Sep 24th, 2007 | Activities & things to do, Music & concerts, Sights of Budapest | 1 Comment
The 120 years old Hungarian State Opera House in the centre of Budapest, on the exclusive Andrassy ut, is one of the worlds most breathtaking opera buildings. Over the years it have been host for greats lik Ferenc Liszt and Gustav Mahler. The opera, built in neo-Renaissance style is the achievement of the great Hungarian architect Miklos Ybl and a contribution to Hungary’s unique national identity expressing the vibrant culture of Budapest, Hungary.
With its amazingly ornate interior, frescoes and statues of Beethoven, Mozart, Verdi, Wagner and other greats (both in and outside) Budapest internationally celebrated Opera House from 1884 is one of the city’s most interesting and beautiful buildings. Ornamentation’s like sculptures and paintings are the work of the prominent Hungarian artists: Bertalan Székely, Mór Than and Károly Lotz.
The opera season runs usually from september to june and holds 40-50 major productions.
The Budapest State Opera house is truly one of the most beautifyl sights of Budapest so if your only staying for a few days and have to chose between all sights then the Opera is one of the must-see sights of Budapest! If you cant get hold of any tickets to the opera be sure to take the guided tour inside the Opera House. There are guided tours in English every dag.
Daily tours: 2500 ft (10 Euro)
Just around the corner – more classic music in Budapest
If your into music and culture you have two other interesting attractions nearby in the center of Budapest:
- Pesti Vigado at Vörös Marty tér just take the subway M1 (right outside the Opera) to “Vörös Marty tér” station.
- Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music (Zeneakadémia) just walk down Nagymezö street on the opposite side of the opera to VI. Liszt Ferenc tér 8
Andrassy út 22, District VI.
Metro 1: Opera | Tram 4 and 6 to Oktogon
Web:
www.opera.hu
www.jegymester.hu (ticket booking in english)
www.koncertkalendarium.hu (concert calendar in english)
Sep 23rd, 2007 | Activities & things to do, Sights of Budapest | Comments Off
The Andrassy út boulevard stretching from Downtown to the City Park (városliget) is Budapest finest boulevard with beautiful buildings, exclusive hotels and shopping boutiques, small museum’s and a lively cafe and bar scene where you can enjoy the dynamic nightlife of Budapest.
Walking along Andrassy you realise why they call Budapest “Little Paris”. Lined with trees and many beautiful sights the Andrassy boulevard is also perfect for a walk full of cultural experience’s including historic places like:
Also the Andrassy boulevard is listed on UNESCOS world heritage list. Be sure not to miss this grandiose sight of Budapest.
Web: www.avenuegardens.hu
Sep 17th, 2007 | Activities & things to do | Comments Off
Visit the one and only collection from the period of communist cultural politics in Hungary. This is a uniqe opportunity to visit one of the most historically exciting outdoor museums in Europe, Budapest.
The museum holds statues of the communist era like Lenin, Marx and Engels. There are also memorials to The Soviet Soldier, Communist Martyrs, the Republic of Councils. And much more. Be sure not to miss the Trabant by the exit of the museum.
Entrance: 600 Forint (2 Euros)
Access: From Ferenciek tere take bus No.7 (red bus!), No.173 to Etele tér (square), and from there on Volán Bus (yellow) departing from stall number 7. (toward Diosd-Erd). The buses leave in every 20 minutes.
More info:
http://www.szoborpark.hu
Sep 15th, 2007 | Activities & things to do, Sights of Budapest | Comments Off
One very comfortable and enjoyable way to see many of Budapest historic sights is by taking a slow boat trip on the Danube river.
The Danube divides the city in two parts: Buda – the older rocky west side of the Danube where the castle, and many of Budapest historic attractions is located and Pest the heart of the pulsating modern city.
During the tour on the Donube you will see
- the Castle,
- the Fisherman´s Bastion,
- the Parliament (on the picture),
- Margret Island,
- Grasham Palace,
- Gellért hill and the Gellért hotel,
- all of the beautiful bridges and
- the National Theatre.
The boat tours on the Danube costs between 3000 – 8000 Forint depending if you go by day or night (all historical sight are beautifully lit at night) if you choose to eat dinner or not. The tours last for about 1½ hour. The boat tours start from the Vigado Square on the Pest side.
Book your tickets online or buy them onsight. For more information see:
http://www.mahartpassnave.hu
http://www.seebudapest.hu
http://www.legenda.hu
Sep 12th, 2007 | Activities & things to do | Comments Off
If you want experience a bit of old socialist-nostalgia while in Budapest there´s no better way than to drive an authentic East-German Trabant. A vehicle with a chassi made of Duroplast (plastic composite) and a low performing two stroke engine, today a symbol for the former Easteuropean socialistic culture.
The vehicle was produced in East Germany by VEB Sachsenring Automobilwerke Zwickau in Zwickau, Saxony and became one of the most common vehicles in many East-European countries. Budapest, Hungary was no exception and there is still many Trabants driving around in Budapest.In German the word “Trabant” means “fellow traveler”. In Budapest the vehicle is called Trabi.
Renting a Trabi for a day cost about 40 Euro. Of course you need a drivers license. You can rent a Trabi here:
- http://www.rentatrabantbudapest.com
- http://www.cityrama.hu
Read more about the Trabi here:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trabant
