Exploring the Rivers of Hungary

The rivers of Hungary take an important role in the shape, geography and identity of this country. Hungary is divided into three regions, designated by their relations to the rivers. The first is to the east of the River Tisza; the second is between the Danube and the Tisza; the third is to the west of the Danube. Hungary also has many brooks and hot springs.

Danube

The Danube flows through Hungary, which is the longest river in the European Union, and second longest in the continent of Europe. It originates in Germany, goes through Austria, Hungary, Serbia and Romania, and eventually flows out into the Black Sea in the Ukraine. It is most famous Hungarian spot is in Budapest, as it cuts the city into its different sections, Buda and Pest. The river also flows through the cities Gyor, Dunaujvaros and Baja in the south. In Hungarian, the Danube is referred to as the “Duna.”

Tisza

The River Tisza also flows throughout Hungary and several countries, like Romania, the Ukraine, Slovakia and Serbia. It is an important river in Central Europe. The Tisza marks the separation of the Slovak-Hungarian border, then it flows throughout Hungary and eventually flows into the Danube in Serbia. This river flows through Szeged, which is the third largest Hungarian city, in the south east of the country. It flows through much of the Great Hungarian Plain.

Raba

The River Raba is the largest river of Western Hungary. It begins in Austria, collecting water from the Alps. It eventually flows into a tributary of the Danube in northwestern Hungary, when it enters the city of Gyor. The river suffers from some pollution problems, and Hungarian representatives confronted Austrians about this issue a few years ago.

Szinva

The Szinva is a stream located in northern Hungary, which originates in the Bukk mountains. It is a tributary to the River Sajo. It is only 30 kilometers long, most of which exist in the city, Miskolc. It flows under parts of the city center. The Szinva is the source of the highest waterfalls in all of Hungary. The water used to be very polluted from heavy industry, but has been cleaned out today and there are some fish in it.

Mura

The River Mura begins in Austria, and supposedly contains small quantities of gold. It forms the border between Hungary and Croatia, and also flows through Slovenia.

Exploring the Museums of Budapest, Hungary

House of Terror

The House of Terror is dedicated to those who have survived Hungary’s two terror regimes, and reflects what life was like during such times of the eras of fascism and communism. The House itself is a monument in which people have been held captive, tortured and killed on its premises. This museum also holds temporary exhibitions around the themes of famine, the Holocaust and other tragedies. The basement of the building has cells where people from the Hungarian fascist party would keep their victims. Most of the exhibits are in Hungarian, but there are information sheets with translations.

Memento Park

Memento Park is Budapest’s representation of what remains from the communist dictatorship of the past. It is mostly an outdoor museum that houses the collection of statues from the Soviet era, with representations of Marx and Engels (above), as well as Russian and Hungarian communist leaders. Many of these statues were taken down after the fall of the USSR in 1989, and then many were placed in this park, which opened in 1993. Apart from the statues, there is also an exhibition hall and small cinema which opened in 2007.

Hungarian National Museum

The Hungarian National Museum is currently located in a 19th century neo-classical building with assorted statues. It was originally founded over 200 years ago, starting as a library and natural history museum. There are seven permanent displays at this museum. There is a good deal of archeology and material from the paleolithic age; there is also an exhibit on old Roman stones. One other theme is Hungarian History, with materials from Ottoman Rule, the Middle Ages and the foundation of the modern state. In terms of contemporary history, there is much material on the rise and fall of communism. This National Museum displays much of its history with its Historical Photographic Collection, that has thousands of prints of things like landscapes, fashion, portraits and international events.

Museum of Fine Arts

Budapest’s Museum of Fine Arts is full of exhibitions from Hungary and many other places. It is a very large museum with much to explore. There is a huge Spanish collection, as well as an Italian collection with works from some famous artists. There are also displays from ancient times, hailing from Ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt. There is also a substantial supply of modern art on display, from 1800 to today. This museum also houses the largest art history library in the whole country.

Navigating the Lesser-Known Cities of Hungary: Debrecen, Miskolc, Szeged and Pécs

Debrecen

Debrecen is the second largest city of Hungary, and has 206,000 inhabitants. It is the regional center of the Northern Great Plain region, in Eastern Hungary. It is located near the Hortobagy national park, which is a great place to go if you like really flat land! This city is also close to Romania. Though it was historically isolated from Budapest, the two cities are becoming more connected through newly constructed freeways, like the M3. The city has pretty decent public transportation, with trams and trolley buses. It is a relatively low key city with not too much hustle and bustle, though there is a university and some cultural institutions.

Miskolc

Miskolc is the third largest Hungarian city, located in the northeastern part of the country, pretty close to Slovakia. About 170,000 people live in this city, which is the regional center of Northern Hungary. This city is close to a few different geographical regions and landmarks. There are the Bukk mountains to the east, as well as the river Sajo, and the streams Hejo and Szinva. The city’s lowest points are at the banks of the river Sajo, which is also the start of the Great Plains. Miskolc is generally thought of as an industrial city. The city is broken up into a few different neighborhoods, such as Avas, which is on a hill in the center of the city, and has many old or Soviet structures. There is also Belváros, the downtown part, which has historical buildings alongside modern shopping malls.

Szeged

Szeged has a popultion of 169,000, and it is the regional center of southeastern Hungary. It is located close to the borders of Serbia and Romania. It is located on the rivers Maros and Tisza. Its climate is much sunnier than other parts of Hungary. It is one of the industrial food centers of Hungary, and it manufactures paprika and salami. It is also a university town.

Pécs

Pécs is located on the slopes of the Mecsek mountains, in southwestern Hungary, close to Croatia. It has a population of 156,000. Along with Essen and Istanbul, Pécs is selected to be a European Culture Capital in 2010. Because it’s located in an agricultural area, many local products come to this city. It also holds a famous porcelain factory. It used to be home to many different factories, but these fell apart after the collapse of the USSR. There is also a special beer that comes out of the Pécs Brewery that isn’t strained before bottling, and you can only get it in one restaurant. The University of Pécs is the oldest university of Hungary, and one of the oldest in all of Europe. There are a few trains that leave for Budapest from here every day.

Public Transportation in Budapest, Hungary

If you are moving to Budapest, Hungary, and don’t plan to buy a car, it will not be a problem. Same obviously goes for if you travel to Budapest, which is pretty easy to do from places like Vienna, Bratislava and Prague. The public transit system in Budapest is named the BKV.

Within any 400 meters of a populated area, there is some type of public transit station. The methods of transit include the buses, trolley buses, trams and underground trains. They run on regular schedule from 4:30 AM to 11:00 PM, so that’s great for most working hours. During the night shift, there are 15 bus lines and 2 tram lines that operate.

They do not sell tickets on board; you are required to purchase one before you board. You must validate your ticket once you board. If you get caught without a validated ticket, you will be fined. Children under 6 are free. You can purchase a single ticket, daily ticket, 3-day ticket (Budapest Card) or 7-day ticket. If you are moving there for an extended period of time, you can purchase a weekly, bi weekly or monthly pass, which requires a photo.

Buses, trolleys and trams generally show up every few minutes. Budapest gets really cold in the winter, so this is a good system to not keep you waiting. It is a color co-ordinated system. Trams are yellow colored, buses are blue colored, and trolley-buses are red colored. Night buses are also blue colored. When you ride the bus, before you get on, check if the number is black or red. When it is black, it is a local bus, and if it’s red, it’s an express bus. When you are riding a bus or trolly bus, you are required to press a button to indicate your stop. The other vehicles make every stop. Most stations will have a map that you can navigate.

If you are a commuter who prefers to live in the suburbs, there is also an extended train network system that reaches out to many of the surrounding areas. This system is called the HÉV. Click here for a map. They don’t use the honors system down here; you will always be checked for your ticket.

Below the ground in Budapest, there are three underground trains: The M1, the yellow line from Vörösmarty tér to Mexikói út; M2, the red line, from Déli train station to Örs vezér tere; and the M3, he blue line from Újpest-Központ to Kõbánya-Kispest. Make sure you know which way you are going, and familiarize yourself with the strange stop names, because if you get lost, they drop you off in some weird places in the outskirts. These trains are very Soviet feeling.

Also, when you are walking around in the streets of Budapest, you’ll often have to dip underground through the entrance of underground stations to cross to other sides of the streets. These stations are very interesting feeling, often with vendors and street musicians.

Navigating the Residential Neighborhoods in Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is 23 districts, divided into Buda, which has 6 districts, and Pest, which has 16. Buda and Pest are divided by the Danube River. Then there is a district on Csepel island, between the two. They are numbered clockwise, in a circle. Click here for a map.

In general, expats tend to settle in the Buda side, as it is quieter, more residential and has more trees and gardens. One great area is District 2, as it is quiet, green and close to many public schools. Rozsadomb, or Rose Hill, is a prestigious neighborhood that is upscale and expensive. District 2 is close to the castle and has easy access to the Metro Line.

Another Buda neighborhood is District 11, called Újbuda, or “New Buda.” Technical University and ELTE University are here, so there are many students. Rich people used to live here before they moved to the hills, but it still remains upscale. Kelenfold is the crowded, urban area. Sashegy and Sasad are nice, residential areas, more far out from the city. Public transit is available, but it is much easier to live there if you have a car. District 11 is not as expensive as many of the other Buda neighborhoods.

District 12, the “Buda Hills,” is the place to live if you are into trees, hills and overall greenery. People even ski around here in the winter. There are a couple of bus lines in the area, and it has many wonderful views of the city.

In terms of the Pest side of the city, District 13, containing Újlipótváros and Angyalföld, is a great option. Though it is a downtown area, there is a nice balance of relaxing and stimulating in Újlipótváros. It is a clean, safe, pretty neighborhood with a nice park and riverside access. Angyalföld, or “Angel Land” is more working-class and farther from action.

District 14, Zuglo, is known to be quiet and full of family homes, but is not too far from any of the urban action in Pest. It has many options of public transit in the day time, but they shut down at night. It is not too expensive to dwell here, even if you have a family.

District 5, Belváros, is the most happening, downtown area, located right on the Danube in Pest. It is great for shopping, nightlife and access to resources, and is home to the Parliament buildings and many ministries. If you look, there are many unrenovated apartments that are cheaper, and you can buy them and fix them up. This area is inconsistent, as some apartments are very fancy while others are run down, and many are expensive.