Buda might have its slopes, hills and panoramic views but Pest has no shortage of green areas surrounded by nature. Here are seven suggestions for great walks or cycle rides.
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Farkaserdő
Expansive Farkaserdő (‘Wolf Woods’) is located next to the Káposztásmegyer housing estate, which makes it a great amenity for residents. Although it is not a nature reserve and nor hide all kinds of protected species, it represents its value to the concrete jungle of Újpest cannot be understated. The woods, full of large oaks, are lined with paths covered with soft ground, ideal for jogging. There’s also an outdoor communal gym, a barbecue facility and a nature trail: the Road to Health, designed for people with cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure and diabetes, and marked with a small red heart. Nearby is Rex Animal Island, where volunteer dog walkers are welcome. The nearby Homoktövis nature reserve is also worth a visit, but by appointment only.
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Kolonics sétány
As we have recently discovered, Kolonics György sétány on Csepel, stretches for 5 kilometres south of Gubacsi Bridge, on the banks of the Ráckeve stretch of the Danube. Named after famous canoeist György Kolonics, who died young, the riverfront is so romantic and popular that it’s clear that it’s kept tidy. It is most reminiscent of the Római part up in Óbuda, only without the bars and eateries. Intimate and calm, this is the domain of strollers and dog-walkers, rowers, anglers, runners and cyclists. Csepel island is an undeservedly undervalued point of the city, although it’s easily accessible with the HÉV train and, ideally, bicycle.
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Merzse-mocsár
In distant District XVII in east Pest, the Merzse swamp is a nature reserve and one of the few remaining wetlands in the capital. In fact, Merzse, located near the airport, is the last real swamp in Budapest. In dry weather, from the presence of reeds and sedges, you can work out where you’re going – its true face in spring, autumn and rainy weather is depicted by a countryside of marshes and birdsong, best explored along a nature trail of sic kilometres. Pheasants, deer and rabbits are not uncommon, nor marsh turtles or protected bird species, including western marsh harriers and great bitterns. You can reach it via Rákoskert train station by train then walk along the dirt road to the swamp.
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Molnár-sziget
Molnár (‘Mill’) Island got its name because of the 50 watermills that once operated here. From the mid-1960s, holiday properties began to spring up around this romantic retreat, a short walk from the centre of Soroksár – a lucky few not only go on holiday, but actually live here. It is as if we are walking somewhere around Balaton: tributaries densely overgrown with reeds, quiet dirt roads and bushy-wooded areas, tranquillity and plenty of waterfowl await the visitors. The island is connected to the mainland of Soroksár by a small reinforced-concrete bridge, but it can even be reached by ferry. Otherwise, take bus 66 from Határ út or HÉV train from Közvágóhíd.
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Naplás
An ideal cycling destination is the Szilas-pataki flood protection reservoir in District XVI by Cinkota, especially since you can also cycle along the shores of the Szilas stream all the way to the lake – a five-kilometre path that offers attractive views, bird-watching spots and playgrounds. Lake Naplás is the largest expanse of still water in the capital and one of the richest nature reserves: forget food kiosks, stalls, strudel or other treats, but nearly 150 bird species from long-tailed tits to long-eared owls, protected plants from ostrich ferns to common cottongrass, sizeable and protected fish in waters where bathing is prohibited and, in the swampy part of the lake, marsh turtles. Soon you’ll be able to admire the countryside from above, because the Pilisi Parkerdő authority which oversees the reserve are planning to build a lookout tower. For those not cycling here, take buses 46 or 146.
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Népsziget
On the borders of Districts IV and XIII, opposite Római part, lies Mosquito Island, as it is commonly referred to. Various service providers and a couple of trendier eateries have appeared here in recent years, yet it still retains its shabby and wild charm, not bad good thing knowing the pace of modern development. Life unfolds in beautiful silence, with original elements still in place. The former Mahart industrial estate is still occupied by businesses, and there is also a riding school, dog school and goat farm on the island, not to mention water sports associations. You can walk, cycle, jog, dog-walk or sunbathe in peace, undisturbed in the great green outdoors, close to the centre of urban Újpest.
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Soroksár Arboretum
It’s not an outdoors excursion, and you have to pay admission, but this 60-hectare, wildly romantic area can provide a wonderful break for visitors, who can observe not only special plants, but also foxes, deer and hares. Here in 1962, 20 kilometres from the city centre, on the former floodplain of the Danube, the College of Horticulture and Viticulture established a garden for educational and research purposes. From the beginning, great emphasis was placed on the preservation of the habitats of the rare and protected plants here, as well as those characteristic of the original marshy, swampy, sand-steppe grassland. In the arboretum, you also find a pond, next to which are benches and a grassy space with barbecue facilities. It’s worth following the designated hiking trail and signs for the nature trail, with Hungarian-only tour guides also available.
