What could be nicer than to bask in the many thermal baths of Budapest? Take a swimsuit, a bathing cap and plastic flip-flops with you, and you will be ready to sink into a thousand and one levels of ambience, far away from everyday life. Many of the baths originate from the Turkish time (Rudas, Király), some of them are the real jewel of Art Nouveau (Gellért). Some of them are visited by regulars (Lukács), others by families (Széchenyi). You can relax there, take a massage, have a bath in warm or cold water and go from one pool to the other. More information

For those who want to swim, Budapest is also dotted with swimming pools (Margaret Island). The most beautiful one: Hajós Alfréd Sportuszoda on the Margaret Island: access from the Margaret Bridge, Olympic pool, indoor and outdoor pools. Pools surrounded with trees. A place for people who love swimming. Open from 6 AM to 6 PM on weekends. On weekdays, normally open for the public from 6 AM to 3 PM. Opening time may vary depending on trainings.

In Buda, not far from Moscow Square (Moszkva tér), a small family teahouse where you can taste the best beigli of Budapest. Salty cakes (spinach shoes) and sweet cakes for take away on the ground floor and teahouse on the first floor. Auguszt Cukrászda : 1024 Budapest / 2nd district. Fény u. 8. Tel.: 316 8931. From Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm.

Every Friday evening at around 7.30 pm, László Finta, the owner of Nyitott Műhely, welcomes a new jazz group. An ideal place to discover the creative and original jazz scene of Budapest. Lots of regular customers, a good selection of Hungarian wine at the bar. Warm and relaxed atmosphere. Nyitott Műhely, 1123 Budapest, 12th district, Ráth György utca 4.

A few years ago, Budapest started to blossom with kerts, especially in the 7th district. These inner courts (kert) transformed into culture cafés in the middle of the abandoned buildings. Some didn’t exist longer than a year, some of them moved and some others settled down perfectly in the scenery of Budapest. The only one which is open all year long: Szimpla Kert, 7th district, Kazinczy utca 14. Open every day from 12 am to 3 am. Concerts in certain evenings and an open-air cinema.

Art Nouveau and Art Deco Glass Factory, personal projects and objects of the glassblower master Miksa Róth, in a nice town house. Róth Miksa Museum, 7th district, Nefelejcs utca 26. Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 2 pm to 6 pm.

Hungary has kept the traces of the long Ottoman occupation, like the tomb of Gül Baba, a building constructed to the memory of the dervish between 1543 and 1548. Today it is a place of Moslem pilgrimage and a nice place to have a walk around. To get there, turn into Gül Baba Street, a small precipitous street laid with cobblestones which clims up to the garden where the tomb is situated. There is a splendid view of all of Budapest from there. Next to it, there is a little café with a terrace offering fresh drinks. Gül Baba Turbe, 2nd district, Mecset u. 14. Open every day from 10 am to 6 pm.

Spring Festival (at the end of March and in April), Summer Festival, Jewish Summer Festival (end of August, beginning of September), International Wine Festival (September), Jazz Festival (September), Autumn Festival (October), Christmas in Budapest

Take the tram 2 or 2A. These 2 trams depart from Jászai Mari tér, go along the Danube side and offer an unobstructed view on all of Buda. Departure of trams 2 and 2A from Jászai Mari tér.

In the Klassz Restaurant, opened in the Spring of 2007, very good cuisine for reasonable price, meticulous service, good wine card and warm atmosphere. Klassz, 6th district, Andrássy út 41