Downtown Budapest not only boasts one of the best bike path systems in Europe, but also has several streetball courts, concrete football pitches, and other playing fields perfect for getting immersed in the sport which suits you the most. We pick it up where we left off with our , but this time around, the focus is on .
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Running
Jogging must be contagious, because the number of hobby runners is constantly and rapidly on the rise in Hungary. The phenomenon is not necessarily surprising: jogging is one of the quickest and most effective ways of losing weight. Since asphalt is notorious for being the arch-enemy of knees and ankles, thus preferring an all-weather running track or a dirt road is highly advised.
Free running fields
Margaret Island: all-weather running track (5 km)
Orczy-kert (border of the VIII. and IX. district): clay court (400 m), forest runway (1 km)
Városliget: asphalt and dirt roads (3 km)
Vérmező (around Déli Railway Station): grass and dirt roads (3 km)
Normafa: dirt roads snaking up to János Hill's Elizabeth Observation Tower (5 km)
Népliget – grass and asphalt/dirt roads (5 km).
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Fitness parks
Street workouts are perfect for building a Wolverine-esque physique as well as for getting sun tanned. Thanks to the state-of-the-art Budapestian playgrounds fine-tuned for the needs of muscle men and ripped women, you can do your whole workout routine outdoors.
Outdoor fitness parks
Margaret Island
Városliget
Városmajor
Vérmező
Óbuda fitness park (III. district, Harrer Pál Street)
Bikás park (Újbuda station of M4 in the XI. disctrict)
Népliget
Hajógyári Island.
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Football
The parks of Budapest provide ideal scenes for playing soccer, football, rugby and baseball.
Free football pitches
Margaret Island - large grassy fields, asphalt football pitches
Városliget - large grassy fields, asphalt football pitches
Olimpia park - all-weather football pitch
Orczy-kert - large grassy fields, various football pitches
Városmajor - floodlit asphalt pitches
Hajógyári Island - large grassy fields.
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Rolling
There are more in Budapest than ever before, but for most extreme sportsmen and -women, basically any urban spot will do the trick - especially if it has rails, stairs, ledges, and a smooth concrete or marble pavement.
Rolling-appropriate places
Erzsébet Square: the most popular skatepark perhaps in all of Budapest
Városliget skatepark: perfect for kick scooter and BMX riders
Heroes' Square's marble pavement is great for learning the basics
Városmajor's low fences and benches were made for more ripping spectacular slides on them
Móricz Zsigmond Square and Jászai Mari Square's underpasses are mainly for b-boys, unicyclists, and BMX riders
Sashalmi Pool (1163 Budapest, Sashalmi sétány 60.): built by the district's local government in 2009 with the financial support of the European union.
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Streetball
Budapest's most famous streetball havens can be found in the following locations: Margaret Island, Filatorigát, Bikás park, Pillangó Park, and Városmajor. The latest addition to Budapest's ever-expanding streetball court-collection is in Olimpia park.
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Parkour
implements elements from military obstacle course training, and its goal is to get from A point to B point as fast as possible. Even though it is considered a rather dangerous sport, it has a positive effect on muscles and coordination. Beginners can practice on fences and benches, while pros can conquer taller walls and memorials.
Jump around here
Buda Castle: tall memorials and walls - for professionals
Heroes' Square: lower boulders - for intermediates
Margaret Island: lower fences, benches - for beginners
Széll Kálmán Square: boulders, stairs, fences
Móricz Zsigmond Square: boulders, stairs, fences, underpass
Városmajor: parkour training grounds - for beginners
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Hills
On hills and mountain terrains, you can try the gigantic-wheeled creation known as the monsterroller. The slopes and forests are ideal for Nordic walking, horseback riding, and hiking, and are also used by adrenaline junkie downhill riders.
Buda's Everests
Normafa (XII. disctrict) - green as far as your eyes can see
János Hill (XII. disctrict) - uber-steep slopes
Hárs Hill (XII. disctrict) - wild forest with slopes
Hármashatár Hill (III. disctrict) - hilly, forested areas
Testvérhegy (III. disctrict) - steep, forested slopes
