What Are the Best Places to Visit in Budapest in the Summer
In today’s extensive article, we’ll list the most popular destinations in Budapest that people choose to visit in the summer. All of them offer fun activities, numerous amenities, lovely places to eat, and breathtaking scenery. We’ll deliver data regarding their exact location and the reasons why they’re so popular among tourists and locals. Even though they’re preferred destinations in the hot season, you can definitely pay them a visit in the spring, autumn, or winter. Here’s a listing of the best places to visit in Budapest during the summer:
- Gellért Thermal Bath
- Népsziget
- Lake Balaton
- Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden
The Best Summer Destinations in Budapest
Summer in Budapest is quite hot, and myriads of tourists target the city as their most favored destination. People from all over the world go into the Hungarian capital to see numerous attractions and to taste some traditional meals. During June, July, and August, the city welcomes thousands of sightseers, and fortunately, it has a lot to offer to them.
Gellért Thermal Bath
When it comes to spa procedures, Budapest certainly takes one of the three top places. The city has numerous fountains with healing waters and many spa centers. One of the most popular ones is Gellért Thermal Bath. It first opened in 1918, and it uses underground springs for the medicinal hot water treatments it offers. The location is open throughout the whole year; however, the number of visitors unquestionably increases in the summer.
The reason being is that, as we mentioned, the summer in the city is scorching. Therefore, both locals and tourists look for ways to have a break from the heat and relax at a nice place. Gellért Thermal Bath offers not only medical treatments but regular spa procedures, as well. What’s more, any guest can different types of soothing massages at a fair price. The exact address of the bath complex is Kelenhegyi út 4, 1118 in Budapest.
Népsziget
Népsziget seems like a fascinating destination, especially for exploration-oriented tourists. The islet, also known as the Mosquito Island, is a peninsula, used to be an island until the 1830s. In the 1960s, the western side of Népsziget was a beach hundreds of individuals visited in the warmer days. Today, the popular destination can be reached on foot, by car, or by bike. Even though there isn’t public transport to the peninsula, this doesn’t seem to concern tourists.
Every year, a huge number of newcomers go to Népsziget, curious to see the abandoned buildings, and to take some great shots there. In the summer, you can see many groups of friends or relatives having a picnic on the grass. At present time, there is a dog school, a goat farm, and a horse riding hall.
Lake Balaton
The freshwater lake Balaton is the largest lake in Central Europe. Its peculiar green color is incredibly interesting, especially for people who have never visited the destination. This is due to the fact that there are algae that grow in the shallow waters of the lake. The pond is located 80 km southwest from Budapest, and enthusiasts can rent a boat or a yacht to take a closer look at the lake and explore it to the fullest.
One of the biggest outdoors electronic festivals takes place at the lake. If you’re lucky to visit the city during that time, don’t hesitate to book your evening for the event. You’ll enjoy the wonderful music, great company, food, drinks, and a lovely atmosphere. Another thing Lake Balaton is popular for are the vineyards on the north side of the lake. Most of them even allow tourists to take a trip in the cellars and taste some of the finest wines in Hungary.
Additionally, people can swim at the lake, and, unsurprisingly, thousands of individuals don’t miss the chance. The reason being is that the northern shore is the largest thermal lake in Europe with sulphuric waters. Needless to say, there are several restaurants offering high-quality traditional meals. There are also ice cream and coffee shops you can stop by if you choose to explore Lake Balaton by bike.
Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden
The Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden was founded in 1866, and today it’s one of the oldest zoos in the entire world. It attracts millions of visitors every year and is home to more than 1,000 species. There you can see monkeys, parrots, elephants, hippos, lions, tigers, kangaroos, and many more. Two of the most fascinating species there are the Komodo dragon and the wombat. The latter is a small mammal that resides in Australia.
The Budapest Zoo hosts many exhibits that work as a magnet towards attracting new visitors every single day. For instance, the Palm Tree House and Aquarium allow guests to see an exclusive variety of beautiful plants, most of which are absolutely unfamiliar to the majority of people. There are also numerous places where you can have a break from all the walking and enjoy some tasty dishes. Many times, there are entertainment programs for the kids that include fun activities, such as climbing.
Another intriguing location in the botanical garden is the butterfly garden, which strongly resembles a real-life fairy tale. Visitors are allowed to take as many photographs as they wish, so you can be sure you’ll leave the place with high-quality and splendid memories. The exact location of the zoo is Állatkerti krt. 6-12., City Park, District XVI.
Final Words
As you know already, the summer in Budapest is never boring. You can escape from the sunny streets and take a refreshing bath at the Gellért pools, or you can jump straight into the Balaton lake. If you love inspecting long-forgotten places, then Népsziget is the ultimate destination for you. And last but not least, if you wish to spend a few hours of your day exploring thousands of animal species and various plants, feel free to visit the well-known Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden.
