Pubs are very popular today and that is a direct result from a lot of “expats” living in Budapest. On the other hand, it has also resulted from the low cost airlines that bring a multitude of those weekenders touring the city.

Belgium beer, German beer, and “pints” of the more traditional British ales and beers can be found in most of the current establishments. Additionally, the food found in these pubs is nothing shy of excellent and you are able to eat exceptionally well considering that their menus offer hamburgers, rustic snacks, and steaks to the delight of most traveling palates.

At nightfall, nearly Pub metamorphoses into a club (disco-esque), complete with dancing and excellent local music. Naturally, there is a wide array of choices when it comes to flirting with the opposite gender. Here is a list of the more frequented and popular pubs in Budapest:

#1 – Caledonia Pub and Sportsbar

Authentic Scottish Pub that offers the best beers from home for the visiting Scotsman. Caledonia’s ambiance is exceptional as appears like a Scottish situated in the midst of downtown Budapest. In addition to those tasty Scottish beers, foods as well as souvenirs from home can be had as well.

#2 – Irish Cat Pub

A favorite place of Budapest expats to hang out and mingle, this establishment is located at Kalvin ter in the heart of Budapest. Easter and Halloween are just two of the events during the year where the club hosts special parties and features the best in local live music.

#3 – Fat Mo’s

Located in the heart of Budapest’s most “touristy” section next to Vaci utca, this well-known place is frequented by expats and tourists on a regular basis. Live music every evening and excellent dining is the main fare at Fat Mo’s.

#4 – Becketts Pub and Sportsbar

Well known for featuring live Budapest football (soccer), especially the English Premier League, and like so many other pubs in the city, offers beer in pints, great food, and an English pub-like atmosphere.

#5 – Old Man’s Music Pub

One of the most favorite hang-outs for Budapest expats. full of expats. You would never be able to guess how large the place is based on the tiny entrance that you pass through.

#6 – Jam Pub

Located in the cellar of the popular Mammut Shopping Center, the entrance is located between the two Mammut buildings. Men normally pay a small cover fee while the girls get in free of charge.

Popular Budget Hotels in Budapest

• Jade Guest House – Double room: €20 per night
• Origo Hostel & Guest House – Double room: €34 per night
• Villa Korall Panzio – double room: €39 per night
• Pension Papillon – Double room: €55 per night
• Dominik Panzio – Double room: €27 per night

Photo of Fat Mo’s by FatMandy

The bus or metro systems may be quicker and easier but they mean that you miss so much of a place that it is difficult to get any impression at all except of the inside of tunnels or the back of the head of the person in front of you. However, this policy of mine has led to problems, usually because I get lost or wander into bad neighbourhoods. But in Budapest I found a new problem, hills.

Of course I have encountered hills before, large ones too. Some people call them mountains. But it was a long day and I had explored all of Pest before beginning on Buda, but I forced myself to continue and I’m exceedingly glad that I did.

Castle Hill

I should probably first explain that while Pest, the eastern half of the city of Budapest, is almost entirely flat, Buda, the western half on the opposite side of the Danube, contains two large hills. Castle Hill is the lower of the two and contains the old town streets and as well as the former Royal Palace. As you approach it Castle Hill looks like something out of a fairy tale, the castle soars upwards layer after layer and tower and tower. Cable cars can whisk you to the top (or bring you down) but I maintained my dedication to walking. After tramping up winding streets and steep stairs I eventually emerged at the top, breathless but triumphant.

It was slightly disappointing to realise that most of the people around me at the top had been driven up in their air-conditioned coaches but that didn’t detract from the experience. The view across the city of Budapest was stunning, the palace magical and the breeze cooling. I explored for a while but soon I had to be on.

Gellert Hill

Gellert Hill is adjacent to Castle Hill on the banks of the Danube. I had a bit of a shock when I saw just how big it is because by that point I was really starting to flag. The hill was tall, steep and covered in trees which I presumed would make it more difficult to climb.

Thankfully Gellert hill turned out not to be that difficult to climb since there is a well maintained network or paths and steps up its wooded slopes. There is also a pleasant waterfall gushing down on its rocky way and a memorial to St Gellert who was apparently flung off this hill to his death. Once I reached the top I found a hope inspiring monument to peace in the form of a statue holding a palm branch aloft. There was also a fort with a museum but this seemed overly expensive.

After a brief rest sitting on a convenient bench I was off again, back down the hill over the river and back to mercifully flat Pest. However, I would heartily recommend visitors climbing both hills on their visit to Budapest, the views are awesome and the exercise useful, even enjoyable. I would suggest, however, that visitors either stretch the climbs out over two days, or else do them in the morning and plan a hearty lunch.

Top 5 Budapest Hotels on Castle Hill:

• Buda Castle Hotel – Double Room from  €149 per night
• Burg Hotel – Double Room from €115 per night
• Hotel St George Residence – Double Room from €98 per night
• Hotel Castle Garden – Double Room from €99 per night
• Carlton Hotel Budapest – Double Room from €95 per night

View of Pest from Buda Hill, Budapest, Hungary by Dirac3000

A Family Holiday in Southern Italy

On Travel Savvy Mom, Kimberly Sullivan recommends a family trip to Salento (the heel of the Italian boot). She invites travelers to discover the Baroque city of Lecce, the beaches of Punta della Suina, as well as the picturesque sea towns  of Gallipoli, Santa Maria de Leuca and Otranto.

A Trendy Getaway from Phoenix, Arizona

Planning a weekend getaway from Phoenix, Arizona? The Diaries of the Trendy Traveler blog recommends a trip to Puerto Penasco, a beach resort situated in the State of Sonora, Mexico.

A Local’s Guide to Budapest, Hungary

On the National Geographic, award-winning culinary guidebook author Carolina Bánfalvi shares insider tips on her home city: Budapest. And if you are traveling to Hungary and want to know more about Hungarian food and Budapest restaurants, check out  Carolina’s articles on the Chew.Hu food blog.

An Adventure Holiday in North Vancouver

On Consumer Traveler, read a nice blog post on all the exciting things to do in the Northern part of Vancouver, Canada, such as a day out at Capilano Park’s Treetops Adventure and the thrilling Air Grouse Mountain Ziplines and Capilano Suspension Bridge.

Photo of Salento, Italy by Adele Sarno

1. The home of the largest synagogue in Europe

Dohány Street Synagogue is colossal. Able to house 3000 people and stretching 44 metres high and filling a size of over 2000 metres square, it is the second largest synagogue in the world, after one in New York. The synagogue is made up of various temples and gardens and was built in the mid 19th century with a design based on Moorish architecture from northern Africa.

2. The oldest underground train system in mainland Europe.

Another record-breaking fact about the capital of Hungary lies underground this time. Apart from London off the mainland – whose underground lines are the oldest in the world -Budapest can proudly boast some of the oldest metro railways in the world, with work beginning on the system in 1896. But there are only three lines and in order to get onto the others you have to change at one station. Something London might struggle with in rush hour.

3. How to become a better writer

If you touch the pen of the Anonymous statue, that sits in the park just near to Heroes’ Square then it’s said it will make that person a better writer. The statue is pretty menacing and looks like the Grim Reaper, but is thought to be a chronicler of King Bela. But no one is really sure which Bela as there have been quite a few in Hungary throughout history.

4. It’s getting hot down there

Budapest has more thermal springs below the city than any other capital in the world. The springs have given birth to dozens of medicinal baths all over the city and can produce an amazing 70 million litres of water every single day. There are also over 100 springs that have been enjoyed by many of the patrons and visitors of Budapest since the Roman Empire.

Hotel near Dohány Street Synagogue

• Starlight Suiten Hotel Budapest
• Hotel Carat Budapest
• Hotel Budapest Karoly Central

Photo of Budapest Synagogue, Hungary, by harshilshah100

Check out the best spas in Europe including different thermal baths in Budapest, Hungary, and the Rogner Bad Blumau Spa’s Vulcania Pool located in Styria, Austria.

If you’re planning a vacation in Paris and want to explore the French capital with real Parisians, visit the Guardian online and read an article on Paris Greeter program.

Travel blogs and online newspapers report protests against the testing of ‘naked security scanners‘ – new hight-tech full-body scanners- in Germany.

The New York Times announces the New York Times Travel Show. The 6th annual NYC travel fair will be held on February 6-8, 2009 at the Jakob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan.

There is something called dental tourism (how mental is that?), which is actually a type of medical tourism. It is all about looking for dental care outside your local healthcare service. One of the main driving factors of dental tourism is the cost factor – as with any other service people travel to cheaper destinations. The most common form of travel is between countries that share borders, for example, between Germany and Switzerland or England and Scotland.

One of the very attractive destinations for dental tourism is Budapest, the capital city of Hungary. Hungarian dentists are renowned for their international accreditations as well as membership of international organizations. This is mainly due to the fact that dentistry programs offered by the Hungarian universities are top of the class.

Some of the treatments available in dental clinics in Budapest are: aesthetic dental prosthesis, diagnosis, implantation, oral hygiene, tooth rehabilitation treatment, dental cosmetics, periodontics, orthodontics, aesthetic dentistry, oral surgery, and child-and preventive dentistry. With regard to cosmetic dentistry, the most commonly offered services are ultrasonic scaling, polishing, dental cleaning, tooth whitening, gingival pocket and gum disease treatment, intraoral sandblasting, and tooth jewellery.

The duration of a dental procedure and cosmetic dental treatment is usually between 3 to 7 days. This treatment is organized in such a manner that you will have time to tour Budapest and enjoy its scenic beauty. This most comfortable arrangement is coupled with (the somewhat less comfortable) dental treatments like dental implants, bridges, crowns, root canal and veneers. The cheapest treatment usually starts at 10 Euros for one root canal to 800 Euros for chrome cobalt dentures and sinus lifting treatments. This is usually a saving of close to 7,000 Euros for a similar treatment in the United Kingdom. The reason dental treatment is this affordable is that the cost of living in Budapest is much lower than in many other European countries. This means that dental equipment is not very expensive. Renting or buying space for a clinic is also affordable, as is labour. All these factors translate into cheaper service. Dental tourism is so advanced in Budapest that most clinics offer a free shuttle service to their patients to and from the airport. The airport is about 28 kilometres from the city. Budapest is particularly accessible from the United Kingdom as it takes only a two hour flight to get here. British Airways, Hungarian Airlines Malév, Easyjet and many other budget airlines such as Sky Europe, Aer Lingus, WizzAir, Jet2, Air Berlin, Ryanair, etc. operate in this region.

Clinics involved in dental tourism usually form partnerships with hotels in order to offer discounts to their patients. Some hotels have formed alliances with certain dental clinics in Budapest and provide a 10% discount to the patients of those clinics. If you want to stay on your own, a three-star hotel would charge anything between 50 Euros to 100 Euros for a single night. While you are in the city you can use the most affordable public transport to get to different tourist attractions such as the museums – Roman Ruins and Aquincum Museum, the Buda castle, and the numerous thermal baths in the city that are formed thanks to natural hot springs that are endowed with medicinal properties. Budapest is truly a place to have fun, even with a bad tooth!

Photo of tooth radiography originally posted by radiant guy

Planning a gourmet trip to Florence, Tuscany?  On Suite101 read an article about Lori De Mori’s new food and travel book on Tuscan cuisine.

Women-only hotel rooms: The Naumi Hotel in Singapore has set aside a floor entirely dedicated to women travelers with female-only staff and ladies-only guest rooms and suites.

Budapest bistro-style bar: Read Globespotters’ review of the Deryne bistro, a new Budapest bar situated on the Buda side of the Hungarian capital city.

Unlike Prague, another recently popular central European capital, Budapest has managed to avoid the beer-heavy stag parties and, for the most part, remain a calm and relaxing place for a romantic break. There are a number of restaurants in which one can wine and dine a loved one, as well as beautiful and historical attractions for those photographic moments together. Here are just a few of the best things on offer.

1. Margaret Island

A 2km long luscious island on the river Danube, which separates the Buda and the Pest side of the city, Margaret Island is the best place to go for a stroll amongst the trees, a picnic on the lawns amongst the beautifully kept flowers and few quiet drinks at one of the cool bars. Named after Saint Margaret, who lived a life of solace on the island from the age of ten until her death in 1270, the island is a popular spot with tourists and with locals, the latter of which descend on the island after work for a jog through the trees.

The best (and most romantic) way to see the island is to hire one of the many pedal carriages available, which give you the freedom to explore without the strain. One of the best places for a drink or some food is the bar/restaurant Holdudvar, which is open all day and night and has excellent food and a great choice of cocktails.

2. Széchenyi Thermal Bath

Budapest is famous for its thermal baths. A soak in the warm, clean waters is one of the highlights for both tourists and Hungarians. The Szechenyi Baths are one of the oldest in the city and also one of the cleanest and most welcoming. It might seem confusing when you arrive, but all you need to know is to take your own towel, rent a locker to put your clothes in and then make sure you don’t lose your key!

There are three outdoor pools to choose from, depending on how warm you like you water. There is also a sauna and other physiotherapeutic facilities. The experience doesn’t stop at the bathing though, the actual building itself is worth going to just for the décor. Completed in 1913, it’s a marvelous example of neo-classical architecture.

4. Labyrinth of Buda Castle

It might not seem like the most romantic of places in the world, but don’t be scared of the wonderful and totally original Labyrinth of Buda Castle. Thanks to the thermal waters that flow under the city, miles of tunnels and caves have been carved from the rocks under the feet of the Hungarians and the Labyrinth has opened up some of these for the likes of you and I to wander around, if we aren’t scared of the dark. The tunnels boast a history that dates back some half a million years, and this is highlighted by some rather funny cave paintings on the walls as you walk around.

More recently, the tunnels were a hide-out during the Second World War but they now have a set of rather steep steps that lead dozens of tourists every day into the damp, wet and eerie labyrinth below. Hold hands as you slowly wander around the tunnels. Don’t stray too far from what little light sources there are and, if you’re lucky, you won’t think another visitor coming the other way is something from a horror film. There are some rather strange exhibits in some caves, which aren’t very historically accurate at all, but if you’re looking for something chilling and something to bring you closer together (literally on many occasions) then look no further than the labyrinth.

Photo of Budapest Thermal Baths by Phil McDonald

If you’re planning a weekend break in Amsterdam, Netherlands in November,  visit the Rijksmuseum to see Damien Hirst’s latest artwork: a 18th century human skull covered with diamonds.

Bologna Museum of Anatomical Waxes

For those of you curious to see more human skulls,  Boingboing posted a photo from a series of shots taken at the Museo delle Cere Anatomiche in Bologna, Italy.

History Museum in Budapest

If you’re traveling to Budapest, Hungary, read The Herald Tribune to get information on the House of Terror Museum. Housed in a former headquarters of the Hungarian Communist Secret Police, this Budapest museum is dedicated to remembering crimes committed by both the Nazi and Communist regimes.

France Hotels for Foodies

About.com tells you everything about French independent hotel chain Logis de France. Including small hotel-restaurants like the Domaine de Roquerousse in Provence or the Auberge De Launay in the Loire Valley, these 3200 holiday accommodations offer guests a fine dining experience.

Beer Pilgrimage in Belgium

If you are a beer lover planning a trip to Belgium, on cnn.com read an article on Bruges in which the Flemish city is described as a paradise for Belgian beer fans.

The capital city of Budapest is no doubt the most popular destination within the country and is considered to be one of the most beautiful capital cities in the world. If you are planning on vacationing in Hungary but you have concerns about attractions for your children, there’s no need to worry because there are three attractions that you will want to take your children to. Chances are, you’ll enjoy them as much as the kids do.

1. Children’s Railway

Oftentimes referred to as the “greatest child toy in the world”, the Children’s Railway in Budapest is an amazing attraction in that it is operated entirely (except for the train engineer) by children. From selling tickets to inspecting the train so that it is in peak operating order, children between the ages of 10 and 14 have devoted their time and efforts two to three days every month for the past several years. Under the supervision of adults, they learn how to operate all the signals and switches that are responsible for controlling the commercial services and the traffic of the railway. It is an 11 kilometer trip and adults are not only encouraged to respect these children for what they have done, but also to behave themselves while on the trip.

2. Vidámpark Amusement Park

The next stop on the tour of children’s attractions is Vidámpark Amusement Park, the most popular roller coaster park in all of Hungary. The 302-acre amusement park is located near the city center along the perimeter of the Vidam Park (City Park). The three most popular attractions are:

• the Hullámvasút roller coaster built in 1922 – a classic wooden roller coaster (not many of those left in the world)
• the Merry-Go-Round built in 1906
• the Cave Railway built in 1912

These three attractions are not only popular, but the people of Budapest consider them, because of their history, to be historical monuments.

3. Budapest Botanical Gardens and Zoo

Finally, take in the Budapest Botanical Gardens and Zoo. “A zoo is a garden of life.We can only protect what we know” has been the slogan of the zoo for decades now. It originally opened in 1866 and has been one of the main attractions of the Budapest community. Along with the Botanical Gardens, this is truly a day’s outing that you won’t want to miss while visiting this beautiful European capital.

Photo of Budapest roller coaster originally posted by andjohan