1. Margaret Island
The city's most beloved recreational area, located in the middle of the Danube, in the center of Budapest. You can come here to chill, have a picnic, take a nap in the shade, excercise or hang out in one of the restaurants and bars. Check out my detailed guide for Margaret Island:
Margaret Island
@ExploraDora
Easily reachable and you can spend a whole day on the island.
Details
2. City Park
Located right next to the iconic Heroes’ Square, the City Park (Városliget in Hungarian) offers endless recreational opportunities. Want to have a relaxing spa day? Visit the most famous thermal bath called Széchenyi fürdő. Fancy seeing the nice panorama of the city and doing something different? Have a balloon flight! Wish to see the most Instagrammable places of the City Park? Go visit the fairy-tale looking Vajdahunyad Castle or hire a paddle boat on the lake. If you are visiting during winter, the lake is turned into a gigantic ice skating rink. Want to try outstanding Hungarian dishes? Eat at the iconic Gundel restaunant. Looking for activities that kids would also enjoy? Visit the zoo or spend time at one of the thematic playgrounds. Feeling like getting a bit of culture? Check out the exhibitions at the Museum of Fine Arts, at Kunsthalle and at the House of Music.
Besides all this, the City Park has large green areas where you can chill, have a picnic or walk in the shades of the platan trees. If you feel like exercising, there is a running track around the park (approx. 5 km long) or you can play volleyball or petangue. There are quite a few cafés, restaurants, food stands scattered around in case you get hungry from doing sports.
How to get there?
Take metro line 1 from Deák Ferenc square and get off at Hősök tere (Heroes' Square) or Széchenyi fürdő ( Szécheny thermal bath) station. Just riding the metro 1 is an experience in itself because this is the second oldest undergound line in the world! The metro cars are small and old-school and the whole line is quite short compared to the modern ones.
There is also a bike lane along Andrássy avenue, if you are into biking, I recommend this scenic ride.
What to do?
Széchenyi Thermal Bath
@ExploraDora
The most iconic thermal bath of Budapest. Yes, it is touristy but you can still spot old local guys playing chess in the hot pool.
Details
BalloonFly
@ExploraDora
You rise 150 meters with a huge ballon to have an unfergottable panorama of the city. it is definitely more exciting and less exhausting than climbing the steps to a lookout tower.
Details
Vajdahunyad Castle
@ExploraDora
Fairy tale looking castle showcasing various architectural styles of the Hungarian history. Famous Insta spot.
Details
City Park Ice Rink and Boating
@ExploraDora
You can hire paddle boats and rowing boat during the summer. The lake is turned into a huge ice skating rink during winter.
Details
Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden
@ExploraDora
Even adults find the Budapest Zoo outstanding and enjoyable. There are lots of different animals and at certain times of the days you can even watch their feeding or their training.
Details
Museum of Fine Arts
@ExploraDora
The museum was recently renovated, the interior is fascinating. It has an extensive permanent collection including pieces from Raffaello, Tiziano, Velázquez, El Greco and from the most famous Hungarian artists. The temporary exhibitions are also outstading.
Details
House of Music Hungary
@ExploraDora
A relatively new museum dedicated to music. The building itself is worth a visit thanks to its unique architecture design. They regularly organize concerts and they have temporary exhibitions (e.g. Divas) that were previously shown at the Victora and Albert Museum in Lodon.
Details
Main Playground in Városliget
@ExploraDora
Huge playground for kids with big slides and a huge balloon decoration.
Details
Where to eat?
Gundel Restaurant
@ExploraDora
A century old, emblematic restaurant serving Hungarian dishes. Don't forget to try their signature dish called Gundel palacsinta: crepe with a filling made from rum, raisin, walnuts, and lemon zest, served with chocolate sauce.
Details
Pántlika Bistro
@ExploraDora
A place for casual dining, offering burgers, street food and drinks. It has a lovely atmosphere, especially on summer nights,
Details
Zöld Küllő
@ExploraDora
Another casual place, offering burgers, sandwiches and drinks. They have lots of tables in case you are coming with a big group.
Details
3. Normafa: above the Buda hills
Normafa is a popular location among locals because it is only a 25-minute bus ride or a 15-minute car ride from the center of Budapest. It offers scenic views above the city, fresh air and lush forests. You can walk to Elizabeth lookout to get the best panoramic views or you can hike in the forest and forget completely that you are in a big city. In the winter, it often snows up there and there is one easy ski slope which is perfect for beginners. There is also a ski school at Normafa, they have a plastic slope so you can learn skiing even when there is no snow.
How to get there?
Take bus number 21 from Széll Kálmán square and go till the last stop. Alternatively, you can take bus number 221 and get off at Csillagvizsgáló station, The best is to type 'Normafa Síház' into Google maps and take the first bus that leaves. You can also take car/taxi and park at the designated areas.
You can even take a cute mini railway to Normafa which leaves from Hűvösvölgy station. The ticket inspectors on the train are children (aged between 10-14) and they are all train enthusiasts.
What to do?
Elizabeth Lookout
@ExploraDora
Amazing views from the top, you see the majority of the city plus a green forest nearby. There is no entrance fee!
Details
Chairlift
@ExploraDora
Technically, this is another way to get up to Normafa but I think it is an experience in itself. You can take a chair lift up to Normafa and enjoy the view on the way up.
Details
Normafa ski and sledge slope
@ExploraDora
If there is enough snow in the winter, you can ski on this slope or have a fairly adventurous sledge ride.
Details
Where to eat?
Normafa Síház
@ExploraDora
The place is called 'Normafa ski hut', has a lovely atmosphere, offers delicious dishes and you can even rent it as an event (e.g. wedding, team building, birthday) location. Such a unique place for celebrating special events!
Details
Normafa Strudel Stand
@ExploraDora
After you reached the end of the parking area, you will find several food and drink stands. Look for the one offering strudels (rétes in Hungarian) and ask for the flavour of your preference (I highly recommend the one with poppy seed or with sour cherry). Ask for a glass of sour cherry juice, it is not on the menu but normally they have it hidden in the back - it tastes super nice!
Details
4. Budapart - Kopaszi-gát
An up-and-coming neighbourhood that is very different from the
traditional city center of Budapest. The area is located at a bay of the Danube and used to be an industrial zone, It has been renovated and turned into a fancy apartment and office complex. Here, you can find the tallest building of Budapest:
The MOL Campus. The tower is the closest we have to a skyscraper, it is the
headquarter of MOL, the Hungaroan oil company and caused lots of controversy due
to its height and design. The residential buildings are modern looking and
often criticized because of their high prices. It is a very interesting area to
visit because it offers a different perspective on Budapest.
The complex includes a recreational area called Kopaszi-gát (Kopaszi dam) which
has waterfront restaurants and bars. There is also a beach here which is unique
because it is one of the few places where you can safely swim in the Danube in
Budapest.
How to get there?
Go to Astoria in the city center and take bus 107 direction Infopark. Get off at Budapart stop. There is also a bike lane that goes all the way to the dam.
What to do?
MOL Campus
@ExploraDora
You can go to the top and admire the views of the city from a completely new angle. It's also super interesting to see a modern office building that is the headquarter of one of the most influential Hungarian companies.
Details
Stand Up Paddle
@ExploraDora
You can hire stand up paddles and enjoy the tranquility of the bay.. It is quite a surreal feeling: looking up to the MOL skyscraper while paddling on the Danube in Budapest!
Details
Flava Beach
@ExploraDora
One of the few beaches where you can swim in the Danube in Budapest. You can choose to stay on the grass or the sand and there are loats of deck chairs too. You can enjoy sipping refreshing cocktails at the beach bar.
Details
Where to eat?
VakVarjú Beach Bistro
@ExploraDora
Vakvarjú has several restaruants in Budapest, they are know for having a diverse menu. Whether you feel like having a hearty dish or a light salad, you will surely find something you like.
Details
The DAM_n Good Place
@ExploraDora
Cosy café serving great quality coffees and cakes. The interior design is very modern and the outside table are overlooking the waterfront
Details
Salve Pizza Napoletana
@ExploraDora
If you are craving a good pizza at Budapart, you need to try this restaurant! They are serving Neopolitans tyle pizzas, the dough is amazing.
Details
Dobay BudaPart Cukrászda és Pékség
@ExploraDora
A lovely pastry shop serving delicious cakes, ice cream, breakfast and coffee. Try their pistacchio croissant!
Details
Ciocolatte Gelateria
@ExploraDora
One of the best gelato shops in Budapest, owned by a Hungarian-Italian couple. Every scoop of gelato tastes like a little, yummy piece of Italy.
Details
Dürer Kert
@ExploraDora
Concert venue, beer garden, underground party location, regularly hosting cultural events. You can come here, have a drink, chill in the hammocks or play table tennis.
Details
5. Millenáris Buda
Located close to Széll Kálmán square, right next to Mammut shopping center. The area was renovated and the new park opened in 2020, it used to be an industrial zone and a parking lot. Today, it consists of large grassy areas, fish ponds, a hanging garden, design solar panels and several chill zones. Their motto is 'Do step on the grass!'
How to get there?
Take tramline 4 or 6 to Széna tér or take metro line M2 to Széll Kálmán tér. Yepp, you guessed well, you can also reach it via a bike lane.
What to do?
Széllkapu park
@ExploraDora
Come visit the hanging garden, check out the view from the panorama lookout, admire the design solar panels and cool down in the modern water fountain that is built into the ground.
Details
National Dance Theatre – Budapest
@ExploraDora
If you are into dance performances, this is your place! They have approx. 300 performances every year, from classical ballet to modern break dancing.
Details
Fény Street Market
@ExploraDora
Although it is not located exactly at Millenáris, you can easily walk from the park to check out the most beloved farmer's market of Buda. Why not grab a few fresh, organic products and have a picnic at Millenáris park?
Details
Where to eat?
Nor/ma Grand
@ExploraDora
Nordic style bakery where you can enjoy the view of the park at the tables outside. Their pastries and breads are very tasty, they serve specialty coffee and natural wine. It is truly a northern European place in the middle of Budapest.
Details
Zsiráf Buda
@ExploraDora
Good pizzas, great cocktails and cool after-work atmosphere.
Details
6. Feneketlen-tó
Feneketlen-tó is truly a hidden green oasis where locals usually hang out on hot summer afternoons and evenings. Literal translation would be ' bottomless lake' which gives the place a mysterious vibe - is it really that deep?! Unfortunately, you cannot jump in to find out so it remains an unresolved mystery ;)
How to get there?
Take tram line 49 to Kosztolányi Dezső tér or tram line 47 to Móricz Zsigmond körtér and walk 10 minutes to the lake. You can also come by bike.
What to do?
You can walk around the lake, chill on the benches, run on the running track or eat at the restaurants overlooking the lake.
Where to eat?
Hemingway Restaurant
@ExploraDora
A restaurant with an interior that reminds me of the movie ' Where the Crawdads Sing'. Their menu is quite diverse, you can find everything from fish to meat courses. They offer Sunday brunches which is basically a buffet lunch on Sundays( not many brunch items on the menu).
Details
Este11
@ExploraDora
Cosy place with a garden, offering drinks and burgers. Better to book a table before coming here.
Details
If you would like to visit these places by bike, try the bike sharing system called Mol BUBI. It is easy to use, have lots of decking stations around the city and you can take your sightseeing to the next level.
I wish you a great green time in Budapest!
* * *
