Dent, Bob: Budapest for Children - Our Budapest (Budapest, 1992)

1. Useful to Know - Some general information

CJSEFCJL TO KNOW

7

Orientation

By international standards Budapest is not a large capital city so orientation is not too difficult after the first day or so. Buda is the hilly side, to the west of the river Danube, Pest is the flat side to the east. Even street numbers invariably ascend on the left-hand side, odd numbers on the right. The lower numbers usually begin either from the Danube end, or, in Pest, from the end nearer the Kossuth Lajos u./Rákóczi út axis.

Certain key places are useful for orientation purposes and are referred to throughout this guide —Moszlwa tér and Batthyány tér in Buda; Deák tér, Andrássy út, Ferenciek tere, both the Eastern and Western Rail Stations, and the Great Boulevard [Nagykörút] in Pest. There is a good map of the city, showing transport routes, in most metro stations, though purchase of a personal map is recommended. The “Budapest Guide” city map-book has places marked in English as well as other information. The city-centre pocket guide [Belváros zsebtérkép] is very handy, but lacks an index. If you can find one, the transport map [BKV Vonalhálózati Térkép] is very useful, though the previously mentioned two maps also show transport routes. Warning — lots of street names have been changing recently! This can lead to confusion. Try to find a map published as recently as possible. Where known, the new names have been used in this guide.

Public Transport

Public transport in Budapest is excellent by international standards. Buses, trams, trolleybuses, and three metro lines criss-cross the city providing an efficient, inexpensive and relatively swift way of getting about. Private cars are ruining Budapest with congestion and pollution, hence much emphasis is given in this guide to access by public transport (though if you are in a car, remember that children under 12 may not travel in the front seat).

On public transport children under six travel free. Older children have to have a ticket (same price as for an adult). This is valid for one ride only. Thus, if you change metro lines (it can only happen at one place — Deák tér)