When I feel like going for a long walk but don't want to leave the city behind, Wekerle is a delightful option for me - it's a place to unwind and disconnect. Weke what? Wekerle. It is not a weird Hungarian word, but the name of Sándor Wekerle, a Prime Minister at the beginning of the 20th century. He had the idea of creating, together with a colony of young architects, a liveable area for local workers.
On the map, Wekerle looks like a stamp, and it is even enclosed by wooden gateways. Inspired by medieval and rural buildings, Wekerle is a fully equipped "village" in the city; it has schools, a (stunning) police station, culture and entertainment all immersed in trees - no supermarket signs. A cardinal concept of Wekerle is the "garden square", the main one being named after Károly Kós, the Transylvanian architect who designed part of the complex. It's wonderful in the fall - because of the colours, I feel like I'm in a Hungarian village in Transylvania.
There's a small shop I fancy the most, called "A Masik Bolt" where you can sip coffee and even buy organic food (I love that I can find a variety of pumpkin here I cannot find elsewhere in Budapest) and people are ultra-friendly. They are generally friendly in this area, where architecture has worked well to create a sense of community. Leaving this peaceful and cheerful world behind, I always think I am gonna come here again.
Wekerle
HUF
free
Find your way with 172 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
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The greatest part? Here you will see not only happy children of any age but also smiling adults that enjoy the place at least as much as kids, if not more.
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