Budapest with children reviews. Hungary with children: what to see on holiday with a child
Where to go in Budapest with children. We have combined the most interesting places and routes into our own Guide to Budapest for Children. Maps will help adults plan the optimal route around the city and combine it with “adult” attractions. The guide also contains practical advice, which will help you calculate the time and budget of your walk.
We always include a children's program on our family trips. These are entertainment, attractions and museums for children. We reach an agreement with the children and explain that everyone wants to enjoy the trip and see a lot of interesting things for themselves. Therefore, adults are included in the family daily plan (as a rule, these are architectural monuments, cathedrals, the old town) and children's entertainment. When there is such an “agreement”, children are more patient in examining various historical buildings that are “boring” for them, because they know that soon there will be “children’s” entertainment. And there are a lot of them in Budapest.
It is ideal when the sights are equally interesting to both children and adults. This is exactly the kind of entertainment we have included in our author’s guide to Budapest for children. It was compiled over the course of 5 trips with our children this year. beautiful city and is suitable for different ages.
*Based on our “children's guide” you can create your own independent route or book a ready-made tour of Budapest for children online here:
Our Author's Children's Guide to Budapest We divided it into routes based on geographical proximity (this is for the convenience of adults)))). Each route includes entertainment, attractions, and museums for children, which are located close to each other. We will also write down the budget and the average time it takes to visit them so that you can get your bearings.
This will allow you, the parents, when planning your “adult” walk, to choose from the nearby attractions we have listed a whole “children’s route” or individual places that are most suitable for your children in terms of age and interests.
And then just add children’s “entertainment” to your family itinerary in Budapest and enjoy traveling around the most beautiful city in Europe together.
When choosing interesting places, be sure to take into account the age, individual level of endurance, travel experience and hobbies of your child.
Please note that many museums and attractions require family tickets to enter. Buying them for a family with children is much more profitable than buying separate tickets for children (up to 14 years), student and adult tickets.
Budapest has a large selection of hotels that are suitable for families with children. We recommend a convenient service for online booking hotels - Booking website.
You can book a family hotel in Budapest using these links:
It is more profitable to buy a public transport pass for the whole family and for the entire duration of your stay than to buy tickets “individually” for each trip. Website public transport Budapest
Not all baths in Budapest are suitable for children. The active effects of healing thermal water are beneficial for adults, but may be contraindicated for children. The bathing websites have information on age restrictions.
Ask children not to say the word "pool" when visiting swimming pools and beaches. In Hungarian this word has an obscene meaning. Replace the words with water or in Hungarian pool - this is “medence”.
When planning walks around Budapest, it is better to include visits to baths, water parks, and beaches for the whole day or only in the afternoon. Because, after a wonderful water relaxation, you just want to relax, and not heroically “conquer” the next attractions.
To translate sites of attractions from English or Hungarian, use Google Translator
For your convenience, we made a screenshot of maps with attractions and active Google maps right in the article. Now you can find interesting places from the route much easier and faster)) Using the active Google map, you can find how and how to get to the attraction. To do this, enter route points in the upper right corner of the map and click the type of transport that suits you.
There is a little yellow man at the bottom left of the active Google map. We call him “Dyabchik”))). Click on it with the left mouse button, hold it and transfer it to the blue lines that appear on the map next to the selected landmark. This way you can virtually walk around the area and see what is there. Very interesting thing)))
Route 1. Heroes' Square - Hourglass - Vajdahunyad Castle - Transport Museum - Zoo - Amusement Park - Széchenyi Royal Baths
This is a ready-made itinerary for the whole day. The map shows that all these places are located nearby, within walking distance. But in any case, focus on the age, endurance and interests of your child. After all, you can shorten some places from this route or walking distances - for example, get off at the Széchenyi Furdo (Szechenyi Baths) metro station, instead of the Hősök tere (Heroes' Square) suggested in the route. The most a large number of The zoo will take at least half a day and the Széchenyi baths will take at least 2-3 hours.
Heroes Square- one of the calling cards of the capital of Hungary. It was designed 120 years ago in honor of the millennium of the Hungarians finding their homeland and opened along with the very first Budapest metro in continental Europe. Hungary loves and honors its heroes. On the square there is a column and large monuments of the seven leaders of the Magyar tribes, who passed over a thousand years ago from Ural mountains through the Carpathians to the new homeland, monuments to the famous kings of Hungary, a memorial plaque to the Hungarians who died in the world wars. Visit - 15-20 minutes for photos and “climbing” on the sculptures.
These great heroes of Hungary are so huge)))
Curious children will be interested in seeing the largest in the world hourglass. They are located nearby - behind the building of the Museum of Modern Art, which is located to the right of Heroes Square. This clock is made in the shape of a circle 8 m high, divided in half. They measure out the year. December 31, at New Year's Eve, exactly at midnight after the last grain of sand falls, the clock is manually turned over to the joyful applause of the audience. Thus begins a new countdown. Visit 10-15 minutes.
Behind Heroes Square is a luxurious urban Városliget park. In ancient times, this place was the huge hunting grounds of the Hungarian King Matthias. The rest of our children's route No. 1 in Budapest runs through the park.
Vajdahunyad Castle. This museum is a real fairy tale. Here are collected 21 models of the most famous and most beautiful castles and palaces of Hungary, in which real “fairy-tale” kings and queens once lived. These are representatives of different styles and different historical eras. First, 120 years ago, these models were made from papier-mâché for the celebration of the Millennium of the Finding of the Motherland. The residents of Budapest really liked them, so in 1908 all copies of the buildings were made of stone.
The monument to the 12th century Hungarian chronicler Anonymous is very convenient for the whole family to climb up and sit “on the arms”, and also make a wish by rubbing Anonymous’s feather.
Budapest. Monument to Anonymous Entrance to Vajdahunyad Castle is free. The walk takes about 1 hour without visiting the castle museums. Website
Transport Museum Kozlekedesi Muzeum is also located in Városliget Park. This is a real find for children and adults who love vintage motorcycles, cars, ships, steam locomotives, and trams. The museum is very interesting. But, unfortunately, it is now closed for reconstruction. Information about the opening can be found on the website of the Museum of Transport
Budapest Zoo– one of the most beautiful zoos in Europe. We visited it with our children several times. It's amazing! Fun for children and adults. We definitely recommend visiting here! Beautiful territory, well-groomed animals. I really liked the elephant house, the aquarium, the monkey pavilion, tigers and lions behind glass literally 30 cm from you, the tropicarium with flying foxes that hang on branches without nets or fences and fly right above you. It's worth climbing the tower to see the zoo from above.
I really liked that there is a lot of interactivity at the Budapest Zoo. It is possible not only to feed the animals by purchasing special food, but also to touch them. Have you petted a giraffe? He has such charming long eyelashes, deep eyes and a long tongue. You can also pet a llama, kangaroo and other interesting animals.
Our Anyutka is 3.5 years old here.
For families with children, everything in the zoo's services is thought out. At the entrance you can pick up a free colorful map of the zoo. There are bright carts for parents to transport their children, many cafes, children's playgrounds, and clean toilets have special tables for changing children's clothes. Our children really liked the playground in the shape of a pirate ship. While they played, we rested nearby on the benches.
A visit to the zoo takes at least half a day. Ticket price to the Budapest Zoo: adult - 2500 f. (8.5 euros), children - 1800 f. (6 euros). Family ticket (2 adults + 2 children) - 7300 f. (24.5 euros). Opening hours – on the zoo website
Amusement park Budapest is an ordinary small city amusement park with a standard set of attractions. It's worth going here if you have time to spare.
Finish off a busy tourist day - Royal Széchenyi Baths. This is the largest palace bathing complex in Europe with unique thermal waters. It is already more than 100 years old. Noble luxury, marine motifs in decoration, steam rooms, swimming pools with thermal water inside and a gorgeous beach with swimming pools and sculptures outside - this is a must see. After a busy day, it’s nice to relieve fatigue and swim here for children and adults.
Our children enjoyed twirling in the artificial water current. The walls in the “chocolate” hall of the bathhouse are so similar to chocolate that our 7-year-old Anton decided to take a bite. We managed to stop it in time)))
Interestingly, a hippopotamus from the Budapest Zoo swims in a unique pool. The water comes from the Széchenyi Royal Baths. The composition of thermal water is just perfect for hippopotamus and is partly similar to natural water from the Nile River. This fact really interested our children)))
You can spend 2-3 hours here with your children. The price of a ticket to the Széchenyi Baths depends on the time of visit and the days of the week. See the price on the website
More baths in Budapest where you can go with children: Gelert Baths - website: gellertspa.com; Lukács Bath - website
Where to stay in Budapest. You can book accommodation near Városliget Park, the Zoo and the Széchenyi Bath using these links:
We recommend choosing the most interesting activities for your children from those offered in route 2 and simply adding them to the plan of your main walk. This way you can “dilute” the saturated historical monuments excursion program in Budapest.
All children's attractions on route 2 are indicated with asterisks on the map:
Subway Museum.
While moving around Budapest on the metro, you can learn a lot of interesting things about the history of this city. It was in Budapest that the metro was built for the first time in continental Europe. This event took place in 1896, more than 100 years ago. This first “yellow” metro line has survived to this day and is actively used. Small carriages, cozy seats - our children loved riding on such an old metro.
The Underground Railway Museum is located at the Deak Ferenc ter metro station, at the intersection of three metro lines.
The museum itself is small. This is an old station called Gizella ter. Here you can see what the metro was like more than 100 years ago. Stop by here while walking around Budapest. For a short visit - 20-30 minutes.
Marzipan Museum
This original museum is convenient to visit during a family excursion to Old city Budapest. He is located opposite Fisherman's Bastion, on the first floor of the Hilton Hotel. Entrance – about 1.5 euros. Visiting time – 40 minutes with cake in the cafe)))
Marzipan is a very sweet confectionery product that is made from sugar and almonds. Hungary is a country that, along with France, Italy, Germany and Estonia, claims to be the birthplace of marzipan. Marzipan museums are very interesting for children and adults. There are several of them in Hungary - in Szentedra, Eger, Pecs, Keszthely and Budapest. Sweetness reigns in the marzipan museum fairy tale. What masters don’t do with this product!
We were in such a museum in Szentedra. We bought marzipan figures for children in a shop nearby. But our sweet tooth couldn’t handle them. Sooooo sweet.
Tip: We found a lot of marzipan figurines in supermarkets and regular confectionery shops. Buying these sweet (as well as any other) souvenirs there is much cheaper.
Funicular
The colorful old carriages of the Budapest funicular will take you up from the Chain Bridge (Adam Clark Square) to Buda Castle(Royal Palace, Fisherman's Bastion, St. Matthias Cathedral). On the way they open beautiful views to the Danube.
photo from the website www.bkv.hu One-way ticket price: adult - 1200 f. (4 euros), children (3-14 years old) – 700 f (2.5 euros). There and back: adults – 1800 f (6 euros), children – 1100 f (3.5 euros). Website
Trailer children's parks on Mount Gellert
Mount Gellert is one of the most famous tourist places Budapest. From here you have an amazing view of the capital of Hungary.
Read:
Children's playgrounds on Mount Gellert are an excellent opportunity for little travelers to relax. During the break between visiting all the attractions, children can unwind and have fun, and parents can relax.
– Original children's park called Cerka-Firka.
And this is the Csuszdapark trailer park. It has a lot of different slides.
There are children's playgrounds on the slope of Gellert Hill.
Park Hungary in miniature Miniversum
And this entertainment will be interesting for children and adults. A stunning miniature park opened in May 2014 in Budapest. Models of famous landmarks of Budapest, Hungary, Austria and Germany are collected in 4 large halls. They were created on a scale of 1:100.
photo from www.miniversum.hu Near each attraction there is an interactive screen with photos and information about it. And also control panels that allow you to create different actions, sound, light effects: control trains, city sounds, church bells, lanterns. For children there is Playhouse MINIVERSUM with various creative games.
We have not been to this museum yet, because it was only recently created. We found rave reviews about it on the Internet. We'll add it to our next trip to Budapest))
Located on Andrássy Avenue 12, near St. Stephen's Basilica and 5 minutes from Opera metro station. Visiting time – about 1.5 hours. Tickets: adults -1900 f. (6.5 euros), children. (from 2 to 14 years) - 1300 f. (4.5 euros), family 2 adults + 3 children - 4900 f. (16.5 euros). See the work schedule on the website www.miniversum.hu/
Hungarian Pinball Museum.
An interesting museum for the whole family. This is Europe's first interactive pinball museum. You can not only look at the old exhibits - pinball machines, but also play them together for your own pleasure.
flippermúzeum There is also a cafe here. Located on the Pest side, near Margate Head(Margate Bridge). Address Radnóti Miklós utca 18. Cost - from 2500 pounds (8.5 euros). The visiting time depends on the degree of passion for the game))) Website: www.flippermuzeum.hu/en/
Hard - rock - cafe Budapest.
A cult place for those who love rock music. This is a representative of the global network of Hard Rock Cafes. Recommended for teenagers and adults. Our rock guitarist Anyuta simply dreamed of getting into this atmospheric establishment. It's really cool here!
The entrance is free. You can eat something if you wish, but the prices are a little steep))) Time to look and take photos – 40 minutes. Address: Deák Ferenc u. 3-5, at the intersection with the famous Vaci street. Website: www.hardrock.com/cafes/budapest/
Budapest Planetarium
Famous for its spectacular laser show. We have never been there (didn’t have time to visit))). But we must include such entertainment in our Guide to Budapest for children))) Located in the People's Park, Népliget metro station. Tickets for adults 2690 f- (9 euros), student. – 2190 f (7.5 euros), children – 600 f (2 euros). Website: www.planetarium.hu/
Caves of Budapest
Two deep caves SZEMLŐ-HEGYI-BARLANG and PÁL-VÖLGYI-BARLANG are located on the street. Pusztaszeri 35 and st. Szépvölgyi 162 are not far from each other. The stalactite fairy tale will not leave children and adults indifferent. Here's a real lesson in geography or natural history)). It’s one thing to see stalactites and stalagmites in pictures in textbooks, and quite another to see them in real life. This is a very beautiful and mysterious sight, majestic miracle nature.
Tip: It's cold inside, so even in the hot summer, take warm clothes and comfortable shoes with you.
You can get here from Arpad Bridge by bus number 29. This is entertainment for children over 6 years old. A tour to one cave lasts 1 hour. Ticket price: adults - 1300 f (4.5 euros), children -1000 f (3.5 euros). You can purchase a combined ticket to visit both caves at an adult price of £2,000. (7 euros), for children - 1600 f. (5.5 euros). Opening hours on the caves website: www.dunaipoly.hu/hu/bemutatohelyek/szemlo-hegyi-barlang
Where is the best place to stay with children in the center of Budapest? Book your accommodation using these links:
The price of tickets to Palatinus Beach depends on visits on weekdays and weekends, for the whole day or just the evening. Weekdays for adults - 2800 f. (10 euros), children - 2100 f. (7 euros), family 2+2 – 7100 f. (24 euros). On weekends - a little more expensive. Prices and opening hours – on the Palatinus beach website
More popular beaches in Budapest: Romai fürdö – site, Csillagedy beach – site, Pascal beach – site, Pünkösdfürdő beach – site
Visiting time to Margaret Island is half or full day, including Palatinus Beach.
Where to stay: There are luxury Wellness hotels with thermal water on Margaret Island.
We wrote about them in this article:
There are also many cozy family hotels near the island on the shores of Buda or Pest. You can book good accommodation for a family with children using these links:
The return journey from Mount Janos can be done on a children's train. Also along the paths protected forest and signs led us to the town of Budakessi. Here we stay with our relatives.
Budakeszi– a wonderful town, a suburb of Budapest. This is a great place to stay with children in Budapest in a cozy family hotel-pension. There is a nature reserve nearby, great air and good active children's entertainment.
Here is a clearing in the Budakeszi forest.
Getting to Budapest is easy - in just 20 minutes by bus No. 22 and 22A you can get to the Széll Kálmán tér metro station (this is the former Moscow Tyr). And from there you can easily and quickly get to any point in Budapest by tram, metro, or buses.
Where to stay in Budakeszi. You can book your accommodation using this link:
In addition to Mount János and the Erzsebet Tower, there is a wonderful green Vadáspark near Budakeszi.
Route 5. Vadashpark: Wildlife Park – Adventure Park
Vivid impressions and wonderful leisure in nature - Vadashpark has it all. A walk through Vadashpark takes half a day. There is a huge clearing in the middle of the forest with playgrounds, a wooden fortress and a stage. We all enjoyed playing here.
It’s interesting that in this park you get the feeling that you are not in a zoo, but just walking through the forest and looking at different animals. Animals roam freely, sleep and play in huge enclosures.
Some animals can even be fed. There was a queue to see Antoshka.
Near the entrance to the Wildlife Park - there is Adventure Park. This is a rope park. Nowadays such parks are popular. Our children really wanted to come here. But, unfortunately, when we were in Vadashpark, the rope park had not yet officially opened; it was in the testing stage. (So we're putting Adventure Park on our next trip to Budapest)
The rope park has 5 difficulty levels. For the little ones there is such an “obstacle course”. Moms and dads can be nearby and help the baby.
High is the most difficult level for adult extreme sports enthusiasts.
Ticket price to the Park wildlife: adult - 1300 f (4.5 euros), child (2-14 years old) -650 f (2.5 euro), family (2 adults + 1 child) - 2900 f. (10 euros)
Cost of tickets to the Adventure Park: adults. 2100 f. (7 euros) per hour, children - 1800 (6 euros) per hour, 2 hours cost a little more, family ticket 2 adults + 1 child - 7400 f. (25 euros) for 2.5 hours. Current information on the Vadashpark website
Route 6. Tropicarium-oceanarium - Palace of Miracles.
Tropicarium - Oceanarium and Palace of Miracles are located in the Campona Shopping Center. Address: XXII. district, Naditeteni street, 37-43. The shopping center is on the outskirts of Budapest, so plan to spend half a day here (this does not include adult shopping in the Shopping Center).
How to get (bus and tram numbers) from the Deák Ferenc ter metro station to the Campona shopping center can be seen on the map screenshot. (Use the active Google map below to find out which public transport is convenient to get here from your point)
A huge aquarium with sharks, stingrays and exotic fish, an amazing tropical forest with monkeys, crocodiles, various reptiles, free-flying birds - all this in Tropicarium Budapest. A stunning feature of the Oceanarium is a 12 m long tunnel under an aquarium with sharks and the opportunity to pet a stingray.
photo from www.tropicarium.hu Ticket prices: adults - 2500 f (8.5 euros), children (4-18 years old) 1800 f (6 euros), family: 2+1 children - 6400 f (22 euros), 2+2 children - 8000 f ( 27 euros). Website
Palace of Miracles
Our children's favorite museums are interactive museums. They do not contain the usual words “do not touch with your hands!” On the contrary, in such museums you NEED to touch everything, take it apart into parts and assemble it into a single whole, jump, play, sing, listen, dance, run, experiment. Miracles, it turns out, are nearby! And in Grand Palace You can see miracles)). And the main thing is to understand from the point of view of the science of physics how and why everything happens.
photo from www.csopa.hu Ticket price: Adults - 2400 f. (8 euros), child -1800 f (6 euros), family - 2 adults + 3 children - 6900 f. (23 euros). Website
Route 7. Korda Filmpark
Surprisingly, we had never heard anything about this studio before. We first learned about her from the TV show “Heads and Tails. Budapest". It would be interesting to visit here - We’ll add it to our next trip plan))). After all, such famous films as “Die Hard 5”, “Hellboy 2”, the historical series “The Borgias”, “Evita”, “American Rhapsody”, “Munich”, “Underworld”, “Pillars of the Earth” were filmed here.
How a movie is made, how the scenery is made, stunt tricks and special effects are performed, and many other interesting things can be learned at the film studio. The excursion includes a studio tour and an interactive filmmaking exhibit. Takes about 2 hours.
Photo from www.kordafilmpark.hu You can’t just get into the studio, only by making an appointment on the website. There must be a minimum of 15 people in the group. If this number is not reached, then two days before your excursion you will be sent a notification with an offer to sign up for other dates.
The Korda Filmpark film studio is located 30 km west of Budapest, towards the city of Biatorbagy, on a hill behind the town of Etyek. How to get there by car – there is information and coordinates on the film studio’s website. For a family, you can order a transfer from Budapest; another economical option is to take a train from Déli station to Herceghalom, and from there by taxi.
Ticket price - on weekdays: adults - 2600 f (9 euros), children - 2000 f (7 euros), family 2+1 children - 6100 f (20.5 euros), family 2+2 children - 6600 f. (22 euros). On weekends and holidays days are more expensive. Booking excursions on the Website
Advice: If you are tired of walking around Budapest.
And there are so many things I want to see with my children in this beautiful city -
Ride with your kids:
On tourist Hop-on Hop-Off buses. You can buy tickets and choose a route in advance via the Internet on this website.
On pleasure boats on the Danube– it will be a sightseeing cruise, a cruise with lunch, or maybe with a candlelit dinner – it’s up to you to choose. You can book a cruise on the Danube on this website.
And even by bus - amphibious. This miracle bus not only travels along the roads with the sights of Budapest, but also happily floats along the Danube. A very unusual and exciting excursion on a unique amphibious bus. Website
photo from riverride.com Excursions around Budapest.
In this article we talked about routes for independent walks with children in Budapest. And if you prefer individual tour with a local guide, you can order it online here:
Where to stay in the center of Budapest.
Book hotels or apartments for family trip with children you can follow this link:
Hotels also very often announce promotions:
Have a wonderful family trip to beautiful Budapest!
A guide to Budapest for children is written with love and boundless gratitude to our dear Lyudmila and Alexey Yamkovenko.
How to make your holiday in Budapest with children eventful and interesting? List of ideas for places to visit in Budapest with younger family members in 2019.
What to see in Budapest with children
The capital of Hungary is one of the most beautiful European cities. Many pass through it tourist routes. Life here is in full swing, but once you get here, you will be immersed in a delightful world of beauty and peace. Adults are captivated by Budapest at first sight.
But will children like the city and are there places where young travelers can go in Budapest? Our answer is yes!
1. Business card of the city - Buda Castle (Buda Castle) , located on the mountain in a picturesque place. One of its parts is antique Royal Palace , built during the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It is visible from almost all points of the city. Taking the funicular up to the castle, you can admire stunning views of Budapest and the Danube from above.
On the territory of the complex there are the Museum of Contemporary Art of Hungary, the Historical Museum, central Library and the National Gallery, which displays works by famous artists from different eras. Definitely worth seeing, dungeons Buda Hill, Holy Trinity Square, St. Matthias Church, Palace of Count Sandor.
Buda Castle is one of the hallmarks of Budapest
2. Older children can be taken to Archaeological Park-Museum Aquincum , where several ancient temples and an amphitheater have been preserved. Boys will definitely love it Budapest History Museum. The exhibits here include weapons, glass and metal items, collectible tombstones, and signets that come from the Middle Ages.
Where else to go with children in Budapest? To the Aquincum Museum!
3. B National Theater dance You can enjoy classical, modern, folklore performances of dance groups famous in many countries.
4. If you are tired of going to museums and theaters, then one more thing interesting place, where to go in Budapest with children. This children's Railway , and its main feature is that the role of cashiers, carriage drivers and drivers is performed by children. They take their work very seriously and responsibly. The train route runs along the mountains. At one of the stations there is Erzsebet Tower, with observation deck which offers a wonderful panorama. You can go back down by cable car.
5. Despite the fact that Hungary is not a maritime state, Budapest has its own Oceanarium. He is in a big mall. An overview of the inhabitants of the underwater kingdom takes approximately 2.5 hours. The glass tunnel running under the pool with sharks makes a great impression on adults and children. Tourists spend a long time watching schools of bright, beautiful fish scurrying between coral reefs. In the outdoor pool you can often pet stingrays that swim right up to the sides. In other halls of the complex you can see an artificial tropical rainfall, a waterfall and exotic birds literally flying overhead.
The Oceanarium is the #1 place in Budapest to take your kids to
6. Curious and active schoolchildren will enjoy spending time during Palace of Miracles . Exciting experiments, fun practical physics, logic games, a mirror maze, a special room dedicated to space - this is not the entire list of entertainment that parents will not refuse to take part in.
There is no need to search for attractions in Budapest. Every turn, then luxurious palace, grand bridge across the Danube or a historical structure covered with a light cobweb. Moreover, each “adult” attraction must be accompanied by a “children’s” attraction - in the form of an interactive zone, a children’s playground in a shady park. Therefore, the Hungarian capital can be called the ideal place, where moms and dads can enjoy neo-Gothic and Baroque, and children can swim in fountains and walk adventurously through the dungeons.
So, we list those attractions that are worth visiting if you are planning a trip to Budapest with children.
Buda Castle
The fortress is located in the Old Buda section of Budapest, and due to the size and number of attractions hidden behind its walls, it is called a “city within a city.”
The ascent to the hill, where the construction of defensive fortifications began in the 13th century on the initiative of King Béla IV, should begin from Adam Clark Square in Budapest. This place is unique in that here is the zero kilometer of Budapest - a three-meter stone zero. This is also where you board the world's oldest funicular, Siklo. Children will definitely enjoy a ride in its trailers to a height of 100 meters. True, it will only last a minute.
You can walk around the territory of the fortress for an infinitely long time, because here are the Matthias Church, the Royal Palace of Budapest (within its walls are exhibits of the Hungarian national gallery And Historical Museum), Sandor Palace, which is the residence of the country's president. The best option– combine a visit to these “boring” buildings with visits to the pharmacy museum, where children will see with their own eyes the accessories of alchemists and learn how diseases were treated in Budapest without drugs, or the “House of Houdini”, where you can be magicians and sorcerers.
Older children (little ones may get scared) will have a lasting impression on completing the “Hospital in the Rock” labyrinth: with an oil lamp they will have to go through the dungeons where wax figures wounded soldiers and doctors, see the Budapest infirmary and the hiding places where the criminals were hiding.
Those with a sweet tooth should be taken to the Marzipan Museum in Budapest. Here you can see cartoon characters made from marzipan mass and even buy sugar plasticine: from it, children can mold whatever they want, and then eat their masterpiece.
For panoramic shots of Budapest's sights, it's worth heading to Hiradás. So called main tower Fisherman's Bastion. From its height they open gorgeous views on the Danube and the Pest district of Budapest.
Houses of Parliament
The photo of the Hungarian Parliament adorns the cover of most city guides, so it is impossible to ignore it. It is already located on the opposite bank of the Danube, on the Pest side, not far from the Margaret Bridge.
A tour through its halls lasts only 45 minutes, and children, delighted with the interior and interested in the artifacts stored in the domed hall, will not have time to get tired or bored. Under the guidance of a guide, along a golden staircase decorated with gold, tourists will proceed to the meeting room of parliamentarians, where they will see the symbols of the royal power of Budapest: a scepter, Istvan's crown on a velvet pillow, a sword, as well as statues of 16 kings looking at visitors from the walls.
You need to arrive early, because... A certain number of tourists are allowed inside. Russian-speaking groups go on tours of the halls at 12.30 and 15.15. Before this, you need to purchase tickets and go through security screening.
Városliget Park
This Budapest city park is packed with attractions that the whole family can visit. Firstly, this is Vajdahunyad Castle. His appearance accurately conveys the features of 20 of the most beautiful castles in Hungary. Children don’t need to know which ones. Invite them to imagine and place fairy-tale princes and princesses in the castle. You can even come up with names for them. This is exactly what the city authorities did, perpetuating the memory of the chronicler monk who recorded historical milestones Budapest. They erected a monument next to the castle - the figure of a man in a cloak and gave him the name - “Anonymous”. By the way. If you touch his pen, you can awaken new talents in yourself.
You can also look inside the attraction and get acquainted with the exhibitions of the Agricultural Museum. Little ones will enjoy looking at scenes from the life of rural peasants and livestock, sitting in a real saddle, and older children will look at hunting trophies. Sometimes the museum conducts themed quests: children are given magnifying glasses and they go to fill out a map and look for one or another exhibit. During this time, parents can visit the winemaking hall and taste the best wines of Budapest and Hungary.
Budapest Zoo
Secondly, this is the Budapest Zoo. Animals from different parts of the Earth live peacefully on its territory, and you can get to know most of them better. Every day, zookeepers talk about the habits of animals, allow you to touch them (including a giraffe, a kangaroo, a llama), and the bravest ones are allowed to have lunch with the monkeys.
Instead of boring transitions from enclosure to enclosure, choose an interactive experience: take a walk with the penguins with your children, watch a monkey parade, or watch a sea lion show. When leaving the zoo, find the pool where the hippo lives, and tell the children that it is filled with thermal water from the very baths in which they will be splashing in half an hour.
We are talking about baths, which are located in a building that looks like a palace. This is the same Széchenyi, a balneotherapy hospital and thermal complex in Budapest with entertaining outdoor pools. Unlike the Kiraly and Rudas baths, which are strictly prohibited for children under 14 years of age, children of any age can swim here.
The main thing is to read the maximum possible time spent in the thermal pool (it is indicated on the signs) and allocate more time to sports and recreational pools that are safe for children. Drinking fountains with medicinal water are installed in the Széchenyi galleries. If the pediatrician deems it possible (check this before leaving), then it can be given to the child.
If you wish, you can take your children to the Budapest circus (it is located between the zoo and the amusement park), feed the ducks on the pond, play on the playground or visit the transport museum. The latter is interesting because children are allowed to touch and go inside trains, boats, and airplanes.
The end of your visit to Városliget Park is at the Wheel of Time. This is the name of the world's largest hourglass. All year round, sand is poured from the top flask into the bottom one, and on New Year's Eve they are turned over.
Museums of Budapest
In the stunning Miniversum miniature park, children will once again be able to see the main attractions of Budapest and throughout Hungary, Germany and Austria. Near each of them there is an interactive screen and... a control panel, thanks to which a child can start a windmill, set a train in motion and ring a bell. After viewing the exhibition, older children can go on a “Behind the Scenes” tour and listen to a story about how the layout of the attraction works. Kids go to the children's playroom, where you can play with a miniature railroad or model your own.
Little ones will definitely love it in the Palace of Miracles. Here they will find interactive science shows that prove the laws of physics, space laboratories and logic games. You can continue testing your senses by visiting the “Invisible Exhibition”. Crossing the threshold of Invisible Exhibition Budapest, both adults and children become blind and try to cross the improvised street, have lunch and drink tea using only their hearing and smell.
Outside of Budapest there are also many attractions worth visiting. One of them is Skansen, a huge ethnographic museum that introduces children to the culture and life of Hungarians of different incomes. Churches, stables, outbuildings and peasant houses have been recreated here, and you can go into all of them, look at the interior, try to bake bread or run a water mill. It is convenient to move around its territory by train or bicycle.
From different angles: Budapest underground, from water and from above
Do not deny your child the opportunity to ride on unique types of transport and see the sights of Budapest once again. Let's list them:
Metro. Vintage train carriages run along the yellow (oldest) line of the Budapest metro. If you like it, you can check out the Subway Museum.
Cog tram. It has a gear wheel that helps the tram climb hills and not roll down. Follow only one route - No. 60 (one of the stops is an attraction: the children's railway).
Amphibious bus. It cuts through the city center: first the bus moves on land, and then turns into an amphibian and descends onto the water. The duration of such a combined excursion is 1 hour 45 minutes.
Ferris wheel Sziget Eye. Every year it is installed in different parts of the city, but always in such a way that there is an excellent view of the historical sights of Budapest. Ride duration – 10 minutes.
When choosing a hotel in Budapest with children, you should also pay attention to transport connection. It’s a pity to waste time on the road to the sights if you have a day or two at your disposal. It is better to stay in the central part of Budapest, where there are a lot of luxury and budget hotels.
However, services for families with children are offered only in large hotels in Budapest. For example, Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest offers children's furniture and potties free of charge, children under 6 years old are fed free breakfast, Aquaworld Recort Budapest has kids club and a water park with children's slides. But you need to take into account that the center of Budapest is lively both day and night. Those who appreciate silence should prefer housing on east coast Danube. There are also budget ones family hotels, and apartments equipped with a kitchenette.
Holidays with children are always exciting and unforgettable journey, which you need to approach thoughtfully, prepare in advance and know what you actually want and expect from this vacation. In July 2014, my family (2 adults and 2 children) first visited Zakopane (read more) and then went to Budapest.
Budapest is the capital of Hungary, a beautiful city with its own culture and history. Interestingly, Budapest is a city consisting of two parts (Buda and Pest), located on both sides of the Danube. Previously Buda and Pest were independent cities, 1873 - the year of the merger of the two cities and the formation of Budapest.
Zoo in Budapest
Budapest Zoo, one of the oldest zoos in the world, will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2016. Zoo and Botanical Garden in Budapest is a unique nature reserve, on the territory of which there are more than a thousand rare species reptiles, mammals, plants and fish. The area of the reserve is about 12 hectares.
As of July 2014, the cost of an adult ticket was 2,500 forints or $11. children's ticket— 1800 forints or 8 dollars. The zoo is located near Heroes Square in the city park Varosliget. Not far from Heroes Square there is a huge free parking lot for cars.
You can devote half a day to visiting the zoo. On the territory of the zoo there is a children's playground and a cafe, and souvenirs are also sold here.
Szechenyi Bath
Budapest is famous for its thermal baths, one of which is the Széchenyi Bath, which we decided to visit.
The Szechenyi Bath is located in the city park Varosliget. An adult ticket as of July 2014 costs 4,100 forints or about $18. You can stay in the bath all day. On the territory of the bathhouse you can swim, sunbathe (there are benches, paid sun loungers and a concrete floor), visit thermal pools and saunas, and also have a snack in the cafe.
The water (whose temperature is +77 °C) rises into the bathhouse from a depth of about 1200 meters from the St. Stephen's spring. Ingredients: hydrocarbonate-sulfate-calcium-magnesium water containing sodium ions, microcomponents of fluorine and boron.
The Szechenyi Bath is a complex of indoor (15 pools) and outdoor (3) pools with different water temperatures, as well as 10 saunas and steam rooms. The temperature of indoor pools is 16°C, 18°C, 20°C, 28°C, 30°C, 34°C, 36°C, 38°C, 40°C and in each pool the water has a different chemical composition. Each pool has a sign with the name of the water and its temperature.
The downside is that all the inscriptions are only in Hungarian.
Oceanarium-tropicarium in Budapest
The Oceanarium is the largest aquarium reserve in Central Europe with an area of 3000 sq.m. Here you can see sharks swimming in a special 11-meter transparent tunnel. The aquarium has stingrays, shrimp, Amazonian piranhas, guitar fish and clown fish and others. There are also huge aquariums with colorful fish swimming there.
In the tropicarium, birds fly freely, small monkeys run around, and turtles crawl. Z There is a forest here (a jungle created artificially). During the excursion, tourists watch a real tropical downpour with thunder and lightning.
As of July 2014, the cost of an adult ticket is 2250 forints or 10 dollars.
Margaret Island
Margaret Island is located in the center of Budapest. Getting there is easy; the island is connected to Budapest by bridges on the north and south sides. You can do sports on the island. There are jogging tracks, swimming pools, and tennis courts.
Also on the island (which is 2.5 km long) there is a Japanese garden, a musical fountain, a chapel, a waterfall, and a mini zoo. Here you can rent a pedicab to get around the island.
Musical fountain video
Walk around the city
Budapest has many different attractions, including the Fisherman's Bastion, the Royal Palace, the amazing Parliament, and famous bridges, especially the chain bridge.
What impressed me most was the Parliament building, which They were built for about 20 years, from 1885 to 1904. The Houses of Parliament is one of the largest government buildings in the world. The length of its sides is 265 and 118 meters, and the height of the dome is 96 meters.
Chain bridge. The construction of this bridge lasted 7 years. And in 1849, at its opening, it was considered a wonder of the world. Length - 380 meters. In the evening this bridge looks amazing. Be sure to take a walk around Budapest in the evening; in the evening this city is simply mesmerizing and enchanting.
The Parliament building in Budapest with the Danube at night is stunning. See for yourself.
Balaton
Balaton is the famous Hungarian “sea”, which is located 100 km from Budapest. Actually, this is, of course, a lake. But, a lake with an area of 600 sq km and a coastline length of 195 km! Interestingly, on the site of the lake a long time ago there was the Pannonian Sea.
The depth of the lake differs greatly on the northern and southern shores. On south coast a depth of about 1 meter will be at a distance of 200-300 meters from the shore. And the bottom is fine velvety sand. A fairy tale, especially for families with small children! The water is warm (22-27 °C) and clean, although not transparent. Balaton is greenish in color due to the plankton it contains. The unique microclimate in the area of Lake Balaton is reminiscent of the Mediterranean. The beaches of Balaton are awarded the Blue Flag of the European Union for environmental cleanliness and developed infrastructure.
Also in Budapest you can ride the longest (almost 54 meters) tram in the world and the oldest metro (this line was built in 1896) in Europe.
On Margaret Island we tried Hungarian goulash soup. And, of course, don’t forget about Tokaj wines – white wines made from light grape varieties. The most famous are Tokaji aszú. We liked.
Budapest - unforgettable city, to which you want to return again. But it is best not to come in July, as it is very hot at that time. In July it is better to go to Lake Balaton, which captivated me with its beauty. At the same time, Balaton is suitable for both those who like to soak up the sun and those who like active recreation.
P.S. If you have any questions, I look forward to your comments.
Budapest is attentive to tourists looking for attractions. Wherever you go, he will erect on your way a luxurious palace, a monument in a noble patina or a grandiose bridge over the Danube. And you can walk a lot, wandering through the labyrinth of streets of Buda or pacing the spacious avenues of Pest.
Budapest is also attentive to those who are looking for comfort on vacation. Five-star hotels on the Danube steep slopes and cozy budget hotels satisfy tired travelers, and numerous restaurants attract with the hearty smell of goulash and promise new gastronomic pleasures.
Nose special attention Budapest is for children. For every adult attraction there is one children's playground, for every avenue with shops there is a shady park, and for every reputable restaurant there is a pastry shop with inexpressibly wonderful Hungarian sweets. And, as you will soon find out, these are not all the arguments in favor of holidaying with children in Budapest. Kidpassage will tell you about all the benefits family vacation in the capital of Hungary and will share ideas on how to spend time here with benefit and pleasure.
Where is Budapest
The city of Budapest is the capital of Hungary and the most Big City countries. Budapest is located in the north of Hungary, on both banks of the Danube, which divides the city into two parts, Buda and Pest. The distance from Budapest to Vienna is 243 km, to Bratislava - 200 km, to Prague - 525 km.
Once upon a time, the Celts lived in this place, then the Romans, Huns, Avars, and at the end of the 9th century west bank The Danube was settled by Hungarians who built Buda, the first political center of the Hungarian state. And on the eastern bank two centuries later Pest was built. The cities looked at each other until 1870, when Budapest arose as a result of their unification - modern capital Hungary, which in its splendor is not inferior to the capital of neighboring Austria.
Vacation with children
Is it worth coming to Budapest with children of preschool and primary school age? Definitely worth it. Yes, it is still difficult for such children to appreciate the features of neo-Gothic and Baroque architecture. But the concepts of “fairy tale” and “beauty” are very familiar to them.
The child most likely will not notice the flight to Budapest - the journey from Russia and Ukraine will take no more than 3 hours, and from the states neighboring Hungary even less. So within a few hours after leaving home you will find yourself in the center of one of the most beautiful cities Europe.
Here you can go wherever your eyes take you and be enchanted even without the help of guidebooks. The only thing you need to know for sure is what children's attractions there are in this city. You will find this information in our review.
If you are planning to relax or thermal resorts and you will only be passing through Budapest, try to carve out a day for a city tour. Even an hour-long walk along the Danube will be beneficial: the views of the city fit perfectly into any story about heroes and princesses (and in gloomy weather, also about vampires).
Family holidays in Budapest are also successful because high season There is no bad weather here.
Once your child gets tired of the excursions, you can go on vacation to the park or to the city beach. Despite the fact that there is no sea in Hungary, in the heat you can cool off in the baths and pools of the water park.
But if bad weather catches you while traveling, in any shopping and entertainment center there is a playroom where your child can spend excess energy. On the contrary, hearty Hungarian cuisine, which you can try in Budapest restaurants, will help you replenish your energy.
Otherwise, Budapest is convenient for relaxation, just as a large city can be convenient. There are enough hotels to suit every taste and many supermarkets where you can buy baby food, if you are vacationing with a baby.
There is a large selection of shops for shopping lovers and souvenir shops for those who are not used to returning from travel without souvenirs. Finally, there is a convenient public transport system, which allows you not to be tied to living in the city center.
When is the best time to go to Budapest?
It is difficult to praise Budapest enough: no matter what time you arrive, this ancient city will amaze you with its beauty. But most tourists prefer to visit Hungary during the summer holidays.
It is generally accepted that the high season in Budapest lasts from May to October. This best time for walking tours and walks along the Danube, this is the time for holidays and festivals.
In mid-June, the capital blooms with the bright colors of the Danube Carnival, and in August, a folk arts festival is held here and St. Stephen's Day is celebrated - the main public holiday in Hungary. At the same time, summer is a time of long queues to attractions and high prices in hotels.
Another tourist wave hits the city in mid-December, when Hungarians are preparing for Christmas. During this period, Christmas markets are noisy in the capital, and the aromas of ginger, vanilla and cinnamon float through the streets. The cheerful pre-holiday crowd is a joy for children, especially since the fairgrounds always offer free entertainment for children.
And if the light December frost stings your cheeks, The best way to warm up - pick up a warm, freshly baked kurteskalach, a twisted tube of sweet dough, and eat this delicacy right on the spot, listening to Christmas carols and squinting from the bright street lights. The flow of tourists will subside by mid-January, and there will be a lull in the city until the warmth of May.
However, during the cold season many people come to Budapest, having heard about medicinal properties waters in the Hungarian baths. People come to Hungary for water treatment all year round, but in winter it costs less than in summer.
Weather and climate
Budapest's temperate continental climate is similar to that of its neighboring capitals, Vienna and Bratislava. Main city Hungary basks in the warmth of summer for a long time, enjoys a fine off-season and enjoys a mild winter.
The warmest months in Budapest are July and August. average temperature at this time it is +22°C. But the warmth conducive to walking begins already in May, when the air warms up to +17°C. It gets even warmer in June, and mid-summer can sometimes be sultry in Spanish style. A good characteristic of the Budapest summer is that from mid-June to early September there are water parks under open air, and residents relax on city beaches.
September is considered a continuation of summer - the air temperature drops slightly. The October coolness cools thermometers to +11°C, and in November, despite the approach of winter, the temperature still does not drop below zero.
The coldest month of winter is January. The average daily temperature is - 3°C. Budapest is rarely visited by severe frosts, and snowfalls do not happen here every year, but a cold wind almost always blows from the Danube, carrying prickly ice chips. By the end of March, usually there is no trace of winter left, and in April, when the thermometers confidently stay at no lower than +12°C, Hungarian capital takes on the most postcard-like appearance.
Rain, as a rule, does not bother guests of Budapest. The greatest chance of getting wet is in May and June, but in the off-season the weather is usually dry, although not always sunny.
