By Popular Demand: Lunch at Normafa
This is why we are going to stay close to the city and are do the classic round trip “Szépjuhászné-Makkosmária”. Highlights of the hike include the the „Erzsébet” lookout tower, a passage cave, the Donkey meadow, the famous church of Makkosmária, with lunch at Normafa half way through the walk. Check the map here.
Date of hike: Thursday, 23 February / Rain day: Friday, 24 February.
Registration is required. Follow the link to register. Enter name, phone number and email address. Data processing is subject to the data protection rules of Eötvös Loránd University and the Faculty of Economics.
Rain day: Friday, 24 February. If necessary, registered students will be notified by noon on Wednesday, 22 February.
Meeting point: Szépjuhászné Büfé/Buffet between 9:45–10:30 a.m. (Budapest, Budakeszi út/Road 97) at the Szépjuhászné stop on the Children’s Railway. It can also be reached by buses 22, 22A and 222 from Széll Kálmán tér/Square. It takes 15 minutes to get there from Széll Kálmán tér/Square by bus and the bus stop is next to the 4/6 tram stop.
The starting AND end point of the walk are the same. Parking space for about 20-30 cars is available there and you can also have a quick snack/hot drink at the buffet before we start off. If you are planning to grab a bite, please arrive in time and make sure you do not miss the starting time at 10:40.
The organisers will be there from 9:45.
Starting time: 10:40.
The walk/hike will last about 3-3.5 hours (depending on the number of stops we make, and the length of the lunch break at Normafa) so we will probably be back at our starting point between 15:00-15:30. Buses from there leave for Széll Kálmán tér/Square every 5-10 minutes at that time of the day.
Opt-out points: If you get tired or have something else to do, you can turn back from anywhere along the walk or you can opt out at Normafa (roughly half-way through the trip). Buses 21, 21A will take you to Széll Kámán tér from there. Alternatively, after covering two thirds of the trip, you can also return to Széll Kálmán tér by taking buses 22, 22A or 222 from Budakeszi.
Opt-in points: Everyone is welcome to have lunch or start the walk at Normafa at around 12:00 noon. Normafa can be reached by bus (21 and 21A, running at 10-15- minute intervals at this time of the day) from Széll Kálmán tér/Square.
Distance: 11 km, 3-3.5 hours of easy walking, no difficult sections along the route.
Route with the following points of interest (and the touristic signs to follow from that particular point to the next point):
- Szépjuhászné Büfé/Buffet (Z+,ZΔ)
- János hill passage cave (PΩ)
- János hill Erzsébet lookout tower (KO)
- Szent Anna chapel (S+)
- Normafa Rétes Büfé/Strudel buffet (Z+)
- Donkey meadow (Z+)
- Makkosmária church (P–, S–)
- Szépjuhászné buffet
Snacks/Drinks: at the starting point, and at Normafa. The stop at the latter place will last for about 1-1.5 hours. There are several stands with tables and benches/chairs (plus an excellent view of the city and its surroundings) at Normafa where you can taste the following Hungarian delicacies: palacsinta (pancakes), rétes (strudel), lángos, etc. Other street food style dishes and hot and cold drinks are also available there, though you might wish to bring along a flask/drink for the hike.
Practicalities:
- Toilets are found at several places along the route.
- Bring along a plastic bag for any waste you may have to save the environment.
- Good sturdy shoes and warm clothes are recommended. Remember that it is winter, and it is chillier in the hills than in the city centre.
- For the cave the flashlight on your mobile phone will suffice.
You may wish to check out the following links as well:
- Normafa strudel buffet: Normafa Rétes Büfé (HUN)
- Lookout tower „Erzsébet”: Erzsébet-kilátó (ENG)
- Passage cave: János-hegyi Átjáró-barlang (HUN)
- Normafa and Makkosmária: Normafa és Makkosmária (HUN with lovely photos)
If you need information in English, write to your group’s email address: degreeprogramme@gtk.elte.hu, sh@gtk.elte.hu, or incoming@gtk.elte.hu
Further information and organiser’s contact: 30-241-7723.