Three members of Funzine, including native Budapesters and others who have lived here for some time share their favourite places to be and things to do in the city every month. In April, you can see the hints of Évi, Peti and Viktor.
Peti
My favourite place to be: Margitsziget
For me, spring equals to long workout sessions outdoors. Although I go jogging even on winter days, I only visit Budapest’s outdoor gyms when the sun’s out. There’s no better way to relieve stress than running on the circle track of Margitsziget and exercising in the outdoor gym at the Margit híd end of the island. Working out in a tranquil island in the middle of the noisy city feels great, you can even see from distance the hustle and bustle of Budapest on the other side of River Danube.
My favourite thing to do: Visit Budapest Art Week
I have been a huge fan of Budapest Art Week for years. With just one wristband you can visit dozens of museums, ateliers, art galleries and centres of Budapest throughout six days, between 9-14 April. I’m pretty sure I will spend an April weekend wandering around my favourite art spaces in the city. I can’t wait to see the David Lynch: Small Stories exhibition in Műcsarnok, but Ludwig Museum also has some interesting displays whenever I visit the institute.
Viktor
My favourite place to be: Figaro Garden
With my friends we like to gather at Figaro Garden, a green oasis of District XIII surrounded by the old houses of Borbély utca, which is open from April to November. At the beginning of spring we count the days till we can sit at our usual spot, listening to the calming babble of the fountain and sipping on the first fröccs or draught beer of the season. Nighttime is not the only part of the day when it’s worth visiting Figaro: you can start your day with a cup of fine coffee, or drop by for a quick afternoon chill with a heavenly lemonade or a giant juicy burger.
My favourite thing to do: Concert hunting
I’ve been hunting for the best concerts in Budapest ever since I went to university. I like all kinds of music if it’s of high quality, including mellow tunes accompanying a glass of wine, and the ones that make you go crazy. Fortunately, there is always something going on in the capital: hardly a week passes without me attending the concert of an old favourite or discovering something out of the blue. At the end of April the outdoor concert venues open again, which adds to the already nice selection of events to attend, so it’s even harder to decide which ones to choose in the weekend.
Évi
My favourite place to be: Kató Néni Finomságai Downtown
It’s safe to say that I am quite a big fan of creative food decorating, and in my opinion, when it comes to desserts, the more colourful, the better. I have recently came across Kató Néni’s chimney cake business on Instagram, and their photos blew my mind away. I couldn’t help but go through all their uploaded content, and the child within me was wowed by the artistic ice-cone compositions. Other than the presentation, I love the variety of toppings (fruit, whipped cream, chocolate, and unicorn shaped candies) too, that’s why I put this place on my April bucket list. Find them at 1051 Budapest, Október 6. utca 6.
My favourite thing to do: Learn to play the ukulele
For me, it’s totally impossible to go a day without music, and ever since I can remember, I wanted to learn to play an instrument. Finally, last month I decided to purchase a ukulele, and I couldn’t be more excited. At the beginning, I want to try learning by myself, but it is possible that later on I will ask for professional assistance to acquire some useful tips and tricks. I know it requires dedication and lots of practice to reach a certain level, but I am committed and enthusiastic about the whole process that is ahead of me. It’s never too late to realize what’s important in your life!