The Best Running Tracks In Budapest

 I have shared multiple posts about Hungary and Budapest, for example I have written about which cities you should visit in Hungary, while I also wrote a post about what to look out for when backpacking in Budapest. 

 In this new post I would like to share with you a few ideas about where you should go in Budapest if you would like to jog around the city. Budapest is a beautiful city that is full of beautiful sites to visit, they are all worth seeing. Sightseeing runs have become very popular in major European cities, here is a blog that is about site running in Paris for example.

 Budapest has a beautiful downtown. Most of the buildings are left from the beginning of the twentieth century, with some that go back even to the nineteenth century. It is no wonder that many movies about the Second World War are shot in Budapest. If you are looking for a time travel while staying fit, a jog in downtown Budapest is a great way to achieve both objectives. Let's take a look at the sites that are worth visiting.

 First of all, the bank of the Danube in Pest is beautiful, and it is developed so that people can walk and run there. There are multiple coffees on the bank, so if you would like to drink something or if you get hungry during your run, you can easily sit down and enjoy a fine drink.

The Danube, with the Pest bank on the right side. 

 The next great place you should check out is the Castle. The Castle is located on top of a hill in Buda. It looks down on the Danube, so you can get there quickly if you started your run on the Pest bank of the river. However make sure that you have the right running equipment, because the hill is quite hard to climb. The castle is open for everyone free of charge, and it takes a nice two mile jog to get around the whole establishment. It can get pretty windy and cold during the summer and the autumn, so make sure that you wear a running jacket as well. It will keep you nice and warm, not to mention that it will make you visible as well - cars can enter the castle, so be careful - if you are wearing a reflective model.

The running track on Margareth island.

 The most popular place among runners in Budapest is the Margaret island. It has a running track that runs around the island, right next to the Danube. The track is made of soft material, that goes easy on your joints, so your knees won't get damaged during your runs. This makes the island one of the most popular places among runners. The running track is 5.3 kms long all in all, a nice jog that can be completed in thirty minutes. You can observe both the Pest and the Buda sides of the Danube while running on the track, so it is great for sightseeing purposes. The island also has a petting zoo, a huge fountain, sports courts, two swimming pools, a huge flower garden, a concert venue and multiple restaurants, and a night club. It is fair to say that the island is one of the leisure centers of Budapest.

A view of Margareth island from the air.

 If you ever get to Budapest, you should definitely visit the places mentioned above. You don't have to run while doing it, but it is more fun if you do, and it is healthier as well.

Esztergom and Visegrad: Two Beautiful Hungarian Cities for Backpacking

With the summer being very close, and after I have written a post about what to look for when going backpacking in Budapest, I thought that I would write a post about cities that are close to Budapest, but that offer plenty to see. These are all lovely little settlements that have a rich cultural and economic heritage, that is worth experiencing. But you can only do that if you visit them. Without further ado, here are my three favourite cities that are close to Budapest.

Esztergom

Esztergom is one of the oldest settlements in Hungary, and we know that it was the first one that became a city. It was established over a thousand years ago, and it was the first capital city of Hungary when the country became a christian kingdom. The city ceased to be the capital in 1249, when Buda became the capital of the kingdom. 

Esztergom is the centre of the Catholic church in Hungary. This also goes back to the time when the country became a christian kingdom, because that was when the St. Stephen, the first king of Hungary requested a crown from the Pope. The country has been the capital for the Hungarian Catholic church ever since. Alexander Rudnay built the famous Basilica in 1822, which serves as the "office" of the archbishop of Hungary, and it remains to be the biggest and tallest building in Hungary up to this day.

Esztergom is also the capital of Hungary's rugby life. The sport is not popular in Hungary, in fact there are only a few teams in the country, but the Hungarian national team plays their games in Visegrad. The games are usually free, and they are a great spectacle. You should definitely go catch one if you happen to be in the city.

Visegrad 

Visegrad used to be an ancient settlement, that has a magnificent castle overlooking from a hill. The castle was built in 1009, and it served the kingdom well until it fell during the Mongolian invasion in the middle of the thirteenth century. The castle was rebuilt between 1250 to 1260, when two walls were added to the castle. However the best era of the castle was in the second half of the fifteenth century, when King Mathias made it one of his most frequented residencies, and the town of Visegrad became a burgeoning economic powerhouse of a town.

The surrounding forests are rich in deer and wild boar, which makes Visegrad a popular destination for hunters. The river Danube is rich in carp, catfish, and perch, so the city is also very popular among fishermen. The forest has multiple campsites, where you can spend a few nights either in your RV, or your best waterproof tent.

Visegrad became a popular vacation destination of the wealthy groups of the Hungarian society in the nineteenth century. Even today many own weekend townhouses in the area, and use it as a resort where they can retire and relax after a hard week's work. 

Conclusion

I hope the post got your blood pumping, and you are excited about visiting either Esztergom, or Visegrad, or both. They are well worth it, the scenery of the towns is truly amazing, I can recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone who likes travelling. If you happen to be backpacking in Hungary, you should check out these cities.

Tips For Backpacking In Budapest

Budapest is a the capital of Hungary, an Eastern European country that used to be under Russian suppression. Budapest is a burgeoning city full of energy, which makes it a frequent and preferred destination for the backpacking youth. This post is going to explain why you should visit Budapest if you have not done so yet, and what you can do in the City if you have decided to visit.

Budapest is in Eastern Europe, and as such it is quite cheap based on Western European or American prices. For example you can get a full lunch with a soup, a main dish and a dessert for a low price of five bucks. You can travel across the city using the entire tube system with a ticket for a price of 1.5 dollars. You can get a room for a night for ten bucks. And that is a quite comfortable room, not some kind of serial killer motel. :)

The city can be reached by train, aeroplane or by boat. The city has four train stations, each one connects Hungary with different countries by rail. The railway system of the country is quite old, much of it was built in the 19th century. However the old age of the railway can be a positive as the railway company operates a steam-engine train, which you can actually drive. It is a blast to do so, I urge you to try it.

The country is famous for its culinary heritage. Hungary is the birthplace of many world-famous dishes. These include the fish soup, the chicken with paprika, the cottage cheese pasta, or the poppy seed pasta among others. These foods are a must to try if you ever go to Hungary. The centre of the city is full of traditional restaurants that offer these dishes, but you have to be careful, because some restaurants charge astronomical prices and make their living off of tourists who don't know the local customs. A good trick to avoid trouble is to ask for the menu before you take your seat, and then leave if they don't want to give you a menu. This would signal that the place is fishy and doesn't want you to see their prices. If you are looking for more information about Hungarian restaurants, you can visit the website of the Hungarian Hotels and Restaurants Association.

For travelling around the city the best way is to take the underground system. The underground line 1 or " the yellow line" as the Budapest people call it was the first underground built on the continent. The city is also the home of the most crowded tram line of the continent - tram 4 - which runs through the city centre. The tram line 2 starts off at the Parliament, and finishes in the southern parts of the city, and runs along the river Danube, which makes is one of the most beautiful tram lines in Europe.

The city is often used for shooting second world war and medieval films because the buildings left over form past eras. The inner city looks a lot like it did during the Great War, while the Western part of the city, Buda is the home to the caste, and the citadel, two stone buildings left over from the middle ages.

The city is also famous for its spas. These have healing powers, and are excellent for healing muscle and joint injuries. 

Budapest is a truly beautiful city in the middle of the country. Its beautiful, yet diverse architecture, its rich culinary heritage, and interesting people make it a destination that all backpackers should see. If you are looking for more ideas on where to stay and what to visit in Budapest, you can check out this excellent travel guide.

Best Backpacking Destinations in Europe: Part 2

In the second instalment of the "Best Backpacking Destinations in Europe" article series, I am going to introduce you to three other magnificent European cities. These cities are all excellent for backpackers, and offer lot of ways one can enjoy his or her time in in them.

Click here to read the previous article.

Barcelona

First on our list is the beautiful city of Barcelona in Spain. Barcelona is the capital of Catalunia, and has its own language, the Catalan. Of course they all speak Spanish in the city, but Catalan is spoken by almost all locals, and if you can speak a few sentences in Catalan, you are going to go a long way in the hearts of the local inhabitants.

Barcelona is famous for its beautiful architecture. The city has plenty of old cathedrals, and churches that are breathtaking. You can also enjoy the famous sports life of Barcelona. The city has two football clubs, Espanyol and the world-famous Barcelona. Barcelona also has an excellent handball and an outstanding basketball team.

Port Vell, Barcelona.
Source: Wikipedia

If you are not big for architecture or sports, you can enjoy the world-famous beaches of the city. The hot sea is perfect for swimming, not to mention that you can fish in the waters rich in all kinds of creatures.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, and it is a constant feature of American comedies due to its famous coffee shops. However you would be very wrong if you would think that Amsterdam has nothing else to offer.

The Canals of Amsterdam during the summer.
Source: Wikipedia

The city is probably most famous of their cycling culture. The city actually has more than one million bicycles, which is more than its inhabitants. You can rent bikes, or you can buy one in one of the many bike shops of the city. However there are more types of transportation that you can take in Amsterdam. The canal system runs through the city, where you can take a Boat Tour to travel through the city.

The city is the home of multiple world-famous restaurants. The Heineken beer brewery is in Amsterdam, where you can learn about beer brewing, how Heineken is made and you can learn a lot about beer tasting.

Prague

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic, and it adds a nice Eastern European flavor to our list. As an Eastern European city, it is quite cheap by Western European measures. The city is famous for its architecture, with much of it remaining from the middle ages. This is the reason why the city is used for shooting movies by Hollywood film crews.

The Prague Sunrise.
Source:Wikipedia

If you go to Prague, I urge you to try one of the many beautiful campsites the city has to offer. It is the cheapest form of accommodation really, you just need to grab your best waterproof tent, set it up, and you have a perfect shelter for the night.

One of the most famous buildings of the city is the St. Charles Bridge, which arches over the river that runs through the city. The city is just for you if you love beer. The Czech Republic is the famous home country of Bohumil Hrabal, who's literature documents the beer drinking culture of the Czech people very well.

The city is also big on sports. The city is the home to the football team Sparta Prague. Plenty of bicycle routes run through the city, making it very easy to get around on a bike.

Conclusion

I hope that the second instalment of our "Top Backpacking Destinations in Europe" gave you a few ideas on where to go on a cheap, yet exciting trip on the old continent. If you want more ideas, you can read our first article, or go on trips to cities that we haven't mentioned, and then tell us about your trips in the comments.

Best Backpacking Destinations in Europe

Backpacking is one of the best ways to travel around the world if you are looking  for places to visit without totally exhausting your wallet. Backpacking gives you a lot of freedom, as you are not tied down to one place, and it is a cheap way to experience all the best and most beautiful places in the world.

Europe is a very diverse continent, its different countries developed totally differently throughout the centuries, which led to each having their own wonderful culture. I think that everybody should do a backpacking trip through Europe before they pass away, it opens up the eyes of a person like nothing else. You have the passionate French, the English ladies and gentleman, not to mention the beer loving Czechs. Here are five cities that you should visit if you go on a backpacking trip in Europe.

London

London is one of the biggest cities in Europe. It is inhabited by a plethora of different cultures, that make London an interesting and pulsating city. Thanks to its different kinds of people and huge size, everybody can find what they are looking for in this huge city. Backpackers can find cheap bed and breakfast youth hostels, and cheap restaurants, but on the other end of the spectrum you have gourmet restaurants and luxury hotels

There are all kinds of activities that you can pass the time with in the city. First of all, the River Thames is gorgeous, and you can go on boat trips, kayaking trips or you can just simply go fishing on the river. The city has a system of bikes for rent, called the "Boris bikes" named after the mayor of London.

The city also has plenty of historic buildings and ruins that are worth visiting. There is the Parliament, and there is the City of Westminster, not to mention the Dungeon of London. These are all awesome places worth visiting, with many of these places still playing an important part in English culture. Just think of Baker Street's involvement in the BBC television series "Sherlock."

Paris

There is a stereotype about the city of Paris, namely that it is a city full of boheme artists eating croissants and baguettes. As the case with all stereotypes, this isn't true either, but you have to visit Paris in order to destroy this stereotype, and allow your brain to replace it with a new, more refined view.

Paris is famous for its burgeoning restaurant and artist scene. If you ever go to France, you have to try all the different types of food that the country has to offer, and Paris is no exception. The city is also home to a host of talented artists, who make sure that you are never going to be bored on the evenings.

Paris has plenty of famous buildings that are worth visiting, and that you can fill your time with. The Palace of Versailles is truly gorgeous. The Louvre is huge, and it will take up a whole day to go through the museum, and see all the art that is on display. Paris even has its own Disneyland, so the kid inside you is going to find some entertainment as well.

If you are an advocate of sports, Paris has plenty to offer to you as well. The city is the home to the football club Paris Saint-Germain, who are the strongest team in France, and have a host of world-class players in the team, such as Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. And there is of course the tennis Grand Slam tournament, the Roland Garros.

Paris has a river running through it, just like London. The River Seine is gorgeous, with the riverside full of painters, musicians and Cafes. The river is also excellent for jogging and cycling.

Conclusion

London and Paris are among the biggest cities in Europe. They are burgeoning capitals, that have all kinds of wonderful things to offer to anyone who visits them. As a backpacker you can find plenty of cheap accommodations for yourself in these cities, and it is also easy to find cheap places to eat. If you ever travel to Europe, you should definitely visit both London and Paris.