Underground Budapest

Jun 18, 2012

Bored of the same old recommendations for things to do in Budapest? Looking for something exciting, different or off the wall? Look no further than our top five unique activities in weird and wonderful Budapest:

Invisible exhibition  This invisible experience promises to open your eyes by putting you in the dark. You will be led by blind or visually impaired people for an hour in the dark through differently furnished places. You will feel what it’s like to try to cross the road, pay for a cup of coffee or choose the right ingredients for a meal. You will also learn about the tools blind and visually impaired people use to make things easier, such as Braille typewriters and talking scales and clocks, in the ‘visible section’ of the exhibition. On Fridays there is an invisible dinner in the pitch black, or you can even try an invisible massage!

Sparty  Budapest has some beautiful traditional baths, but what you may not know is that Cinetrip transforms these into a raging party. They add lasers, trapeze artists, DJs and fire spinners to create a sparty or water disco. Big screens, lights, amazing tunes and of course, an abundance of water just adds to the crazy vibe. The sparties happen intermittently throughout the year – check Cinetrip’s website for more details – but if you’re looking for a party with a difference, book your tickets, grab your bikini and dance/splash the night away.

Go underground  You wanted underground choices, and Budapest never fails to deliver. From the largest connected cellar system in Hungary, located in Castle district, to the natural caves in Buda hills, there are plenty of options for those who are interested in what happens below. Learn how the famous Budapest baths are heated by the thermal waters of the 200 plus caves underneath the city – particularly beautiful examples are the Pál-völgyi and Szemlő-hegyi Caves. If chilling is your thing, check out the House of Terror Museum to see the underground prison cells and torture chambers where the State Security executed hundreds of people.

Children’s railway  Located in the west of the city, this quaint  children’s railway runs through the hills on the Buda side. Children aged 10 to 14 control the traffic and other services provided (the engines themselves are driven by adults!). In their immaculate uniforms, they salute the trains out of the station, operate the switches and signals, print tickets and answer any customer queries – quite an unusual spectacle and a charming afternoon out with the family.

Celeritas Shooting Club  You see them in films all the time, but it’s not every day you get the chance to actually have a go at shooting guns yourself! The Celeritas Shooting Club has got it covered. Pistols, revolvers and rifles are all available depending on the package you choose, and prices start from a reasonable 65 Euros per person for 2 hours. Whether you’ve always wondered what it feels like to fire a Glock 17, or shoot with a .357 Magnum, now’s your chance to find out. Safety briefings and instructions are of course included. A great choice for Call of Duty enthusiasts!