From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Buda (German: Ofen) is the western part of the Hungarian capital Budapest on the west bank of the Danube. The name Buda takes its name from the name of Bleda the Hun ruler, whose name is also Buda in Hungarian.^[1][2][3] The Roman name for Buda was Aquincum ("aqua" means "water" in Latin.)

Buda comprises about one-third of Budapest's complete territory and is mostly wooded and hilly. It is usually associated with a higher standard of living, although this depends on the area. Notable landmarks include the Buda Castle and the Citadella.

History

Buda was the capital of Hungary from 1361 until its capture by the Ottoman Empire in 1541. Pressburg/Pozsony (today Bratislava, Slovakia) became the new capital of Hungary in 1536. In 1686 Buda was captured by Austria, but because of its devastation from warfare, numerous Germans were brought in to help resettle the city. Buda was declared a free royal town in 1703, and became the Hungarian capital again in 1784. Buda was united with the towns Óbuda and Pest in 1873 to form Budapest.

Buda during the Middle Ages. From the Chronicles of Hartmann Schedel

Demographics

While Pest was mostly Hungarian in the 15th century, Buda had a German majority.^[4] Germans — also clinging to their language — partly crowded out, partly assimilated the Hungarians and Serbians they have found here.^[4] With the rural population moving in the capital city, in the 19th century slowly Hungarians became the majority in Buda too.

Twin cities

• Capestrano, Italy

Notes

See also

• Budapest
• Pest
• Óbuda

External links

• Wikitravel: Budapest/Buda
• Drawings of Castle Buda over the centuries

From Wikitravel

In the courtyards of the Royal Palace

The "Bottomless lake" (Feneketlen tó) near Móricz Zsigmond körtér

Buda is the western side of the Danube River in Budapest, Hungary.

Get in

Only Metro line 2 (red) crosses the Danube from Pest to the Buda side at present. (A fourth line linking Buda and Pest is currently under construction.) It stops at three major transport hubs: Batthyány tér (gaze at the view to the Parliament before changing to the HÉV suburban train for Szentendre), Moszkva tér (gateway to the Castle Hill) and Déli pályaudvar (southern railway station).

You can take trams (no. 4, 6, 47, 49) from Pest all these lines (except no. 4) cross at the southern hub Móricz Zsigmond körtér, south of Gellérthegy. Trams 4 & 6 now run modern Siemens Combino trams in contrast to some of the other rolling stock in use. Tram 47 and 49 run from Deák tér (the central hub for Budapest metro lines) through Szabadság Híd (Freedom Bridge) to South-Buda.

Clark Ádám tér is at the western end of the Сhain Bridge (Széchenyi Lánchíd), and is considered to be the most beautiful of the bridges over the Danube. The tér is also home to the zero statue that signifies the start (or end) point of jourenys from the capital as shown on the roadsigns on major roads.

Buda has two railway stations: Déli pályaudvar, already mentioned, is the terminus of metro line 2 (red). Situated in the outskirts, Kelenföldi pályaudvar is becoming more and more important. (Many trains leaving from Keleti pályaudvar stop here.)

Get around

A convenient tram (no. 19, currently under construction) goes along the Buda bank of the river. There is also a bicycle route in parallel to it.

Bus number 7 (or the red 7/153 service) is a very frequent service running via Buda to Keleti (eastern) Station in Pest and is a very easy and convenient way to get around.

See

Castle Hill

See details in the Castle Hill article. You can walk around in the old romantic streets of the hill or see the great view of Pest from there.

• Elizabeth Lookout (Erzsébet kilátó) is Budapest's highest peak with its 527 meters. One possible 'vehicle' to reach it is the chair lift [1] (Libegő), starting out from the terminal of bus 158. Open hours of the Chair-lift: between 15th of May and 15th of September: 9AM-5PM, between 15th of September and 15th of May: 9:30AM-4PM. A single ticket costs HUF 500 and and a return ticket HUF 1000.

• Citadella, the former fortress on top of Gellért Hill (Gellérthegy), offers a superb panorama over Central Budapest including bank of the Danube River, Buda Castle and Pest city. To get good views up and down the Danube, take the steps going down in front of the Liberty Statue in front of the Citadella. There are several outposts offering good photo opportunities (or the chance of a breather if you're walking up the hill!). Catch bus 27 from the end station of tram 6 ('Morics Zs. Korter').

• Gellért Hotel and Bath at Szent Gellért tér is a very popular spa among tourists. Worth seeing even if you don't intend to swim (in summer, the outdoor part is open to visitors; entrance to indoor part is paid). See the Baths section in Budapest for details.

• Rock Church (Sziklatemplom) at the southeastern edge of Gellért Hill. The church was created from a natural cave system, following the Lourdes cave as sample in 1926. To reach the church, go to Gellért tér, turn towards Gellért Hill and look for the big white cross or the statue of King Saint Stephen - you can find the church below the cross and next to the statue.

Soviet Soldier in Statue Park

• Statue Park, (at the corner of Balatoni utca and Szabadkai utca), ☎ (36-1) 227-7446, [2]. Daily, 10AM-16PM. Rather than smash the statues of the Communist era, the Hungarians arranged them with a twist of irony in a park to the south of Buda. Visitors may well interpret this as an assertion that the Hungarian spirit is stronger than communism. The Statue Park, was first conceived by the literary historian László Szörényi in 1989 when he suggested the various Lenin statues from all over Hungary could be gathered into one "Lenin garden." According to Ákos Eleőd, the architect: "This park is about dictatorship. And at the same time, because it can be talked about, described, built, this park is about democracy. After all, only democracy is able to give the opportunity to let us think freely about dictatorship." Possible souvenirs are t-shirts which poke fun at communism, German Trabant car models, CDs of Hungarian communist fight songs, reproduction Hungarian Communist Party membership booklets and kitschy postcards of old communist advertisements. The park is in a badly-kept state, signs are in Hungarian only. Buy a booklet in English. Get there from the blue metro line station Ferenciek tere; take the 7-173 red-blue bus to Etele tér, then the yellow suburban bus called "Érd, Diósdon át" to Szoborpark Múzeum stop; buses run every 10-30 minutes; buy your ticket at the desk before boarding. 1500 forints (1000 for international student card holders)..  edit

• Museum of Victor Vasarely at Szentlélek tér. -- Take HÉV from Batthyány tér and get off at Árpád-híd stop. The museum entrance is just next to the square where many buses stop. The museum contains the work of Vasarely, a figure of 'op art'. The works are excellent and are fun to watch.

• Margaret Island (Margitsziget). Margaret Island is connected to the city by Árpád Bridge to the north and Margaret Bridge to the south. You can stroll for hours in its large parks.

• On Hajógyári-sziget Island on the Danube, Budapest hosts the Sziget fesztivál every August. It is Central Europe's most popular summer festival attracting more than 300,000 visitors. Young and old, Hungarian and foreigner can find his/her entertainment. Take HÉV from Batthyány tér and get off at Filatorigát stop. Follow the crowd.

• The Children's Railway (Gyermekvasút) and Cog Railway (Fogaskerekű vasút) in the Buda Hills. A great escape from the city. The Cog railway leaves from near Moscow Square (take tram 56 for two stops) and climbs through the wooded Buda Hills. At the top, take the Children's Railway through the hills and take the tram back down from the far end. Note: if you have an old map, you're supposed to find Pioneers' Railway (Úttörővasút) instead of Children's Railway in it, which is the former name of the railway from the soviet era.

• Museum of Aquincum [3] - The remains of Aquincum the former capitol of Pannonia Inferior, built by the Romans.
• Tomb of Gül Baba and Rosegarden [4] - Built around 1548 by the turkish occupants of the city. It is the northernmost place of muslim pilgrimage. The beautiful view and the peacefulness of the place makes a visit worth.
• Béla Bartók Memorial House [5] - The final home of one of the greatest Hungarian composers. Located at a very beautiful place and has a big garden.
• Foundry Museum [6] - A foundry from the 18th century in the very heart of the city, preserved as a museum.
• Semmelweis Medical History Museum [7] - The most important museum and archives on the history of medicine in Hungary
• Museum Kiscell [8] - A beautiful complex of baroque style buildings originally built for Trinitarian monks. The museum exhibits fine arts and items of modern history.
• Museum of Óbuda [9] - A museum of the local history in the Zichy Castle.

• Cave walking in the Buda Hills. Another way of passing a few hours is to visit the Caves on the Buda hills. The caves in Buda have special origin, they where not formed by cold waters from the outside, but formed by warm springs. Some of the caves are still active and filled up with thermal water, like the Molnár János cave, which contains the largest known water filled cavity in Europe and feeds the nearby spa "Lukács". The caves of the area have special kinds of formations rarely seen in other places. There are 2 caves open to visitors, Pálvölgy Cave and Szemlő Hill Cave. Some of the guides do not speak any English but they give a free English pamphlet for the tour.

• Rent a bike or a tandem on Margaret Island (Margitsziget). (You will need to deposit some kind of a document for that). There's also plenty sports facilities on the island--and air is really clean.

See also: New Year holidays in Hungary.

• FONÓ Music House XI. district, Sztregova u. 3. Tel.: 206-5300, 203-1752. Fax: 463-0479 (Take tram no. 18, 41 or 47 southward from Móricz Zsigmond körtér and get off at Kalotaszeg utca stop. Walk backwards 2 minutes and take the first street on the right.) Fonó provides a high quality selection of Hungarian folk, etno and world music. They offer concerts, folkdance performances as well dance houses called táncház in Hungarian. Every Wednesday evening they have Hungarian dance club which is a perfect place to see how young Hungarians revitalize traditional culture.

Eat

Restaurants

Budget

• Granny's pancakes (Nagyi palacsintázója). 24/7. Sweet and salt pancakes with various fillings for a quite low price. They have two restaurants in Buda: one at Batthyány tér at the stop of Metro line 2 (red line), the other at the corner of Hattyú utca and Csalogány utca, next to Moszkva tér.  edit

• Marxim, Kisrókus utca 23 (15 minutes walk from Moszkva tér. Follow the 4/6 tram tracks and find Kisrókus utca on the left after a big ugly office building. Look for the Red Star.), ☎ 316-02-31. An athmospheric pub-like restaurant. It is rather smoky and usually packed with local youngs but the post-communist interior is a must. You can have pizzas like "Usonka" or "Lenin's favourite" (around 1000 Ft).  edit

• Megnyilt Ildiko Konyhaja, I.Kerulet, Fo utca 8 (Use bus 16 to get to the station near Buda hill tunnel, head north approximately 500 meters.). Sunday-Friday 11:30-17:30, Sabbath 11:30-16:30, Closed on Saturdays. A lovely and cheap restaraunt where you can eat traditional Hungarian food. The menu includes Goulash and Pancakes.  edit

Mid-range

• Szent Jupát Söröző & Étterem restaurant, Retek utca 16 (''near Moskva ter metro''), ☎ 212-29-23. A well-known restaurant serving tasty and authentic Hungarian food, but the service leaves a little to be desired.  edit

• Kisrablo, Zenta u. 3 south of Gellert Hotel. While the pirate ship decor says 'pub', the Duck in Orange Rosemary Sauce says 'restaurant'. Excellent service, great creme brulee, and exceedingly reasonable 5 puttonyos Tokaji. A winner when you want something other than gulyás.  edit

• Mongolian Barbecue, XII district; Marvany utca 19/a, ☎ 212-1859 (fax: 212-3743). All-you-can-eat format. Fantastic restaurant which is not far from the Déli Train Station; unlimited beer and wine included.  edit

Splurge

• Seoul House, Fo utca 8 (Near the Chain Bridge), ☎ 201-9607. Some of the most authentic Korean food this side of Seoul, helped in no small part by the presence of the South Korean embassy right next door. On the expensive side (2.000 Ft and up), but as usual in Korea ordering a single main course also gets you a vast array of side dishes.  edit

• A38 boat. Turned into a music club from an old Ukranian stone-carrier ship, A38 is floating on Danube river and considered as one of Budapest's best quality party places (and one of Europe's coolest clubs). Hosts various music performances. 3 minutes walk southwards from Petőfi bridge, Buda side.

• Dokk Beach +36 20 91 999 91(Hajógyári sziget, district III) Open-air club that's a popular hang out for locals and foreigners alike. It is an island in the middle of the Danube that has been converted into a club that makes you feel like you're in the middle of a music video. With 6 different themes including a beach club, a club on the bridge, a club with a bed theme, a club with nothing but dancers in their underwear, and a rave club below the boat themed club, attendance can reach 10,000.

• Zold Pardon Open-air bar offering "almost-free" live concerts every night. Open: from late April until middle of September. Right next to Petőfi bridge, southern side.
• Belgian Brasseie Henri, 1011 Budapest, Bem rakpart 12, ☎ 2-144 711, [10]. 12:00 - 24:00. A popular among locals beer house with a marvelous choice of beers.  edit

• Buda Guesthouse Budapest, Budakeszi út 57, ☎ +36 (20) 262-7387 (fivestar@freemail.hu), [11]. Opened in 2002, this hostel is in the hills of Buda and 10 minutes from center. The Rege and Europa Hotel 50m from the hostel. private rooms from €34.  edit

• Grand Hostel Budapest, Hüvösvölgyi út 69, ☎ +36 (1) 274-1111 (info@grandhostel.hu), [12]. Opened in 2005, this hostel is located right beside the lovely hills of Buda and 10 minutes from downtown. The unique and colourful design of the Grand Hostel was created by an renowned artist. dorms from €10, private rooms from €24.  edit

• Tiger Tim's Place, 58 Terez Korut, Buzzer 64, ☎ +36 20 292-8320. This hostel is like staying at your cool friend's house with dozens of his other buddies. Tim will probably greet you at the door and walk you around and introduce you to the place. Tim organizes an outing every night to a different place and everyone is welcome. It's a bit tough to find because they're in a historical building and aren't allowed to put up a sign. But the address and buzzers are clearly enough marked. Well worth the trouble of looking. ~4000HUF.  edit

• The Backpacker Guesthouse, Takács Menyhert Utca 33, ☎ +36 (1) 385-8946 (backpackguest@hotmail.com), [13]. A highly recommended backpacker favourite. This small-to-mid size hostel is laidback and extremely friendly and personable. Kitchen access, inexpensive beer for sale, a great lounge with lots of (free) movies to watch, hammocks in the backyard, a grocery store nearby, in a residential neighborhood near the 51/53 tramline. dorm 3000-3500HUF, double 4500HUF.  edit

• Diáksport Hostel. The flagship of Budapest's largest hostel chain. Huge and impersonal, but a good way to meet other backpackers.

• Travelers' Hostel Schönherz, Irinyi út 42, District XI. Mainly functions as the student hostel for Budapest University of Technology and Economics, but has some rooms for travellers (off the academic period there are more rooms). Easily accessible with tram No. 4 (stop Budafoki út), and easily noticeable, because it's an 18 story high building.

• Astra Hotel, Vám u. 6, ☎ +36 (1) 214-1906 (info@hotelastra.hu; hotelastra@euroweb.hu, fax: +36 (1) 214-1907), [14]. High/low season: single €97/€84, double €112/€99, suite €139/€129, family suite €145/€165. Don't expect any views, but beyond that, standard rooms are charming. Furniture is bit old-style but quite simple and fully functional. Bathroom equipment is more or less up-to-date, but not more than that.  edit

• Art Deco Apartment, Zápor utca 2/B, ☎ +36 (20) 426-3990 (info@apartdeco.hu), [15]. A self-catering, well-equipped, 78 sqm vacation rental apartment close to Margaret Island, on the 2nd floor of a Bauhaus-style building. Comfortable for 1-6 people, with a quiet garden-side balcony. The apartment is furnished in art deco style. The Lukács Bath is only 4 tram stops away.  edit

• Buda Panzió, Kiss Áron u. 6. Quiet surroundings, guaranteed rest. Located in a residential area. Pleasant caretakers. Pricing in low season, €40 to €55. Unless you are driving, assume €7 for taxi ride into Buda or Pest.

• Grand Hotel Margitsziget, Moszkva Ter. The 164 rooms are elegantly furnished in classical style softly blending historical atmosphere and modern comfort. It is in a picturesque surrounding on Margaret island, yet in the heart of Budapest, in a natural park. Direct connection through corridor to the spa therapy center of the neighboring Danubius Thermal Hotel Margitsziget--see Baths section in Budapest for details.

• Kalmar Pension B&B, Kelenhegyi út 7-9. 3-star historical pension on Gellert Hill. e-mail: kalmarpension@gmail.com Web: www.kalmarpension.net

• Luna Hotel, Vegyész utca 17, tel. 204-6868. A 3-star hotel built in 2001, the major downside to this otherwise pleasant place is the inconvenient location far to the south of town, twenty minutes from the center by tram line 47. On the plus side, rooms start at €49 including breakfast, and there's a fair selection of "real" Hungarian restaurants, bars and stores nearby with prices far below those in the city center.

• Danubius Hotel Gellert is one of the most traditional hotels in Budapest and Hungary. Located at the foot of the Gellért Hill, on the bank of the Danube, is ideally situated for both business and leisure travellers. Located within walking distance to Budapest's most fashionable shopping and business district with one of the most beautiful sights of Budapest, the Liberty Bridge. The hotel has one of the most famous baths, see the Baths section in Budapest article.

• Novotel Budapest Congress, Alkotás u. 63-67, tel. 372-5400. A conference hotel close to the city centre with good transportation facilities to the spectacular places.

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Albanian

Proper noun

Buda m.

1. Buddha

Bosnian

Proper noun

Buda m.

1. Buddha

Hungarian

Wikipedia has an article on:

Buda

Wikipedia

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈbudɒ/
• Hyphenation: Bu‧da

Proper noun

Buda

1. The western part of the Hungarian capital, Budapest.

Portuguese

Proper noun

Buda m.

1. Buddha (Buddha)

Serbian

Proper noun

Buda m.

1. Buddha

See also

• Буда

Slovene

Noun

Buda m.

1. Buddha (Buddha)