There are great many world-famous things to see and do in Budapest, but if you’re ready to step off

the beaten path and discover the lesser explored side to Hungary‘s capital city , you have found the
right person. :).

Every country and town is unique. So is Hungary. Guide books make amazing places popular, list
several natural and man-made wonders. I, however, show you, tell you, take you there and turn
unusual and unique things into an experience.

Eye-opening tours, trips to the Ottoman tombs and the Communist statues, taking part in the secret
parties and unparalleled night life of the Party District, sitting, drinking and chatting in the so called
ruin-pubs, taking delight in the numerous museums, libraries, churches that are not mentioned in the
guide books...: there is no shortage of things to do in Budapest off the beaten path. Check out this list
of cool stuff to do in Budapest.

But what to do in Budapest off the beaten track, once you’ve checked off the list all the touristy
stuff? I have a few Budapest secret tips for you. For a glimpse of a hidden Budapest, here are some
offbeat things to do in Budapest that you shouldn’t miss.

Visiting the tomb of Gül Baba.

The Ottoman Empire ruled over Hungary for over 100 years between the 16th-17th centuries, and
traces from that period in its history can be found across the country. The Tomb of Gül Baba in
Budapest is one such example: built in the mid-1500s for the Ottoman dervish Gül Baba, It has
survived throughout the years and today is a popular pilgrimage site, and an interesting insight into
Hungary’s Ottoman history. The tomb is located on Mecset (mosque) Street, Budapest, a short but
steep walk from the Margaret Bridge in the district of Rózsadomb. The street near the old ottomans
tomb is one of the oldest and steepest in Budapest, great view from the top. Gul Baba was a kind of a
wanderer (dervish) and played an important role in the history of the most successful Turkish
football club, Galatasaray. For the fans of the team it is a must to visit this place.

Seeing the Szabo Ervin Library

A grand library housed in the neo-baroque Wenckheim Palace, the Szabó Ervin Library is popular with
students thanks to its location nearby a number of the city’s universities. Visitors can buy a pass to
enter the building, whose interior is beautifully decorated with chandeliers, wooden carvings and old
fireplaces. It is the one of most beautiful libraries in the world, to my mind it is the most
beautiful... :). iI's like a mini Versailles. You will never know how beautiful a library can be until you
see this. When you see it, you can't believe that people actually sit and read amidst the carved wood
panelling, ceiling chandeliers, ornate wood spiral staircases, antique heaters, and huge marble
fireplaces. In 2018 the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library was awarded Qualified Library title for
outstanding professional achievements.

Being in the For Sale pub

This Budapest bar located right across from the famous Central Market Hall allows drinkers to leave
their mark on the walls, floor, and even ceiling. The For Sale pub is decorated by guest’s artwork,
receipts, pictures, and just about any other form of paper you can think of hanging from the ceiling.
Add in a brick fireplace, worn wood floors with straw on them, and dark lighting, and you have the
makings of a beautiful place to grab a drink or a bite to eat.

Drinking in Red Ruin Bar

Red Ruin Bar is somewhat of a hidden gem, lots of locals inside, and surely like no bar you have
visited before :)

Very small inside and not much seating, but a good range of drinks available. Anti- communist/
sarcastic humour. This bar has a great theme, and is very consistent. The first thing you see when
you walk into Red Ruin is a mural of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong in
birthday hats, having an enthusiastic “communist party.”

It is really popular with locals and tourists featuring kitschy attractions like florescent red lighting, a
cardboard poster of Marx and Lenin that you can put your face through, and pop art stencils of Stalin
with the caption “Joseph Stylin.” The bar’s labyrinthine, redbrick basement features even more wall
art and communism jokes.

Visiting the Memento Park

Budapest's Communist-era statues, expelled to the suburbs. When Communism collapsed in Hungary
in 1989, Budapest was left with many public works of art that celebrated that era. In 1993, the city
government decided to save the statues rather than destroy them and the idea for the Memento
Park was born.

Twenty minutes from Budapest’s city center, the open-air Memento Park displays more than 40
Communist-era statues in a neutral setting, neither making a mockery of them nor honoring them.
Perhaps the most curious item in the park is a 1:1 replica of Stalin’s giant boots. A huge eight-meter
statue of Stalin once stood in central Budapest serving as a rallying point and parade route for the
communist regime. On the 23rd of October 1956, the Hungarians revolted against the communist
regime and pulled down the huge statue leaving only Stalin’s giant boots behind. Though the
revolution was brutally crushed by Communist forces, the replica of the boots serves as a reminder
of those lost in the Hungarian uprising.

Playing in the Flipper Muzeum (Pinball Museum)

Sitting beneath an unremarkable residential building close to the Nyugati Railway Station is a
museum devoted to classic Pinball. This pinball museum has everything a pinball fanatic would wish
for. The majority of the machines also work so you can spend hours playing. There’s a bar which sells
all sorts of strange flavours of soft drinks. It costs 3000 forint (about 8 Euro) for unlimited play. The
small museum is packed with rows of classic pinball machines, all in working order.

Among the dozens of machines on display in the museum, one of the standouts is the rare
Mesovonat machine, which stands as the only known Hungarian-made pinball machine. Purchasing a
ticket gives visitors the opportunity to play the games as much as they would like for the entire day,
ensuring that there will be more pinball drams for generations to follow. Open from 4pm-midnight
on weekdays. Closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Enjoying the Ruin Pubs

The Budapest ruin pubs originated only a decade ago in the diverse and historically interesting
Jewish Quarter. Go forward ten years they have completely reshaped the city’s cultural and nightlife
landscape. Ruin pubs are a characteristically Hungarian breed of bar that began opening a little more
than a decade ago in abandoned factory buildings, car garages or homes. I would like to introduce
my tourists the main treasure-boxes of the old Jewish District (also known as the District 7) and
provide an unforgettable night with lots of fun. I am professional like – aminded party person. I take
my tourists to 4-5 vibrant nocturnal scenes where I introducie the local drinking culture through
tasting local drinks and providing freshly made pub tour snacks. Each tourist of mine gets a map with
directions to help them home and further insider tips about Budapest nightlife.

Nyócker - 8th District

A decade ago, the streets of Budapest's Eighth District – also known as Józsefváros – were best
avoided. Beneath the shadows of the grand aristocratic homes and ornate residences prostitutes,
drug users and homeless people walked .

The area was said to be dangerous, slummy and strongly advised to avoid. Over the past few years,
however, the district, has changed its reputation: easygoing cafes and art spaces are filling the gaps
in an area laden with faded glamour. This is the place to head if you want to swap traditional sites
and rowdy bars in favour of crumbling balconies and local haunts.

Although the 8th district is continuously developing, the changes remained unnoticed and the strong
negative stereotypes against the 8th district remained.

I introduce this very special and contradictory district to break stereotypes, to show a real, special
and happy face of Budapest. I know the nyócker (8th district) very well. My sister lives there and I
stay in her home regularly. It is my second home :). Honestly, it is something of Budapest. Special and
unique.

Culinary tours are the best kind of tours! Not only do you get to taste delicious local dishes, but you
get another taste of the culture. Both Hungary and Budapest have a remarkable delicious traditional
cuisine. Culinary tours are indeed a great learning experience while drinking and savoring delicious
recipes throughout the tour!

Of course, these are just suggestions. There are plenty of other special places in Budapest and all
over the country that I know and can show. Just tell me what you are interested in, what you want to
see, what kind of things you are interested in, and I tailor the program to you personally, but if you
have any special ask during the program we can improvise....:)