Summer Guide for the Dental Tourist

Between May and September Budapest usually has lovely warm weather, July and August being the hottest of the year. Temperatures can reach 35-40 oC in July and August sometimes with lots of beautiful sunshine. Some people get scared from the heat in the city, but there is plenty of reasons to visit this time of the year. Summer Guide for the Dental Tourist TOP10 things to do in Budapest - Summer 2015 1. Baths and outdoor pools, beaches. Spend a day lounging by one of the outdoor pools and waterparks in the city. Budapest is known for it’s thermal springs feeding the city’s famous baths, but there are also plenty of outdoor pools to enjoy. In fact baths like Gellért and Széchenyi have great outdoor pools. Other popular places to take a splash at are the Palatinus water park on Margaret Island and the beach area of Aquaworld which has several slides too. Prices vary between £7-£13 / €10-€16 for a daily ticket. (Aquaworld Resort;  Paltinus Bath) 2. Summer Festivals. Summer time is festival time all over Europe, it is no different in Hungary. Everybody can find the one for their taste, outdoor summer events, concerts, street fairs and festivals are always popular in Budapest. From classical concerts at the Vajdahunyad Castle Summer Festival and rock concerts at the Sziget Festival (10-17 August 2015) to open-air performances on Margaret Island, there is something for everyone. For those interested in cultural events, the Night of Museums or the Jewish Summer Festival offer a number of interesting programs.  3. Grand prix. The Hungarian Grand Prix takes place in Mogyoród, a town 25 minutes outside of Budapest. The Hungaroring is an awkward and narrow circuit. Loved by the drivers for the challenge, its delightful setting, old-school layout and fantastic carnival atmosphere are particularly relished by the fans. This year it is going to be on 24-26 July. 4. A trip to the Buda hills. If you feel like leaving the hustle and bustle of Budapest, the Buda Hills offer a variety of outdoor activities from hiking at Normafa to riding the Libegő and the Children's railways.    5. Parks of Budapest. If the sun is out, there is nothing better than relaxing with a book or taking a picnic in the greenery that makes Budapest so pleasant in the summer. City Park with its playgrounds, amusement park and Zoo is a favorite with children. Margaret Island is popular for its green space in the middle of the Danube with pools, bike rental and an open-air theater. Kopaszi-gát is a favorite park to picnic. It also offers lots of outdoor activities from biking to ball games many playgrounds and a sandy beach.  6. Dinners/drinks in the evening outdoors. Summer is the perfect time to eat and drink outdoors and fortunately there are plenty of ways to enjoy open-air dining in Budapest. Many restaurants and cafés offer some form of outdoor space. It’s a great way to experience Hungarian gastronomy with a side of people watching. (Tripadvisor Top List - Budapest Restaurants)   7. Open air bars. Nightlife in Budapest is even more fun in the summer. You can dance the night away under the stars in one of the many outdoor bars and summer-only pubs. Look for places with ‘kert’ (garden) and ‘udvar’ (patio) in their names, like Szimpla Kert or Gozsd udvar, and other places. Check out one of the roof top Bars to watch the sunset over the city like Corvintető, 360 Bar. 8. Danube evening cruises with dinner and music. Enjoy the wonderful attractions in Budapest city lit up at night time on a Danube river cruise.  These cruises offer dinner and drinks, often accompanied with a show as well. Picture the fairy tale riverfront panorama of Budapest: the UNESCO World Heritage site (BudaCastle, Hungarian Parliament, Matthias Church, Fisherman’s Bastion), floating by Gellert Hill, Gellert Spa, Gresham Palace, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, historical bridges and churches, 19th century universities and contemporary buildings. A real treat.  9. Budapest Eye. For the best night-time panorama be sure to take a ride on Budapest Eye. The big wheel came from Plymouth, UK. Standing 65 meters tall, the wheel with its 42 cars is Europe's largest mobile Ferris wheel. It has a capacity of 332 people and at night it will light up the evening sky with over 10,000 colored lights.    10. Caves of Buda. When you had enough of the heat and want to cool down a little bit, you can go to Buda and discover the chilly caves, like Pálvölgyi Stalactite Cave or Szemlő-hegyi Cave. They are one of the most valuable natural treasures of Budapest. It contains several spacious passages. It offers a variety of spectacular forms, and is richly ornamented with mineral precipitations. Visitors can tour about the hiking route of about 250 meters on comfortable concrete sidewalks and stairs, The clear, dust-free air of the cave makes the treatment of patients suffering from asthma and respiratory diseases possible. Prices vary between £2-£5 / €3-€8.      This article was created by Kat Lennert