TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

HOTEL Marmara is in the heart of Budapest next to the ’Nagykörút’ or Grand Boulevard which is considered to be one of the capital’s most important avenue in its traffic circulation.

The most important attractions and remarkable buildings of the downtown can be reached in a short time from our hotel. The Parliament, the Margaret Island, the St Stephen’s Cathedral, numerous museums, theatres and magnificent shops, fine restaurants and cafes are only a stone’s throw away from our hotel.

The hotel is situated in Nagy Ignác Street, which opens from the Grand Boulevard (from its Szent István Boulevard section) on the middle way between the Pest side bridgehead of Margaret Bridge (Margit-híd) and the Western Railway Station (Nyugati pályaudvar). Entering the Szent István Boulevard from Nagy Ignác Street you can instantly glimpse the imposing building of the Comedy Theatre, which opened in 1896. The theatre performs sold-out shows throughout the year and it is worth mentioning that it was the birthplace of modern 20th-century Hungarian acting.

Excursions to the Buda side

Reaching the Grand Boulevard you can continue your trip along the route of the tram line no. 4 and 6. Turning left and heading to Buda the first attraction you come across is the Margaret Island (Margitsziget) then on the opposite side of the Margaret Bridge the nearby sights can be visited on the Buda side.

Margaret Island is a teeming spot of the capital every time of the day. Early in the morning it is an ideal location for jogging and during the day for a stroll. The island houses various recreational establishments, such as the Hajós Alfréd sport pool, the Palatinus water park and bath complex, and the open-air theatre, which hosts prestigious performances in the summer.

Walking across Margaret Bridge arrive at the Buda side where you can also find numerous notable attractions: Lukács Thermal Bath which is only a short walk from here, the Turbe of Gul Baba (mausoleum of a Muslim Dervish) and from the foot of the bridge you can take the HÉV (suburban railway) to the Aquincum Museum or Szentendre which are both popular excursion spots on the outskirts of Budapest.

On the Buda side heading to South along the Danube in the direction of Gellért Hill you will find famous thermal and medicinal baths one after another because the thermal resources of the capital are unique in the world therefore Budapest gained its reputation as a city of spas.

If you continue your trip along Margit Boulevard (Margit körút) from Margaret Bridge you will reach the Széll Kálmán Square (Széll Kálmán tér) which is one of the most frequented hubs of Buda. From here the so-called Castle bus (Várbusz) conveys the passengers to the Castle District which lies on the Castle Hill in the 1st district. Here you can find a  wonderful panoramic view and many famous sights:

The Buda Castle, the Hungarian National Gallery, the Fishermen’s Bastion, the Matthias Church and the Labyrinth of Buda Castle.

Short walk to the Parliament

With a short walk from our hotel you can get to Kossuth Square (Kossuth tér) where 2 illustrious building stand the Parliament and the Ethnographic Museum. The Parliament building was designed in neo-gothic style in the 19th century by Imre Steindl and you can see inter alia the Crown Jewels here. Guided tours for tourists are organised in the building several times a day.

Let’s go to the downtown!

To get to the downtown of Budapest on foot just walk along Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Road (Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út) or use the public transport: the fastest way is to get on the tram no.2 which goes along the Danube bank or take the blue metro M3 from the Western Railway Station.

Culture and culinary delights

You can approach the downtown either from Deák Square (Deák tér) or by getting off the tram no.2 at Roosevelt Square or Vigadó Square.

The Vigado Concert Hall, the Duna Korzo (Danube Embankment), the Vörösmarty Square with the famous Gerbaud Confectionery, the Váci Street (Váci utca) with its many shops and a bit further the Dohány Street Synagogue, the St Stephen’s Basilica, numerous restaurants and bars are clustered together in the heart of the downtown.

Lustrous shops and fancy boutiques

In the recent years many shopping malls have opened in Budapest. These shopping centres host loads of shops, coffeshops and restaurants. WestEnd City Center is situated at the Western Railway Station and the Mammut Shopping Mall is located nearby Széll Kálmán Square. The two most prestigious shopping streets of the city are Váci Street and Fashion Street, the latter can be found on the odd numbered side of Deák Ferenc Street which is bounded by Deák Ferenc Square and Bécsi Street.

By Millennium Underground Railway to the City Park

The first underground railway of continental Europe opened in 1896 the year of Hungarian Millennium. The Millennium underground railway (nowadays yellow metro line or M1) runs underneath Andrássy Avenue and offers fast transportation to Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere) and the City Park (Városliget) where several sights and recreational facilities attract tourists and locals as well. Heroes’ Square is surrounded by two representative buildings, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Hall of Art. Besides many other attractions the Vajdahunyad Castle (it houses the Agricultural Museum), the Széchenyi Medicinal Baths and Swimming Pool, the Municipal Zoological and Botanical Garden and the Municipal Grand Circus are waiting for adults and children in the City Park.

The majestic Andrássy Avenue

This so-called cultural boulevard is shaded by trees and lined with spectacular mansions and palaces. Restaurants, cafés, luxury shops and famous public buildings such as the Hungarian State Opera House or the House of Terror Museum fascinate those who visit the capital.