Children Activities in Budapest
Overview

You can choose from a wide selection of children activities in Budapest. So don't hesitate to bring your kids with you to explore the Hungarian capital.

Outdoor Children Activities in Budapest

Budapest offers some green areas where you and your little ones can enjoy the fresh air and numerous great activities.

First I would take my children to the City Park (Városligeti Park). The park is a real source of entertainment because it gives home to the

Budapest Amusement Park, the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Gardens, and the (View pictures about our visit in the Zoo in the Gallery) Budapest Grand Circus.

You can find the City Park on Budapest Citymap marked 9.

Don't miss rowing on the lake in summer or ice skating in winter. You can see the tower of the charming mock castle, Vajdahunyad Vára from Heroes' Square. The castle introduces you to Hungarian Architectural styles. It houses the Agricultural Museum. City Park offers some fine family-friendly restaurants, see our restaurant recommendation below.

TIP: How about taking your kids on a cruise on the Danube? Both you and your little ones will enjoy the scenic view on the gently gliding ship. Great food is offered on board. Even vegetarians will find tasty dishes from the selection of the buffet dinner. Find more information and book your place for the Danube cruise here.

I don't know about your kids but our son is a water fanatic. Luckily Budapest is a city of baths and nothing is more refreshing in a hot summer day than splashing in the waters. See a list of the most popular beaches in Budapest.

The good news is that bathing is not restricted to summer months only, because several thermal baths operate in the city throughout the year.

See our pages about Budapest Spas and Budapest Baths. I recommend taking the waters in the Széchenyi Baths (it's in the City Park so you can combine bathing with visiting the the Zoo and the Amusement Park)

The idylic Margaret Island in the Danube's embrace is ideal for leisurely walks.
I bet your kids would love to pedal along the paths on a small vehicle called bringohinto, pet the animals in the small zoo or listen to the music of a lovely fountain.

TIP: see also our detailed guide to the most popular Budapest attractions.

You can rent the bringohinto on the island. In summer you can refresh in the open-air Palatinus Beach that has a wave bath, slides, neck massage, sodrófolyosó, bubble. Several playgrounds and sport activities provide for further entertainment.

If you love hiking go up the leafy Buda Hills, the lung of Budapest. You can travel up in the hills by uncommon vehicles like the Children's Railway (Gyermekvasút), the Chair lift (Libegő) or the Cogwheel Railway. They make the trip interesting and fun.

Read what other travellers say about the Children's Railway at TripAdvisor.

Europe's largest Skate and Leisure Park the Görzenál in the III. district is skaters' paradise. The park has been awaiting active sports lovers since 1995. Besides skating you can do BMX riding, wall-climbing, jumping on trampoline.

Although it's outside Budapest the Aquarena Water Park at Mogyoród is a real pleasure especially in a hot summer day. Mogyoród is a small village some 20 kms northeast of Budapest, you can get there on the M3 motorway. The F1 Hungarian Grand Prix is held at Mogyoród every summer.

The Festival for Families and Children welcomes families every summer on weekends in June and during the first week in July on the Hajógyári Island in Óbuda.

Vintage locomotive and railcars and a lost of activities awaits kids and their parents in an awesome outdoor museum, the Hungarain Railway Museum.

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Indoor Children Activities in Budapest

If your kids still have energy to explore other children activites in Budapest you can visit plenty of indoor attractions. The Palace of Miracles (Csodák Palotája, in Millenáris Park) provides for interactive entertainment, that grown-ups enjoy as much as children do. The playhouse offers a wide variety of hands-on scientific games and experiments that help your children understand scientific rules and facts in playful way.

Enter into the futue in the the recently opened House of Future (Jövő Háza, also in Millenáris Park) and learn about space travel, gen technology, astronomy. Adults will enjoy the educational yet entertaining exhibitions as well.

Visit the Tropicarium, a spectacular Aquarium in Campona shopping mall to admire nature's wonders, sharks and other interesting fishes and tropical creatures from close. (View pictures in our Budapest Photo Gallery).

In the Laser Theatre in the Planetarium impressive laser shows introduce the secrets of stars and the universe to you and your children. Famous singers' and bands' music accompany the visual display: hits from the Queen, Pink Floyd, Vangelism Carmina Burana and even Madonna's songs make the show an unforgettable experience.

The Labyrinth of Caves in Budapest Castle District (Entrance 1: Úri utca 9., Entrance 2: 1014 Budapest, Lovas út 4/A) is another enthralling attraction for kids in our capital city. The labyrinth with some great interactive programs is open 24 hours eevry day. The night time programs by the light of a lantern are definitely thrilling. Learn about the programs in the Labyrinth here. NOTE: the Labyrinth has been closed down by the city leaders in July 2011 hopefully only for a temporary duration.

Special Labyrinth Programs on Christmas and Easter Monday On Boxing Day you can walk through the labyrinth by the light of 1000 candles while on Easter Monday by thelight of 1001 candles. Adults can visit these two programs for the price of a children ticket (600 HUF).

Some great Budapest Museums for Children:

• Hungarian Natural History Museum (Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum) - the museum has interactive exhibitions to entertain and educate kids

Eating Out with Kids in Budapest

Although the list of child-friendly restaurants is not long, you'll find some very family-friendly restaurants in Budapest. These restaurants provide for high-chairs, but to be on the safe side always book one in advance. Some of these restaurants serve children's menus.

Bagolyvár (Owl's Castle) in City Park

Address: Állatkerti körút 3., XIV. district
Tel: + 36 1 468 3110

Gundel (City Park)

Address: Állatkerti körút 2., XIV. district
Tel: +36 1 321 3550

Biarritz Café & Restaurant

Address: Kossuth tér 18. 1055, V. district
Tel: +36 1 311 4413

Náncsi Néni Vendéglője (Aunt Náncsi's Restaurant), bit out of the city center, up in the Buda Hills.

Address: Ördögárok u. 80, II. district
Tel: (+36 1) 397 2742

The simpliest way to get there is by taxi.

See a selection of the Best Garden Restaurants in Budapest.

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Shops for Kids

Shopping Malls in Budapest all have great toyshops. Most of the malls have kids corner where you can leave your kids and the trained supervisors will look after them while you're shopping. Slides, jumping castles and other games will keep your little ones amused.

Other Toyshops in Budapest:

Gulliver Játékbolt

Burattino Játékbolt

Fakopáncs Játékbolt

Is Budapest a Child-Friendly City?

Do you think Budapest is a great place for families and kids? Are there good programs, museums, shops for children? Are there child-freindly hotels and restaurant?

What Other Visitors Have Said

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