20 places in Budapest to slow down and relax

More and more people are looking for places to slow down their daily, weekly tempo. This is why these kind of “slow-down” places are quite popular nowadays in Budapest as well. Szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu collected 20 places where you can relax, read, write, or study peacefully.

The “slow-down movement” started in the 1980s in Italy and it aims to slow down the tempo of urban life so that city dwellers can get to know their direct environment and local values, thus owning and protecting their city. The “Slow Budapest” project started in 2012 and it tries to open up our eyes so that we all realize how bad constant rushing and stress are, and how badly overdriven people are. They want to help you slow down.

1) Gül Baba Street

This is one of Budapest’s oldest and steepest streets. You can only go slowly and carefully on this bumpy, steep and quite weedy street in some places. Walking up the street and down thereafter completely clears out your mind, as the only thing you can concentrate on is not falling over the cobblestones.

1902

Now

2) Margitutcakilenc

This is a social place not too far from the Gül Baba Street and the busy Margit Boulevard. You can sit there from early afternoon until 11 pm. Besides concerts and flea markets they also have weekly bio Thursdays, when they serve vegetarian, organic food. It is the island of peacefulness.

3) Ponty Street

The street loved by so many was already mentioned on Slow Budapest’s map in 2014. You can find it in the first district, more exactly, under the side of the Castle District that overlooks the Danube. It turns its back on the bustling capital, streets and places for entertainment. It’s like a firm galley.

4) – 5) Édeni Vegán and Isolabella behind Batthyány Square

You don’t have to rush anything at these places. The Édeni Vegán (Paradise Vegan) filled a huge gap in the market when it was opened ten years ago. It’s on the ground level of a listed building, which even has a hotel inside, with a lovevely inner yard. This is the best place to calmly eat your vegan food. Isolabella is a unique place. It is stuck in the 1980s. The place is perfect for a peaceful and deep conversation.

6) Museum Garden

A park was constructed around the National Museum in the 1860s, which was a brilliant idea. This is probably the most famous “island of peace” in the capital.

1990

Now

7) – 9) Károlyi Garden, Csendes and Fekete

The Károlyi Garden is one of the oldest, consciously designed gardens of Budapest in an unabridged location, which already existed in the 17th century. It became the property of the Károlyi family in 1768. It was almost closed in the 20th century when the family got into financial problems and sold the garden with the palace to build new estates on the property. This was when the state interfered positively and bought the property in 1929 to re-open it as a public park in 1932. There were even concerts held in the park in the last century.
The Csendes (Peaceful) has a suggestive name. You’ll find your fantastic inner and outer peace there whether you go for a coffee, a cocoa or a beer.
The Fekete (Black) opened a few years ago and its name refers to the main theme of the place, which is coffee. The baristas know everything about quality coffee so you can safely ask them anything.