Biking -- We don't generally recommend biking in Budapest due to crazed drivers and erratic-moving traffic./p>
Golf -- You will not find much in the way of golf in the city, which means you are in for a drive if you want to practice your drives. For information, contact the Hungarian Golf Club, V. Bécsi út 5 (tel. 1/317-6025; www.golfhungary.hu). The nearest course is located on Szentendre Island, 25 minutes north of Budapest by car. Call the course directly at tel. 26/392-465. For putting practice, the 19th Hole Golf Driving Range is located at II. Adyliget, Feketefej u. 6 (tel. 1/354-1720) or e-mail them at golfcentrum@golfcentrum.hu. The Budapest Central Golf Club is located at X. Fehér út 7 (www.golfrange.hu). Two golf stores have opened in Budapest, one on each side of the river. On the Pest side is Golf Centrum at VI. Nagymez? u. 52 (tel. 1/354-1510) or on the Buda side, Swing at II. Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 121, floor I, no. 43 (tel. 1/275-0855).
Horseback Riding -- Riding remains a popular activity in Hungary, land of the widely feared Magyar horsemen of a bygone era. A good place to mount up is the Petneházy Lovasiskola (Riding School), at II. Feketefej u. 2 (tel. 06/20-567-1616 mobile only). Far, far out in the Buda Hills, the school is located in open country, with trails in the hills. Open riding with a guide is 6,000 Ft ($33/£17). There are also pony rides for children at 2,500 Ft ($14/£7) for 15 minutes, and the 30-minute horse-cart rides for 10 people is 25,000 Ft ($135/£71). The stable is open year-round, but only on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Take bus no. 56 (56E is fastest) from Moszkva tér to the last stop, then bus no. 63 to Feketefej utca, followed by a 10-minute walk.
The Hungarian Equestrian Tourism Association, located at V. Ferenciek tere 4 (tel. 1/317-1644; fax 1/267-0171; www.equi.hu), may be of interest to you if you are interested in horses in general, but every number they gave me for other leisure horseback riding information was out of order as was those from Tourinform.
ICE SKATING -- Ice rinks in Budapest are very kid-friendly. The oldest and most popular ice rink is in Városliget, on the lake next to Vajdahunyad Castle. Being an open-air facility, it is open only from mid-November till the end of February. Hours are Monday through Friday 9am to 1pm and 4 to 8pm; Saturday and Sunday 10am to 8pm. The fee is 600 Ft ($3.25/£1.75) on weekdays and 900 Ft ($4.75/£2.50) on weekends. Skates rent for 600 Ft ($3.25/£1.75) an hour. International visitors should also have their passports for ID when renting. Adults and children can rent in-line and ice skates at all the rinks.
Squash -- City Squash Courts (Országos Fallabda Központ), at II. Marczibányi tér 13 (tel. 1/336-0408), has four courts, which are an easy walk from Moszkva tér (Red metro line). The hourly rates vary during the day: 7 to 9am and 3 to 5pm, 3,000 Ft ($16/£8.50); 9am to 3pm, 2,200 Ft ($12/£6.25; and 5 to 10pm, 4,200 Ft ($23/£12) for 1 hour of play. Racquets can be rented for 500 Ft ($2.75/£1.50); balls can be purchased. The courts are open daily from 7am to midnight.
Tennis -- If you plan to play tennis in Budapest, bring your own racket along since most courts don't rent equipment; when it is available, it's usually primitive. Many of Budapest's luxury hotels, particularly those removed from the city center, have tennis courts that nonguests can rent.
