With summer here and temperatures climbing, it’s time to take out the bike or pick up a shared-hire one and discover cycle-friendly Budapest on two wheels. Here are five great routes to choose from!
1/5
Aranyhegy
Aranyhegy stands up in Óbuda, towards the northern
edge of the capital, a 177-metre-high hill whose slopes were once covered in
vineyards. At the top is the Pogány observation tower, which offers beautiful
views of the district and the surrounding area. It’s a stiff climb up, but by
no means impossible. You can approach from several directions, perhaps main
Bécsi út, past Óbuda cemetery, or the former Roman site of Aquincum,
with a kinder road, less traffic and more to see. The Pogány (‘Pagan’) Tower
was erected in 1934 by the Turan Society, inspired by the ancient religions and
cultures of Central Asia.
2/5
Csepel riverfront
The
gradual transformation of the Pest embankment in the city centre from a busy
road to a cyclists’ paradise won’t be complete until 2023.
Given the tourist crowds in town, it may be a more pleasant experience to
venture further south. A new cycle route beginning at Gubácsi Bridge has
recently been unveiled, the perfect destination for a day’s bike ride. Riding
along the Pest side of the river, you head past the millennial arts centre of Müpa, then under the bridge and then on to
the major music venue of Budapest Park.
Towards Csepel island,
the road splits in two – take the left fork for Gubácsi bridge, linking
the island to the south Pest district of Pestszenterzsébet. Alternatively, keep
going until you get to the lost getaway of Molnár Island,
on the Ráckeve branch of the Danube, willow trees dangling into the water and
not a sound to be heard.
3/5
Lake Naplás
One of the
most picturesque yet tucked-away locations in Budapest, Lake Naplás sits in distant District XVI in the furthest reaches of east Pest. It’s worth
the trek, not only because of the lovely woods, stream and fields around it, the
marsh turtles, songbirds and frogs, but also because of the 22-metre-high
lookout tower,
recently renovated and offering panoramic views of the tranquil scene. In
addition, you get there by following either the Szilas stream or the Rákos
stream, each facilitated by a cycle path and connected to the one encircling
Lake Naplás.
4/5
Mari Törőcsik to Gobbi Hilda
Named after two of Hungary’s most revered actresses, whose parks sit at either end of the trek, this route takes you to both sides of the Danube. Beginning at pretty Feneketlen Lake, where a new park was created this year in honour of Mari Törőcsik, you can glide down the slope of main Bartók Béla út, passing any number of terrace cafés, before crossing Liberty Bridge by the Gellért Hotel. Now on the Pest side, head right towards the grassy expanse of the Nehru embankment, then the showcase leisure complex of Bálna Budapest, recently decorated with atmospheric LED lighting. Crowds will have thinned out by the time you pass Boráros tér, and reach the National Theatre, part of the arts hub of Müpa. Just before you come to the millennial complex, you can relax in Bajor Gizi Park, where a small statue park includes a likeness of Hilda Gobbi, who bequeathed much of her estate to the construction of the contemporary playhouse you see behind her.
5/5
Újbuda
Although
cycling on the banks of the Danube can be enjoyed in several stretches around
the city, not least the Buda embankment leading towards Szentendre, the southern
Újbuda section is relatively undiscovered. Starting from Petőfi Bridge, you
soon pass the city’s main party boat, the A38,
whose river-facing bistro operates from 10am weekdays, 4pm on Saturdays, then
the grand university buildings of the BME.
Further down, once overlooked Kopaszi-gát and its surroundings are constantly being refreshed with new venues, starting
with major nightspot, the Dürer Kert,
in the summer of 2021. Lágymanyósi Bay became the place to be,
with SHO Beach attracting swimmers and pleasure-seekers. Even further down, the big red fun bus
of the Dunaparty Megálló remains in place, awaiting with a choice of affordable cold draught beer and
classic summer snacks. It won’t be long, although not this summer, before a new
cycle route is in place,
all the way from the Dürer Kert to a bridge being built at Galvani utca and down to
the city limits of south Buda.
