Buda Hills

The chain of moderately high hills (Hungarian: Budai-hegység) rises up to a maximum of 500 m above sea level. Part of the chain are Gellérthegy (Gellért Hill; see section Budapest, Sightseeing), Várhegy (Castle Hill; see section Budaepst, Sightseeing), Svábhegy, Jánoshegy, Széchenyihegy, Martonhegy and Sashegy. To the East, Danube marks the frontier of the middle range system, to the west, it reaches Budajenö and Páty. Ever since in 1873 the three cities Buda/Ofen, Óbuda/Old Ofen and Pest became Budapest, it is the favorite and nearest recreational spot of the citizens. Aside from being a residential area with a series of luxurious villas and houses, Buda Hills (a wine region with traditional grape viniculture), offer wonderful forests and recreation opportunities, especially for families and children. From Széchenyihegy (Széchenyi Hill), people can use the Children`s Railway, formerly (1951 – 1989) known as the Pioneer`s Railway, to discover the area. It has eight stations and goes for 12 km through nature. The train service is realized by groups of 10 to 14 years old kids, dressed in uniforms. Last station is Huvosvolgy. Also take a look also at Children's Railway Museum. Visitors can enter the exhibition room through an arch representing the mouth of the tunnel between Hars-hegy and Huvosvolgy Stations. It is closed in winter time.

Information: MAV Zrt. Szechenyi-hegyi Gyermekvasut, 1280 Budapest, Hungary, www.gyermekvasut.hu/english/chrw_home.php

Opening hours: Services operate every day from May to August, and from Tuesday to Sunday for the rest of the year. There are various time tables throughout the year for the railway. Please check here, before coming: www.gyermekvasut.hu/english/timetable.php

Regulations: Pet dogs with muzzle, bicycles, sledges and skies are allowed for transport.

There is also a chairlift in Buda Hills: The upper station of the Chairlift can be reached from Janos-hegy Station of the Children's Railway by a walking path marked with a red stripe. The route is about 750 m long with a height difference of 80 m. The lower base station of the lift is at Zugliget. To reach it from Budapest, take Bus 291 to/from Budagyongye stop or to/from Nyugati railway station. To reach Budagyongye stop, take tram 61 from public transport hub of Budapest Szell Kalman ter. The chair lift is operated by communal transport company BKV (information: Akacfa Street 18, 1072 Budapest, Hungary, Tel. +36 1 2584636, http://bkv.hu/en/special_services/special_services).

There is also the Cogwheel railway, also operated by communal transport company BKV (information: Akacfa Street 18, 1072 Budapest, Hungary, Tel. +36 1 2584636, http://bkv.hu/en/special_services/special_services; opening hours: all year round daily early morning till late evening, according to schedule; single and return tickets). Lower station is at Városmajor, two stops off from tram 59 from Moszkva Square. Upper station is on Széchenyi Hill, near Normafa, a meeting point of several hikers trails in Buda Hills. Transport of bicycles is allowed.

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