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New article in the Telegraph

2009-04-19T08:31:00.000-07:00

New article in the Telegraph in Uk about bathing in Budapest
read more

SZIGET 2009

2009-04-16T04:38:00.001-07:00

The world economy crisis will drive SZIGET festival into some new areas in 2009.

The organizing team is counting on more foreign travellers to spend their euros in Budapest, so beside the airport link, they will send out ‘party-trains’ to Netherlands, Germany and France. SZIGET visitors can board on the trains and get the party feeling on their way to Hungary on train.

The Hungaricum Village is also gonna be a new attractions, it is a small skanzen like hungarian village on a 1 acre area with hungarian culinary, wines, handcraft arts and artists.

SZIGET 2009 will offer more VIP campsite than in 2008.

For foreign visitors SZIGET is going to offer more foreign concerts and bands , like Die Toten Hosen, Fatboy Slim, Armin van Buuren, The Offsprings, Placebo, Ska-P and many more

Balaton airport reopens

2009-04-04T17:16:00.000-07:00

Balaton Airport in Sarmellek reopened on 4th of Apr as the Lufthansa charter arrived with 32 guests onboard.
Jonathan Moore, the managing director of the airport said they're planning more visitor this year than the 110.000 last year, although right now only the Lufthansa will fly to Sarmellek from Dusseldorf, Hamburg and Frankfurt 3times a week.
Beside the regular traffic, there are several charter flights only.
The Ryanair deal, which drove the majority of the traffic in the past, is still under talks.

Easter Festival in Matyoland

2009-03-28T08:12:00.001-07:00

Thinking about going somewhere for this easter?
Check out our latest offer , 4days/3nights in capital of 'matyoland' Mezokovesd only for 133euro with breakfast, accommodation, tour guide, airport pickup and free entry to the thermal bath.

Mezokovesd is a nice town only about 150kms from Budapest, has highway and train connection to the capital city.
Mezokovesd mainly known for its folk art, called 'matyo', so the people livin' here are matyos.
The matyo folk style is very rich in colors, but can seen only in museum or holidays like easter in real life.
The old part of Mezokovesd , the 'Hadas', with small peasant houses from the 18-19th centuries, is the major place of the easter events, like the traidional folk dance show and all the houses will open to see how its owner (usually a handcraft artist) do his/her job. You can see or try if you wanna.

Once you are tired of the folk stuff, jump into the relaxing hot thermal water at the local Zsory thermal bath and pool, or book one of our optional tour to nearby Eger, to see the fortress and the wineries, or Miskolc to visit the unique cave thermal bath and for a relaxing walk in the forest of Bukk in Lillafured.

See the complete tour or book it
More question? contact us

Hegyalja music festival tokaj

2009-03-26T23:53:00.001-07:00

It is gonna be the 10th anniversary of the Hegyalja music festival
15-19th July 2009.

This is kinda like a 'small' SZIGET, held in the traditional wine region Tokaj in a summer camp on the shore of the river Tisza.
The directors made up a quite interesting list of concerts and bands like :
- Faithless, Machine Head, Basement Jaxx,Transglobal Undergound,Roni Size,N.O.H.A.
but there will be more rock concerts, trash metal bands, hungarians as well.
And many more not only music concerts...

You can put up your tent or looking for a nice hotel/pansion/guesthouse in the area.

How to get there? From Budapest by Intercity train to Debrecen (via Miskolc) or normal train to Miskolc with exchange to Nyiregyhaza. (cost around 3230-4800HUF depends on train).
Check timetable

Tickets : 4day pass - 17900 HUF (if you order now only 12500)
daily ticket - 6900 HUF
tent ticket is included in the weekly pass, other 900HUF (the number of tents are limited!)
children under 14 can enter FREE with adult supervision.

New attraction in Budapest

2009-03-25T06:03:00.000-07:00

Hopefully from this summer, you can decide to do the sightseeing tour a bit different than before in Budapest, Hungary.

A hungarian company called RiverRide, purchased its first amphibious coach, so the first part of the tour is the same old routine, but than the bus simply splash into the Danube and works as a boat. After the watery expedition, the bus is going to climb up the rivershore and stuck in the traffic jam

The coach is a luxury tourist bus, normally run with gasoline, but has an additional engine, kinda like a speedboat, and the waterjet engine makes the bus as fast as a normal boat in the water.

You can save some money with the prices as well, since you have to buy only 1ticket, adults 7000HUF, children 5000HUF (HUF means hungarian forint).

Check out route

Check out our budapest hotels

Article about Tokaj wines at the Times

2009-03-23T00:34:00.001-07:00

I found an article about one of the wine makers in Tokaj.
Check it out

How to get to Tokaj?

Michelin ratings vs. hurka & kolbasz

2009-03-18T14:55:00.000-07:00

No good news, or at least nothing new.
None of the hotels, restaurants in Budapest gained a single Michelin star...but Nancsi Neni's Restaurant was in its good shape, as it has a recommendation (the only one in Budapest).

Check out Nancsi's Restaurant

That does not mean that chefs can't cook...try else than McDonalds
Want something authentical budapest style...eat at the butcher. Most of the butchers in Budapest offer hot sausages, hot paprika sidedish, slice of bread or hurka, grilled chicken.
Have a pair of Debreceni sausages with mustard and hot paprika or a pair of kolbasz (the hungarian style sausage) and hurka.

New routes for Malev

2009-03-17T00:31:00.000-07:00

Malev, the Hungarian Airlines introduced its new summer timetable, including some new routes or more frequent flights.
New routes :
St. Peterburg Russia, 2 flight weekly,
Iasi Romania, 5 flight weekly till Jun, than 6, that's a new OneWorld destination as well
Amman, Jordan 2 flights weekly

More frequent :
Hamburg 2 times daily
Rome 2 times daily
Zagreb 20 times weekly
Thesaloniki and Tirana 13 times weekly
and more flights to Helsinki, Buchurest and Varna

Codeshare flight to Moscow with Aeroflot Seremetevo airport 2 times daily

And new summer destinations : Malaga (2times weekly) and Split (5times weekly)

MotoGP track won't open in 2009

2009-03-10T12:31:00.000-07:00

Tamas Suchman said today that the MotoGP race in 2009 in Balatonring is not a possible option.
The project is 50/50% between the hungarian state and the spanish investor Sedesa.
But Sedesa, whom wanted to finance the racetrack from bank loan, did not ask for a bank loan by that time, so the hungarian state see the project will have a delay until next year.

The MotoGP track, so called Balatonring is going to be build near the lake balaton, heviz bath and flybalaton airport. Originally planned to be able to host MotoGP race in 2009.
The original plans should have to be revised anyway, since Flybalaton airport is closed due to weak traffic, as Ryanair cancelled balaton flights during winter, but it won't be working from spring as it seems. The company behind the airport has huge depts, and Ryanair is not sure to reopen the balaton route. The hungarian tourism organization also decided to support bus tours in 2009, rather than flying.

Train in the skanzen in szentendre

2009-03-10T07:09:00.000-07:00

New attraction in skanzen , szentendre

New vehicle will help to discover the Open Air Museum, called Skanzen, in Szentendre, which's lying on 60acres from 8th April.
The old Ganz mototrain will go around on a 2kms long track , there are going to be 5 stops, the first stop is the main entrance of course.
The train will be authentic , as the mototrain from the 1920s, the conductors, tickets all will be the same as in the 1920s.

And a good news : the train is totally accessable by babystrollers, by wheelchair so you'd better go and check out the new attraction on the Easter Holiday, as there will be much more to see and do in the Skanzen.

more on Easter
more about the Skanzen

Airshow in Kecskemet cancelled in 2009

2009-02-24T11:25:00.000-08:00

Due to money saving, the minister of the hungarian military force cancelled the annual Airshow.
The airshow was a very popular summer event in Kecskemet, where people could see fighting planes, helicopters, aircommandos in action, not only western european or US models but good old soviets MIGs and MILs as well.
www.repulonap.hu

Conductors arrested in Budapest

2009-02-14T11:44:00.000-08:00

Four conductor in the Budapest metro has been arrested today.
Police looked for the conductors for days now to catch them in action.
They were asked foreign tourists to pay fines to them, without any receipt/invoice, or give sold them fake tickets for high prices.

Police caught the conductors as they fined two foreign tourist for 6000 forints and as the tourists did not have only 5000, they took the money.

It is an ongoing problem in Budapest that conductors on underground,tram,buses did not speak languages and sometime they ask fake fines tourists. And if someone do not want to pay they go rude.
The Budapest Transport Co is using CCTV cameras and security stuff to keep the transit system safe both for passengers and employees.
Visitors,travellers should have to report all problem to local police station or their country's embassy in Budapest.

Ophelie found dead

2009-02-12T15:11:00.000-08:00

Budapest police announced that they found a dead body in the danube, near the island of Csepel and the dead female body is Ophelie, the missing french girl.

Ophélie Bretnacher went missing on 4th dec, 2008. The girl was partying with other fellow students in the dohany street, when last seen. Several CCD TV film showed the girl as she's leaving her bag on the entrance of the Chain Bridge, but noone can say that she actually went to the bridge.
The hungarian police was searching for eyewitnesses partnered with french police investigators, the fellow students made search on the internet without success.
There were many phone calls to the police, that they saw the girl in Romania, different places in Budapest...but no clues. Until now, although if the body is Ophelie's , the reason is still hidding.

Low on budget high on experience

2009-02-03T08:01:00.000-08:00

How to spend a relaxing week in 2009 to save money and have family fun?

Try rural holidays in Hungary!
Hungary has many really pretty and cosy villages, near or far from big cities, like you can get a nice village house near lake balaton or budapest as well, as you can get it in the eastern part of the country.

if you'd like to have more people around you, try one near the lake balaton.
These houses are well equipped, with full kitchen, tv, bathroom so nothing that rural.
And much cheaper than a hotel. A complete house around 10000 HUF per day (suits for 4-5persons). That is only 2000-2500 HUF per day only, which is nearly 20euro in these days (1EUR=300HUF).

If you prefer less noise and tourits, try a real rural area.
The people are nice and friendly (although do not speak maybe other language only hungarian), the natural surroundings are original and rich in forests, rivers, creeks, birds.
You can sleep well and wake up for song of the birds, can take shorter-longer walks, fishing, biking (usually can rent bikes from the owner), horse riding or simply discover the village and nearby cities, sights.

If you are interested in a low budget high experience holiday...
contact us for prices and possibilities.

The Malev saga

2009-01-28T05:09:00.000-08:00

Another day, another news about Malev, and the future of the national carrier

As we posted before, the russian 'investors' has been out of the board of directors, the russian bank (which is a creditor for the Abramovits broters, the original investor)took their stake in the airline, will sell it to Aeroflot, so Malev will be flying under Aeroflot wings.
The problem is that to keep the national carrier sign, the major stake must hold by hungarians (right now two individuals), so Aeroflot can take max. 49%.

Today another company asked for money from Malev, the security company claim for 200 million hungarian forint (0.8 million USD) unpaid bills.

Extremly Hungary

2009-01-25T06:09:00.000-08:00

Extremely Hungary
is a yearlong festival showcasing contemporary Hungarian visual, performing, and literary arts in New York and Washington, D.C., throughout 2009. The festival reveals the roots of Hungary’s thriving contemporary culture and its impact on American society through a broad spectrum of events at leading cultural institutions in the two cities. Chairpersons are George Soros and Kati Marton.

From 24th January, you can follow or attend to interesting contemporary art exhibitions, performance art, see a collection (partial) of famous Zsolnay porcelains (the original and full is in Pecs), but there will be concerts like Roby Lakatos and Friends, Beata Palya (world music with folk and gypsy), but also you can watch movies about Hungary and made by hungarian directors.

Oh, dont forget to enter (if you are able) or simply join to see The MOST FABULOUS MUSTACHE CONTEST

See the event calendar in NYC, and Washington D.C as well,
and if you are still interested or more interested in Hungary and Central east europe..
contact us, and we give you a great deal of travel package.

stike on ferihegy airport, malev in trouble

2009-01-19T07:05:00.000-08:00

The strike continous on Ferihegy airport in Budapest from today 4pm, as the speaker of the union told hungarian media.

They did not reach agreement with the Ferihegy airport managment company, so they will go on strike till a not known date.

It is not known how many percentage of the union workers will join the stike, so noone can tell which flights are going to delay or cancelled.

While Malev , the hungarian airline, is struggling to keep the ‘national carrier’ status, as the russian part of the managment handed their resignation over last week. Boris Ambramovits and his brother resigned from the managment as they can not keep their promises made during the privatisation.

OTP the largest bank in Hungary maybe the buyer of their stake, but minority stake will go to a russian bank (which gave credit to the russians). The russian part will go to Aeroflot later on, but still not clear who will pump the money into the airline, since it has huge debts at the ferihegy management company, and the leasing money for the planes (remember they ordered several new Bombardiers during autumn).

Budapest Bamako Rally

2009-01-18T00:11:00.001-08:00

The 4th Budapest-Bamako Rally has started yesterday from Budapest to arrive to capital of Mali around 15days later.

The authentic rally is now in 4th year, started with a crazy idea to mix the charity work with a fun wacky race. Of course you can find big four wheel drives here as well as on other rallies, but several real strange vehicles are always in the crowd, like VW Buggy, Ikarus citybus or old Peugeot and russian Lada.
The drivers are also usually not pro drivers, but everyday family daddys...
The race is not a real race, there are a winner but everybody is a winner who can make the long way to Bamako through the sahara desert and maybe back. Since not everything is coming back. Many car bring aid and charity stuff to Mali, others want to sell or simply give away their car/bus as gift for locals and come back by plane.
Others try the way back as well with the old scrap car, sometimes takes a month the way back only.

So everyone can be part of the wacky desert race, why don't you? Join to Budapest Bamako Race in 2010...what you need only a registered car, a lot of time, and some money of course

Would you like to know more? Click here
Join the daily updates

High air pollution in Budapest

2009-01-16T05:45:00.000-08:00

Due to high airpollution in Budapest visitors are asked not to be outside all day long.
Cars were abandonded partially, and travellers better use the mass transit system, which is running with extra cabs, buses, metros.

The high pollution is not mainly about the car traffic, but thanks to winter weather conditions, windless foggy weather.

Update on ticket prices in Budapest :
1 way ticket : 290HUF
10s ticket : 2600HUF
1 day ticket : 1500HUF
Tourist ticket : 3700HUF
Weekly : 3700HUF

Short way to the metro (only 3stops) : 240 HUF
Changing ticket for the metro (you can use it on two underground, like if you change line) : 450HUF

Winter on the Lake Balaton

2009-01-09T06:24:00.001-08:00

Although you can not ski in Hungary (only a little bit), the country still has its own winter attraction.

Balaton mostly known as a summer destination, as the largest lake in europe.
But winter cold does not mean that there are no things to do around...
As the lake freeze, and the ice on the top is rising, the local councils are going to select the ice-skating courses on the ice of the lake.

In Keszthely, there are an ice-skating course near the port, which is open from 12-8pm on weekdays, and from 9am till 9pm on weekends. The attraction is FREE of charge.

In Balatonfured, the local eszerhazy beach hosts the skating course, which open for public from 2pm-6pm on weekdays and 9am-7pm on weekends.
There will be several more about the lake as the ice grows

You also can hockey on the ice,or simply just walk around, or play the old hungarian 'wooden dog', which is a chair with two long wood on its bottom to ski on the ice, you can push yourself like when you are skiing...
or ice sailing...which is a sail boat with skiing legs (like a catamaran), and if the wind blows well enough, you can sail around the lake.

Not only Lake Balaton offers such winter fun, but Lake Velence as well (which is only 25-30kms from Budapest).

New years, new tours

2009-01-04T13:16:00.001-08:00

In 2009, we are going to introduce a lot new features, new tours and services through our online website and offline agent network as well.

Our newest tour is for bands, amateur or pro, chours or punkrock bands.

Record your single, CD, or make your music video!

We are here to help, with organizing the complete tour…

We have the recording studio ready for you, we have the designers waiting for your master CD to make the best covers, we have the guys ready to make millions of copies of your CD/DVD. And we have the concerts and the fans ready…

We organize everything, no matter if you make concert in local club or church…

We give you not only your CD/DVD recording opportunity, but a true experience of Hungary,Slovakia and of course the main thing…SAVE YOU MONEY…A LOT OF MONEY…

Out of Budapest, part2

2009-01-02T11:49:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year for everyone!

Now we are going further into Northern Hungary, for a daytip out of Budapest.
We finished last time in Mezokovesd, so if we go further to Miskolc, which is the third largest city in Hungary.
Miskolc offers several good things to do around, like the famous thermal cave bath in Miskolctapolca, which is an unique attractions. It is an in and outdoor thermal spa. The indoor is inside a cave, fully renewed, with underwater lights, waterfalls, great family fun.
The downtown of Miskolc also worth a walk, through the new Szinvaterasz and the old Theatre. If you catch a tram, you can go through the city to the Castle of Diosgyor. The castle was built in the 14th century, and served as a hunting castle for the queen. There are many medieval events, knight training during summertime.
Only a couple of kms and we are in the Bukk hills, which surrounds the city of Miskolc. The karst mountains offers many caves, some of it easy to climb and reach, like the Szeleta cave, which is only around 1hour walk from Miskolc. Prehistoric cavemen lived there for over 10000 years from the end of the iceage. From the Szeleta caves, you can reach Lillafured, to see the lake of Hamor and the waterfall of the Szinva creek (which is flowing through miskolc than), theere you can also see the famous Palota hotel which looks like a castle , but was built as a hotel in the 19th century. You also can take guided tours to the two open caves there, the St. Stevens and the Anna caves. And you can take the narrow gauge train back to Miskolc , which takes around 40mins through the hills and forest of the Bukk, or go to see Omassa, which is around 12kms away, where you can see the first steel mill in hungary, and the famous trout farm, where you can buy fresh, grilled fish.
From Miskolc, we go to see the wonderful fortress of Boldogkovaralja. which is partly rebuilt, other in ruins. The view is magnificent from the fortress and the medieval restaurant is also worth a try in the cellar.
From Boldogkovarlja we can go two ways,
the one is to north to see the
Aggtelek caves.

There are actually several caves, all is a World heritage site. But if you are there choose a normal 1hour guided tour to see the magnificent underworld. The caves are beautiful, cold and amazing to see the many different stone and karst creature. There are a long way which ends in Slovakia as well.
from Aggtelek is good to take the road through the Zemplen mountains, which is a young volcanic mountain, offers many wonderful fortress ruins, like Fuzer, and a nice porcelain manufacture in Hollohaza.
You can end up in Sarospatak, which is part of the Tokaj wine region, and where from we will continue our trip next time...

Merry Christmas

2008-12-23T23:49:00.000-08:00

We wish Merry Christmas for all of our readers.

We will be back with the daytrip part 2 on 27th Dec...

Daytrip from Budapest part1

2008-12-19T07:33:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!

We are starting a series of blog entries about what can we do , where can we go for a daytrip from Budapest in wintertime.

Part 1.
Destination : Northern Hungary

Holloko
It is a small village not too far from Budapest. Best known for its living folklor, due the village reserved many of its old charm. The houses are the same as it was two centuries ago, people wear traditional costumes. Of course a bit touristy now, but anyway...you still can imagin' yourself to the 19th century village.
Also can try a lot of handmade stuff, like pottery or if you are not that talented you can buy one, or other traditional souvenirs can not be found in Budapest or for double price.
If the weather is fine you also can climb and see the castle (ruins) of Holloko, where the locals hold medieval games during summertimes.
How to get there? By bus from Stadionok stations, there are direct buses, takes around 1hour to get there
More about Holloko

Eger
Mother of all daytrips from Budapest, the second most visited town. Eger is a charming small town, capital of the eger wine region with historical downtown, baroque.
You can take a walk in the downtown, see the magnificent Basilica, go and take a walk in the fortress of Eger, which saw many great battle with the ottoman empire.
The turkish left a minaret in Eger, worth to see or go to the top as it is very rare in Hungary.
There are many restaurants, cafes in the downtown, but if you like to taste wines you have to walk further to the Valley of the Beautiful Women, which is full of wineries.
Eger wines are famous in Hungary, most of it are red wines, dry and semidry, the best known is called the Bulls Blood.
If you are tired of walking, take a relaxing bath in the turkish spa (beware according to old turkish heritage, one day is for the lads , other for gents only).
How to get there? Easily by train, there are direct trains, Intercity and fast trains as well, or by bus from stadionok stations.
More about Eger

Mezokovesd
Not far from Eger (20kms), Mezokovesd is the centre of Matyoland. Matyo is the name of the local people, due to their unique costumes. It can seen only in musem nowadays. The local Matyo musem offers a complete collection of different costumes and everyday stuff from 18-19th centuries.
There are also an interesting museum, the Musem of Agricultural Engines. It is in the so called 'Hadas' district of Mezokovesd. The museum is a collection of one man, and it displays agricultural engines of the 19-20th centuries, everything is working and can be tested. Really interesting and unique experience for travellers whom interested in engines.
But Mezokovesd is most known for its thermal spa, the Zsory thermal bath. It lies on the outskirts of the city, but easily accessable by bus or bike. The termal bath open all year round, Rozsa restaurant with local food is opposite the entry.
More about Mezokovesd
How to get there? By train from Budapest, any slow or fast train will stop in Mezokovesd. Intercities does not, you have to change at Fuzesabony. By car on M3 highway to Miskolc direction

More to come tomorrow...
Comment if you have any experience in northern hungary, good or bad

Strikes

2008-12-16T04:17:00.000-08:00

December is the month of strikes in Hungary.

The state owned railways (MAV) is on strike now for more than 3days, some of the trains are going, some aren't, and there are really noone who can tell the actual timetable.
So, try to avoid trains in these days, catch a bus instead, at Nepliget or Stadionok station. But you have to be ready that buses may overcrawded.
When the strike will end? Hopefully within days...

Ferihegy airport , security workers have a strike, they try to slow the procedure of check in, long queues..more waiting. You have to be in the airport a couple of hours before your departure time.

BKV, the Budapest Transit Authority is possibly on strike within days, so the mass transport system in the capital city will be a mess...
Taxis are a good alternative, but they can easily stuck in the traffic jam , due that many resident will take car instead of the bus/tram.
You can walk or rent a bike! It is not that cold yet...

New attraction

2008-12-06T04:00:00.001-08:00

Ramada Aquaworld has been opened on 5th Dec in Budapest.
The newest attraction of Budapest is now open. The Ramada Aquaworld is an indoor theme park, the main building is 5 storey high and the diameter is 72meters. The theme is old Angkor, so you can climb on the Angkor Wat temple, which is surrounded by bridges and towers and 17 different pools.
The most interesting is the surfing pool, where you can learn to surf indoor! There are also wave pool, like Bondi Beach :-)
A new 4star hotel was built which has direct connection to the theme park. It has 261 rooms and offer a luxury 5star category accommodation for families and groups of friends for price of 4star. The restaurant can be held up to 550 peoples and there are a big conference room as well.
The Aquaworld is on the outskirts of Budapest, near the M0 ring around Budapest, you have to pass the new Megyeri Bridge on the northern side of Budapest.
More about it

New record, and this and that

2008-12-04T05:51:00.000-08:00

Santa's comin' to town (and telling a really long story)
Velence Resort hotel & spa was celebtrating a new Guiness Record.
Santa Claus was telling tales all day long, (with max. 5mins break after 1 hour) and it is a new guiness record on tale telling.

Hundrends of childrens gather and waited for Santa to arrive (hard to come by raindeer without snow and freezing cold). The hotel was serving cookies and drinks and than Santa started..and continoued, and more...
Velence Resort & Spa is a new wellness hotel, on the shore of the lake Velence, half way between Budapest and Lake Balaton . Budapest is only around 30kms on highway.
Check out the hotel here

It was a really fairy tale(y) day for the children ...

Another news...not that sweet
City council of Siofok at Lake Balaton will look over some of its regulations and maybe make some new to stop summer drinking parties in public places as it was recent in the past few years. Locals and other tourists also made many proposition to stop this behaviour on the streets, since it was noisy, sometime scary for someone and disturbing for other people on holiday.
Of course there will be cheap beer and cheap or expensive wines...but only in stores and in pubs.

New connection
New flight connection from Budapest...the first and only airconnection between Europe and Georgia. SkyGeorgia introduced new route from Tbilisi to Budapest, which will served by a DC-9. This is the only air route between europe and georgia. Till that , you had to change twice .
Check out prices and schedule

And last, another news about the airline industry
Budapest Ferihegy airport will install 12 new self check-in desks, finally...in 2009 :-)

Hot thermal baths

2008-12-01T09:05:00.000-08:00

Hungary is extremly rich in thermal water, so travellers can find a good thermal bath, spa facility all over Hungary, to relax your body and comfort your soul.
We collected some, which is worth a visit during the cold days of winter.

Budapest city of spas
Gellert spa
completly renewed, looking magnificent with its zsolnay ceramic tiles. Gellert spa is in downtown location in Budapest on the Buda side, it is part of the Hotel Gellert complex.
Services include: complete medical threatments, sauna, massages
The water is good for therapeutic diagnoses of:
- degenerative illnesses of joints
- illnesses of the vertebral spine
- chronic and semi-acute arthritis
- pains of the intervertebral disc
- neuralgia
- aortic stenosis
- blood circulation problems
- in the Inhalatorium: treatment of asthmatic, chronic bronchitic complaints
Prices from 2800HUF (adult daily ticket)

Szechenyi bath

It is another iconic all year spa bath in Budapest. Founded in the real downtown, near the Heroes square in the City Park. Easy access by underground (yellow from Deak Ferenc square).
Services include : complete medical threatment, underwater massage, thai massage, sauna, steam bath.
There are 18 pools, from 20 celsius degree up to 40.

The water of the drinking well is a healing water with calcium, magnesium, hydro-carbonate, chloride, sulphate, also containing alcalics and a substantial amount of fluoride.

Therapeutic proposals
- degenerative illnesses of joints
- chronic and semi-acute arthritis
- orthopaedic and post-injury alterior treatments
In the form of a drinking cure
- chronic gastric catarrh, gastric ulcer, intestinal catarrh
- overproduction of gastric acid
- chronic inflammation of the pelvis of the kidney and of the urine paths
- certain forms of renal stone illnesses
- chronic catarrh of the inhaling organs
- prevention and healing of states of the bone system accompanied by a calcium deficiency
- influencing disturbances of metabolism linked to gout
- in case of certain illnesses of the gall-bladder and the gall paths, for enhancing gall-discharge
Entrance tickets from : 2400HUF

more about Spas of Budapest
Would you like to come to Budapest during winter?
Contact us for best prices, hotel + flight deals!
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First Q-400 arrived

2008-11-27T22:25:00.000-08:00

MALEV's first Bombardier Q-400 arrived to Ferihegy airport.

Malev, the hungarian airline is changing..again.
They are selling the big birds (B767s), and ground some of their B737s, due to complete change in ideas.
The original idea was that the owner (who owned russias AiRUnion), will make a profit out of the european routes of Malev, since it would be a good connection point from europe to russia. (since AiRUnion flought to many russian cities).
Now it is gone, so Malev will concentrate on short routes. So short routes do not need big planes, and saving is good (although fuel prices are down again).
Malev will change its agening Fokker F70s and the almost new Bombardier CRJs to Q400.
The Q400 is a great turboprop plane, suitable for short routes. It is fuel efficent (much more than the CRJs), and quiet (that's why it is Q-400).
So..we can fly with the new plane as soon as they did all the test needed.

check out MALEV site for some good buy
but if you want more discount, try WizzAir or Easyjet

Candle-lit express dinner train

2008-11-26T15:10:00.000-08:00

Do you remember the old steam locos? Or are you too young for the memories?
And how about romantic dinners on old luxury trains, like in the movies...

Now your dreams can come true, thanks to the MAV-Nosztalgia (a retro part of the hungarian state railways, they are operating the museum of the locos in Budapest, which also worth a visit in a sunny day).
They are renewing old carriages, old steam engines and do regular tours.
The last of this year will departue on 19th Dec, from the Nyugati train station in Budapest.

The train ride will take 3hours, and what type of train will go? A full luxury train , contains dinner, bar and saloon cars, a steamy journey back in time, and the real extra that this will be , as its name says, a dinner train with candle-lit, and superb culinary.

Two choice of menu, one for meateaters and of course another for vegetarians. Champagne as welcome drink , hungarian wines (red and white), coffee or mineral water are in the price.
You can hire extra service to arrange a birthday cake, or a small present, a bunch of flowers for your love.
The complete tour cost 13990HUF (hungarian forint) if you have a 4seats table and 15990HUF if you take a 2seats table.

Where to buy ticket? At the Nyugati train station, next to the 10th platform
or Tel.: (+36 1) 269-5242 e-mail: utazas@mavnosztalgia.hu

Hurry up since these won't last long...but if you missed it, plan ahead..there will be more in 2009, from spring.
Send us an email for details

55th anniversary

2008-11-25T15:40:00.001-08:00

It is the 55th anniversary, that Hungary beat England 6 to 3 in soccer.

The 'Gold Team' of Hungary beat England in the Wembley in 1953. The legendary team which included Puskas, was the pride of the nation by that time, everybody knew the complete team, there were thousands in the stadiums.
That win in Wembley was not the biggest. The biggest win was to score the silver medal in the world cup, which was won by the West germans. It is still a bitter memory, since everyone bet a gold medal.
Anyway, when the english team came to budapest for the next match, hungary beat then 7-1 :-)
The biggest stadium was named after Puskas, who was playing for Real Madrid for long time before his retire.

related article : Puskas dies

It's snowing

2008-11-25T15:37:00.000-08:00

It was snowing all around Hungary.
Mainly in Budapest and Northern Hungary region, there are around 10-17 cm high snow.
Trains are in delay, (as it usual) and roads are slippery.

According to the weather forecast, there will be much warmer next week, so all will gone in a blink.

Some tips for the christmas market in Budapest

2008-11-19T15:04:00.000-08:00

Hi there,

I just want to share some good ideas with you about the food on the christmas market.

These kind of tourist event always means higher prices and a little acting for the mess of tourists. I mean, you can buy typical hungarian foods here as real hungarian ones, although you can get those anytime at any butcher shop in budapest or any town of hungary, at around half price. And most of the butcher shop has own oven, so you do not have to prepare the food yourself at your hotel room :-)
So if you want to save some money, buy a pair of hurka or kolbasz (sausages) at a butcher shop with slice of bread and some sour cucumber salad...that's how it goes.

Do you know what hurka is?
Hurka is a kind like a sausage, but it is a mixture of port meat and rice and spices.
Two type is usuall, the red one is the bloody one, since pork blood added to the mixture (sounds weird, but taste great), and the greyish one is with liver added.
Kolbasz or sausage is also a type of hungarian food, it is like a sausage but fully meat, there are fried, grilled or smoked versions.

Where to find a butcher ?
Almost anywhere, but if you are near the Great Market Hall on the Buda side, or any major marketplace like the one on the Feny square (it is at the underground stop Moszkva ter on the red line, take off and the marketplace is back of the Mammut shopping centre, you can get there by tram no 4,6 from Nyugati train station) or the marketplace on the Lehel square, it is behind the westend city centre, you have to walk around 500meteres, a real 'can not miss' building.

Christmas in Budapest

2008-11-19T14:38:00.000-08:00

This year is extra special: the Budapest Christmas Fair, held on Vörösmarty square, is celebrating its 10^th anniversary. The most popular winter event of the capital is organized by the Tourism Office of Budapest welcomes visitors on the most beautiful square of the capital.

The series of Advent and Christmas events lasting for over one month is one of the most popular programmes of the winter season, normally considered the off-peak time for tourism. The fair is not only the highlight of the Christmas preparation of local people but also the beautiful gem of the shopping trips of foreign tourists, visited by almost everybody who is in the capital at this time of the year. The Christmas Fair of Budapest is an excellent event, in itself it is the first motivation of the winter season, the Christmas shopping and the authentic festive feeling it gives to people, bringing an ever-increasing number of visitors: last year over 600 thousand people came to see it. Thanks to the promotions based on the events Budapest has become a hugely popular winter destination and its traditional Christmas Fair is now a well-known and respected event in Europe.

The Budapest Christmas Fair is considered to be amongst the most prestigious Christmas events of the continent, in 2006 the famous Travel & Leisure magazine selected it into the top 10 Christmas programs of Europe, while according to the international tourism website Expedia „it would be difficult to find a more authentic Christmas fair anywhere”. Almost all of the best travel guide books mention the Budapest Christmas fair as a program not to be missed. By now the event has grown so much that it has become famous further away too: recently it was the honour guest of the largest folk art festival of Canada. After visiting the most important Christmas fairs of Europe in 2006 and based on professional aspects finding the Budapest Christmas Fair to be the best, the artistic director of the festival sent a personal invitation to the Association of Hungarian Folk Artists, which is responsible for the quality of the craft products sold in Vörösmarty square.

One of the main attractions of the Budapest Christmas Fair is that it is organized especially to introduce Hungarian customs, traditional food and drink, folk arts and crafts and bands playing traditional and folk music.

The unique festive atmosphere is helped by the use of friendly wooden pavilions and the matchless array of products for sale offered by them: over 100 craft pavilions display traditional products, special gifts and folk art and craft objects judged and approved by the Association of Hungarian Folk Artists.

For visitors who have a taste for traditional gastronomic delights the city centre location of the fair is a real heaven: the smell of the fresh bread “lángos” baked in the traditional “Töki” clay oven, the stands of caramelised pastry horn makers, traditional country food baked in clay ovens, friendly meat grills attract anybody walking near the fair. If you like good mulled wine, you should also be there in the Vörösmarty square: after drinking it, you can take home the special mug it was served in: the “Christmas Fair Mug” gets a new design every year.

Should all this be not enough, visitors of the square are continuously entertained by a cavalcade of Hungarian folk music, folk dance, classical music, children’s programmes and concerts.

Thanks to the host pavilions, hot drinks, delicacies and stage performances on Vörösmarty square the Budapest Christmas Fair is more than just a folk art fair: it is a perfect program where visitors can spend longer time, an excellent, memorable event for friends and family to take part in. The beautiful scene, the shopping and eating opportunities, the stage performances and accompanying programs add up to the experience where every visitors can be part of a real festive Christmas holiday.

Apart from the huge Christmas tree on the square, the story-telling Nativity, the larger-than-life Advent wreath another essential part of the Budapest Christmas Fair is the Advent Calendar in the windows of the Gerbeaud house. From 1 to 24 December at exactly 5 o’clock in the afternoon another window of the calendar is opened, accompanied by beautiful chime music and festive wind-instrument pieces. All windows hide a stunning contemporary painting and these are unveiled for the sound of music and some special lighting effects.

The preparation for Christmas is the most important time of the year for families and children. The Budapest Christmas Fair is happy to welcome children on the square; not only the huge Christmas tree, the advent wreath, the musical calendar but also programs organized especially for them await even the smallest visitors.

The magical Nativity scene can be seen from 13 December, and on weekend mornings there are special children’s puppet theatre performances. This year once again there is an opportunity for getting to know the traditional gifts of old times, the way these were made; and in the heated children’s craft tent they can meet old and traditional professions on weekends from 10:00 to 18:00 and on weekdays from 15:00 to 18:00. Santa will visit children this year too; sitting on his chair at the corner of the Gerbeaud house he will warmly welcome children and their wishes from the smallest to the larger ones. Santa will be there on 6 and 7 December (Saturday and Sunday) from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00.

One of the highlight of the Budapest Christmas Fair series of events has been the festive concert of piano artist Szilvia Kárászy and her guest performers. This year of will be held on 21 December at 18:00 in the Roosevelt-square Ballroom of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Amongst the guest performers will be the Solti Chamber Orchestra, László Tolcsvay and the Kiharang (Small Bell) Orchestra, conducted by Gyula Lajhó. At the end of the concert the award ceremony of the Golden Bell Award will be held, it is given to partially sighted or blind adults and children who achieve something extraordinary in their profession or complete an amazing humane deed.

The importance of the prize is mostly the respect and love it comes with, as well as the encouragement shared by both the winners and participants. The award can also help for others struggling with similar problems to believe in a life worth living for, believing in being able to live as a valued member of society and with their achievements gaining the respect and attention of other people. The stories of the award winners are also messages for sighted people: with endurance and the love of life and other people we can not only overcome the difficulties but we can also create something valuable and lasting. This year’s winner is László Ézsiás, an actor with special talent who appeared on the “VAGYOK” (“I am”) event in Székesfehérvár

The Budapest Christmas is honouring several anniversaries this year. It is the 10^th time this colourful, traditional, extremely popular event is held, enjoying the support of the capital as well as the National Culture Fund. To celebrate the 10^th anniversary the most successful performers of the Christmas fairs of the last years will perform on 7 December. But this year is even more special: not only the event is celebrating, but the city that gives home to it as well: Budapest is 135 years old this year. The exhibition recalling the past of the capital, called Budapest Anno will be opened in December, it can be seen in Vörösmarty square in the pavilion next to the statue. As part of the exhibition the award-wining artworks of old years Christams gifts a student competition for pupils of art schools will also be on display. For the anniversary of the unification of Pest-Buda-Óbuda Budapest remembers also with a Photoalbum, with the works of such an artists like Péter Korniss, Zsuzsa Schäffer or Gábor Fejér. The book called 135 years - 135 photos comes out at the end of November in 3000 copies, would also be found in the Tourinforms in Hungarian and in English as well.

source : Budapest Tourism Office

First notice

2008-06-26T00:09:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

I try to give you some personal view of the places I've been in Hungary.
My name is Aron Hohl, I am the owner and managing director of a travel company called Centraleasteurope.com.
We are managing several sites like seeuinhungary.com, centraleasteurope.com, ausztralmania.hu.
We try to collect all info relevant for tourist visiting the region.
Through these journeys i made to hotels, beaches, national parks, museums to get the lastest infos for you, of course I have personal feelings, impacts.
Now I try to share these feelings, ideas with you