Category: News

Forint getting weaker

Posted on by Budapest Guide

I just noticed yesterday that the Hungarian Forint has gotten a little bit weaker the last week. Lately 1 Euro has normally been between 268 and 270 Forints, but as I looked around and checked out the Currency Converter tool on our currency page I noticed that the Forint has grown a bit weaker and you can now get around 277 or 278 Forints pr. Euro.

This does not make to much of a change if you are speaking about little money, but for larger sums this for sure makes a difference. I am curious to see if the Forint will grow stronger again, or if this will be the new average level on which we can find it in the time to come!

By the way; do not forget to use all 200 Forint papermoney that you have, because from November 16 you will no longer be able to use them in Hungary. To use them you will have to go to the Hungarian National Bank (at the Liberty Square) and change them in there.

Currency in Czech Republic
Currency in Poland

New Trofea Grill coming up in former Donatellas Kitchen localities

Posted on by Budapest Guide
Trófea Grill
Trófea Grill

Out walking today I saw a flier lying on the ground. Normally I would not give much for a flier on the ground trampled on by thousands of people, but this time it did. On the flier I could see the logo of one of my favorite restaurants in Budapest; Trofea Grill. And at the flier I could see something about a new restaurant in the center of Budapest.

I quickly picked it up (and washed my hands patiently as I got home), and the text said that November 14 (if I remember correct) a new Trofea Grill restaurant will open in Budapest, in Király Utca 30. Now that does not mean so much to most people, but out of curiosity I checked it out, and then I found out that this was the former address of the delicious italian restaurant Donatella’s Kitchen before it moved into Hotel New York.

So it seems as if Trofea Grill is coming into the center of Budapest (all four locations has been kind of outside the grand boulevard so far), so that is good news I think, at least for me who like Trofea Grill!

Budapest Restaurants

Fiorentina versus Debrecen tonight

Posted on by Budapest Guide

Debrecen has had an interesting start in Champions League. They lost their three first matches (which is not really a big surprise), but in their last match against Fiorentina they managed to score three goals which is great – but they still have 0 points, since Fiorentina scored four goals in the same match!

Tonight they will play again, and hopefully the match will be just as cool, nice and full of goals as the former one. It would be so cool if Debrecen could manage to grab hold of a point, and it would be great if that evening would be tonight!

Champions League

Marcipan Museum in Budapest

Posted on by Budapest Guide

During a guided tour last week we decided to drop by the Marcipan Museum located in the Hilton Hotel in the castle area of Budapest. During our short stay inside the museum I made some pictures, so take a look below for a little feeling of what you can see inside the Marcipan Museum. More information about the museum at the Marcipan Museum page.

Marcipan Museum pictures

The nature photographer of the year 2009

Posted on by Budapest Guide
Natural History Museum Budapest

Between November 4th and December 7th you can take a look at the photos considered to be the best nature photograph’s in Hungary in 2009. The pictures in the exhibition have been selected from more than 4000 pictures. So if you appreciate and enjoy nice pictures from the nature, you should consider this exhibition in the Natural History Museum in Budapest!

The best nature photograph’s in 2009
Találkozás a természettel – Az év természetfotósa 2009.
Hungarian National History Museum
November 4th – December 7th

Museums in Budapest

Michael Jackson film in Budapest cinemas starting today

Posted on by Budapest Guide
Michael Jackson film "This is it" on Budapest cinemas starting today
Michael Jackson film "This is it" on Budapest cinemas starting today

This is it – This is the time, because today the Mickael Jackson film which will be aired for only two weeks had its premiere in Budapest cinemas and cinemas around the world. The film which is to present recording from the preparations for the concerts that were to be held in London and other interesting material is expected to draw loads of people to cinemas all over the world!

I will not be one of those going to cinema, but if someone feels like writing some thoughts about the film after seeing it, please do so!

Good hamburgers and meat at Meatpoint

Posted on by Budapest Guide

Just some weeks ago I noticed a new place in WestEnd as I was walking around, Meatpoint! Just at the corner, next to Don Pepe and Hummus (which is run by the same people as Meatpoint). Existed to try out something new we tasted a hamburger and a chicken roll, and since then I have been doing so several times!

Meatpoint in WestEnd Citycenter - Budapest
Meatpoint in WestEnd Citycenter - Budapest

The food is prepared in front of your eyes, and though you normally have to wait a bit longer than in Burger King and McDonalds, it tastes much better. And it is quite fun to see as they shape your burger and then fry it in front of your eyes. And then it tastes very good! I can recommend Meatpoint, at least it was a success for me!

John Kalvin’s impact on our culture: Budapest History Museum

Posted on by Budapest Guide
John Calvin

John Calvin was a very important character in the reformation that took place in the start of the 16th century. Together with Luther they opposed the Catcholic Church and later they opposed one another. Today we can see the result in the Lutheran and in the Calvinist (Reformed) church.

In this exhibition taking place in the Budapest History Museum you will meet with John Calvin and his impact and influence on our culture and lives, along the Danube. The exhibition is being arranged as a part of the celebration of his 500 year anniversary (he was born 500 years ago).

John Kalvin’s impact on our culture
A Kálvin hagyománya – Református kulturális örökség a Duna mentén
Budapest History Museum
October 31, 2009 – February 15, 2010

Museums in Budapest

Saint Stephens Basilica pictures

Posted on by Budapest Guide

Below you can just see some pictures from the Saint Stephens Basilica. You can read more about the church if you press the link, and you can click the pictures for bigger versions of them. More information about attractions in Budapest.

It is quite interesting that I have always thought that the church bell in the Saint Stephens Basilica with the weigth of 9 tonn is extremely big. Only until I recently realized that the church bell in the Stephansdom in Vienna has a total weigth of more than 20 tonn 🙂

St. Stephen’s Basilia Pictures

Saint Stephens Basilica: main room
Saint Stephens Basilica: inside
Saint Stephens Basilica from the outside
Saint Stephens Basilica: on the inside

Cloudy October 23 & Cloudy guided tour & pictures

Posted on by Budapest Guide
Jobbik demonstration
Jobbik demonstration

October 23 turned into a quite nice day, and most important, a quite peaceful day in Budapest. The only think was that in the morning it was extremely
foggy, so I have never enjoyed such foggy weather in Budapest before, at least not during a guided tour. Below you can see some pictures taken from the Gellert Hill, and just some other pictures made during the guided tour.

The big political parties escaped the inner city and har their meetings somewhere else, while the radical party Jobbik had their demonstration at the Deak Square, in the middle of the center. Police were around to make sure everything went okay, and it did! Pictured on the right you can see some people marching towards the Deak Square for the Jobbik demonstration (picture taken from the bus during the guided tour)!

Some foggy Budapest pictures (October 23, 2009)

I can't see the castle from the Gellert Hill!
Gellert Hill - with the Liberty statue almost hidden away!
The Liberty statue is almost hidden away!
Fishermens Bastion surrounded by clouds!
Fishermens Bastion surrounded by clouds!