Normafa

The 479 meters high Normafa, located in the Buda hills, is a popular destination for hikers since the 17th century. It is the southern peak of the Sváb-hegy–János-hegy range and the highest point of Svábhegy. Normafa is a small, tree-lined, park-like clearing from the top of which, on the right, you can see the inner districts of Budapest and the Danube, and behind them, to the north of Normafa, are the Buda and Pilis mountains.

In clear weather, you can also see Börzsöny beyond the Visegrád Mountains and the more distant Gödöllő Hills stretching behind the Pesti Plain, with the outline of the Mátra Mountains sometimes visible behind them. In summer, when the weather is fine, the surroundings of Hármashatár Hill can be admired, too. Normafa has a diverse flora and fauna. 

Historical significance:

According to legend, a beech tree that has stood here for centuries that sprouted in the year Matthias Corvinus was born. Others say that King Mathias rested under this tree. At the foot of this beech tree, opera singer Rozália Schodelné Klein sang an excerpt from Bellini's opera Norma, after which the place was named Normafa. Unfortunately, the tree was struck by lightning several times, and at the end of the 1920s it was destroyed. 

Accessibility: 

Fortunately, Normafa is easily accessible: you can get there from Széll Kálmán Square by bus 21-21A, from Hűvösvölgy by the Children's Railway, and from Városmajor by the cogwheel railway.

Opening hours: 

Normafa is technically a big public park, so it is open 24 hours a day, making it accessible at any time. 

Best time to visit: 

The area is a popular destination for both Budapest residents and tourists, who visit when the first snow falls or in spring and autumn when it is warm enough to hike in a jumper. 

Nearby attractions:

Discover the Anna-rét and János Hill, home to the popular Elizabeth Lookout. There are plenty of great hiking routes waiting for you, as well as the Children's Railway, which offers a nostalgic train journey that will make you feel like a child again. 

Photo: Normafa a kedvenc helyem! Facebook group