TIPS FROM LOCALS
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Margaret Island (Margitsziget)
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Devote half a day or at least a couple of hours to explore and enjoy the serenity on Margaret Island. Best time to Visit The island is most beautiful in spring, perhaps in April-May when the nature is green again after the long winter months. It will also fascinate you in early autumn (Sept-till mid-Oct) when the foliage turns into a mixture of colours from yellow and orange to reddish-brownish. Note that Margitsziget is very popular among Budapesti people especially on weekends. Try to get to the island in the first half of morning on a bright, sunny day to find the park at its most peaceful. This time you'll meet mostly joggers. If you want to meet people, see Hungarians relax visit the island on weekend.
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Location, Getting There
The 2.5 km/1.55 miles long and 500 m/0.31 miles wide Margaret Island stretches between Árpád Bridge and Margaret Bridge in the embrace of the Danube.
Map of Margaret Island
The icons indicate the location of sights, hotels, cafes. By clicking on the hovering hand you can drag the map. By clicking on the +/- symbols (or by scrolling with your mouse) on the top left corner you can enlarge or reduce the map. Click on the icons to get additional information on the certain attractions.
The best ways to get to the island is by tram 4 or tram 6, get off at Margit híd Budai hídfő stop (híd means bridge in Hungarian) or take bus 26 from Nyugati tér (M2 blue metro, trams 4, 6) which travels through Margaret Island.
Only one motor way runs accross the island but only taxis and bus 26 are allowed to drive in and through the island.
History of Margaret Island
Attractions on the Island
Rare Plants
Hotels & Restaurants
Brief History of Margaret Island
In the middle Ages it was called the Island of Rabbits (Nyulak szigete) and it functioned as royal hunting reserve. In the 13th century King Béla IV. founded a nunnery on the island after the Mongol Invasion. The king made a vow to sent her daughter, Princess Margaret to a Dominican nunnery if he could rebuild the country devastated by the Mongols.
The Mongols had to suddenly return to their homeland so King Béla had a chance to reorganise and rebuild the country. Faithful to his vow Béla sent the 11-year old Margaret to the convent. Since then the island has bore her name. See photos about the ruins of the Dominican convent below.
A marble plaque plaque indicates Princess Margaret's burial place at the ruins of the church' nave.
József nádor started a large landscaping project of the island at the beginning of the 19th century and most of the area was turned into an English-style park with many trees, bushes and flowers.
Until 1901 the island could have been approached only by boat or ship. Part of the Margaret Bridge that now leads onto the island was constructed in 1901 while in the northern part Árpád Bridge was connected to the island only in 1950.
Margaret Island was declared a public park in 1908. At that time hot springs were discovered in the area that faciliated many developments, like the Grand Hotel Margitsziget. The island became a popular health resort. The II. World War left its marks on the island too, some scars still can be seen on the tree trunks.
Today the romance of the island attracts many couples and it's a popular place for weddings.
Attractions on Margaret Island
Start your walk at the southern part of the island at the Margaret Bridge end (this part is better accesible by public transport from the city centre than the northern part, see above).
Tip: rent a bringo cart if you don't feel like walking. It's also a convenient and fun way of exploring the island with kids. You can also rent bicycles, rolelr blades, electric cars and motors there (see map for location) |
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If you don't mind a bit of foot work than take a walk along the well-tended walkways running across the island.
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First you'll see the Centenary Monument (by István Kiss) made for the 100 anniversary of merging Buda and Pest in 1873.
Several facilities welcome sport enthusiasts:
Alfréd Hajós Swimming Pool with indoor and outdoor pools. Alfréd Hajós, Hungary's first olymic medallist designed the complex that opened in 1930. The pool complex hosted the European Swimming Champinship in 2006.
Next to the pool is a newly built playground perhaps the best on the island. Near the toys in a small hectagonal building you'll find a well-house (Magdolna I. spring) the water of which is channeled into the Palatinus' pools and the Lukács Bath.
On a hot summer day have a dip in the outdoor pools on Palatinus Beach (open: 8.00-19.00 1st May-15th Sept, tickets: 1800 HUF for a whole day with locker use, 1600 HUF for students, pensioners).
The beach has three types of pools: a swimming pool, a beach pool and a fancy pool with neck shower, effervescence generator and whirling corridor. In front of the beach is a beautiful rose garden.
Next to the Palatinus is a tennis centre with several courts. The largest sport facility of the island is the Athletical Centre with a football field. They look after the flexible jogging track that runs around the island.
Medieval Ruins on Margaret Island:
If you come form the southern end of the island the first ruins you'll encounter are the ruins of the Franciscan Priory. They built their convent in the middle of the island towards the end of the 13th century. The buildings were destroyed during the Ottoman rule in the 16th century.
The ruins of the Dominican convent from the 13th century are the most noteable ruins. King Bela IV founded the convent after the Mongol invasion (1241-42).
The reconstructed well-house at the ruins of the Dominican convent
To the north of the ruins you'll see the medieval Premonstratensian chapel of St Michael . The oldest bell of Hungary hangs in its tower. The bell was cast in the 15th century and it was found under the roots of a tree torn by a storm a few decades ago.
Around the chapel runs the Promenade of Hungarian Artists (Művészsétány) with busts of the country's prominent poets, writers and other artists. The tranquil surroundings with groves, stately trees, flowers is ideal for leisurely walks. János Arany (1817-1882) the great Hungarian poet wrote his most beautiful poems under the mighty trees on Margaret Islands.
In the middle of the island stands an octagonal Water tower (Víztorony) built in 1911. The 57 m high, protected industrial monument needs reconstruction, though it still houses exhibitions. On summer you can enjoy opera, ballet, musical performances as well as light music concerts in the Open-air Theatre. In the northern corner (beyond Árpád Bridge) of the island there is a clay-pigeon shooting field.
In the northern corner of Margaret Island, near the Japanese garden stands a water-powered musical fountain (Bodor kút). A Transylvanian handyman Péter Bodor crafted the original fountain in the 1820 for the people of Marosvásárhely. This copy on the island was made in 1936.
Game Reserve (Vadaspark) in Margaret Island
Location: Danube embankment, Pest side
Opening Hours: 15th Apr-23rd Oct: 10.00-17.00 every day There's pony riding for the little ones. A round costs 200 HUF. You can buy tickets at the buffet in the park.
Rare Plants on Margaret Island
The island gives home to several hundred tree species, bushes, colourful flowers. The Dominican convent had already a garden in the 13th century for growing herbs.
Real landscaping of the island started in the beginning of the 19th century. English-style park was developed. The planes are at least 150 years old and were planted at that time. Since then they have witnessed many great moments of Margaret Island.
A small Japanese Garden adores the northern peak of Margaret Island with dwarf trees, artifical waterfall and a rock garden.
Colourful flowers delight the eye all over the island.
On of the most interesting palnts of the island is the White cypress. Some fern pines stand near the medieval chapel ruins.
Hotels & Restaurants on Margaret Island
Two excellent hotels provide for accommodation in the northern part of the island that utilize the three natural thermal springs discovered on the island at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries.
Danubius Health Spa Resort Margitsziget (former Thermal Hotel Margitsziget) **** - one of Europe's top spa hotels
Tel: (+36 1) 889 4700, room reservation: (+36 1) 889 4752
Platánus Restaurant offers Hungarian and international cuisine. It has a nice garden terrace.
Other facilities for eating and drinking:
- Boróka Lobby Bar,
- Neptun Pool Bar,
- Kamilla Coffee Shop
Danubius Grand Hotel Margitsziget **** superior - island on an Island
Tel: (+36 1) 889 4700, room reservation: (+36 1) 889 4752
You'll experience turn-of the century atmosphere on the serene and picturesque Margaret Island. The hotel is connected to the neighboring Danubius Health Spa Resort Margitsziget by a heated underground corridor.
The hotel's Széchenyi restaurant has a garden terrace leading out to the park. You can taste Hungarian and international dishes and there are meals for people on diet.
Other facilities for eating and drinking:
- Grill Terrace,
- Gösser Brasserie,
- Begonia Café
- Victoria Drink Bar
Hotel Margitsziget **
Address: Hajós Alfréd sétány 75.,
Tel: (+36 1) 452 0104
(+36 1) 452 0105
A budget hotel next to the Alfréd Hajós Swimming Pool complex. Admission to the pool is free for the guests of the hotel. See more Budget Hotels in Budapest.
Holdudvar Restaurant, Bar & Gallery
Open: 12.00-24.00 in summer
Copacabana Beach lies in the northern corner of Margaret Island. The trendy, open-air place has some great parties during summer.
Cha-Cha-Cha Terasz (at the Athletic centre) is another open-air beach bar with funky parties during sumemr.
See more Spa & Wellness Hotels in Budapest.
Selection of other 4 star Hotels in Budapest.
Other Green Areas in Budapest
Return form Margaret island to Homepage of Budapest Tourist Guide.
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