Planning a metropolis break in Hungary’s capital? It’s not an apparent alternative for households however being unconventional usually pays off. We cherished our seven day summer time keep! On this publish I’m sharing a number of the greatest issues to do in Budapest with children primarily based on private expertise and an extended record of locations we couldn’t squeeze into our fun-packed week-long itinerary.
*This publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks*
We didn’t go to Budapest simply with the kids. We roped within the grandparents too and located Budapest was a brilliant simple metropolis to get round with loads to maintain our multi-generational group entertained.
Whether or not you need to discover Hungary’s historical past, get pleasure from unimaginable metropolis vistas or discover one of the best locations to loosen up and play, there’s one thing on this Budapest household information for you.
So, with out additional ado, right here’s our really useful issues to do in Budapest with children:
Make a splash at a thermal tub
One of many high causes Budapest is a must-visit vacation spot for {couples} and pal travellers is its thermal baths. However they’re not only for adults!
Kids can go to too.
The truth is when you requested my ladies about their favorite place to go to in Budapest they’ll say it was Széchenyi Thermal Bathtub* in Metropolis Park. We’d suggest trying out this one when you’re visiting Budapest with children.
Széchenyi was constructed within the early twentieth Century and is Budapest’s largest tub advanced in addition to being the biggest in Europe.
Kids beneath 14-years-old are usually not allowed within the indoor and medicinal swimming pools however they’re allowed within the out of doors swimming pools. There’s a heat pool with a lazy river and water jets, a big sizzling pool, and a lane swimming pool the place they will swim to their coronary heart’s content material.
Adults can take it in turns to go to the indoor baths, with pool temperatures starting from a cold 20°c to a toasty 38°c, and the steam rooms. If you need an actual deal with you may guide a therapeutic massage or beer tub.
Climb St Stephen’s Basilica
St Stephen’s Basilica is Hungary’s most outstanding Catholic Church and value a go to for a number of causes: the inside is spectacular; it has its personal piece of Horrible Histories – the mummified proper arm of St Stephen (King István); and you may climb all the way in which to the roof for sensible views of Budapest.
There are 304 units as much as the panoramic viewing platform. For those who don’t fancy that there’s additionally a elevate that takes you as much as the ultimate staircase which leaves simply 42 steps. It’s slim so you could have to attend for individuals to go if it’s a busy day.
Half method down the tower you may cease on the treasury for a breather and to ogle a bejewelled assortment of crowns, candelabras and statues.
You may get tickets for St Stephen’s simply throughout the sq.. A household ticket (two adults and two youngsters) for the principle church, panoramic view and treasury price 17,400 HUF (about £38) once we visited.
Store at Central Market Corridor
Perhaps keep away from this if you’re visiting Budapest with toddlers, however you probably have tweens or teenagers who love consuming and shopping for native treats then Central Market Corridor has all of it. It’s a buying hub for locals and vacationers alike.
The butchers and fish stalls are within the basement whereas the fruit and veg, Hungarian honey, paprika, cheeses and cooked meats are on the bottom flooring.
Above on a community of balconies you could find souvenirs starting from leather-based items to Russian dolls and lace. There’s additionally impartial eating places and avenue meals stalls promoting goulash and noodles, sausages, paprika-rich stews and deep fried Lángos bread smothered in cheese.
It’s free to go searching however you’re sure to be tempted to make a purchase order or two. For those who handle to bag some seats at one of many greater stage cafes there’s some nice individuals watching available too.
Cruise on the Danube River
You possibly can’t go to Budapest with out taking a visit down the well-known river that flows by means of town. Travelling down the Danube you may see one of the best views of well-known landmarks just like the Hungarian Parliament constructing.
Night time cruises are actually fashionable as town is gorgeous when lit at night time. Nonetheless, when you’re visiting Budapest with children you would possibly need to keep on with a daytime cruise.
Hen and stag events dominate night cruises earlier than and after hitting the bars.
There are a number of corporations to select from. We booked our Danube river cruise by means of Get Your Information*. Discover one with English commentary or a information to get essentially the most out of the expertise.
Budapest Zoo
For those who’ve visiting Budapest with children and need a segway from the historical past, then Budapest Zoo is an efficient solution to break up your journey. We crammed a complete afternoon right here.
When it comes to ethics, it’s a member of each EAZA (the European Affiliation of Zoos and Aquaria) and WAZA (the World Affiliation for Zoos and Aquariums) committing it to excessive requirements of animal welfare and conservation.
Budapest Zoo was established in 1866 making it one of many oldest zoos on this planet. It’s dwelling to greater than 1,000 species together with otters, leopards, rhinos, hippos, giraffes, Indian elephants and extra mini beasts than we may presumably rely.
The zoo is a giant household attraction however we had been actually impressed by the value. Once we visited it price lower than £50 for 2 adults, two OAPs and two children.
There are frequent cafes serving beer (a primary for us in a zoo) and Lángos.
Swot up on nationwide historical past on the Hungarian Nationwide Musuem
The Nationwide Museum in Southern Pest covers the historical past of the Carpathian Basin and what’s now Hungary from the Stone Age by means of to trendy instances.
Exhibitions embrace hoards of bronze, silver and gold, porcelain from the Austo-Hungarian royal family and shows concerning the Fascist and Communist occupations of the twentieth Century.
We spent two hours wanting round however you may spend longer. For those who go to with smaller children you’ll discover a play space and inexperienced house for them to run round outdoors. That is free.
The Museum itself is open Tuesday to Sunday and you may get a household ticket for 2 adults and as much as three youngsters for an inexpensive 6,200 HUF (about £13.50).
Take the funicular to Buda Fort
This riverside funicular was was initially in-built 1870 however was broken in the course of the Second World Struggle and dismantled.
It reopened in 1986 to whisk guests 51 meters to the highest of the hill in only a few minutes – best if you wish to get the children to the highest of Fort Hill with none moaning.
On the finish of your trip you disembark outdoors the grounds of Buda Fort.
Once we visited return tickets price 4,000 HUF for adults and a couple of,000 HUF for youngsters aged 3 to 14-years-old. It’s not low-cost for a 5 minute journey however its extra enjoyable than climbing the hill by foot!
Benefit from the views from Buda Fort
There was a fort and city overlooking the Danube because the thirteenth Century with numerous re-organisations led by the leaders of the day.
The palace on the hill at present was initially constructed within the 18th Century and reconstructed after being broken in the course of the Second World Struggle.
It’s not a royal residence however it’s dwelling to Hungary’s historical past museum and nationwide gallery.
We missed out on seeing inside as Buda Fort is closed on Mondays, however we nonetheless acquired to stroll alongside the partitions and thru the courtyards for essentially the most spectacular views of town.
Relying on how a lot historical past you’ve already included in your journey you would possibly need to go to on a unique day to profit from Buda Fort. There are additionally underground tunnels.
Take a spin on the Budapest Eye
Also called, The Ferris Wheel of Budapest, the Budapest Eye is the biggest cell ferris wheel in Europe, however it nonetheless isn’t as tall as Budapest Parliament or St Stephen’s Basilica.
There was no queue once we visited, so we opted for the usual tickets, which price 4,300 HUF for adults (about £10) and a couple of,300 HUF for youngsters (about £5). This acquired us three spins.
You possibly can improve for precedence queuing when you’re in a rush on a busy day or a champagne bundle when you’re feeling fancy.
Get pleasure from Budapest’s island oasis, Margitsziget (St Margaret’s Island)
St Margaret’s Island is a metropolis park within the Danube River and is free to go to. It’s someplace to go and loosen up with a picnic, go for a stroll, benefit from the gardens or go to certainly one of its sights.
The island is dwelling to Palatinus Strand thermal baths that are tremendous family-friendly with slides, a wave pool and fountains. It’s additionally loads cheaper than Széchenyi which we visited.
Different issues to Dom on Margitsziget embrace exploring the ruins of a monastery and convent that after stood on the island, and climbing the Artwork Nouveau St Margaret’s water tower for one more perspective on town.
I’d actually hoped to suit this into our metropolis break. It’s positively a motive too return to Budapest!
Calm down at a water characteristic
We visited Budapest in July and it was sizzling!
It was such a reduction to seek out water options within the Internal Metropolis district. Stopping on the ones outdoors the Hungarian Parliament and Freedom Sq. made an extended day of strolling far more bearable.
Foodie treats to attempt in Budapest
We don’t get a lot sightseeing completed earlier than our ladies ask for a pit cease, so we had the possibility to attempt a number of Hungarian avenue meals throughout our week.
Right here’s those they cherished (spoiler alert, they’re not the healthiest snacks!):
Take pleasure in a Gelato Rose
Gelato Rose is greater than an ice cream parlour – it’s a must-visit Budapest vacation spot in itself.
The desserts it serves close to St Stephan’s Basilica are usually not strictly gelato (I do know this issues to Italian meals connoisseurs) however they’re scrumptious and introduced in a brilliant fairly method. The ice cream is scooped utilizing a particular instrument to make an image good rose.
Strive Chimney Cake
One other candy deal with for the entire household is Hungarian chimney cake or Kürtőskalács. You should buy these doughnut-like spirals rolled in sugar or flavoured coatings and, when you’re feeling fancy, crammed with ice cream and sweets.
Your children will love you for getting them one however ensure you are near someplace they will run off the sugar excessive afterwards.
Refill on Lángos
On the extra hearty finish of Budapest’s culinary providing is that this deep-friend flatbread smothered in garlic, bitter cream and cheese. You may get additional toppings like sausage and ham.
To me, they style like a savoury doughnut. I’m unsure I may comply with one with a chimney cake!
Order a lemonade
Lemonade in Hungary is extra akin to a virgin cocktail with ice, fruit and, no doubt, additional sugar combined in. We ordered what we thought can be a plain lemonade for the ladies on our first day and instantly had drink envy.
Hungarian lemonades are freshly squeezed and have totally different fruits added to make them tremendous scrumptious. Transfer over 7 Up!
So these are the issues we loved most about Budapest. If you wish to discover our extra about what we fitted into every day of our metropolis break, the place we stayed and the place we ate check out my seven day Budapest itinerary.
Is a metropolis break in Budapest in your bucket record? Have you ever been impressed by our really useful issues to do in Budapest with children?
Want extra info? I used the Eye Witness information to Budapest* information when planning our journey.
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Disclosure: this publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks. For those who click on on certainly one of these hyperlinks and make a purchase order I’ll earn some fee. This doesn’t have an effect on the value you pay.