Budapest is a thermal kingdom, a fairly inexpensive capital in Central Europe, but have you heard that Budapest is a true children paradise? We’ve been living for a decade now & since we traveled a lot in Europe, I can confidently say we have water activities, magical fairy tale like buildings, in-, & outdoor adventures, animals & the list goes on competing with (even exceeding) other European destinations. Hop on & I show you how to spend a magical family weekend in Budapest, where your child(ren) won’t want to leave the country!
For each place recommendation there’ll be one outdoor & a few indoor options to cover bad weather. Let’s go!
Parliament inside out!
Our Parliament building is true to its hype, a place you cannot miss (even with children). Usually children are obsessed with big buildings, especially if they have reminded them of castles. Well, this ticks all boxes! Even more: you can think ahead & reserve a ticket for the inside tour. Children will be amazed by the intrigued interior as well as by our crown! But if you miss the inside tour, still it’s a must to have a look from the inside. Either from the Kossuth Square in front of it or from the Buda side (Batthyány Square).
- Parliament from outside: free
- Parliament inside tour
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The best view
If anyone comes to have a magical weekend in Budapest, I guarantee they’ll be amazed by the beauty the city center can give along the river Danube. I suggest you 2 lookout spots, where you can see everything:
In case of good weather, head to Fisherman Bastion, an iconic place of the city. Well known for tourist, for a reason! The majority of the terrace is free, there is only one panorama terrace with entry fee, but before & after opening hours you can easily go there & catch the sunrise for free. Besides, children will feel themselves like in a proper fairy tale castle! However, if bad weather hits you, I recommend discovering the city’s newest district along with the tallest building in the city: MOL campus. You can pre-purchase your ticket to the SkyDeck (with 120 m height) where you’ll have a panorama unlike any other in the city! Also, a fun fact: for even better experience you can download the SkyDeck app to your phone giving some extra virtual content based on augmented reality. I bet our newest generation will love exploring the city like this.
- Fisherman Bastion: free
- MOL campus ticket
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Play time!
Which kid doesn’t want to experience something cool? I recommend 1 outdoor & 2 indoor play area in the city which will absolutely satisfy all the energy driven little feet for sure. If you are rather outside, visit Tarzan park which is a huge open-air play area for the youngsters. Imagine a huge playground with themed areas. However alternatively I would also pay a visit the CsoPa Science Center, where both kids and their parents will be amazed by all the science tricks they see & experience. This is the kind of learning in an entertaining way kind of place. The other indoor possibility can be the CyberJump trampoline park which is one of the biggest of its kind in Europe! All of these possibilities cater rather the young generation, but we – parents – all know that a successful family trip contains exclusively children programs too.
In the fairy tales
Good news Budapest has its fair share of castles, majestic buildings. On the Pest side a visit in the City park will be refreshing with great activities, such as checking out the Vajdahunyad Castle. Additional entertainment factor that the City Park is the biggest green park in the city, and there are so many other activities to discover: indulge in Széchenyi Bath, enjoying the Zoo, fly with BalloonFly, row a boat during summer or ice-skate during winter, visit the Hungarian House of Music as well as the Ethnographic Museum, or also play in the biggest playground of the city.
However, if you prefer the Buda side, don’t leave out the Castle Garden area. Full of beautiful buildings, museums, promenade along the river Danube, & cute mini sculptures by Kolodko along the way will make the sightseeing super fun for children.
- Vajdahunyad Castle free
- Castle Garden area is free (some exhibitions or museums may charge you)
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Meet the princess or visit the whole kingdom!
No, Hungary has no royal family however there is a place you can meet the little princess along the river Danube. ☺ For an outdoor option, on the promenade besides the busking street musicians, just right next to the super delicious restaurants right near the Danube you’ll find the life-size statue of the little princess. The statue will please the child(ren) while you, parents can enjoy the insane view of Buda side with the Castle area in front of your eyes. Don’t you ever fear the weather, I got you covered with an “indoor” possibility too: ride the iconic Tram2. The tram goes along the river Danube right on the riverbank of Pest, gifting you the most scenic view on the Buda side. Also, it passes famous landmarks as the Parlament, the Chain Bridge, the Promenade, the Liberty bridge, the CET, the national Theatre & the Centre of Arts. With around 1 EUR you’ll get the best tour of the heart of Budapest. Like a visit in the ‘kingdom’. ☺
- Promenade is free
- Tram 2 – ticket under 1 EUR
Outro
Budapest is really welcoming & the one of the best parts is that you can build a whole theme around your visit, yet you get the most epic part of the city. Let the city enchant you & your family & spend a magical family weekend in Budapest.
A little bit about this family ..
We're ST, Jules & Nara.
A Hungarian family of 3 with endless passion for travel. We’ve been together for more than 3700 days, discovered 16 countries together (and an additional 15 individually) & in 2021 we traveled across our country with a baby on board.
Our Instagram page (@justdiariestravel) is a creative playground where we can show off our epic experiences, give inspiration for others, connect with likeminded people & offer terrific itineraries, tips & tricks.
Since we have full time jobs, we take every opportunity: from afternoon discoveries in the city, through long weekend road trips, to short & long-haul flights across the globe. Hop on the journey, give us a follow & let’s travel!
