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Sport
The Hungarians excel at kayak-canoeing, fencing, water polo, swimming and modern pentathlon but flop in tennis, basketball and football. The most important annual event is Hungaroring (the Hungarian Grand Prix), which draws fans from all over Europe. Of the 16 football teams in the Hungarian First Division, eight are from Budapest, with MTK Budapest (website: www.mtk.hu) leading the way. However, matches rarely attract more than 5000 spectators. Népstadion (the national stadium), XIV Istvánmezei út 1-3 (tel: (01) 251 1222), has a capacity for 76,000 specators. Were it to have a roof, it could host major international sporting events.
Besides the actual stadiums, visitors should try the Central Ticket Office (Központi Jegyiroda), VI Andrássy út 18 (tel: (01) 312 0000), for tickets to sporting events in Budapest.
Fitness centres: Plenty of glitzy new fitness clubs have replaced the communist sports clubs in Budapest. One such club is the Marriott World Class Fitness Centre, V Apáczai Csere János utca 4 (tel: (01) 266 7000; fax: (01) 266 5000), which has gym, aerobics, personal trainers, sauna, solarium and squash courts. English is spoken at BHSE, Margaret Island (tel: (01) 339 8672), although credit cards are not accepted.
Golf: Playing golf in Budapest was the sporting equivalent of owning a mobile phone but is now rapidly increasing in popularity, after being virtually killed off under the communist rule. The best courses are a fair distance from the city and include Hencse National Golf & Country Club, south of Lake Balaton (tel: (82) 481 245), the Budapest Golfpark & Country Club, approximately 40km (25 miles) north of the city, in Kisoroszi, Szentendre Island, in the Danube Bend (tel: (26) 392 465 or 463), the superb Pannonia Golf and Country Club, in Mariavolgy (tel: (22) 594 200; website: www.pannonia-golf.hu), with many additional resort facilities such as riding, swimming and tennis. A game costs Ft11,000 on weekdays and Ft15,000 on weekend and holidays. Hungary’s first recognised International Championship Course, Birdland Golf Country Club, in Bükk Furdo, near the Austrian border (tel: (94) 358 060; website: www.birdland.hu) is upgrading from 18 to 27 holes, with an 18-hole putting course, in 2003. Membership at the above clubs is not required. Clubs forbid jeans and shorts and shirts must have collars.
Squash: The City Squash Club, II Marczibányi tér 13 (tel: (01) 325 0082), has four courts. Racquets are for hire, English is spoken but credit cards are not accepted. The Lido Leisure Centre, III Nánási út 67 (tel: (01) 250 2565), has six courts.
Swimming: Komjádi Béla Sportuszoda, Hungary’s national swimming stadium, III Arpád fejedelem út 8 (tel: (01) 212 2750), is named after the coach who guided Hungary to its first Olympic gold medal in water polo. Alfred Hajós, who won the gold in the 1896 Olympics, built the Palatinusz Strandfurdo pool complex on Margaret Island (tel: (01) 340 4505), where the thermal pools of the Danubius Thermal Hotel Margitsziget (tel: (01) 329 2300; website: www.ohb.hu/margitsziget/index.en.html) are also located. Playing chess in the pool is an option at the neo-Baroque Széchenyi Baths in Városliget, XIV Állatkerti körút 11 (tel: (01) 321 0310). Day tickets cost about Ft500 to Ft1000. ‘Strands’ – translated as ‘Beaches’ – are any place where one can swim, especially in the open-air.
Tennis: There are over 40 hotels, pensions, hostels and campsites with over 100 tennis courts in Budapest. These tend to charge about Ft500-1000 per hour. Non-guests may play at hotel courts. English is spoken at the Hungarian Tennis Association, XIV Dózsa György út 103 (tel: (01) 252 6687), and at the BHSE on Margaret Island (see Fitness Centres above).
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