda!

Taxi’s are easy enough to get and after a night out this may be your best option if walking to your accommodation isn’t a viable option!