The Perseid meteor shower will reach its peak this year on Monday, August 12. According to forecasts, the weather is expected to be clear, and the moon will set around 11:00 pm, so the only obstacle to this amazing phenomenon may be light pollution. Budapest isn't the most ideal neighborhood in terms of light pollution, but there are ten places in the capital from east to northwest where you can improve your chances of stargazing.
Lake Nablas Observatory
Lake Nablas is one of the best hiking spots in Budapest and is also suitable for an overnight trip. Near the lookout point there are several high-rise buildings and fishing spots, in case too many people want to look at the stars from the highest point. The lake can be reached by bus number 46 from HÉV Mátyásföld Airport Station in Gödöllő. On the way back, night bus number 908 leaves from this stop, so you can even wait for the meteor showers in the morning.
Spotter Hill
You can also combine stargazing with watching planes take off and land, even at close range. Airport Light pollution Powerful, but on the way to Spotterdomb you can stop at several places to spy the sky. You can also walk up the hill from the International Mail Exchange station in front of the airport, but this route requires hiking shoes, and it is not easy to get home at night by bus 200E. However, it is easily accessible by car, and visitors to the hill can park their cars a 7-8-minute walk away.
Peterhalme Forest
One of Budapest's largest, but perhaps least known, forests, filled with green spaces far from the city lights. Many nature trails pass through the forest, which helps us not get lost. After dark, you may encounter a few foxes, but the 200-250 hectare forest poses no greater danger. Take bus number 142E from Határ út metro station and get off at Goroszló utca stop to the nearest forest entrance. On the way back, you don't have to walk any further until Szent Lőrinc-telep stop, where bus 914 departs in the direction of the city centre.
Submerged coast
The beach is a function of the stretch of coast restored by Valyo, and is ideal for stargazing. On the Buda side, a hill protects it from light pollution, and the lights on the Pest side might spoil the view, but at least our necks won't be tired. If we're lucky, we'll find free space on our platform sunbeds, and our blankets can stay clean too. The coast can be easily reached from Építész utca stop by bus number 133E. If you don't want to wait for the first day bus, you can take the night bus number 973 from Albertfalva Street back to the city centre.
Svabeje Observatory
For those who prefer to participate in an organized program in professional conditions, the Svábhegy Observatory is the best option in Budapest. Just pay attention to the fact that there will be no program on the 12th, at the height of the shooting stars, but guests are welcomed on the 10th, 11th, 13th, and on the last evening at Szabolcs Kövi With a concert Moreover. The observatory can be easily reached by buses No. 21 and 221 from Széll Kálmán tér, as well as by bus No. 212A from Boráros tér, and on the way home, bus No. 990 will take you back from the Normafa Visitor Centre.
Standard wood
Normafa also provides good stargazing opportunities in the area. Although there is strong light pollution at the points facing the Pest side, in Nagyrét you can find a place where several meteors can fall before your eyes while lying on a blanket. Normafa's approach is similar to that of the nearby Svábhegy Observatory.
Fairy Rock (Zogligit)
It requires minimal physical fitness, but Tønder Rock in Zugliget offers an even more beautiful panoramic view of Budapest and the sky. Near the top of the rock, there is a small, steep set of stairs leading to the top, but it's worth the effort, especially if you're looking for a less popular spot for a Monday night show. The stairs are located a few hundred meters from the Dénes utca stop of bus 22A from Széll Kálmán tér. If you don't want to wait for the first bus 22A, you can return to Széll Kálmán tér by night bus 922, which also departs from Dénes utca station.
Janos Hegy
Although the Erzsébet lookout, the highest point in Budapest, closes at 8pm, it may be worth looking for stargazing spots in the area. Especially if I want to combine the program with hiking, because the children's railway no longer runs in the evening, and walking to the top of the mountain takes more than an hour. You can also stop to admire the stars on the way, and in fact, we start the trail with better opportunities than in the area around the bright lookout point. Bus 22A or 222 takes you from Széll Kálmán tér to Szépjuhászné, Gyermekvasút stop. Until the departure of the first bus 22A, access to the house is taken care of by route 922, which also departs from Szépjuhászné.
Mount Harmachatar (Karoly Jökler Observatory, Feragos Saddle)
There are several vantage points on the side of Hármashatár-hegy facing Budapest, but from a star perspective, Virágos-señerg on the Máriahegy side is the best option. It is a 35-40 minute walk from the most famous viewpoint Guckler-Károly. It is also true for this route that you not only have to look ahead at the road, but you can walk in almost complete darkness between the lookout point and the space. Hármashatár-hegy can be reached from Flórián tér by bus number 137. At night, it is worth heading in the direction of Széphalom, towards Mikszáth Kálmán utca, which means a half-hour walk: bus 956 leaves from here. The first bus number 137 leaves from the other direction from Erdőalja út, which means a 25-minute walk from the lookout point.
+1: Ijivas Island
Ijivas Island belongs to Szegetmonostor Island, but it is also close to Loba Island and Budapest. So close that a trip on the Danube can be done by SUP, which is… Sup in Budapest. It is important that this program is not carried out during the peak period either, on Saturday 10 August, at sunset, they head to the island of Ijivas, fry bacon, and the more adventurous also sleep on the island at moonset on Saturday at 10: 10pm also enhances the scene.
