Budapest Guide
The Városliget and the stadium district
Both Hősök tere (Heroes' Square) and the Városliget (City Park), at the end of Andrassy út, were created in the late nineteenth century for the nationwide celebrations of the millennium of the Magyar conquest of Hungary, but as neither was ready on time the anniversary was rescheduled for the following year. Historians revised the date of the conquest accordingly and have stuck to 896 ever since. The millennial celebrations were unashamedly nationalistic but full of contradictions, as the Dual Monarchy tried to flatter Hungarians without alienating other ethnic groups that resented Magyar chauvinism.
Today, the chief attractions are the Museum of Fine Arts and the romantic Vajdahunyad Castle, followed by a wallow in the Széchenyi Baths. Budapest's zoo, circus and amusement park are also located in the vicinity, together with two of the city's classiest restaurants, and a handful of other museums. Nearby are several indoor and outdoor stadiums that host sporting competitions, concerts and other events, and one of Budapest's Art Nouveau masterpieces, the Geological Institute.
The best ways to reach the Városliget from the centre are on the yellow metro line or bus #4, but trolleybus #74 from the Dohány utca Synagogue and #72 from Arany János utca metro station are also useful. To reach the stadium district, catch trolleybus #75 from Hősök tere or the red metro from the centre of town to Stadionok Station.
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