Gang is a German loanword in Hungarian meaning the open corridor that can be found in most of the houses in downtown Budapest. The typical „gang house” was built from the second half of the 19th century to the 1920s-30s and originally served as an apartment building with big flats.

Communist times turned the few big apartments into several smaller ones sometimes resulting in flats without toilets. So people had to visit the common toilet at the end of the corridor. These times are (almost) over, what’s left are the flats with their entrance door opening to the inner courtyards.

Some communities care more about these interesting yards, they have removed the clinkers to reveal the soil and plant flowers, lay it down with grass, even create a little kitchen-garden for the residents. But even if the tenants neglect the state of the premises, there is a type of tree that grows tall even in the crack of the wall and could be the symbol of urban survival: sumac.

Walk around in downtown, even further to the outskirts and carefully walk in if you see an open door. I promise, you’ll find real gems inside.

Photos

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Inner courtyards | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Central Pest | Central Pest
24 hours daily

Right behind the back of Károlyi Gardens lies another green spot in the heart of the city: the garden of Károlyi Palace. The building hosts PIM i.e. Petőfi Literature Museum and also offers the chance for a quiet lunch at Károlyi Restaurant.

So there is culture, gastronomy and chilling, all in one. And one more important thing: no “keep off the grass” signs. Very well, the grass is for chillin’, let the people use it. After walking all day there’s nothing better than sitting in the middle of a green field. Your mom lied to you, grass stains are cool.

You can find the entrance to the garden on Károlyi Mihály street (yet another Károlyi, it’s all about this family) which is part of the new main street project in the 5. district.

I find this project really cool, it looks like the local government is trying to create more livable public space, at least between Kálvin square and Szabadság square. Less cars, wider sidewalks, fountains – the rest of downtown is slowly changing for the better too.

Until then, let’s enjoy what we have here.

Check out some photos.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
PIM garden | Relaxing | Free
V., Károlyi Mihály utca 16. | Central Pest
10:00 – 22:00 daily