Budapest - cool places to go

Fishermen’s bastion (HALASZBASTYA)

Located in I, Szentháronmság tér, it is a Neoromanesque building, which has been erected in 1895 on the ruins of the medieval fish market and on the part of the city’s walls which used to be defended by the members of the fishermen’s guild. It is a popular destination for tourists and locals, since the view is very beautiful. There are a lot of small stalls selling artisan and local products to tourists and Hungarians alike.

Thermal establishments

One of the peculiarities of Budapest are its 100+ hot springs, exploited since the Ancient Romans, at whose times there were already 14 thermal baths operating. This tradition has been continued in Turkish times; in 1669 there were 10 thermal baths operating. Many of those active today (more than 20) are often hosted in marvellous art nouveau buildings, others in ultra-modern buildings complete with medical facilities. Budapest is probably the only European capital where there is such an abundance of thermal water, which is even used to heat buildings! Thermal baths are a great chance to relax, do something healthy and enjoy some old, Roman-style debauchery!

The Budapest Flea Markets

Budapest has great flea markets, with anything on sale, from communist memorabilia to art nouveau furniture, from great to tacky jewellery, from used electronics to second-hand porn magazines. One of the best is the Ecseri Flea Market, reachable with bus # 63 from Boráros tér. It probably has the best antiques and furniture bit, but it takes long to reach as it is far from the city, and you’d better get there very early (it is open from Mon to Sat, from 8 AM to 4 PM, 3PM on Sat) to find the good stuff before somebody else does. From knick knacks to Art Nouveau furniture, from old postcards to silver pocket watches, you can find great stuff of any kind. Another more reachable option is the Petôfi Csarnok (PeCsa), located in the middle of Városliget (City Park). It takes place on Saturdays and Sundays, and you can find old prints, pictures, pocket and wrist watches, old knifes, and a vast assortment of jewellery. The third option is the Verseny utca flea market, in Dózsa György út. It is not in the best neighbourhood of the city, and is full of junk, amongst which (as every flea-market fanatic will know) you are likely to find the best stuff at the cheapest prices. All markets are the ideal place to buy communist paraphernalia (pins, uniforms, hats, statuettes) for almost no money at all.

The Statue Park

If you’re a nostalgic of the Soviet era, if you’re interested in Soviet art (oppressive, commanding statues that make you feel like working like Stakhanov just by looking at them), or if you’re just curious, this is the place for you! This museum/park collects statues from the Soviet era and exhibits them along thematic routes (Liberation Monuments, Personalities of the Workers’ Movement, Worker’s Movement Concepts). It is probably the only such museum in the world, and, even though it claims to be a museum and not a memorial, it certainly targets nostalgics: it’s even auctioning Lenin torsos. It is the 10th most visited museum in Budapest, and has been used by several artists as the site for music video shoots. Check the website at Budapest Statue Park.

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