Found between the Normafa parkland and the upper station of the János Hill Chairlift, Anna-rét (“Anna Meadow”) is a favorite excursion spot of the Buda Hills. The huge clearing is not only easily accessible, but it also has an impressive playground, and plenty of grassy spots suitable for picnics and grilling – not to mention that Anna Chapel, a special religious pilgrimage site, is also located here. If you visit this place, it’s worthwhile to make a side trip to the nearby Tündér-szikla (“Fairy Rock”) – a truly thrilling high point of any day trip to the city’s summit.
Anna-rét (“Anna Meadow”) is a 20-minute ride away from Széll Kálmán Square aboard bus 21 or 21A – you have to get off at the Normafa stop. The clearing is only two minutes away from the stop; this spot, only 500 meters from Normafa, is a favorite among families, couples, and those who look for tranquility in Budapest.
This is not a surprise, because up here there’s no sign of the urban bustle, and there’s even a modern playground and spots for barbecues. Anna Chapel is on the János Hill side of the meadow – it was erected to honor Saint Anne, the mother of Virgin Mary.
Once we get attuned to nature, we can start our journey towards the foot of János Hill, as the Tündér-szikla (“Fairy Rock”) is only 20 minutes away from here, which, in our opinion, is one of the most exciting excursion spots in the city.
One can get lost here, but it’s pretty hard to do so; we just have to follow the János Hill lookout tower as our guiding star. After a short stroll in the woods, we’ll reach the concrete road (Tündérhegyi Road) where we have to turn left, and after a short walk, we will get to a barrier – then, we have to go down a few steep steps and our destination will become visible.
We can also scale the dolomite spurs of the Buda Hills with some basic climbing skills; we missed this one due to our fear of heights.
This place can be reached from Zugligeti Road by following the green triangle on a moderately difficult hike, but this time we approached it from above, as it’s more convenient to walk downhill.
Our way back led along the same concrete road: following the initial directions, we reached Jánoshegyi Road and we reached Budakeszi Road after a light, 15-minute-long walk in the woods; Széll Kálmán Square can be reached from here by taking bus 22. If your only destination is Fairy Rock, this route is the easiest one.
Since this is an enormous area with a lot of things to see, this tour can be done from more directions, with different approaches – ours is possibly the most energy-efficient. Those who want to get more of a workout can visit János Hill with a moderately difficult hike in the woods. Taking the Chairlift is also a great way to reach the same area, but not quite as physically exhilarating as taking a walk in the fresh air.
