budaveg – vegetarian Hungary your vegetarian home in Hungary

1, Go underwater!

Budapest has fantastic spas and swimming baths, most of them are very easy to reach by public transport. This website gives you detailed information about opening times and prices. The most fun is the Palatinus on Margaret Island which has many pools, a wave machine and kamikaze slide. Dagály also has many pools, and a massive green area right along the river. Csillaghegyi is probably the least crowded because its water is actually cold, and it’s a bit shabby. For the most slides go to Aquaworld, it’s out of town but there is a free bus from Heroes’ Square.

2, Go underground!

There are plenty of caves in Budapest and a few of them are actually open for visitors. The most popular one is Pálvölgyi stalagmite cave, or the Szemlőhegyi Cave. It’s easy to reach by public transport, take bus no. 65 from Kolossy tér. The cave is 10° C all year round, so dress accordingly! Open Tuesday- Sunday 10-4 pm, tours are every hour at a quarter past. There are also two caves to visit in the Castle district, the Labyrinth (which is closed temporarily) and the “Hospital in the Rock”. Both are part of the massive cave system in the castle hill itself.  The Hospital in the Rock is open Tuesday- Sunday 10-7 pm.

3, Enjoy the breeze!

Take a ride on the river! You can travel in style aboard a sightseeing boat like Legenda, or take the scheduled boat to Szentendre and top it off with a mega ice cream at the Szamos Marzipan Museum. Marzipan is in fact vegan, and many fruit ice creams too. You can also take the inexpensive city boat that goes from Boráros Tér to Békásmegyer, stopping at Margaret Island as well.

4, Go to the Buda Hills:

Take the Children’s Railway! Up in the Buda Hills there is a small gauge railway operated by kids, very cute. Take tram 56 from Moszkva Tér to the terminus, then it’s a short hike up to the station. Get off at János Hegy station and after a 15 minute walk you are at the highest point of the city at Erzsébet Kilátó, and in the shade. You can also combine the trip with a ride on the chairlift.

5, Go somewhere which is air conditioned:

There are plenty of air-conditioned cinemas, though most films are dubbed. You can see the English language screenings here: http://www.palacecinemas.hu/ Most museums are air conditioned too!