Shooting in Hungary

Your Stay in Budapest

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Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, is situated in the North of the country on the river Danube. With a population of approximately 2 million it is the biggest city in the country.
A significant settlement since Roman times, Budapest has a rich historical past. From the 14th century the fortress of Buda, on the West bank of the Danube, was the seat of the Hungarian kings. After occupation by the Turks, it came under Habsburg rule in the 17th century. In 1872 Buda united with Pest and Óbuda (“old Buda”) to form the city that became the capital of Hungary in 1918. In 1956 it was the scene of a popular uprising, suppressed by Soviet troops. It remained under Soviet rule until the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1989. In May 2004 Hungary joined the European Union.
Panoramically divided by the Danube, Budapest is one of Europe’s most beautiful capitals. A grand metropolis of appealingly peeling façades, ornate bathhouses and classic coffeehouses, with world-class hotels and of course a grand choice of top notch restaurants Budapest is a city that is historical, romantic and modern all at once.

Sights

Buda and Pest: two cities for the price of one, and with a fabled river, the Danube, in between. Bustling Pest has historical treasures from its Habsburg and Jewish past, while verdant, hilly Buda is a hiker’s heaven. Although Hungary joined the European Union in 2004, its capital retains an eastern mystique, with twisty old streets lined with beautiful architecture.

Every visitor to Budapest walks along the River Danube, and for good reason: liquid history flows below and spectacular views greet you at every turn. On the west bank is Buda, on the east Pest. Pest’s street layout features Habsburg-style ring roads, joined by important spokes, such as Andrássy út, the tree-lined boulevard that begins next to the monument to the nation’s leaders at Heroes’ Square (Hösök tere). Further up is the House of Terror, a sobering museum about oppression in a building once used by Nazis and, later, the communist secret police. Continue downtown to find the opulent Opera House, built in 1884 by Miklós Ybl, and the Basilica, named after St Stephen, whose mummified right hand is inside.

On the river, three blocks from the Basilica, is the Chain Bridge (1873), the first permanent crossing between Buda and Pest. The Buda side of the bridge is at the foot of the main tourist sights of Castle Hill. On the hill, the Royal Palace complex houses the vast Hungarian National Gallery and the National Library. Just a few minutes walk from the Palace are Matthias Church and Fishermen’s Bastion offering superb views of the city.

A few blocks north of the Chain Bridge, on the Pest side, is the Parliament building. This structure, along with much of central Pest, was built in the late 19th century, during Hungary’s heyday as a partner in the dual monarchy with Austria.

Other periods have clearly influenced the look of the city, including the period of Habsburg domination, when the castle district was built, and the 16th-century Ottoman occupation, which produced Turkish baths like Király or Rudas, both recently renovated.

Budapest is one of the richest cities in the world in terms of thermal and spa waters. Bathing in some of the hot springs of the Buda side can date back to the Celts and the Romans. Missing out on the baths of Budapest is like not visiting the Eiffel tower while in Paris. The only difference is that while one usually visits the Eiffel tower only once, the spas in Budapest will probably keep you coming back for years to come.

LANGUAGE

Foreigners tend to find Hungarian language quite difficult. The main reason may be that being a Finno-Ugrian language Hungarian bears no similarities to any of the most commonly spoken languages of the world. The best-know language related to Hungarian is Finnish; however, the two languages separated so long ago that only linguist can see the similarities between the two.

Being aware of the challenging nature of the language Hungarians won’t expect you to learn their language; however if you can say a few words in Hungarian like “Köszönöm” (thank you) or “igen/nem” (yes/no) people will love you for that.

 

English Language Newspapers & Magazines

Almost all well-known foreign daily, weekly and monthly papers are sold at many large news stands and in all better hotels. Daily newspapers are available on the day of publication.

There are also numerous guides and magazines that provide information in English, from movie listings to tourist info, cultural programs to restaurant reviews. These publications are usually free and are widely available at hotels & restaurants.

TIME

Time Zone

During summer: CEST – Central European Summer Time (UTC/GMT + 2 hours)

During winter: CET – Central European Time (UTC/GMT + 1 hour)

 

Time Difference

The below you will find the current time difference between Budapest and some of the world’s major cities.

 

Los Angeles                         -9 hours

New York                             -6 hours

London                                 – 1 hour

Paris                                     same time

Cape Town                           + 1