Anyone who traverses Budapest will come across several city-renovation projects aiming to enhance the beauty of Hungary’s capital while shaping public spaces to urban dwellers’ needs, including these eight refurbishments that were completed this year. A major transportation hub was modernized to better fit our urban lifestyle, riverfront settings got a facelift to let locals enjoy the scenery, alfresco sports facilities popped up across town to promote a healthy lifestyle, and a popular hiking destination is now complete with amenities suitable for taking a break from the bustling metropolis.
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Dog statue park
To celebrate its recent independence from Szent István University, nine new statues were added to the sylvan parkland at Budapest’s University of Veterinary Medicine, presenting an artistic collection of heritage Hungarian dog breeds. This clever canine selection includes widely cherished Magyar breeds, like the short-coated Hungarian Vizsla or the increasingly world-famous Puli, presented alongside dog types that are not so widely known, like the Transylvanian Hound or the Hungarian Greyhound. This permanent outdoor exhibition in Pest’s District VII is freely open to the public seven days a week, so that anyone can enjoy the park’s relaxing facilities.
Address: Budapest 1078, István utca 2
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Ferenc Square
After receiving input from local residents while preparing the final plan for development, the renovation of this Budapest square in the city’s District IX transformed it into a pleasant public hangout with several family-friendly facilities, including an extended playground for children, lovely walking lanes, and a revamped parkland. In addition, numerous benches and tables provide enjoyable times for those living nearby, or for anyone who wants to enjoy sedate moments for awhile. As a major addition to the square, a rubberized running track welcomes those who are fond of jogging, and the tasteful mix of these developments makes this residential locale worth visiting.
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Hármashatár Hill lookout tower
The summit of a high Buda peak is crowned with a new lookout tower, providing panoramic views over the city and far beyond. The geometrically intriguing wooden observation post is perfectly positioned to overlook Budapest from a whole new point of view – when the weather is clear, this vantage point provides vistas far beyond the Budapest city limits, including the hills beyond Szentendre and Gödöllő, with the Megyeri Bridge clearly visible between them. The lookout tower, built at the highest point of Hármashatár Hill, is relatively easily accessible by public transport – take bus 65 from District III’s Kolosy Square to its highest stop (make sure to ask the bus driver to take you to the Szépvölgyi dűlő stop), from whence it takes about 45 minutes to hike to the peak.
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KIOSK Beach
A pleasant summertime party zone opened on the shore of Lake Lupa – just north of Budapest’s northern border – earlier this year, and during the first season in its operation, this riverside hotspot was already enticing big crowds for a sweet escape from the downtown buzz. Complete with mini palm trees, rentable deck chairs, and a sand-covered shore, KIOSK Beach made visitors feel like they are lounging next to the seaside during the warm months, while the water is perfectly suitable for making a splash. To enhance the beachside atmosphere, colorful stands offer classic beach food and cocktails, while a DJ spins records to make sunbathers feel groovy.
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Kőbánya’s promenade
Concrete blocks of communist-era edifices are dotted across District X, an area that was never considered noteworthy for pleasurable community hangouts – until now. Earlier this year, Újhegyi sétány, one of the major promenades of the neighborhood, got a complete makeover after installing several recreational facilities, including a well-equipped street-workout park, a small marketplace, and a playground. To enhance the area’s relaxing settings, a bubbling fountain and an artificial cascade bring nature’s sounds to this urban landscape, and during the spring and summer months, fascinating flora pleases urban dwellers’ eyes.
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Nehru Part
A long-neglected zone near Budapest’s whale-shaped complex has been transformed into a riverside zone that’s compatible with an active lifestyle, as thorough renovations of the area have resulted in the creation of various sports facilities, including a brand-new skate park offering ramps and half-pipes for skaters and bikers under Petőfi Bridge. Additional sports grounds include a soccer field, three basketball courts, chess tables, and equipment for open-air workouts, while in the middle of the park lies a huge playground suitable for different age groups. Furthermore, Nehru Part is set to become a favored boat-docking station for international cruise ships, so that they can be harbored away from downtown Budapest’s waterfront.
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Normafa running track
A top-quality rubberized running track awaits joggers at Buda’s parkland for some fresh-air fitness, providing an uphill path for calf-strengthening workouts. Traversing this almost two-kilometer-long path, joggers can get lost in their thoughts amid the fascinating flora, fauna, and beautiful scenery of the Buda side. However, the running track is not the only new feature here, as the nearby section of the repaved Jánoshegyi Road and its surroundings underwent thorough refurbishment as well: rebuilt trails, benches, drinking fountains, restrooms, bins, and a playground are proof of the comprehensive renovation works everywhere. Above all, a now-narrower asphalt road is suitable for bikers, skaters, and families with baby strollers.
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Széll Kálmán Square
One of Buda’s major plazas, formerly called Moszkva Square, has been transformed from a communist-era eyesore to becoming a modern-day transportation hub. As a main intersection for metro line 2, several buses, and multiple tram lines, Széll Kálmán Square is now a 21st-century urban nexus with contemporary elements shaking up the place’s appearance, including a dancing fountain that doubles as a humidifier, a concrete clock that towers above the piazza, and several strips of non-slip paving dotted by hidden LED lights, while elevators and escalators provide comfort for commuters, all making the square much more usable and accessible than ever before.
