Budapest is the capital of Hungary and the country’s largest city, with a population of 3.3 million. It’s a popular travel destination, with wonderfully preserved architecture, great restaurants and bars, and a good transport infrastructure. Budapest is the combination of two formerly separate cities: Pest, on the east side of river, contains the Inner City and some of the more visited sites. Buda, on the west side of the river is hilly and semi-suburban, and has winding, narrow streets wending their way up into the hills. There are four bridges crossing the river in central Budapest, with the ‘Chain Bridge’ being the most iconic. There are great places for running in Budapest, and we note that it can be magical at night. Note: If you’d like to have a guided running experience in Budapest, we highly recommend our affiliate partner Go! Running Tours.
The best places to run in Budapest are all centrally located. The highlight is Margaret Island, a recreational mecca in the middle of the Danube with several km of trails, and a 5.3 km rubberized running track around the perimeter with great river and city views. There is also excellent running along the Danube, on both sides, although one should look carefully at our guide to learn the best sections. There are also some great parks for running: City Park (Varosliget), Bikás Park, and Orczy Park. And for some hills, head to Gellért Hill in Buda and run up to the Citudella (fort), or enjoy the more expansive Normafa park, a few km west of the city. For an iconic long run, one can incorporate Gellért Hill, the Buda Castle, Danube Path, and Margaret Island, all of which are in our Runseeing Tour.
There is excellent transportation in Budapest, consisting of a subway, plus trams, buses, and trains. All of our routes are accessible by public transport, and one really does not need a car if staying in the central area.