Budapest is one of the Most Bike-Friendly Cities in the World and as the crown jewel of the Danube, it is one of the most beautiful and budget-friendly capital cities in Europe. The city is a paradise for those who like to explore by bike. With beautiful baroque and art nouveau buildings around every corner, you are sure to never run out of things to see. The number of bike lanes and bikers have grown in recent years so biking in Budapest has become a more pleasant way of exploring the city. Currently 200 km of bike paths criss-cross the city and the No. 6 path of the international biking route, EuroVelo, goes through the city too.
From places to see, restaurants and old ruin bars to visit, here are all the top 4 spots you need to have a great time biking in Budapest.
Donau River
Freshen your morning up with a bike ride along the Donau. The recently developed bike routes that follow the river from the south of Budapest to the north, between Rakoczi bridge and Arpad bridge is what we could consider the most scenic bike route in Budapest with a great view to the Castle hill, House of Parliament, Chain bridge and Danube bank of Pest. In front of the parliament you can experience several statues and monuments which were erected in memory of the fallen youth during World War II and the time after.
At night you get a breath-taking view of all this under lights.
Margaret Island
After biking along the river catch your breathe on Margaret Island also known as Margitsziget. It is known as the green heart of Budapest and a short bike ride from the city center. It lies in the middle of the Danube between Margaret Bridge and Árpád Bridge. Apart from a couple of hotels and sports facilities, there are no buildings on the island – it’s a huge recreational space with: promenades, benches, cycle paths and a jogging track, making it great for a date or a picnic. Few cars are allowed on the island so it is the perfect place to bike around, enjoy a lunch and a nice swim in the Hajós Alfréd National Sports Swimming Pool, or enjoy a cold drink in the Japanese Garden.
Széchenyi Baths
Hungary’s Thermal bath culture has been alive for over 2,00 years and if it is your first time in Budapest, a visit to the spa is a must. With 100+ thermal springs beneath the city that filter over 70 million liters of water each day, Budapest has earned itself the nickname, City of Spas.
There are 9 thermal spas but the Széchenyi baths is the most popular one. It has 18 pools and 3 larger outdoor and 15 smaller pools scattered throughout the many rooms. It is located near a beautiful park so you can enjoy a lovely bike ride on your way there.
Szimpla Kert Ruin Bar
After a long day of bike riding, head over to the Jewish district in the city center! Find your way to Szimpla Kert – Here you will find: an incomparable atmosphere, fine food, drinks, cultural events like movie projections, live music concerts every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, a free jam session on Sundays, farmers’ market on Sunday mornings and much more. Szimpla Kert welcomes you all day with: breakfast, lunch and dinner offers, beautiful garden, interesting objects and people. It’s always full of life, especially in the evening, when it turns into an international meeting point.
