Outer Buda Budapest – All our local tips

You’d better be prepared for long queues because this confectionery attracts people from all across the city. No wonder, the family Daubner has been serving the needs of the clientèle for several decades since they moved to Budapest at the end of the 1950s with excellent pastries, cakes, parfaits and ice cream.

You shouldn’t miss the ice cream in sweet waffle (no extra charge) but don’t forget to pay first, keep the receipt and hand it over when asking for your favourite taste. For those with a “salty tooth” there’s an impressive choice of “pogácsa”, traditional Hungarian pastry. Most guests come here to choose and pick up their favourite stuff after paying since the whole store is set up to serve as a takeaway.

You’ll find some benches outside but beware, the street features pretty heavy traffic during the day. There is also some room inside to eat what you have asked for. Just like museums, Daubner is closed on Mondays.

Located a bit far from down town you might want to combine this visit with a walk around the nicer parts of Óbuda or a hike to Hármashatár-hegy.

See more photos here.

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Daubner Confectionery | Snacks | Cakes from HUF 130.00
Szépvölgyi út 50 | Outer Buda | +3613352253
Tue – Sun 09:00 – 19:00

Memento Park – or Szoborpark (”Statue Park”), is a depository for communist-era public statues.

Located on the very fringes of Budapest, you should allocate quite a bit of travelling time to getting there and back, or catch the once-a-day direct bus that leaves at 11:00 from Deák Ferenc Metro station and goes back to the city at 13:00 (or just drive).

Lots of people get a kick out of seeing these monumental statues in their new, “harmless” environment, but given nice enough weather, the park is also a good spot to get away from the city’s concrete for a bit.

Just outside the main entrance, there’s a barrack where they sometimes have temporary exhibits as well as some permanent information on the 1956 revolution and the 1989-90 change into democracy.

Definitely check it out, as there’s also a movie theater inside, showing a subtitled documentary called “Life of the Agent.” It’s a compilation of actual black-and-white training videos filmed by and for the communist secret police, teaching you how to conduct proper house searches, how to follow someone unnoticed, how to enlist someone as an informant, and other similar skills. You can also buy the movie on DVD at the ticket office, and it’s awesome.

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Memento Park | Art & culture | Full-prized ticket HUF 1500
Balatoni út / Szabadkai utca | Outer Buda | +3614247500
10:00 – till sunset daily

You might not visit Budapest for food shopping, but an organic, local market will definitely add to your good mood and discovery of local flavour.

The market is a cute, small one of some 30 wooden, covered stalls. Food comes directly from local Hungarian farmers. It is located next to MOM Park and MOM Shopping centre is just around the corner. Biokultura, Hungarian Farming Association, runs the market and guarantees the quality of products.

The place is always full with people, so make sure you come early enough if you plan to actually buy something. You will be welcomed with a multitude of vegetables and fruit, fresh herbs, variety of bread and pastry, meat and sausages, cottage and goat cheese, organic cakes and biscuits, honey, all kinds of pickled vegetables, fruit juice, wine, flowers, not to mention jams, warm bio “rétes” (strudels) and fruit pies made on the spot.

It is definitely nice to look around the market, talk to the farmers, hear their stories and get infected with their love of what they do. You might even pick a recipe or two. Many families come with children so you’re bound to see some interesting scenes and take funny and colourful photos.

The market is my main supply of chard (mangold) which is quite difficult to find in Hungary. I was over the moon when I saw the multitude of it (I am Croatian – chard makes me happy ).

Have fun!

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MOM Ökopiac | Shopping
Csörsz u.18 | Outer Buda
Sat 06:30 – 12:00 / 13:00

Museum Kiscell is one of the best places to learn about historical Budapest – how the city developed, where and how people of the time lived, worked and had fun. The 18th century baroque building of the museum holds many collections. You can see various trade and shop signs and advertisements of the 19th century, interior of a pharmacy, a collection of various guild chests, furniture, tableware, art and items of every day use from the 18th century up to today.

Many architectural plans and illustrations will show you Budapest buildings of the 19th and early 20th century. You might recognise such landmarks as the Chain Bridge or the Buda Tunnel (Alagút) on the original drawings by Adam Clark. Through many city maps and drawings you’ll be able to see how the city grew and the life and habits of people changed.

A baroque sculpture hallway will take you to a large collection of printing presses and something you definitely shouldn’t miss – a church hall. Its vast, totally barren brick shell (app. 40 m high and 20 m wide) doesn’t seize to surprise me and amaze me every time I see it. You won’t see any windows, only the layers of brick where they once were. The building and especially the church were damaged in the WW2. And still it is a strangely beautiful and powerful ruin, almost magical.

The museum is located in Óbuda, at the top of a hill. Take bus no. 60 from the Batthányi square.

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Museum Kiscell | Art & culture | Entrance fee HUF 800
Kiscelli u. 108 | Outer Buda | +3613888560
Tue – Sun 10:00 – 16:00 (18:00, Apr – Oct)

Normafa is a popular outing location in the green belt of Buda hills. Every weekend and holiday young and old alike will roam its green slopes, winding paths and beautiful forest in search of fresh air, movement and beautiful views.

Normafa stands for “Norma tree,” an old beech tree that once stood there and had, as the saying goes, dated back to the times of king Matthias Corvinus. The tree, battered by time and weather, was struck several times by a lightning and was originally even cold the “Wetterbaum.” It became a favourite outing place where once, in 1840, Rozália Klein Schodel, a famous soprano of the time, sang the aria from Bellini’s Norma. So the name remained. The tree is no longer there, in 1927 yet another lightning strike saw to its end. But you will find a memorial plaque where it once stood.

You can take one of the many paths and stroll through the forest or over the slopes (where you can also ski in the winter), or you can walk to the top of János Hill and its high observation tower (Erzsébet kilátó) at the hight of 527m, the highest point in the city offering a beautiful view in all directions.

And if you wish to explore further, you can also try a Chairlift Libegõ or the Children’s Railway (previous Pioneers’ Railway), operated by 10 to 14 years old children.

Normafa can easily be reached by bus No. 90 from Moszkva square.

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Normafa | Relaxing | Free
Normafa | Outer Buda
Daily

The Hungarian Museum of Science and Technology is one of those places you’re unlikely to find on your own. Not only because it’s located a bit out of the way, but also because, well, would it occur to you to check out an exhibition comprising three large halls’ worth of machinery if I wasn’t prompting you.

When I first visited with some friends, I immediately fell in love with the place. What you have here is three separate exhibits, each in its own hall
one full of scientific instruments (telescopes, clocks, geodesic and meteorological machinery, etc.); one dedicated to engines of all sorts from steam through petrol to an actual fighter jet engine; and one – which I find the most interesting – for household electronics from the 20th century.

Among other cool stuff, this last gallery holds part of an ancient Ural 2 computer (one of those machines that filled up a whole room); the first Hungarian robot toy, a giant ladybug; and a Hungarian invention whose idea was not patented because of the inventor’s boss’ incompetence, got stolen and later became the 3.5 floppy disk. You’ll definitely want a tour guide to point out the more special items for you.

It’s really poetic to see all these man-made items collected and displayed as if they were works of art or wonders of nature. It’s also a great way to build up some geek cred.

Practical note as of now, it’s a bit hard to get an English-speaking guide to the exhibits. To arrange for one, you should call 3612044092 at least 3-4 days (or preferably a week) ahead.

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Országos Muszaki Múzeum | Art & culture | Ticket adults HUF 600
XI. Kaposvár utca 13-15 | Outer Buda | +3612044095
Tue – Sat 10:00 – 16:00

Vasarely Museum is a place you definitely shouldn’t miss while in Budapest – it’s a rare opportunity to see a large collection of work by renowned artist and designer Victor Vasarely, often referred to as founder of Op Art. If you love colour, movement and abstract art, the chances are you will simply love it.

There are only two other places in the world where you can see a permanent collection of Vasarely’s work: Vasarely museum in his native Pécs (south of Hungary) and Foundation Vasarely in France.

For me it is THE museum to see in Budapest, and my constant source of inspiration and relaxation. His colourful, abstract images create optical illusions and impressions of motion and space, depending on how and from where you observe. Vasarely believed art should be part of everyday life.

In the museum you will see large canvases, tapestries, acrylic glass panes – all in countless combinations of colours and forms, challenging the way we look and see. You can also see his early drawings, textile designs, poster and logotype design.

Walking among his work is like walking into another, virtual world, co-creating the space and experience of art. You are bound to come out recharged, refreshed and inspired.

The museum itself is a nice, quiet place within the old Zichy Palace, not too big and rarely crowded, so you won’t get overwhelmed. The museum is located near Árpad bridge and is easily accessible by tram no.1, HÉV and numerous buses.

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Vasarely Museum | Art & culture | Entrance HUF 800
Szentlélek tér 6 | Outer Buda | +3613887551
Tue – Sun 10:00 – 17:30