Travelling to Budapest with kids checks all the boxes for both a weekend getaway or school holiday break. It’s easy on the budget, locals are kid friendly, and there is plenty to do that both kids and parents alike will enjoy.
If you read my last post, you know that I’m travelling with one additional kid these days. We have had Budapest on the wish list for a few years now after a good friend relocated there from England. It was the perfect destination for our first trip as a family of four, and for our son’s very first trip abroad. If you’re travelling with kids to Budapest, these are my top five recommendations.
1. Budapest with Kids: Explore the city by foot
Listen, my kids complain when I say that we are about to go on a walk for the day – especially when it’s a sweltering hot, August day in Budapest. But they do it, and then they honestly enjoy it. (Bonus: They are completely worn out by day’s end, leaving the adults to enjoy an evening of wine and silence.)
Budapest is a beautiful city to explore by foot. I often try and see as much of a destination by walking as possible, but in Budapest this is impossible. The city is much too spread out to get everywhere by foot, but for a day of relaxed sightseeing – perfect.
We spent two days of our week simply walking. Walking along the Danube, across ancient bridges, around the Old Town; meandering through alleyways, churches and major attractions.
It can get hot during the summer in Budapest. Uncomfortably blazing. But the great thing about walking is that you can stop at a local cafe for beer or an ice cream anytime it becomes necessary. The prices are incredibly wallet friendly and it’s another great way to get to know the city.
Walking may not be everyone’s idea of a top thing to do, but we had an amazing time exploring the city by foot together and it helped balance out all the beer, ice cream, and fried food along the way.
2. Budapest with Kids: Visit Margaret Island
(Margitsziget)
Our friends in Budapest took us to Margaret Island, home to a beautiful park in central Budapest, and we had the best time. It’s popular with locals (always a good sign) and it’s perfect for families. You could easily spend a couple hours to an entire day, depending on how much time you have in Budapest.
Margaret Island is connected to the city by Margaret Bridge, which you can walk across. The island is large, but you can take the bus, hire a bike, or rent a golf cart type car to get around. We had time on our side so opted for good old fashioned walking.
Much like NYC’s Central Park and London’s Hyde Park, Margaret Island is an oasis in the city. There are gardens and tons of green space, just like the more well known city parks, but the island has so much more to do.
We started our visit at Hippie Island, a quirky outdoor bar and restaurant. The prices were still very reasonable (570 HUF /£1.60 for 0.5 local beer and 720 HUF/£2.01 for a fresh lemonade) and the atmosphere, while nothing to write home about, was great for catching up with old friends over a few drinks.
Kids will love visiting the Palatinus pool and water park, the musical fountain which welcomes you on arrival, or having a picnic and play in the park grass. We went with the latter option, enjoying the shade from the trees for the afternoon while the kids ran around in circles.
We finished our visit at one of the park’s cafes to sample the famous lángos, a deep fried dough smothered in sour cream and shredded cheese. It’s up there in the top things I’ve ever put into my mouth. If you don’t manage to sample this heart attack inducing Hungarian delicacy on the island, make sure you eat it somewhere else.
3. Budapest with Kids: Go to the Hungarian State Opera House
I know, I know. Kids and opera don’t typically mesh well. But the Hungarian State Opera House offers tours which are fantastic for exposing young travellers to opera and a breathtaking venue.
The opera’s main auditorium is under construction through 2019, but they are offering tours with a mini opera concert instead while the renovations take place.
While we didn’t see the main auditorium, the rest of the building is stunning. The mini concert was perfect for keeping short attention spans in check, and the kids really enjoyed the special performance.
Price for the tour and concert is 2490 HUF / £7 per person. You can check for up-to-date times and booking information here. We booked directly at the ticket desk right before the tour began, and we didn’t have any issues.
4. Budapest with Kids: Relax at Római Part (Roman Riverbank)
One of my favourite days in Budapest was spent at Római Part. This riverside Budapest favorite is outside of the center, but well worth the trek. If skipping rocks into the Danube, eating and drinking incredibly cheap, and avoiding the masses of tourists is for you – don’t miss this place.
We decided to take the riverboat to the area, combining a river cruise and public transport in one go. It took longer than some of the other options but allowed us to see the majority of the city’s landmarks from the river. (You can plan your route here.)
Play on the waterslides at Római Strandfürdő
Our first stop was actually a swimming pool/baths within walking distance of Római Part called Római Strandfürdő . It ended up being a great choice while exploring Budapest with kids, and was a fun activity for the morning. The spring water of these particular baths has been enjoyed all the way back to the Romans.
The entire property was recently rennovated and it was surpringly modern, clean, and good value for money considering how long it’s been around. There are changing rooms, lockers, and kiosks serving food and drinks. In addition to a giant pool with great waterslides, there is also a swimming area for toddlers and babies. A family ticket for four was just under £20 at 6900 HUF.
What to do at Római Part
Once the kids had swam their hearts out, we walked over to Római Part to explore. After days and days of blistering sunshine, the skies opened up and poured rain down on us. It was one of those rains that soaks you from head to toe in 10 seconds, but then completely stops a second later. The path along the river was mostly dirt and gravel, which meant muddy puddles. So the kids were happy from the start.
The area has dozens of restaurants and street food type vendors, most serving drinks of the alcoholic nature as well. I don’t remember the prices exactly, but I do remember everything was significantly cheaper than it had been in the city center. We had read that the fried fish was outstanding at Római Part, so that’s what I went for. I can vouch for that particular recommendation, the fish was fresh with incredible flavor.
We literally cafe hopped down the riverbank, stopping often for drinks and to sample different dishes. Római Part is also a great place to try the lángos I mentioned before.
We ended our day at Római Part simply enjoying the Danube. It’s was really fun to play along the riverbank. The kids loved throwing stones and splashing. I loved watching them in total joy with the moment.
5. Budapest with Kids: Budapest City Park
You’ll be able to easily spend a day at the City Park if you’re in Budapest with kids. (Although I’d be hanging here kid-free as well.) Not far from the center, it’s a great location for enjoying lot’s of different attractions. From the World Heritage Site of Heroes Square to the famous Széchenyi thermal baths to the Budapest Zoo – it’s all here!
Vajdahunyad Castle
We began at Vajdahunyad Castle, built in 1896 for the 1000th birthday of the Hungarian State. It’s surrounded by a boating lake where you can rent paddle boats and admire the architecture from the water.
Some believe that Bram Stoker envisioned Vajdahunyad Castle as the home of his infamous character Dracula. True or not, there is a statue of Hungarian actor Bela Lagosi, who played Dracula in the first sound film based on the book, within the castle’s courtyard.
Heroes’ Square
Whether or not you are in Budapest with kids, every visitor to the city should see Heroes’ Square. Also built to commemorate Hungary’s 1000th birthday, this impressive square is dotted with larger than life monuments. It’s easy to see why it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Along with the more famous attractions, Budapest City Park has plentiful green space and playgrounds for the kids.
Those are my five recommendations for things to do in Budapest with kids. With a week in the city we saw and experienced so much more, but these were my standout favorites. What would you add to this list?
