1/13
Ride the Budapest Eye
Towering above downtown’s Erzsébet Square, the Budapest Eye is now freshly installed to provide visitors with panoramic rides and a soaring perspective over the cityscape. The 55-meter-tall Ferris wheel is set to be whirling above central Pest for a year, while during the night it adds an illuminated attraction to the city’s bustling nightlife, so even those who do not take the rotating ride can still enjoy admiring this LED-lit spectacle when the sun goes down. However, those who decide to jump aboard can enjoy unobstructed vistas from the wheel’s half-closed compartments while remaining safely contained during the ride that costs 2,400 forints per adult and 1,500 forints per child.
2/13
See the cherry blossoms at the ELTE Botanical Garden
The city’s up-and-coming District VIII is home to the sprawling botanical garden of Eötvös Loránd University, and it’s one of the most prominent preserves in Budapest for exploring fascinating flora. One of the park’s crowd-pulling attractions is the Sakura Celebration that happens here every spring, when visitors gather on the grass with blankets to admire the garden’s numerous Japanese cherry trees while they bloom, and the flowers of these Oriental plants create pink-hued scenery – this year, various workshops and programs accompany the celebrations through two consecutive weekends on April 8-9 and then on April 15-16. Entrance to the park costs 950 forints, while joining some of the activities organized within the park during the event can cost extra.
3/13
Eat out at food-truck gardens
Providing late-night relief for inebriated revelers in the Magyar metropolis, Kazinczy Street’s recently reopened gastronomy courtyard is complete with fresh food trucks that are now parked alongside Karaván’s indigenous eateries. The new hangouts include the blue-colored mobile vehicle of Nyakleves that specializes in Hungarian-style soups, and Las Vegan’s old-school caravan that sells a variety of plant-based burgers for guests looking for vegan treats, while those who crave sugary delights can satisfy their sweet tooth at a tiny timber stall preparing scrumptious chimney cakes. Additionally, in the midst of this past winter Budapest’s burgeoning street-food scene called a new downtown courtyard to life that now also serves as a parking lot for varied gastronomy vehicles: Élesztő in District IX is complete with mobile buffets that entice foodies with quick grub, including hamburgers, grilled sandwiches, pasta dishes, and even vegan delicacies.
4/13
Enjoy a breezy BKK ferry ride
Zigzagging back and forth between more than a dozen stops in both Buda and Pest, the city’s BKK public-transport company operates several lines that transport travelers between Budapest’s southern sections and the northern outskirts. Passengers can get on board by paying for a ticket that’s valid specifically for the boat (750 forints for a one-way trip), while those who have public-transport passes can ride for no additional fee on weekdays. Standing on the alfresco decks, passengers enjoy scenic city vistas as the ferries pass by several Budapest landmarks, including the Parliament, the Buda Castle, Gellért Hill, and many of the city’s beautiful bridges, but each boat is complete with closed compartments that shelter those on board when the weather is less pleasant. Nonetheless, we can make our excursion even more delightful by ordering refreshing beverages or even alcohol on board.
5/13
Enjoy a gluttonous day at food festivals
When the first rays of warm sunshine strike Budapest, the number of food festivals multiply citywide, and many of these gastronomy gatherings are held alfresco. During May 5-7, Budapest’s Kincsem Park horse-race track serves as a temporary parking space for numerous food-filled vehicles that roll in here for the Food Truck Show, where visitors binge on assorted street-food delicacies like succulent burgers, zesty barbecue, and many other treats and drinks. On the weekend of May 12-14, Budapest’s bibulous crowd can sip refreshing rosé wines, fizzy champagnes, and superb sparkling libations during the annual Rosalia Festival happening across the sprawling grounds of City Park, while those with a delicate palate congregate at Millenáris Park during May 18-21 to immerse in epicurean feasts at the Gourmet Festival, where Hungary’s top restaurants set up stalls to proffer epicurean eats at one place.
6/13
Peek into historic buildings during Budapest100
Every year, the city’s century-old buildings are in the spotlight during the Budapest100 program series, when urbanites can explore historic edifices that are architectural jewels of Hungary’s capital. During the open weekend – happening this year during April 22-23 – anyone can enter these classic constructions and join Hungarian- and English-language guided tours that take groups around the stately structures for free, while those who participate in these expeditions can immerse in the buildings’ architecture and acquire fascinating facts about their history. The upcoming edition of Budapest100 highlights the historic edifices found along the Danube Quay between Rákóczi Bridge and Árpád Bridge, and if you join the tours, you can learn about life at these unique locations from people who reside or work here.
7/13
Find local handicrafts at the Budapest Spring Fair
From March 31st through April 30th, Budapest’s – home to the city’s globally renowned Christmas fair during winter – turns into a sun-splashed jamboree with numerous wooden stalls flanking the impressive plaza during the Budapest Spring Fair. Those who traverse the square during this high-spirited springtime event come across a variety of handmade goods, including colorful pottery, decorative textiles, attractive jewelry, and all kinds of props for Easter, while at many of the stalls live demonstrations show some of the proffered products being created onsite. The crafts market is complete with cheerful concerts, spectacular folk-dance shows, and a selection of food stalls selling local treats.
8/13
Get groceries at Sunday markets in ruin bars
Many of Budapest’s stylishly crumbling party places evolved to host a variety of community events over the years that attract diverse visitors with colorful programs. Now, in addition to all of the attractions happening at these dilapidated hangouts, the city’s prime ruin bars are also becoming sources for fresh and healthy food on Sundays, when the halls and courtyards of these ramshackle properties turn into bustling gastronomy bazaars. During the Farmers’ Market at , a well-established circle of local vendors offers fresh merchandise amid lively tunes – but for those who would prefer to skip this guidebook-superstar locale to instead immerse in a homey Hungarian atmosphere, head to the Pancs Gasztroplacc at , which becomes a high-spirited scene of up-and-coming vendors offering vegan dips, creamy cheese products, and even fresh meats. Finally, organized by the Vegan Food Fest on one Sunday every month, hosts a grand vegan jamboree for those who are looking for food and cosmetics that are free from animal products.
9/13
Traverse the city’s rubberized running tracks
Thanks to recent city-development projects, urban runners can go jogging at several modern tracks citywide that are constructed with a special rubber-like material for protecting the joints. Jogging paths now complete several pleasant parks across Budapest, with the 5,300-meter-long training route on being one of the most frequented spots by sports aficionados, as people traversing this circular path are awarded with scenic Danube panoramas. Those who don’t like zigzagging between crowds of runners can hit the supple track around Buda’s beautiful , while there’s no better place in Budapest for a calf-strengthening workout than the recently refurbished trail found at the elevated parkland in the Buda Hills. Furthermore, people who like having company while doing sports activities can join the Budapest Running Club, a private sports team run by a foreigner living in Budapest that regularly organizes free running events for groups.
10/13
Take the chairlift for a high-flying ride
With its proximity to central Budapest, hiking up to atop János Hill is a popular springtime activity among locals, where an all-encompassing panorama welcomes everyone at the highest point of the Buda Hills. However, part of the journey up to this scenic vantage point is also served by a chairlift that leaves from District XII’s Zugliget at the terminus of bus 291 – from the upper station of the chairlift, the lookout point is a short-but-steep hike away. Springtime is certainly the most ideal season for riding aboard these open cable-suspended conveyances, while the journey downhills is even more rewarding as Budapest’s cityscape gradually unfolds before our eyes during the ride. A return trip on the chairlift costs 1,400 forints. (During April 3-12, the chairlift will be out of service due to maintenance works.)
11/13
Visit compelling exhibitions
At the onset of spring, an exciting mix of exhibitions opened up at many of Budapest’s major museums, welcoming crowds with displays spanning contemporary German paintings, design artworks, and century-old footwear. Marking the final exhibition before the institution moves to Budapest’s in the upcoming years, the presents a vast collection of shoes from around the world for varied occasions through different eras, including pieces from Japan, China, Australia, India, and even from Hungary – visitors can walk in to view this unique showcase titled “Bocskor, Boot, Paduka” through November 30th. Opening on April 1st and running through July 2nd, the features 80 dynamic paintings and sculptures by contemporary German artist , while the contemporary museum will display creative design items and applied-art pieces created by more than 400 Hungarian artists in the past decade (the exhibition is open from April 22nd through August 13).
12/13
Sip local craft beers at terrace hangouts
Many of the city’s terrace hangouts welcome the milder season by going alfresco as early into spring as the weather allows – and this year, Budapest’s sunshine-seeking crowd has already started trading the indoor hangouts for outdoor locales, as wintertime’s mulled wine is now being replaced with refreshing fröccs and aromatic suds. As local artisanal beers began their renaissance a few years ago, the city now offers several popular fresh-air hotspots, selling a variety of the country’s unique malt-infused concoctions, and open-air havens for beer lovers include at Budapest’s whale-shaped complex, where a romantic riverfront panorama accompanies the bar's very own inebriating sensations. To enjoy equally intoxicating sights from the Buda side of town, head to Gellért Brasserie’s terrace that offers unique suds inspired by , the patron saint of Hungary.
13/13
Try the city’s newly opened hangouts
Budapest’s blossoming gastronomy scene seems unstoppable as new hangouts pop up in the city literally every week, and here at We Love Budapest are dedicated to keep track of the freshly opened locales and help our readers navigate the maze of places that are now feeding Hungary’s capital. Found in Budapest’s District VII, is among the city’s freshly opened eateries that became a success story overnight, where Middle Eastern and Mediterranean meals are creatively fused. – run by Europe’s top chef Tamás Széll, who earned first prize in last year’s Bocuse d’Or European semifinals – is another great deal in town, a Hungarian-style hangout welcoming guests at the since February. Sink your teeth into French delicacies, like colorful macarons and creamy bonbons, at the city’s freshly opened in District XIII, but if you are looking for inebriating pleasures you can pour your own beers from tap at city center’s brasserie.
