If you run a Windows computer, you might see different pictures from all across the world whenever your computer starts up. Yesterday, a picture from Budapest suddenly showed up, portraying the amazing Fishermen’s bastion.
The Windows opening picture as of December 11th, 2019
The text in the picture says as follows:
Why this building is called a bastion, no one really knows – it never actually defended the great city below. It’s probably just a fish story.
Windows startup picture, December 11th – 2019
It is a great joy to see Budapest getting some attention from Microsoft and the world, and maybe this will attract some more visitors to Budapest.
But, what is the truth behind the Fishermen’s Bastion? Well, the name comes because of the look. It is true that is has never actually defended the city, but it was built as an attraction and was named after the fishermen who guarded that part of the wall surrounding the castle several hundred years ago.
In other words, there is no big mystery related to the actual Fishermen’s Bastion. So, come and check it out for yourself and enjoy Budapest with all its magnificent attractions, amazing food, and interesting programs.
Are you coming to Budapest to visit the Christmas markets this year? Or are you sad that you cannot visit the Christmas markets in 2019? Take a look at these pictures from the Christmas markets and get a taste of the atmosphere.
The Christmas markets will remain open until January 1st. The market at the Vörösmarty square is amazing, and so is the market in front of the Stephen’s Basilica.
Are you getting eager to visit the Christmas markets yourself? That is easy to understand.
Do not forget to plan your stay in Budapest! There are lots of tourists coming, meaning that many restaurants are fully booked, and we are doing more guided tours in December than any other month of the year. In other words, if you want to enjoy a guided tour, an airport transfer, a winetasting, or maybe a dinner in a brewery, book it as quickly as possible!
November 8th was the opening day for the Christmas market at Vorosmarty square in Budapest in 2019. We were there on the opening day to take some pictures, and here you can take a look at them.
They weren’t completely finished with the preparations yet as we visited the Christmas market on November 8th.
The Christmas market at the Vorosmarty square is the most famous in Budapest. In 2019, it seems to be a bit smaller than it normally is, due to works currently happening at the square. In the last years, all the food establishments have been located in the middle of the square, and this area has been surrounded by places where you can buy all sorts of products. This year, the food stalls are located on one side of the square, and on the other side of the square, you can purchase all sorts of products and handmade art. In other words, by the time of the opening of the Christmas market, it was only half the amount of normal stalls from which you can purchase products compared to the previous years. However, the quality of the products available was very high, so you have a lot to look forward to, no matter what!
Shopping at the Christmas market in Budapest
You probably know that the annual Christmas markets are about eating just as much as shopping. So, there will be a lot of delicious food waiting for you as you visit the Christmas market in Budapest at the Vorosmarty square. Beneath, you can see a picture showing the traditional Langos, one of the finest meals in Hungary, at least at festivals and at markets like this one.
You can eat Langos at the Christmas market on the Vorosmarty square.
Do not miss out on the Fashion Street
When you visit the Christmas market at the Vorosmarty square, make sure to walk along the Fashion street as well. This is a very nicely decorated street, and in the end (as you reach the Deak square), you will find one more market (much smaller) that is still worth visiting.
A picture from the Fashion street in Budapest
I guess you need no more proof… Budapest is beautiful before Christmas, and you have plenty of reasons to visit the city in 2019.
If you want more information about airport transfers in Budapest, book a wine dinner, or maybe arrange with a river cruise in Budapest before your arrival, read on here in the Budapest Guide at www.hungarybudapestguide.com.
Are you eager to taste some Hungarian goose liver while in Budapest? You don’t have to run to a gourmet restaurant and spend lots of money. Instead, you can simply visit a local McDonald’s restaurant and order a new burger, the Goosey Gustav burger.
It is important to know that the Goosey Gustav burger is a temporary burger, meaning that it cannot be found on the permanent menu. As a result, you will most likely not find this if you come to Budapest in a year or more. However, those who will visit Budapest in the coming months will have the chance to enjoy this “gourmet-burger” in McDonald’s.
Goosey Gustav in McDonald’s… burger with real Hungarian goose liver.
The price of the Goosey Gustav sandwich is 2000 HUF (6 Euro). If you want to buy it in a menu, the price is 2700 HUF, which then includes fries and a drink as well.
What is the Goosey Gustav judgment?
If you want a gourmet meal in Budapest, don’t go to McDonald’s (I guess that doesn’t come as a shock). But, if you want to simply taste some goose liver and go home and brag about how you ate goose liver in Hungary, this can actually get the job done.
The taste of the burger is nice, and it is easy to enjoy, even for those who are skeptic about the taste of goose liver. The dressing is nice, and the meat used is also tasty. Some will complain and say that the authentic goose liver taste has been liquidated (meaning that it doesn’t have a strong enough taste), but many people will enjoy this burger exactly for that reason.
You can buy the Goosey Gustav with sweet fries.
You can decide to purchase the Goosey Gustav with sweet fries instead of traditional fries. It costs you more, but it is absolutely worth it. If you haven’t tasted the sweet potato fries yet, this is a great chance. If you have tasted it, you probably understand why we recommend it so warmly!
Have you tasted the goose liver burger in McDonald’s? How did you like it? Want to know more about the price of a Big Mac in Budapest? Or would you rather enjoy a wine dinner in Budapest with Hungarian wines and delicious meals?
Look around in our Budapest Guide for more information and inspiration!
During the summer of 2019, a terrible accident happened on the river Danube as a ship with more than 20 passengers sank after a collision with another boat. This leads many people to ask whether or not it is actually safe to do a river cruise in Budapest? Here you will find the answers and the information you need!
If you have ever seen a picture of Budapest, you have most likely seen the beautiful Danube as well. It is amazing as it divides the city of Budapest into Buda and Pest, and it can be crossed on one of many bridges. The most famous of the bridges is the Chain Bridge, the first bridge that was built. It was finished in 1849. But, do you know why it took such a long time for a bridge to be constructed at all? Because of the current! There is so much water floating down the river at all seconds, making it a much harder river to control than, for example, the Charles Bridge in Prague (a bridge that was built more than 500 years earlier).
River cruise in Budapest – is it safe?
There is a lot of water passing by at any second, and the normal rate is somewhere between 2500-3000 m3 per second. But, in times of flooding (which it was during the time of the accident), the amount of water can increase to around 6000 m3 per second. The most extreme amount ever measured was more than 10,000 m3 per second.
Swimming in the Danube
The quality of the water in the Danube has improved lately, and at some locations, people do swim in the Danube. But, that is not in the main river, but at smaller extensions of the river without the strong current. There is an annual competition in Budapest where one can swim across the Danube by the Liberty Bridge, but every single participant is followed by a boat in order to be able to pick them up in case they do not manage. In other words, if you do not have great swimming skills, the Danube can be a really scary river.
If you are a great swimmer, it can still be dangerous, especially close to the bridges where underwater currents can pull you down towards the bottom before you are pressed towards the surface once again. During normal circumstances, the deepest parts of the Danube within the borders of Budapest is around 6 meters deep. But, when the river floods, it can easily reach 10 meters and more.
The conclusion is: Do not swim in the Danube when in Budapest, do not even try to swim, and warn any others that even consider getting close to the river.
What about a river cruise in Budapest?
There are many river cruises available in Budapest, and lots of companies working with providing awesome tours that give tourists fantastic memories. You never hear much about them, simply because they get no attention, and because there are no accidents. The only time you hear about them is when something happens. Luckily, that is very seldom, and that is why you never heard about it before the accident on May 29th in 2019.
As long as you stay on the ship (and not in the water), there is no problem and no need to worry before you board a river cruise in Budapest. The ships are also well equipped, meaning there are safety vests available for all passengers. During the accident on May 29th, things went so fast that they didn’t have time to get any such equipment. The accident was caused by human error, something that might just as well happen on a bus, in a taxi, or in an airplane.
The conclusion is: You shouldn’t worry at all about taking a river cruise in Budapest. It is very safe, the boats are controlled and well-equipped, and it will give you a memory for a lifetime as you enjoy the view and the food/drinks served on board.
Maybe it sounds dangerous considering the strong current. Of course, it does. But, doesn’t it sound dangerous to sit in a box of metal at 10,000 meters? Wouldn’t be fund to fall out from there either, would it? In other words, stay on the plane and stay on the boat, and you will be safe and have an enjoyable time!
What are your thoughts/questions?
These are some pure facts and thoughts related to whether or not it is safe to go on a river cruise in Budapest. Do you have some experience that you would like to share? Or do you have a question related to the river Danube or some specific river cruise in Budapest? Write your question or comment in beneath!
There are only a few days left for Surrealist lovers in Budapest to enjoy an awesome exhibition currently on display in the National Gallery. Doesn’t it sound awesome to watch an exhibition in which you can see works made by Salvador Dalí, Max Ernst, Joan Miró, Yves Tanguy, René Magritte, Pablo Picasso and Francis Picabia? You have the chance for a couple of more days in the National Gallery in Budapest.
Surrealist creation from Salvadore Dali
Budapest might not be the capital of art in Europe, but there are some really interesting exhibitions on display in the city currently. In the Museum of Fine Arts, you can learn more about Rembrandt and the influence he had on his pupils. But, I guess the large crowds will be much more interested in the surrealist temporary exhibition in the National Gallery which will remain available until October 20th.
And, because of the crowds expected in the gallery for the next couple of days, the National Gallery will extend their opening time for as many people as possible to be able to actually see the paintings on display.
The exhibition is dealing specifically with the year 1929, and it is subtitled “Crisis and Rebirth in 1929.” Besides showing paintings made by Dali and his colleagues, there will also be surrealist photography on display, where the photos were made by Man Ray and Brassaï.
Doesn’t this sound interesting?
The National Gallery is located in the castle building in Budapest (at the Buda hill). If you first visit the gallery, make sure to visit the dome as well and enjoy the stunning view towards the Danube. This is the best way to actually see the Buda Castle on the inside, so it is well worth the visit, even if you do not even care about the arts. But, to be honest, if you ever were to visit an art exhibition in Budapest, this might be one of the most interesting!
Do not forget, we can also help you with airport transfers in Budapest, booking of river cruises, wine tasting programs, and lots of other great stuff. Look around in our Budapest Guide for more information!
Did you know that Rembrandt died 350 years ago (in 2019)? For that reason, lots of art museums bring extra focus on his name this year, and that is true for the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest as well.
Those visiting the exhibition will be able to see works of Rembrandt, and next to his works, see the work of his pupils and thus discover the influence he had on them. The works are divided into the following categories: “Portrait, nude, landscape, figure sketch and narrative compositions.” As a result, you will not only see works of Rembrandt at this temporary exhibition, but you will also see works from some of Rembrandts pupils such as Ferdinand Bol, Gerbrand van den Eeckhout, Samuel van Hoogstraten.
The exhibition is curated by Bernadett Tóth, an art historian at the Museum of Fine Arts’ Department of Prints and Drawings.
The Mother of Rembrandt – a painting made by Gerrit Dou.
Rembrandt and his pupils September 20th, 2019 – January 5th, 2020 Museum of Fine Arts
The museum is located at the magnificent Heroes square. This is a part of the City Park in Budapest, one of the most beautiful areas of the Hungarian capital. You can easily get to the exhibition using public transportation, and the easiest way is by using the yellow metro and travel to the stop named Hösök tere (Heroes square).
If you come in December 2019, do not forget to visit the fantastic Christmas markets in Budapest as well. They will open in November and remain open until January 1st in 2020.
If you want help with other programs or activities in Budapest, look around in our Budapest Guide for information about more exhibitions, concerts, airport transfers, wine tasting programs, river cruises on the Danube, and other great stuff!
Are you a fan of Bryan Adams? Does it sound cool to listen to the Canadian super-star together with more than 100,000 people in Budapest on September 28th? There will be a free concert with the legendary singer at the Heroes Square in Budapest, so this is an awesome chance to listen and watch Bryan Adams live!
Bryan Adams will come to Budapest on September 28th
Bryan Adams might have been more popular 20 years ago than he is today, but he is still a legendary singer and he is currently touring the United States. He has been to Budapest many times, and back in 2006, he sang at a similar concert which was enjoyed by as many as 200,000 people. We cannot know for sure how many will come to the Bryan Adams concert in Budapest this time, but you will for sure not be alone if you decide to come to the Heroes Square at September 28th!
The Bryan Adams concert in Budapest
The Bryan Adams concert will start at 20.00 on September 28th. But, already at 18.00, there will be a warm-up concert with Wellhello, another very popular band in Hungary.
If you take a look at the two above videos, you can quickly listen to the newest music from both Wellhello and Bryan Adams. He is currently touring with the Shine A Light album, and he will for sure bring some songs from this when he comes to Budapest.
But, I do hope he will sing some of his old hits as well, including Summer of 69 and all the others!
Other programs in Budapest
If you want help with other programs in Budapest, make sure to look around in our Budapest Guide. Here you can read about attractions, activities, restaurants, wine tasting programs, beer programs, guided tours, and much more!
Enjoy your stay in Budapest and enjoy the Bryan Adams concert!
The World Urban Games is an awesome event taking place in Budapest from September 13th to September 15th. Would you like to know more about the World Urban Games? Would you like to see it with your own eyes? How to get to the venue for the event? Find out everything you need to know about the World Urban Games in Budapest in 2019!
The World Urban Games in Budapest
The World Urban Games will be the event of the year in Budapest. It is one crazy event in which you will experience adrenaline, action, awesome speed, stunts, and things you shouldn’t do at home! Here you can watch awesome BMX stunts, you can see people throwing themselves around, down from high buildings, and you can see them performing with a frisbee and so much more.
The great thing about the World Urban Games is that it is a completely free event. You can come to the Nagyvasartelep in Budapest and watch it for free, or you can stream it for free online if that sounds better. But, how can you get to the area for the World Urban Games?
How to get to the World Urban Games?
If you visit Budapest, you will for sure notice the beautiful river Danube. On the Pest side of the river, you will see a tram line. This is, in fact, the most beautiful of all tram lines in Budapest, and anyone who wants a cheap sightseeing tour should take a ride with this.
And yes, it is also the solution if you want to get to the World Urban Games in Budapest. Jump on tram line 2 in the direction of the Kozvagohid. As you get to the national theater (just before the Rakoczi bridge) it is soon time to leave the tram and start walking. As you get to the end station, jump of the tram and start your walk which is less than 1km until you get to the big area for the World Urban Games.
It is easy to get to the area for the World Urban Games
What will happen when during the World Urban Games?
There will be lots of things going on from Friday morning until Sunday evening during the World Urban Games. You can find a full program for the event right here.
In addition to sports events, there will also be lots of concerts taking place. The highlight is the performance of Talib Kweli on Sunday evening at the LIDL stage in the World Urban Games area.
The World Urban Games is gonna be wild!
Put on your seatbelts and get ready for one of the coolest events in Budapest in 2019!
The wine festival arranged at the Castle hill in Budapest is one of the biggest festivals in Hungary every year. It cannot be compared with Sziget festival (a festival that brings almost 500,000 people to the Hajogyari island), but it is still a giant event for wine lovers from within the country and coming in from abroad.
There are many people who plan their visit to Budapest based on the dates of the wine festival. In 2019, the wine festival is arranged between September 5th and September 8th, and in this period, visitors to the festival area can taste more than 5000 different sorts of wine. Here you can enjoy the famous Bikaver (Bull’s blood) from different winemakers in the Eger region (or maybe from the Szekszard region), you can enjoy lots of exclusive sweet wines from Tokaj, and there is something from everyone.
If you fear the quality of Hungarian wine (something you shouldn’t), there are also some international wines available in the festival area, just to make it even more interesting and nicer.
Source: Facebook
The wine festival isn’t free
It would have been nice if the wine festival was free, but it isn’t. Renting the castle area for sure costs a lot, and there are lots of expenses coming together with such a festival. That is why you have to pay a daily entrance fee, or you can buy a pass for the entire festival. If you are a wine lover and want to take a deep dive into the Hungarian wine industry, the festival pass is for sure the best option. But, those who just want to have fun a day and taste a lot of wine, a one-day pass should be more than enough.
Do not forget, there are lots of other wine programs available in Budapest as well throughout the entire year. We can help with wine tasting programs, wine excursions, wine dinners, and other wine-related programs. Look around at hungarybudapestguide.com for inspiration and information!
