Off The Beaten Path - Budapest, Hungary

Explore Budapest off the beaten path and experience the true culture of the city by doing some of your own discovering outside of the traditional tourist routes. From the suggestions of locals, we've got the down low on hidden gems when it comes to the best cultural experience in Budapest – info you won't find in a typical guidebook.

District 8

District 8 was a neighborhood that tourists were advised to stay away from for many years. Today it is an up-and-coming neighborhood in Budapest. Neglected throughout the communist era, densely populated parts of District 8, with a high proportion of Roma families, became some of the poorest areas in Budapest. Poverty brought along high crime rates and District 8's bad reputation. Bullet holes from World War II and the revolution in 1956 are still visible on buildings yet to be renovated. However, District 8 is a district of diversity, art, music and architecture, full of hidden gems. The core of District 8 is the Palace Neighborhood, where aristocratic families of the Austro-Hungarian Empire built more than 30 palaces and mansions between 1867 and World War I.  Most of these grandiose palaces have been restored to their former glory and today they are home to institutions, universities, libraries and hotels. The best way to discover District 8 is to take a walking tour starting at the National Museum and exploring the surrounding areas, as most of the buildings located here are former palaces. Good examples are the Hungarian Radio (the former Eszterházy Palace, at Pollack Mihály tér 4), the Italian Cultural Institute (the former parliament building, at Bródy Sándor utca 8), the German-Language University (the former Festetics palace, at Pollack Mihály tér 3) and the Hotel Palazzo Zichy (the former residence of an aristocrat, at Lőrinc Pap tér 2).

One of the district's most charming squares is Mikszáth tér, with some outdoor restaurants and cafés ideal for lunch, dinner or laid-back cocktails.

Batthyány Square
Named after Lajos Batthyány, the first Prime Minister of Hungary, Batthyány Square (Batthyány tér) offers some of the best views of Budapest's Parliament building. This small square, located in the heart of Watertown (Víziváros), the area between Castle Hill and the Danube, is a busy transit hub on weekdays.

The square's most beautiful building is the Church of St. Anna, built between 1740 and 1762. The church is also one of Budapest's finest Baroque style buildings. Also keep your eye out for the 'White Cross Inn' (Batthyány tér 4), which was built in 1766 when two older buildings were rebuilt in Rococo style. Habsburg king Joseph II stayed here twice when visiting in 1783 and 1784.

Memories of Hungary
If you love shopping for souvenirs, this is the place. Memories of Hungary is a gift shop that is not your run-of-the-mill souvenir shop. This place isn't filled with a collection of mass-produced key chains and t-shirts. The arts and crafts carried by Memories of Hungary are all handmade by a select group of contemporary artists. They are traditional yet modern, unique and creative. Folk art from the different regions in Hungary, embroidery, ceramics, textiles and porcelain comes in both traditional and modern forms. Matyodesign, Local Wear and Folk Fashion, known for combining old folk traditions with contemporary fashion, are also sold here, as are vintage wines, pálinka brandies, hand-made chocolates and original Hungarian inventions, like the Rubik's Cube. 

There is so much more to explore in Budapest, just ask the locals. Call us and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com

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