Local Travel. The idea is not new and there have always been travellers who roamed the globe with the desire to learn cultures, lifestyles and society from inside, but the concept of local travel is just beginning to take shape. Thus, new movements are beggining to emerge around the idea, which is basically to contact people and share experiences. I had read about the recent launch of Local Travel website (created by the same people who launched Spotted by Locals, an excellent page to discover secrets about European cities) then I started thinking how it would be “travel local” in Budapest.

How to break with the stereotypes of a classic tourist and open yourself to new experiences? What things can not be left behind in order to experience daily life in Budapest? What places are hidden from the gaze of somebody that is coming to the city only for a couple of days or weeks? In short, how to “play local” in Budapest? Local travel, I think, is something very personal and, therefore, the possibilities are endless. Some people will go to a cafe and sit and watch people on the streets. Others will read the local newspapers and magazines, trying to figure out economic and political indicators of the city or just trying traditional and homemade Hungarian dishes. The following are only some ideas on how to travel local in Budapest.

1) Public transport.
Yes, travelling by public transport -trains, trams, metro, buses and trolleybuses- is the best way to be local. Budapest has a good system that connects all the city and especially the tram and metro are ideal for those who are not familiar with the map. I recommend also to walk around in one of the major transfer stations to see the constant coming and going and some of the many shops that sell various products. For example Moszkva ter, Deli or Nyugati Palyaudvar (station). Online (http://www.bkv.hu/english/home/index.html) you can find all the information on prices and also check how to travel with the route planner.

A little more extreme experience is to choose a night bus, especially those running on the same road as the tram (which stops running at midnight). These night buses are usually full of mostly young locals. Besides, public transport is a great and cheap way of sightseeing. For example there is the old tram 2, that runs along the Danube or the tram 41 that goes to the suburbs of Budapest. You can also reach the airport by train or bus. Last but not least, there are a lot of bike paths available in city.

2) Market
Food is a great option to learn more about a society and its customs, as well as shopping in a local market. The Central Market is a wll known place both among locals and tourists, but beyond this place there are plenty of small markets where you will not find tourists. The language is a strong barrier when you shop at these places: it is difficult to find someone who speaks English (even harder to find a Spanish speaker), but it is worth trying. The street market in Feny utca is one of those places where you can buy everything and even make a break to eat or drink something. Every Saturday morning the Associacion of Bioculture hosts the organic market Okopiac MOM (Biopiac).

3) Leisure
On weekends, especially on sunny days, the parks and other public places are full with people. The most popular options are Normafa or Margit Island. Another possibility is to go to a new park, at Lágymányosi bridge, which opened a few years ago in a bay on the Danube River. I also recommend a walk around the streets of Buda as there is much more to see beyond the Castle.

To go out at night, being local is an easier task: most places are both for tourists and locals. You can check some hidden places recommended by the new Hungarian version of Time Out Budapest (http://enbudapest.blogspot.com/2010/03/budapest-secreta.html).

Dancing is an important part of the local culture. Beyond Hungarian folk dance, there are clubs to dance salsa and tango every night of the week. There are also several academies to learn new steps. A dance lesson in Hungarian. Is there anything more local than this?

Read the original article in Spanish on the En Budapest blog