If you love history, great architecture and relaxing spas, then Budapest is the city for you. From the arrival of the founding Magyar tribes to the invasions of the Romans and the Soviets, it has seen a lot over the last few thousand years.

It all means that this is an endlessly fascinating city to explore. From medieval castles to Art Nouveau homes for elephants, there is so much to see here.

So, with that in mind, here is Quingo Scooter’s guide to some of the most interesting accessible sights in Budapest.

Explore the historic Buda Castle

This huge building has been around in one form or another since the 1200s. Today, it is home to the Hungarian National Gallery and is simply a spectacular piece of architecture.

The Gallery has a vast collection of artworks from medieval times to the present day. It is a great day out and it is largely accessible too. There are lifts to the grounds of the castle itself, as well as a lift access within the Gallery.

The place is huge however, so you’ll need a full day to explore. If your time is more limited, we thoroughly recommend that you visit the rooms dedicated to Mihaly Munkacsy. It’s a great collection from an artist who deserves to be better known outside of Hungary.

Experience the ‘Holy Right Hand’

The city’s St Stephen’s Basilica is a stunning building. Not only can it accommodate a remarkable 8,000 worshippers at a time, but it is also an atmospheric and moving place to experience.

Adding to the mysterious atmosphere of this great church is its most famous relic. In the main aisle of the Basilica is a glass case, containing the right hand of the country’s first king, St. Stephen.

It is a gruesome, but strangely compelling object. Whatever your beliefs, it is hard not to be impressed by the sight of the saint’s hand, illuminated by the light streaming in from the high windows. Unmissable.

Take the plunge at the public baths

Budapest has plenty of public baths and spas, but some of its most famous are the gorgeous baths at Gellért. Back in the days when Budapest was a part of the fashionable ‘Grand Tour’ of Europe, the baths were a popular meeting place.

The building itself is a master class in Art Nouveau design, and just a beautiful place to relax and unwind. There are plenty of accessible facilities too for those of us with different mobility needs. Everything from dedicated changing rooms to lifts into the baths themselves, making this the perfect choice for any visitor.

Enjoy the quiet atmosphere of the gardens and zoo

Anyone who reads our posts regularly will know we’re big fans of botanical gardens, and Budapest’s are an absolute gem.

Apart from anything else, they are one of the oldest in the world, and they also combine with the city’s excellent zoo. But the gardens are also just a great place to explore on your scooter, with level, accessible paths and a wealth of rare and unusual plants.

This being Budapest, of course it is also full of gorgeous examples of period architecture too. The Palm House is stunning, as is the uniquely wonderful Art Nouveau Elephant House.

Did you know?

There is a tree outside the Kempinski Hotel dedicated to the memory of Michael Jackson. Its trunk is plastered with photographs of the star.

Getting to Budapest

Budapest is an increasingly popular destination and there are regular direct flights from the London airports as well as Bristol, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester.

Let your airline know 48 hours before you travel if you have any mobility requirements. The team at Budapest airport also provide an assistance service on arrival. Just get in touch with them via one of the dedicated ‘call points’ or book online beforehand.

Heading into the city is straightforward too. There is an accessible shuttle bus, costing €1.50, regular train services and taxis from outside Terminal 2.

Transport within Budapest itself is becoming increasingly accessible, although it isn’t completely there yet. There are both accessible trams and metro lines – and all the newer lines and routes are accessible. There are also plenty of new buses with low-floors and easy access.

For a great overview of how to get around on the public transport system in Budapest, take a look here.

Travelling with scooters

The great news for those of you travelling abroad is that Quingo Scooters are all approved for air travel by IATA so you won’t have any problems taking them on the plane. That said, it is always well worth getting in touch directly with any train, bus and airlines you want to use just to double check their rules on scooters before you go. For more handy tips on travelling with your scooter by air, take a look at our page here.

Share your accessible getaways abroad with us

Do you have any accessible getaways abroad recommendations? In Europe or perhaps further afield? If you do, we’d love to hear from you, so drop us a line and we’ll feature them.

About Quingo Scooters

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter. All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC).  AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 30847