Category: Budapest

Cut over: Temporary exhibition in Terror House

Posted on by Budapest Guide
Terror Museum Budapest

Cut over; that is the title for the temporary exhibition currently hosted in the Terror House in Budapest. This year it is 20 years since the fall of the Iron Curtain, and because of that this exhibition deals with the freedom the Hungarians have won slowly since the revolution in 1956. It also has to do with the fact that between September 10, 1989 and November 9, 1989 more than 60,000 Germans left the nation.

The Hungarians have achieved freedom in different ways and at different times, and this temporary exhibition deals with exactly that.

Cut over / Terror House Budapest
Iron Curtain, Pan-European Picnic, Change of government
June 14, 2009 – December 31, 2009

Polish Refugees in Hungary 1939-1944: Budapest History Museum

Posted on by Budapest Guide

The exhibition in the Budapest History Museum called “Friends in Misery – Polish Refugees in Hungary 1939-1944” is soon about to end. The last date for the exhibition is October 22nd, so if you are interested, but have not had the time to see it yet, you better get going.

Some useful background information:
During the Second World War around 100-140 thousand Polish refugees were staying in Hungary. In the fall of 1939 ca. 70-90 thousand Polish soldiers and civilians entered the territory of Hungary. The majority left till the spring of 1940 but till the end of the war around 30 thousand soldiers and civilians stayed in Hungary as Poland did not surrender officially even after the defeat. The Polish government and the military headquarters was reorganized in France and several outstanding politicians and military leaders fled to France often through Hungary.

Train strike from midnight (October 18) – FINISHED

Posted on by Budapest Guide
Train strike in Hungary
Train strike in Hungary

It has been a long time since we have been reporting about strikes in Budapest. There was a period in the end of 2008 and in the start of 2009 when there were continues strikes at the Ferihegy Airport, but since then things have improved a little. But now the train workers are unsatisfied (again), so from midnight (October 19, 00.00) most people will start striking which means that most trains will be standing still tomorrow morning and on for an unknown amount of time.

For train information check out the link, but I guess those planning to use train tomorrow should find out something else to do. This means that the train leaving from Ferihegy Airport to the inner city will be very insecure tomorrow, so why not choose an airport transfer instead?

Railway strike information update (October 19 – 9.53)
Its now 9.53 AM, October 19, and I read in some newspapers that there are heavy delays and big problems for those wanting to use the railway in Hungary. But, it is also said that more and more people is returning to their jobs, so it might be that things will smoothen out a bit more during the day.

Railway strike information update (October 19 – 13:43)
I just read that the strike is finished, and that all railway traffic should return to its normal way and schedules within some hours!

Hungary with bronze in U-20 World Championship

Posted on by Budapest Guide

After loosing against Ghana Hungary got up again and played a very good bronze final against Costa Rica Friday. Most things worked, the only thing missing was the ability to shoot goals. So, when Costa Rica scored in the 82 minute or something it seemed quite hopeless!

But then Krisztian Nemeth managed to win a penalty in the 89th minute, and Vladimir Koman did not miss that great opportunity to make it 1-1. After this everyone expected it to be 2×15 extra time, but then suddenly they went straight for penalty kicks, and there Hungary did great, much thanks to Peter Gulacsi who saved 3 out of 4 penalties from Costa Rica players. And as he saved the 4th penalty the game was over and Hungary had won a bronze in the U-20 World Championship! Congratulations!

Yesterday the team returned to Hungary and loads of fans waited for them at the airport. Yet another time all we have to say is congratulations, and keep on playing this way!

Champions League in Budapest

Just some more Budapest Pictures

Posted on by Budapest Guide

Yet another time I just brought my camera as I walked around in Budapest (of course working with tourists), and below you can see some of the Budapest pictures. None of them are extraordinary, but they will still give a little feeling of what Budapest is like for those who have never been around in the capital of Hungary before.

On the pictures you can see the Matthias Church, the Fishermens Bastion, the Hungarian Parliament (all nice Budapest attractions) and the Ferihegy Airport (not so much of an attraction, but probably more people visit the airport than any other Budapest attraction, so its kind of nice to add a picture of the airport as well).

Seven Budapest pictures

Bronze Final in U-20 World Championship

Posted on by Budapest Guide

Unfortunately Hunary did not succeed in beating Ghana this Tuesday in the World Cup semi-final. The guys played a week first period, but in the second they woke up and it turned into a real interesting match, but they still lost.

So this Friday the guys will not play in the final, but in the bronze final. Their opponent will be Costa Rica, so hopefully if the Hungarians can keep up their good game from the second period of the game against Ghana they for sure have a great chance to win the game. The game starts 17.00 tomorrow (October 16, Friday).

The grown-up Hungarian national team yesterday won against Denmark in Denmark, in their last game of the World Cup Qualification, but it still did not help as they ended up on the fourth place in their group; behind Denmark, Portugal and Sweden.

Tomorrow there will a great game for Hungarians to see, and then next Tuesday Debrecen will play against Fiorentina in the Champions League in Budapest.

Fat Mo is history

Posted on by Budapest Guide
Fat Mo Budapest - History
Fat Mo Budapest - History

Someone asked me for help to reserve a table at Fat Mo’s last week. I kept on trying through email, telephone and tried to reach their internet site, but nothing worked. Today I visited the restaurant just to check it out, and then it was a sign outside the entrance with the text: “Closed”. I brought my camera to make a picture, but the battery was empty. My extra batteries always at hand were empty as well. Then I thought I could make a picture with my mobile, but the battery was so low, that I could not make a picture with it. So I can not show a picture with the text, but it was written closed, for sure!

Budapest Restaurants

Mark Knopfler Budapest 2010

Mark Knopfler Budapest 2010

Posted on by Budapest Guide
Mark Knopfler Budapest
Mark Knopfler Budapest

Mark Knopfler, known as the leading vocalist and songwritfer, in Dire Straits is coming to Budapest the summer of 2010. On the Independence Day (July 4) he will enter the stage at the Papp Laszló Budapest Sportarena and perform there. The concert starts around 20.00 and if you would like to see Mark Knopfler live in Budapest, this is a great possibility. Mark Knopfler was born in Scotland in 1949, and throughout his carrer he has helped many celebrities and participated in albums and songs. Now Mark is coming himself to Budapest, and this is a great possibility to see him live in the Budapest, capital of Hungary!

Mark Knopfler Budapest
July 4, 2010
Papp László Budapest Sportarena

Mark Knopfler Budapest Tickets

Mark Knopfler in Madrid

Budapest concerts

Autumn in Budapest and some average temperatures

Posted on by Budapest Guide

I wrote on Twitter this morning that its raining in Budapest. Then I went out on a guided tour, but I forgot my umbrella at home. Starting on the Gellert Hill I soon got to regret my mistake. It started to rain a lot, and even more. In the castle district I bought an umbrella, but then of course I was already very wet. Anyway, the company was great and we all had a great time anyway. In the end we stopped and grabbed some hot Goulash soup.

So, the autumn has come to Budapest, and this week it is going to get even colder, and the bad weather will stay around. Last Thursday Budapest experienced a heat record (October 8), but that is now history and we can welcome the cold weather. My request is only that it should stop raining. It is okay with the cold weather, but the rain is making life miserable, at least when out guiding!

After my trip I went to a paperstore to buy a calender for 2010, as requests already start coming in. In my new calender they have written down average temperatures for big cities around the world, and one of them is Budapest. Below you can see what the average temperatures of Budapest are, according to my calender. For another theory concerning the average temperatures of Budapest, check out average temperature page.

Budapest average temperature

January: -2 Celsius
February: 1 Celsius
March: 7 Celsius
April: 13 Celsius
May: 17 Celsius
June: 21 Celsius
July: 23 Celsius
August: 23 Celsius
September: 18 Celsius
October: 13 Celsius
November: 6 Celsius
December: 1 Celsius

Climate in Budapest

Thermal Baths with 50 % autumn discount

Posted on by Budapest Guide

The Thermal Baths of Budapest give us a little Christmas present, a bit to early though, this autumn. From Monday to Friday they give 50 % discount on the entrance fees, each day in a new thermal bath. The most popular one, the Szechényi Thermal Bath, is not on the list, but hotshots like the Gellert Bath can be found on the list.

Below you can see a complete list showing what thermal bath give you 50 % discount every day:

Monday: Dagály Strandfürdő és Uszoda
Tuesday: Lukács Fürdő és Uszoda
Wednesday: Dandár Gyógyfürdő
Thursday: Gellért Fürdő és Uszoda
Friday: Csillaghegyi Strand-Uszoda

I guess it is time to go swimming!

On official national days (if those are on weekdays) the discounts are not valid.