Suggest a cycling tour
BUDAPEST and
Prague have become
particularly popular
with South African travellers
as they are seen as an
alternative to the more
obvious European capitals.
They have become known as
destinations that offer great
value for money, according
to Theresa Szejwallo, md of
Trafalgar. “Without question,
visitors have an interest in
the culture and traditions
that these historic riverside
cities have to offer.”
John Ridler, spokesperson
for Cullinan Outbound
Tourism, has also seen
Budapest and Prague
gaining favour with South
Africans. “The best way to
see Prague is on a bicycle
tour, which takes you down
narrow lanes to places
rarely seen by tourists,” he
says. In Budapest, a segway
tour is growing in demand
and John further suggests
cruising the Danube as great
exploratory experience.
Numerous operators in
Prague and Budapest offer
active tours of the cities.
Local company, Budapest
Bike Breeze, for example,
offers the Szentendre Bike
and Boat sightseeing tour,
which takes travellers to one
of the most charming towns
near Budapest, Szentendre.
It is a medieval town on
the Danube with twisting
streets, quaint houses and
several churches.
The trip starts in the
centre of Budapest, stopping
at the most attractive
sights, including the House
of Parliament and Margaret
Island. It continues past the
Roman coast and Aquincum
to Szentendre. The return
trip to Budapest is by boat.
A great way to see a
different side of Prague is
by bike at night. Night rides
afford visitors stunning
views of the city and the
Vltava River, taking travellers
along the river and through
beautiful Letna Park to the
Royal Gardens and Prague
Castle. They can then park
the bikes and continue on
a pub crawl or opt for a
folklore show and dinner.
Theresa says cuisine
is a fundamental part of
any visitor’s experience
to either city, and the
more authentic the better.
Referring to Trafalgar’s
offerings, she says that in
Hungary this could be a
personal invitation to the
Schieszl vineyard, owned
by a family who once saved
Jewish neighbours from the
Nazis by hiding them in wine
barrels. One of the young
boys they saved became a
lawyer and helped them buy
back their land, lost during
the Communist era.
Inge Dobihal, owner of
Austria Connection, says: “It
is such a pity to stay only
in the cities and not take
the opportunity to see a bit
more of the countries. There
are many exciting, regular
excursions that make a
visit a complete experience
of Hungary or the Czech
Republic.”
New flights to Budapest
SA TRAVEL agents have
seen increasing demand for
Eastern Europe but flight
connections can sometimes
be a nightmare.
Three new European airlines
have launched flights or
increased frequencies to
Budapest this year.
Budapest-based Wizzair is
one of the largest budget
airlines in Eastern Europe.
It added an extra daily flight
between London Luton and
Budapest from March 30,
bringing total services to four
(one morning flight and three
afternoon/evening flights).
Norwegian, Norway’s only
budget carrier, now offers
direct flights between
Budapest Franz Liszt Airport
and London Gatwick, also
since March 30.
Jet 2, the budget airline
serving the northern part
of the UK, introduced twiceweekly
flights from its home
base at Leeds Bradford
airport to Budapest, starting
April 3. This has increased
the number of Jet2’s
Budapest-UK connections
to four; it also serves
Manchester, Edinburgh and
the East Midlands.
Budapest Airport is
further eyeing new routes to
Germany and other European
destinations. The airport’s
ceo, Jost Lammers, said:
“According to recent statistics
there are more foreigners
visiting Hungary than ever
before. So now, more than
ever, it is time for us to attract
new airlines and discuss
improved flight connections,
especially as we move into
the winter schedule planning
window.”
Book it!
Austria Connection is offering three nights in Budapest for €239pp (R3 570) in a three-star hotel
or €272pp (R4 063) in a four-star hotel on a bed and breakfast basis. The special includes a onehour
sightseeing cruise, a hop-on, hop-off bus tour, coffee and cake at Café Gerberaud and a typical
Hungarian dinner at a traditional restaurant. Arrival and departure transfers are also included.
A three-night Prague special is also offered for €246pp (R3 673) in a three-star hotel or €260pp
(R3 882) in a four-star hotel on a bed and breakfast basis. It includes a half-day sightseeing tour, a
sightseeing cruise, coffee and cake at Café Slavia and a typical Czech dinner at a traditional restaurant.
Arrival and departure transfers are also included.
Várbazár gets a makeover
THE renovations of
Várbazár (Castle Bazaar)
– a key element in the
cityscape of the Buda
Castle area in the
Hungarian capital – are
well under way and are
expected to be completed
by spring this year.
Várbazár has been in a
state of decay since World
War 2, however, thanks to
the renovations, the bazaar
will soon be a venue for
exhibitions, art galleries,
workshops, a lecture
theatre, a restaurant,
coffee house and shops
offering Hungarian
products. The complex is
expected to be a new jewel
in the capital’s crown.
The Castle Bazaar, built
between 1875 and 1883,
originally served as a trade
facility, with its arcades
once full of businesses. Its
promenade was a favourite
of Queen Sissi, wife of
the Austrian Emperor.
But it has continuously
deteriorated since the
1980s, eventually leading
to the complete closure
of the complex. This
monument of unparalleled
beauty, designed by Miklós
Ybl, has since 1996 been
one of the world’s most
endangered monuments.
Download a map of Gay Prague
Download a map of
Gay PragueThe fourth edition of
the Prague Gay Map by
GayPride.cz – a map
covering gay and gay-friendly
establishments in Prague –
has been published and will
guide tourists from abroad
around the city. It also lists
the main gay events taking
place over the next couple
of months. The map is
available free of charge. See
www.gaypride.cz/prague-gaymap.
