Budapest with Kids
Budapest with Kids – The cakes, the ice cream, the boat trips, the pools – Budapest is a tempting city break with little ones.
Chain Bridge / Funicular / Fisherman’s Bastion / Royal Palace / Matthias Church / Castle Garden Bazaar / Prosecco Cruise / Shoes on the Danube / Hungarian Parliament / St Stephen’s Basilica / Szechenyi Thermal Baths / Heroes Square / Margaret Island / Music Fountain / Budapest Sign / Palatinus Baths / Where to Stay / Food & Drink
Szechenyi Thermal Baths – Budapest with Kids
When I last visited children were welcome in Budapest’s iconic Szechenyi Thermal Baths, especially love the swirling anti-clockwise whirl pool (it’s fun and calming rather than exhilarating!). It now welcomes youngsters aged 14+, but if you can go along then I thoroughly recommend it.
Szechenyi has indoor and outdoor bathing options so you’re not stuck indoors on a hot day. There are free loungers, cabins to rent, you can bring your own robes/towels etc. but it’s easy to hire them too.
We opted for the Dayspalm and Chill package, which cost us approximately £55. This includes a lockable cabin/dressing room, gown, flip-flops, swim cap (for the sports pool that we didn’t use), two cups of tea, one cocktail, a fruit platter and access to the Dayspalm with its relaxed indoor and outdoor seating, hammocks and chilled quiet.
You can spend an entire day at the baths, the water is generally wonderfully warm (except for the cold dip pools) and it works for all the family. To get there, catch the metro over to Szechenyi Furdo stop right outside the famed Szechenyi Thermal Baths.
Boat Trips – Budapest with Kids
Let’s start by taking to the water. There are numerous boat trips, by day or in the evening, available. Consider :-
City Highlights Cruise with Welcome Drink (approx £10)
Budapest: Daytime Sightseeing Boat Cruise (Adults €15, 10-14s €9.90, 0-9 free)
Budapest: Dinner Cruise with Live Music and Folk Dance Show (adult €89, 6-12 €60, 0-5 free)
Budapest: Historic Cruise with Welcome Drink (€9.63 each)
Budapest: Nighttime or Daytime Sightseeing Cruise (€8.91, 0-3 free)
Margaret Island – Budapest with Kids
FREE – Margaret Island is an island of family friendly fun, located in the Danube between Buda and Pest, linked by bridges and easy to access on foot. It offers so much to do.
Music Fountain – Margaret Island
FREE – By day the Music Fountain offers creative water displays, similar to firework displays, often with music to accompany the display. People gather on the benches to watch and relax, we saw kids sitting on the fountain’s edge dipping their feet in the water. By night the water is illuminated with changing light colours. It’s mesmerising for kids and big kids.
Go for a Family Drive – Margaret Island
There are colourful cars for kids to pedal round the island, or larger vehicles for families or lively groups of friends. We didn’t hire any, so not sure on prices but it’s on my list for next time!
BUDAPEST Sign – Margaret Island
FREE – You know you’re on holiday when you photograph a city sign.
Hippie Island – Margaret Island
There are several kiosks or very simple cafes, they deliver if you just need to grab a drink. To find a bar you can relax and sit down in, seek out Hippie Island. Lots of sun loungers, umbrellas for shade, and plenty of sun. Could have whiled away a few hours here.
Palatinus Baths – Margaret Island
The Palatinus Baths first opened in 1919. Budapest is known for its smart thermal baths but Palatinus is very relaxed and family orientated. Think picnics in the park, sunbathing and playing in the grass. Palatinus is home to over a dozen pools in total, including 4 kids’ pools, an artificial wave pool, slides, indoor pools (some hot, some cold plunge pools).
Stay on Margaret Island
The modern Ensana Thermal Margaret Island offers a spa area, hot tub, indoor and outdoor pool. In the Platán Restaurant with its terrace enjoy magnificent views of the park, or consider the Boróka Bar with terrace and the Neptun bar at the swimming pool.
Read our full guide to Margaret Island
Heroes Square
FREE – In Heroes Square take a look at the historic statues and the Millennium Monument. The square dates back to late 19th century and it’s a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Explore Buda – Cross the Chain Bridge
FREE Cross the elegant Chain Bridge to leave the Pest side of the river and head over to Buda. The bridge opened in 1849, was blown up during WW2 in 1945, and rebuilt in 1949, so it has a dramatic past.
Castle Hill Funicular – Budapest with Kids
Kids love this bit. Catch the historic funicular is part of the Budapest experience. It costs 4000HUF (roughly £9 for a return ticket) so it’s quite expensive for a short but fun trip. We didn’t even use the return as there’s so much to explore on foot. It’s something to tick off the bucketlist and is disproportionately exciting, but there are alternatives.
Obviously simply walking up the hill is free. Another option for little legs is catching the Buda Castle Bus – it’s hop on/hop off, with 5 stops around Buda. It costs 6000HUF, €15 adult, 6-16 years old are €10, kids under six are free.
Visit the Fisherman’s Bastion
FREE & PAID OPTIONS – This beautiful creation dates back to 1895 and it’s located on the site of a medieval fish market. It’s an ideal spot for kids to explore, and it looks like something from a child’s imagination or fairytale.
You can buy tickets to walk along sections of the bastion, but it’s really not necessary. The bastion frames the Hungarian Parliament on the opposite side of the river splendidly, and you can sit and photograph the most wonderful images.
Wander along, through, up and down the bastion. Look out for a tucked away, almost secret, bar (with amazing views) called Halaszbastya.
Admire the Royal Palace & the Changing of the Guards
FREE & PAID OPTIONS Most children do appreciate the changing of the guards. The soldiers here look suitably serious and never seem to break a sweat, despite wearing heavy uniforms in extreme heat. [The palace also houses the Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest History Museum and the National Szechenyi Library – potential rainy day options.]
Matthias Church – Climb the Tower
Kids love demonstrating how young they are by beating their parents to the top of a tower. While in the Castle Hill area it’s popular to pay to enter Matthias Church to climb its famed Mátyás Tower and enjoy the views over the water.
Castle Garden Bazaar – Budapest with Kids
FREE This area is all about levels, and finding the ancient stone staircases is part of the fun. Explore the maze like stairs and greenery of the garden bazaar, alternatively catch the bus/funicular back down the hill.
Explore the Pest side of the Danube – Budapest with Kids
The Hungarian Parliament
FREE A beautiful feat of architecture that can be viewed from many different perspectives. See the Parliament building by night, by day, view it from the water on a boat trip, from the Fisherman’s Bastion, and stand right underneath it on the Pest side of the river – gorgeous from every angle.
Bronze Statues – Budapest with Kids
FREE Budapest is peppered with bronze statues right across the city. You’ll stumble up on them frequently. A child’s favourite may well be the Little Princess, near the Chain Bridge.
Shoes Along the Danube
FREE This is a curious and/or challenging memorial for children, and it’s up to each parent how they navigate it. At face value youngsters are faced with an unusual collection of around 60 pairs of shoes, including little children’s. In reality, this is a moving memorial to Jews who were shot on the banks of the Danube by the Hungarian Arrow Cross Party in the winter of 1944-45.
St Stephen’s Basilica – Budapest with Kids
Another renowned church to visit with a tower to climb to get great views.
Food & Drink
The rich flavours here left me wanting more. Budapest is an excellent destination for hungry travellers of all ages.
26 Budapest was a definite highlight, a tropical garden oasis, aesthetically pleasing, with excellent flavoursome meat dishes.
Langos fried bread bliss. More lowkey, almost fast food vibe, but the meaty tops are rich in flavour and you can dine in.
Vakvarju – quirky, playful interiors serving up traditional Hungarian dishes.
Kadarka – easy wine bar for vino and platters.
Where to Stay – Budapest with Kids
These contemporary apartments work well for families. Our two bedroom apartment also had two shower rooms so you don’t have to share facilities with your offspring. There’s a vast balcony, living area, dining table and kitchen. 24/7 reception. Fantastic location. Also close to the Opera metro line. I couldn’t fault the accommodation and would recommend it.
[You need to pay a token city tax on arrival at check in, plus a deposit, both in cash – worth noting if you travel cash-free.] Check out prices and availability here.
Our Story – We flew Edinburgh to Budapest with Ryanair.
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