5 THINGS YOUR KIDS WILL LOVE ABOUT BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Jul 20, 20175 Things Your Kids Will Love About Budapest
Budapest, Hungary is a great place to visit when you’re traveling with children. The city is beautiful, the people are friendly, the food is delicious (and cheap!) and there’s endless activities for adults and little ones alike. Here are 5 things you can do as a family that your kids are guaranteed to enjoy.
1). The Danube Legenda Sightseeing Tour
Our kids love boats so it was a no brainer for us to take a one-hour cruise down the Danube, on a sightseeing tour onboard the local Legend. Budapest is beautiful around the clock, but there is something extra special about the city at night. The children ooh-ed and aah-ed as they pointed out the recognizable Chain Bridge, Buda Castle, Hungarian Parliament and our hotel, The Four Seasons Gresham Palace, all lit up under the darkening sky. Headphones were offered for indoors for those who wanted to listen to the tour’s audio guide, but the kids wanted to be outside. We ended up hanging out at the stern of the boat, looking back and forth between glowing Buda and Pest, taking photos and sipping our drinks of choice (champagne for me, beer for Ryan and juice for the kids). If you’re visiting Budapest, you must add a Legenda Sightseeing Tour to your list of to-do’s. The company also offers a dinner cruise as well as tours during the day, and no matter which you choose, it’s guaranteed to be a memorable experience for the whole family.
2). The Budapest Zoo
The Budapest Zoo is the oldest zoo in Hungary as well as one of the oldest in the world. An attraction that’s generally a hit with kids, no matter where you are in the world, this particular zoo has over one-thousand animal species and houses several iconic Hungarian Art-Nouveau buildings. It’s fun, clean and the animals are sorted by different countries/continents, showcasing the beauty of nature from each. There is also a Botanical Garden with various exotic plants and between the zoo and garden, there is enough to do and see that you could easily spend an entire afternoon roaming the grounds.
3). Margaret Island
Margaret Island is a small, pretty and popular island which sits in the middle of the Danube, halfway between Buda and Pest. Fortunately, the receptionist at our hotel suggested that we visit and let us know that it would be an ideal place to see with kids. She was right. Margaret Island has a number of family-friendly activities from wading in the Palatinus Baths to renting a 4-seater bike to ride around the island. There’s swimming for those who want to be in the sun and parks with lots of trees, offering shade to those who want to keep cool. The most popular hit with young children, though, is the Musical Fountain, which Margaret Island has become famous for in the tourist world. Synched to music, the fountain water dances to music and after the sun goes down, an illuminating light show accompanies it. Music ranges from classical to pop with full sets at 6 and 9 pm and shorter, 4-song shows playing at 10:30 am, 5 pm and 7:30 pm.
The Children’s Railway (Gyermekvasút), built after World War II, is, quite amazingly, run by children-under the supervision of adult railway workers, of course. Originally called “Pioneer’s Railway,” the children here do all sorts of job, from selling tickets to directing traffic. During the route, the the train makes a number of stops, all of which have some kind of fun activity for kids. Among the stops are Csillebérc, where kids can ride the adventurous Challangeland zip-line and Vadaspark, which has a small zoo. My favorite is the stop at extremely child-friendly restaurant Náncsi Néni, which serves excellent traditional Hungarian food and even has a playground for the kids to burn some energy before or after they eat.
5). Tabán Hillside Playground
Set on the Tabán Hillside of Buda, surrounded by luscious green trees and grass, is a small, simple playground that’s perfect for toddlers through kindergarten-aged kids, in an open park that’s great for families. With two swing set as well as a number of spring-based bikes and animals to ride, it’s the ideal stop to take a break or have a picnic, while appreciating views of the city below. Kids can kick a soccer ball (or a football, depending on where you’re from) around for hours before hitting the streets again to explore and parents can relax while admiring the cityscape of Budapest below.
A traveler since childhood, Juliana Fraioli Wilson has always had a love for exploring. She is a published writer and an accomplished business owner with a background in music and art. Join Juliana, her husband Ryan, and their two kids in Wanderland! Follow along as they share tips, tricks, recipes and reviews from some of the most beautiful travel destinations in the world.
