Budapest Neighborhoods

Neighbourhoods:

Similar to the arrondissements of Paris, the 23 Budapest districts are numbered clockwise in widening circles, though they are named with Roman numerals (I-XXIII). The lower the number the closer to the city core and, conversely, the higher the number the further out the district.

The districts in Buda are somewhat more diverse than in Pest, where the central core is fairly homogenous. But don’t let the name word fool you – Pest is stunningly beautiful.

Buda:

There are many advantages to living in Buda. Air pollution can be much lower than in Pest and the summers not quite as hot and humid. Aside from the central core, trees and gardens cover the residential areas and there are forests with walking and hiking trails. The views from the hills can be breathtaking and there are many schools, activities and facilities for children.

The downside is that the winters can be much more severe, with the elevation of the hills resulting in significantly more snow accumulation than across the river in Pest. Many streets are not regularly ploughed and winter driving can thus be a harrowing experience in some areas. The further out you get, the more difficult it becomes to get around by public transportation and the longer it takes to get into the centre of the city.

The most popular districts for expats are II and XII, with a smaller number choosing I,III and XI.

District I:

District I is one of the oldest parts of Budapest and includes the historic Castle District with its cobbled streets and medieval monuments, as well as the northern part of Gellert Hill and both the Kiraly and Rudas Thermal Baths.

It’s the most central of the districts in Buda, and Pest is easily accessible via either the Chain or Erzsebet Bridges, with the Margit Bridge also nearby. The M2 Metro line has two stations here, Batthyany ter on the Danube and Moskva ter on the border of District II, and several bus and tram lines run through the area.

Housing primarily consists of flats in the 4- to 5-storey apartment buildings that line the streets and the ones overlooking the Danube with a spectacular view of Parliament command top dollar.

First Med Center is located here, a private clinic offering comprehensive medical services geared to expats. Their doctors are on call 24/7 for medical emergencies and home visits can be provided.

The proximity to Pest and to the Danube are two of the main advantages of living in District I, along with excellent public transit, great views and the large selection of shops and restaurants in this busy downtown core.

Disadvantages are that it’s not as green as other districts, although Margit Island is easily accessible, and it tends to be more urban than residential in feel. The number and noise of tourists can be an issue for residents, and the steep climbs can pose a challenge. District I is also one of the more expensive areas in the city.

District II:

District II, one of the most popular for expats, is much larger and extends from the Danube far out into the Buda Hills. It’s divided into II and IIA, with the outer reaches comprising IIA. Rozsadomb (Rose Hill) is the most notable part of the district and is home to exclusive villas with spectacular views. Europe’s northernmost Islamic holy place, the Tomb of Gul Baba, is here, near the Margit Bridge.

The inner part of the district (II) is part of the downtown core of Buda and thus shops, services and public transit are readily accessible. Pest can be reached from District II via the Margit Bridge and Moszkva ter is a major public transport hub, with a red Metro line station and trams 4 and 6, both of which connect to Pest. Numerous other trams and buses depart from the square. There’s also Mammut I & II, a very large shopping mall; behind it is a huge food market, along with two smaller centres.

District IIA is a beautiful green area comprised of quiet residential streets along with lots of hiking trails and outdoor activities. The Children’s Railway has a stop and can take you up to Normafa and District XII. There are many smaller shops and cafes and some restaurants with play areas that cater to families, as the area is home to a large population of expats with children. There’s a cultural centre on Hidegkuti ut which offers classes and events, along with an organic market every Saturday.

Rozsakert Medical Center, with over 65 doctors representing 28 medical specialties, has two 24-hour phone lines, one for adults and one for children. First Med Center in District I is also easy to get to, especially by public transport from IIA.

Housing in District II consists of private villas, semi-detached and single-family homes and flats in low-rise buildings, with flats predominantly found in the inner areas.

The negatives of living in District IIA are the more limited public transport options, the length of time it takes to get into Pest and the fact that many take-out restaurants will not deliver that far out.

District III:

District III lies in the northern part of Buda and is the oldest and second-largest district. The remains of the Roman colony of Aquincum, the northernmost boundary of the Roman Empire, can be seen at the Aquincum Museum. The centre of the district, the original town of Obuda (Old Buda), contains cobbled Fo ter and Florian ter, where you can see some impressive baroque architecture among the commercial and administrative buildings. Obuda has become very trendy in recent years, with many shops, restaurants and bars in its busy core. Green areas are primarily on the banks of the Danube, on Csillaghehy and in the hills west of Becsi ut. A huge music festival, Sziget Festival, takes place every summer on Hajogyari-sziget, a large island in the Danube.

There are a number of big box stores in District III, as well as a large shopping centre, Eurocenter Obuda. There are also a couple of markets in the Obuda core. Unfortunately, there are no large, comprehensive private expat medical clinics located nearby.

While there is an area of immense high-rise Communist blocks in District III, there are also some very attractive areas in the hills, where there are many new housing developments. Unfortunately, public transportation has not kept up with this development and a car is a necessity if living here. Traffic can also be horrendous when trying to get into the downtown core of Budapest.

District XI:

District XI, originally Ujbuda (New Buda), is where wealthy citizens lived before they moved to the Buda Hills. Kelenfold is the congested central section, while the Sasad-Sashegy areas are more residential and lie further out in the hills. Gellert Hill, an immense limestone hill rising up from the banks of the Danube, is the focal point, and the top offers one of the best panoramic views of the city. Both Gellert ter and Moricz Zsigmond korter are main transportation hubs for buses and trams, and the latter is the main centre of the district. The fourth Metro line will eventually have all five of its Buda stops in District XI. The city’s newest mall, the Allee Shopping Center, is here, alongside a new grocery market on Oktober 23 utca. Mom Park is another large mall in the district and its cinemas show plenty of English-language films. There’s also the world-famous Gellert Baths and the huge indoor Central Market just over the Petofi Bridge. If you’re interested in learning Hungarian, there’s an excellent state-sponsored language school, Balassi, behind the Gellert Hotel, and both the Technical University and the Elite University of Sciences are in the district too.

As in most districts in Buda, the areas closer to the Danube are more urban, with the streets becoming greener and more residential as you move outward. The district is large, and public transit becomes less available the further out you go. However, the road system is good and there are several routes into downtown, so traffic jams are not as prevalent as in some other districts. The highways and big box stores on the outskirts of the city are easily reached from the outer areas, so shopping isn’t a problem. Snow removal can be an issue in winter, and this is something you should definitely investigate before signing a lease.

There are no private medical centres in this district, but First Med Center isn’t too difficult to get to and there’s a Hungarian Children’s Hospital near Allee Shopping Center.

As in other districts, housing varies from flats in older buildings in the core to single family homes farther out. The expat community in this area is small.

District XII:

District XII runs from District I up into the Buda Hills, much of which is covered in forest, and is often described as the lungs of Budapest. The hills are ideal for hiking and many citizens take advantage of Normafa for skiing, hiking and leisurely walks. There are a number of buses that service the district, as well as the Cogwheel Railway, which goes up to a fabulous lookout point on Szechenyi Hill.

In the lower part of the district you’ll find streets lined with small apartment buildings, but most of the district is covered with winding roads with single family homes. It’s one of the most expensive areas, due to the clean air, spectacular views and lush forests, and there’s a large expat community. A car is a necessity, though note that driving can be a challenge in winter, with many roads left unploughed.

Pest:

Pest is the business, commercial and cultural centre of the city, and the architecture in the core is truly spectacular. The city underwent a construction boom unprecedented in Europe in the years leading up to the Millennium Celebrations in 1896, and neoclassical buildings line streets large and small in all of the central districts. Restoration of these magnificent buildings has been ongoing since the fall of Communism and it’s not unusual to see a freshly restored building next to one still displaying bullet holes from the Revolution of 1956. Inside you’ll find flats with towering windows and doors and 12-foot ceilings, along with original oak parquet floors. These flats surround a central courtyard bordered by the original iron railings and some have small French balconies overlooking the street. Many of these flats have been renovated and there’s a large selection available for rent in Districts V through VIII, with Districts V and VI the most popular among expats. In addition, modern buildings housing contemporary apartments are interspersed among older ones where renovation of the original building has not been possible.

There are many benefits to living in central Pest. It has excellent public transportation with its three Metro lines, tram lines 4 and 6 and innumerable trams, trolleys and buses, making it easy to get virtually anywhere. Although large supermarkets aren’t as numerous, smaller grocery stores can be found on almost every corner, making it easy to shop on a daily basis. Streets are lined with small businesses offering all of the goods and services anyone could need, and it’s easy to survive quite comfortably without a car. Restaurants, clubs and cultural centres are everywhere, as are many of the city’s tourist attractions. The weather in winter is a definite advantage, as snowfall is usually negligible – it’s often raining in Pest when it’s snowing in Buda.

The negatives of residing in Pest include the dust, air pollution and noise that come with living in the core of a busy city. Green spaces are few and far between, with the exception of the large Varosliget (City Park) and Margit Island. The summer heat tends to hover over the city, with none of the fresh breezes enjoyed up in the hills.

District V:

District V is the very heart of the city and is Pest’s most expensive district. The majority of buildings here have been restored and many roads have been turned into pedestrian streets where traffic is either strictly limited or banned. Along with Parliament, many government buildings are located in District V, as are the big financial and corporate offices. St Stephen’s Basilica, Fashion Street and Vaci utca are all popular tourist attractions.

The Dr. Rose Medical Center is in District V and combines regular medical services with a small state-of-the art hospital where surgeries can be performed.

The benefits of living in District V are the beauty of the surroundings, the proximity to upscale shops, restaurants and cultural attractions and the ability to walk pretty much anywhere you need to go.

Disadvantages include living among throngs of tourists, and being at the mercy of public gatherings that may cause disruptions on national holidays or at times of protest. Grocery stores are also not quite as plentiful here as in other parts of downtown Pest.

District VI:

District VI is east of District V and has a thriving cultural scene. Home to the Opera, the Liszt Ferenc Music Academy, the Operetta and many smaller theatres, Andrassy Avenue and environs are Budapest’s Broadway. The sycamore tree-lined street is also home to exclusive boutiques at the bottom and embassies at the top, where the magnificent Millennium Monument sits in Heroes’ Square, flanked by two stunning, world-class museums. Restaurants and clubs are everywhere and the large City Park and Szechenyi Baths are easily accessible via the yellow Metro line 1, which runs under Andrassy Avenue.

The West End Shopping Center and Hunyadi Market are here, and Lehel Market isn’t far away. The Medicover Health Care Center is also nearby and First Med and Dr. Rose are easily reachable.

Advantages of living in District VI include the shops and services and proximity to so many restaurants, theatres and attractions. The side streets in District VI don’t get many tourists, so the district as a whole is less congested.

District VII:

District VII is the Jewish Quarter and is home to the Great Synagogue, considered by some to be the most beautiful synagogue in the world, along with a number of smaller synagogues and other Jewish restaurants and businesses. It’s an up and coming district with lots of nightlife, pubs and restaurants. It can get a little sketchy in some areas, so you’ll need a good real estate agent to advise you.

District VIII: