Building C and D - Normal entrance with few stairs
Castle Museum on History of Budapest:
Building E - The mobile ramp to the entrance (one stair) should be asked for. Inside with help of a stair lift the exhibition of the gothic sculptures can be visited. From that level a normal elevator leads to other exhibitions. Accessible toilet is at the entrance.
Please see: www.btm.hu
National Széchényi Library:
Building F - Medieval codices of King Mátyás can be seen in digitalized form - entrance and toilet are accessible. Please see: www.oszk.hu
Labyrinth of Budavár (Budavári Labirintus) - Accessible entrance: 1014 Budapest, Lovas út 4/A. Under the surface of the Castle area a cave system is situated. In a part of it the „Budavár Labyrinth” was created. The „Labyrinth” shows scenes of the Hungarian history in a special atmosphere. No accessible toilet is available. Further information: www.labirintus.com/hu
Cave Church of Gellérthegy (Sziklatemplom) - The Gellért Mountain, next to the Castle hill at the Danube, with the statue of freedom on the top and the Citadella offers the greatest panoramic view to all Budapest. There are natural and artifical caves inside the mountain. From the Szent Gellért square a small way, a slope of appr. 10% leads to the entrance of the Cave Church, which is much lower than the top. The entrance and toilet is fully accessible.
Historical and heritage sites and buildings on the Heroe's Square in Pest
Museum of Fine Arts (Heroes' Square / Hősök tere) - is the greatest collection of Hungary comprising paintings, graphics, sculptures of European fine art (Greek, Italian, Spanish, Flamish, etc.) from the 13. to the 20 century. The building can be entered by means of an elevator starting from the right side of the main stairs. In the building of the museum there are more elevators, thus all exhibitions can be visited in an accessible way. Thematic exhibitions are sometimes arranged for blind visitors. In such cases information text can be heard through a head set and all those exhibits can be touched. Also the braille printer can be used. There is also an adapted toilet and a souvenir shop on level -1. See www.szepmuveszeti.hu.
Museum of Modern Arts is situated opposit to the Museum of Fine Arts. The Museum, built for the Millenary Exhibition in 1896, today exhibition place for periodic international contemporary art, can be entered by wheelchair with help of an elevator on the left side of the main stairs. Please see: www.mucsarnok.hu
On the Heroes' Square the Millenary Monument with 14 sculptures of Hungarian kings and rulers, and in the middle the column with the sculpture of Gabriel Archangel can be seen. This is the most important historical place in Budapest, where all national celebrations take place. On the Square and in most parts of City Park, starting from the square, visitors using wheelchair can move around easily. See more on www.ohb.hu/guide/heroes_square.hu.
Museum of Agriculture in the Vajdahunyad Castle - The magnificent complex of romanesque, gothic, renaissance and baroque buildings in the City Park - near to the Heroes' Square - was erected as a pavillon for the Millenary Exhibition and Festivities in 1896, aiming to demonstrate different styles of architecture in Hungary during the history. The Museum of Agriculture is placed in the main building. At the main entrance there is a stair lift (the staff has to be asked to operate it), and the other entrance can be reached by a ramp. Inside there is an accessible toilet. Please see: www.hungarystartshere.com/Vajdahunyad-Castle-Budapest
Museum of Transport (1146 Bp, Városligeti krt. 11, phone: +36-1-273-3840) Originally it was also built as a pavillon for the Millenium Exhibition of 1896. Carriages, automobiles, trains, locomotives can be seen there from the 19th and 20th centrury. At the main entrance, on the side there is a built ramp. Inside an elevator can be used. Web site is only in Hungarian available (www.km.iif.hu ).
Historical and heritage buildings, Churches in the City Center (Pest)
Szent István Bazilika - Saint Stephen's Cathedral (1051 Budapest, Szent István tér 1.) was dedicated to the first king: Stephen I, founder of the Hungarian Kingdom and of the Hungarian Church. To enter the largest and most famous church of Budapest an elevator will be built in 2012 for people in wheelchair (The earlier stairlift does not work anymore.)
Please see: www.sacred-destinations.com/hungary/budapest-st-stephens-basilica and www.budapest-tourist-guide.com/st-stephen-s-basilica.html or www.basilica.hu
The Hungarian Parliament - House of the Nation - (1055 Budapest, Kossuth square 1-3.) In the Dome Hall the Hungarian Crown and Crown Juwels, the Assembly rooms and other wonderful sites can be seen in the building. It can be visited by tourists every day except on session days. Groups can only visit the Parliament Building with advanced booking. Guided tours in different languages can be booked in advance: Phone: (+36 1) 441 4904 or email: idegenforgalom@parlament.hu . Individual visitors are not required any advanced booking. Tickets are available at the gate on Kossuth Square. The Ticket Office is open: Monday-Fridays from 08:00-18:00, Saturday from 08:00-16:00 and Sundays from 08:00-14:00. For more information please see: www.parlament.hu
In the whole area there are very strickt security rules. When obtaining the ticket, measures for wheelchair access should be asked for. The security staff will then accompany disabled visitors and their helpers. The gates nr. I. and XII. are equipped with ramp, there are also elevators. There is also an adapted toilet on the 1st floor.
In the City Center there are a few Catholic churches of baroque style (18th century), the entrance of which have only one step of cca 5 cms. E.g: Szervita Church (1053 Budapest, Szervita tér) and University Church (1053 Budapest, Papnövelde u. 5-7.)
Museum of Natural Sciences (1083 Budapest, Ludovika tér 6, www.nhmus.hu ) is fully accessible, incl. adapted toilet. Animals, plants, stones, fossils and periodical exhibitions can be seen there.
Hungarian National Museum (1088 Budapest, Múzeum krt.14-16, www.hnm.hu ) - The history of Hungary, as well as exhibits from prehistorical ages can be seen here, and many more permanent and periodic exhibitions. The building can be entered by visitors with disabilities through the gate at Múzeum Street informing the staff in the entry phone on disabled visitors. The phone is on the left side. In the Museum Garden the left side entrance of the building is accessible, where the staff will accompany visitors with disability through all exhibitions. In case of groups it is asked to call the phone nr. (+36-1) 327-7773 during opening hours to make an appointment. With an elevator almost all exhibitions can be accessed. An adapted toilet is there too. There are tactile exhibits with audible explanations, braille inscriptions and smell effects for blind visitors as well. See: www.hnm.hu
House of the Hungarian State Opera (1061 Budapest, Andrássy út 22, www.opera.hu ) One of the most beautiful buildings in Budapest from the 19th century, it can be entered by guests with physical disability, they can enjoy an opera performance on the parterre. The Opera Museum is only partly accessible.
Budapest Operette Theatre (1065 Budapest, Nagymező u. 17, www.operettszinhaz.hu ) Light operas and musicals are performed there. After renovations it became fully accessible.
Old Ball House Pesti Vigadó - (1051 Budapest, Vigadó tér 2-3) in 2009-2011 under reconstruction!) Concerts, exhibitions take place and a restaurant can be found here.
Cultural and historical sites in Óbuda (Northern part of Buda, 3rd district)
Aquincum Museum (1038 Budapest, Szentendrei út 139.) The ruins of the Roman settlement from the 2nd - 3rd century and several findings, incl. a water organ and mosaiks can be seen there, it is partly accessible. Please see: www.aquincum.hu
On the Flórián square, which belongs to the center of Óbuda, in the subway, under the Árpád bridge and nearby, ruins from the Roman age, from the times of Pannonia (1st - 300th century) can be seen, partly accessible. From the surface, from four directions slopes lead to the excavations.
Main Square of Óbuda (Főtér) - It can be reached by walking from the subway of Fórián Square on the Szentendrei Street and through the Kórház Street. The Mayor's Office (Townhall) offers the possibility to visitors to use its adapted toilet within working hours. In front of the building the Restaurant Új Sipos can be found. Further sights on the Square: in the Óbuda Museum ruins, documents and pictures of the Óbuda Royal Residence from the 12th century can be seen, which is in the Zichy Palace (great white building from the 18th century. Accessible entrance, museum shop and coffeeshop can be found on the Szentlélek Square.
Interestint sight is the group of sculptures of men and women with umbrella on the Square.
Óbudai Társaskör - Cultural Center (1036 Budapest, Kiskorona u. 7, phone: 250-0288) The building of the cultural center, where concerts, dramas, comedies, exhibitions, etc. are held, can be found in a building of the 18. century. It is fully accessible. www.obudaitarsaskor.hu
Thermal baths, Nature
Budapest is also called as the city of thermal springs. On the web site www.spasbudapest.com you can be informed on all of them. Four of the thermal baths are adapted to the needs of people with physical and partly with visual disabilities:
Széchenyi Gyógyfürdő és Uszoda / Thermal Bath and Swimming Pool - It is situated in the City Park (1146 Budapest, Állatkerti krt. 11. One of the largest thermal baths in Europe, one of the most famous in Budapest can be found in a splendid neorococo building decorated with colourful mosaiks. 18 basins with different water temperatures (from 28 to 38 oC) and a wide range of services are offered. Please see: www.budapestgyogyfurdoi.hu/en At the main entrance the stairlift is operated by the staff. The other entrance from the Kós Károly promenade can be accessed by slopes. At the basins there are mobile lifts taking people from their wheelchair into the water. Two accessible units for change, toilet and shower are at the visitors' disposal.
Rudas Gyógyfürdő és Uszoda / Thermal Bath and Swimming Pool - It is located at the Elizabeth bridge in Buda (1013 Budapest, Döbrentei tér 9. It was originally a Turkish bath built in the 16th century. See: www.budapestgyogyfurdoi.hu/en The swimming pool is equipped with a lift. Entrance, change area and toilet are accessible.
Dagály Gyógyfürdő / People's Thermal Bath (1138 Budapest H- Népfürdő u.36. The Bath is located at the Árpád Bridge in Pest (North to the City Center). It lies on wide ground in the open air. 10 basins with different temperatures, incl. 2 swimming pools and one indoor basin are equipped with lift. Entrance can be reached by a ramp with handrail, change area, shower and toilet are accessible for people with physical disability and also with visual impairment. Public transportation: by bus 133. All 45 minutes a low floor bus is coming.
The openair swimmingpool Császár / Komjádi (1023 Budapest, Frankel Leó u. 35,
Phone: 212-2750) has some accessibility, it can be used only with help.
It is worth to walk around the Margaret Island, there are beautiful sites there, like parks, medieval ruins of monastries, a small medieval church, restaurants, hotels, a small zoo, an open air theatre at the water tower, sport facilities, the Sport Swimming pool and the Palatinus bath (only partly accessible) with several basins with different temperatures.
Botanic Garden (Budapest 9, Nagyvárad tér): near to Museum of Natural Sciences.
Restaurants, Coffeeshops, Shopping centers
There are lots of restaurants in Budapest, e.g. in the Buda Castle area some can be entered by one step, or without any steps, however only normal toilets are available.
At the Fő utca (near to the river Danube however you can find „Dunaparti Matróz Kocsma” (Sailor's Pub at the Danube, 1011 Budapest, Halász u.1, Phone: 212-3817, www.matrozkocsma.hu ), which can be entered by a ramp with handrail, and it has a fully adapted toilet. It has Hungarian and international cuisine with average prices. Near to the Pub, on the Fő Street the small Café Corvin with fine pastries can be fund. It is accessible, the toilet is large enough, without any handrails though.
Shopping Hall of Batthyiányi Square - The shopping center can be found few meters from the mentioned Pub and Café on the Batthyány Square at the river Danube, just opposite to the Parliament. It is highly recommended, and fully accessible, it has a very pleasant atmosphare. Next doors is the Grandma's Pencace Shop, also accessible. The square can be reached by bus nr. 86. (all of them are low floor buses!) and nr. 60.
Restaurants Trófea Grill - all of them are fully accessible. Please see: www.trofeagrill.eu
Braissaire Gellért (Söröző) - it is in the building of the Hotel Gellért and Gellért Spa:
1111 Budapet Szent Gellért tér 1.
Leroy Restaurants and Cafés can be found both in Buda and in Pest (owner is a wheelchair user person).
There are also few restaurants in Óbuda, like "Harapó mókus" (1032 Budapest, Zápor u. 69.) entrance without any steps, or "Új Sipos" (1033 Budapest. Fő tér 6.) one step (5 cm) at the entrance, but their toilet is not accessible. Accessible toilet can be used in the Townhall during working hours, or nearby in the shopping center Flórián (Flórián Square). All other restaurants have at least one or two steps at the entrance.
The most famous, most elegant and most expensive restaurant with the best traditions is "Gundel" (1146 Bp. Állatkerti út 2.) near to City Park and Hősök tere. Although it is a more than 100 years old building (it used to be the residence of the family Gundel), it was made fully accessible.
In shopping centers, like AUCHAN, Campona, CORA, Duna Plaza, IKEA, LURDY House, Mammut 1-2, MOM-Park, Pólus Center, Praktiker, TESCO, Új-Udvar, Westend City Center, etc. you can find restaurants and adapted toilets for sure.
General Information on Transportation
Low floor buses equipped with a mechanical ramp run almost on all bus lines of the public transport in Budapest. On the time tables those buses are marked with a frame. Website of the Budapest Transportation Company www.bkv.hu gives an overview on the time table of the different buses. On the average they run every hour, half an hour or two hours. But, in one bus only one person in wheelchair (small or normal size) has a place, no more.
The trams nr. 4 and 6 are new and fully accessible, entrances are marked by wheelchair sign. Slopes lead to the enhighted stops in order to get into the tram on the same level. Those trams - the longest in Europe! - are running on the most busy boulevard of Budapest from Buda: Moszkva tér - Margit körút thfrough Margit híd (bridge) to Pest: Szt István körút - Teréz körút - Erzsébet körút - József körút - Ferenc körút - Petőfi híd (bridge) and then back to Buda: Móricz Zsigmond körtér in a half cirle. Metro nr. 1, the so called Millenium Underground has only a three stops equipped with lift, which do not work every time, other stops are not accessible.
Metro nr. 2 goes through whole inner parts of Budapest from East to West: from Őrs vezér square to Déli railway station, but only the first 3 stops are accessible: at Őrs vezér square the entrance of the metro can be reached on the surface on cross walks with ample; the next stop Pillangó utca two elevators take people both upwards and downwards on both sides surrounding is accessible as well, by few minutes walk TESCO can be reached from there; at the stop Stadionok the elevator is situated at the entrance/exit near to Hotel Arena or Dózsa György str. From here trolley bus 80 or 80/A (low floor buses with ramp will run soon, please inquire at BKV (www.bkv.hu)
On the railway stations in Budapest and in most of the big towns in Hungary there are lifts to take people in wheelchair to and from the waggons. It should be ordered one day before travelling. Two adapted waggons can be hired for groups and thus attached to a certain train upon request. Order should be sent 2 weeks before. There are more and more new waggons (Flirt, Desiro, Talent which are wheelchair accessible, they go to different towns. For further information please see: www.mav-start.hu/english/travel/handicapped_travel.php
MEOSZ operates a special transport service for persons with physical disability living in Hungary. The few microbuses equipped with lift or ramp take people with disability to school, to work, to healthcare facilities, etc. In case of free capacity they can be obtained also as airport shuttle also for people with disability coming from other countries. Payment is fixed in the related regulation. Airport transfer one way costs 6.000 HUF (appr. 22 EUR).
All the informations above are updated, but not of full scope yet. As soon as we get to know about a new accessible site, we include it immediately tho this list. We are working on collecting more detailed information on measures, like width of the entrance doors, etc. We would be happy to hear your proposals, opinion, etc.
MEOSZ, the National Federation of Disabled Persons' Associations is the NGO of people with physical disability, representing, protecting and enforcing their rights and interests for all those living in Hungary. We can assist you to arrange your stay in Budapest or in the country as pleasant as possible with advise for programs or accessible hotels as well. Colleagues of MEOSZ assist passangers arriving by air or by train, if date and time, flight number, or train number is known.
We cordially invite you for guided tours as well. Our tour guides are well prepared and
have great experience. Please contact Eva Caesar:
Address: H -1032 Budapest, San Marco u. 76, or H - 1300 Budapest, P.O.Box 141.
Phone / Fax: +36-1-250-9013; phones: +36-1-388-2387, +36-1-388-5529
E-mail: dpi-ceer@freemail.hu, international@meoszinfo.hu
web: www.meoszinfo.hu