Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Hungarian Snow

Another interesting mountain range is Börzsöny which is protected by National Park of Duna-Ipoly. It lies at the Slovakian border, above Budapest, and includes also popular Hungarian towns of Visegrád and Nagymaros.

The park is also famous for many castles and forts. It is a pleasant, mostly forested landscape that waves together with the banks of the Danube and Ipoly rivers, interwoven with series of waterways and wetlands. Only in the Börzsöny mountains there are more than 335 different springs and streams. This area is one of the least accessible parts of Hungary. There are no roads, but you can get there by the narrow gauge railway which is also interesting and popular technical monument here. Of course, the best way how you can get to know the landscape is on foot, but be careful, some parts of the park are not accessible at all due to protection.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Tamas Ring

Most features of the landscape were created by volcanic activity, there are an extinct volcanic cones, steep ravines or bizarre rocks. Fourteen million years ago these places were occupied by the great volcano, about 1400 meters high. After the eruption, the central part of the volcano failed down, so today we can see the remnants of the crater. The highest point of Börzsöny mountain is Csóványos peak with a height of 939 metres above sea level, offering a panoramic view of the region. However, there are also other peaks and hills where you can enjoy beautiful views, such as Hegyes-Tető with the great vista of the Danube. In good weather conditions, you can even see the Slovak High Tatras mountains from some hills.

The area a home to many rare and protected animals, especially reptiles, amphibians and birds including several species of eagles. There are also wild cats and martens. It boasts also a varied composition of plants, including the relics from the post-glacial period.

Börzsöny Mountains are not very visited areas, in comparison with Balaton, Budapest or any of the Hungarian thermal aquaparks. But the prices here are reasonable and the romantic local scenery is an alternative for less demanding, but interesting holiday – especially for hikers and cyclists.

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Budapest is the owner of two World Heritage Sites, which, uniquely in the world, form a single, continuous road; taking tourists along the most beautiful parts of Budapest (Heroes’ Square, villa buildings, Kodály-körönd, Pesti Broadway, Buda Castle Quarter, House of the Hungarian National Ballet, Budapest Opera House, Danube-panorama, Jewish Quarter, Andrássy Road ).

Budapest is home to 1,72 million people (2.06 million in 1980). Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube with a unification on 17 November 1873 of right (west)-bank Buda and Óbuda with left (east)-bank Pest.

Photo by Nathan Demeny Photography

Budapest is one of the sophisticated cities in Hungary. Budapest has become a rendezvous of political big brothers, business tycoons and celebrities.

Budapest also welcomes modern technology and you will find a number of IT sectors in this city. It is a vital commercial hub in Central Europe. For this reason, when you plan to go to Budapest on vacation, you must watch closely how the city life in Budapest runs smoothly on its rut. Numerous brick and mortar made skyscrapers, monuments, sophisticated market plazas, malls, storefronts, aerodromes, luxurious hotels, bars and cafes have changed the facelift of this city. At night, streets, lanes and by-lanes are illuminated in gorgeous fluorescent light.

Before visiting Budapest, you must choose some important attractions/sights/tourist spots which are located in different parts of this capital city in Hungary.

Fishermen’s Bastion is one of the major tourist attractions in Budapest, located in Castle Hill in Budapest. This terrace was constructed for better viewing. Fishermen’s Bastion was decorated by a famous architect named Schulek dating back to 1895. You can climb up Bastion terrace to extend your vision over Pest.

Matthias Church belongs to the top sights in Budapest as well. It is beautifully decorated. It is a religious shrine. Matthias was a brave Hungarian king who planned to build this historical building for celebrating his nuptial ceremony. This church came into existence during 13th century. However, eminent architects and designers have modified this heritage establishment several times to make it more attractive.

Before starting your journey to reach Budapest in Hungary, you can contact tourist agencies to take a backup for ensuring trouble free trip to this capital city of Hungary. Guides will escort you to visit exotic places in Budapest to update your mind regarding religion, culture, heritage, science, literature and trading in Budapest.

What to see in Budapest

Panoramic views

• Naphegy panoramic view to Gellért Hill, best near view to south side of Buda Castle, historic district Krisztinaváros
• The Fisherman’s Bastion panoramic view across the Danube to Pest, in the heart of the Castle District.
• Tabán historic site, near panoramic view to Buda Castle, Danube Promenade, Erzsébet Bridge, park and 1956 Hungarian Revolution Memorial
• Gellért Hill best far view to the Danube Bridges, Danube Promenade and Gellért Baths
• Danube Promenade view to Buda Castle, Gellért Hill
• Sashegy impressive, far view from the top of the Natural Reserve Park to: Gellérthegy, Naphegy, Buda Castle, Danube Promenade. End of the Tájék street.
• Széchenyi-hegy, far view to: Gellérthegy, Naphegy, Sashegy, Buda Castle, Danube Promenade

Main sights

• Andrássy Avenue with its several sights including the Hungarian State Opera House, the Pest Broadway and the House of Terror
• Bauhaus in Budapest
• Buda Castle with the Royal Palace, the Funicular, Hungarian National Gallery and National Széchényi Library, Matthias Church, Holy Trinity Column (a plague column) and Fisherman’s Bastion
• City Park with Széchenyi Medicinal Bath, Vajdahunyad Castle, the Timewheel, the Zoo, the Municipal Grand Circus and the Amusement Park
• Danube Promenade
• Ferenciek tere with Paris Courtyard and Erzsébet Bridge with Inner City Parish Church nearby
• Franz Liszt Academy of Music
• Gellért Baths, Gellért Hill with Gellért Statue, Cave Church and Citadel with Liberty Statue
• Geological Museum
• Great Market Hall and Liberty Bridge
• Heroes’ Square with the Millenary Monument, the Palace of Art and the Museum of Fine Arts
• Margaret Island with the Centennial Memorial, a Japanese garden, a Musical Fountain, several recreation facilities and Franciscan, Dominican and Premonstratensian ruins from the Middle Ages
  Museum of Applied Arts
• National Museum
• Szabadság tér One of the most beautiful squares in downtown Budapest
• Corvin tér Beautifully restored square at the foot of Castle Hill
• Dohány Street Synagogue, the largest synagogue in Europe with the Holocaust Memorial (weeping willow statue)
• New York Café
• Óbuda
• Palace of Arts and National Theatre
• Parliament Building with the Holy Crown of Hungary and sceptre, Kossuth Memorial, Ethnographical Museum, Attila József statue, Imre Nagy statue
• Saint Stephen’s Basilica
• Sashegy – The largest Natural Reserve Park of Budapest
• Shoes on the Danube Promenade Gyula Pauer – Holocaust Memorial
  Statue Park
• Széchenyi Chain Bridge, Academy of Sciences and Gresham Palace
• Tomb of Gül Baba
• Váczi utca and Vörösmarty Square
• Western Railway Station
• Erzsébetváros District VII, the former Jewish quarter

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Inside the five-story tall dome, you will find a massive size replica of the Angkor Temple. There are suspension bridges and towers throughout the park that offers some of the most amazing views and access to some of the most popular rides. You will find a number of pools and flowing streams situated throughout the theme park that will provide you with hours of entertainment.

Needless to say, the first moment that you step foot into Aquaworld Budapest, you would realize that you are in for an exciting day. There are swimming pools and streams as well as a number of saunas within the park grounds. You will be able to spend hours relaxing in the water regardless of what the weather is like outside.

You will find the Aquaworld waterpark located along the northern edge of Budapest just off the Megyeri Bridge abutment. It is easily accessible via its own exit on the Budapest M0 ring. There is more than a sufficient amount of parking available at the theme park, with a carpark capable of handling more than 1000 cars throughout the day. It is also extremely close to downtown Budapest which means it is only a couple minutes away from virtually every hotel and motel within the city.

Do not worry if you cannot spend all day at Aquaworld, because it is open up early every single day, and closes late. The park itself opens at six in the morning; but only one of the swimming pools and two saunas is available before 9:30. On most occasions the park stays open until 10 o’clock at night; but there are rare occasions in which it will stay open later.

Splash Night Slide Party

If you wish to enjoy some more fun, then you should plan your visit to aquapark when it is open throughout the night. There is a Night Slide Party with live DJ organized once a month, which is some kind of a dance show. The party starts at 22:00 PM and lasts till 03:00 AM with the water slides and pools opened. But even more you can also enjoy Specialty cocktails, watch the Light show or Salsa dancers.

Splash Night Slide Party in Aquaworld Budapest

To get on the party you can take a free party bus from Nyugati which runs hourly from 21:00 till 24:00 and stops on several other locations on its way to the aquapark. It’s good to check programme of aquapark and plan your visit accordingly.

Adventure Park

If you have already enjoyed lots of water fun and want to try something different, do not look elsewhere. The Aquaworld Budapest does not offer water attractions only, there is also the challenging Adventure Park that is waiting for you and your courage. The Park is located outside and the opening times are depending on the weather.

Adventure Park in Aquaworld Budapest

Sauna World

Sauna World is a part that you also should not miss once you are in the aquapark. Have you ever heard about Russian sauna, bio-sauna or crystal sauna? If not, be aware that you can enjoy these in Budapest along with all other sauna types you can even imagine, including the popular high-temperature Finnish sauna with snow chamber.

Admission to the Aquaworld Budapest

The prices vary and there are lots of discounts for children, students and seniors. The basic adult admission is 4990,-HUF on weekdays and 5690,-HUF on weekends, which is around €16 – €19 (valid on March 2013).

Hungary is a major aquapark and spa leader in Europe and there are countless aquaparks in Hungary that offer high class services including thermal water pools, sauna worlds and spa centres.

For more information visit the official site of Aquaworld Budapest.

Pictures delivered by aqua-world.hu and published with their kind permission.

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