5 parks in Budapest you must see if you visit the Hungarian capital – PHOTOS

If you are visiting Budapest, you might be mesmerised by the beautiful architecture and façades of the buildings all around Budapest, but sometimes, the clutter of the concrete jungle, the noise of traffic, and all the man-made objects can easily overwhelm you. For this reason, parks are essential parts of huge cities, and this is also true for Budapest.

If you are visiting Budapest and you would like to escape from the jungle of buildings and be closer to nature, here are some of the best parks you can find shelter in throughout Budapest.

City Park (Városliget)

For most people, the first thing that comes to mind about parks in Budapest is the good old City Park, or simply Liget, for short. That is no coincidence. Many of Budapest’s attractions can be found in the park. It is also the second-largest public park, following just behind People’s Park (Népliget) with a total area of 1-1.2 km².

Heroes’ Square is a must-see if you are travelling to Budapest, and it is one of the main “entrances” to the City Park. Surrounding it are the Museum of Fine Arts and the Műcsarnok (Kunsthalle). One of the best zoos in Europe, the Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden, is also located in the area of the park. Another worthy destination is the Széchenyi Thermal Bath which is located only a few minutes’ walk from Heroes’ Square.

And these are just the tip of the iceberg. The City Park is rich with many possibilities and things to see. There is the beautiful Vajdahunyad Castle and the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture. There is also a giant lake in the middle of the park which is an ice-rink during winter and a boating lake in the summer, but currently, it is a fan zone for the duration of the EURO 2020 Championship.

For the past couple of years, the City Park has been reworked as per the Liget Budapest Project, and many areas around the park have been rebuilt or reimagined. A new Museum of Ethnography is being built in the City Park, along with the House of Hungarian Music, the new National Gallery, and the House of Hungarian Millenium, among many other things. The park also has a birding trail, several playgrounds, a running track, a botanical garden, a fitness playground, sports fields, many statues and memorials, and a lot of green areas as well as a few terraces where you can eat and drink. All in all, it is a must-see location, and there is always something new to discover.

Margaret Island (Margit-sziget)

Margaret Island is a 2.5-kilometre-long and 500-metre-wide island in the middle of the Danube, near the centre of Budapest. It is one of the most popular recreational areas of Budapest, with many green areas, but it also houses a few establishments. The island has a long history, which you can explore in detail HERE.

There is a running area around the island, which is 5.35 kilometres in length and is one of the most beloved destinations for runners. It goes past most of the important things to visit on the island. You can explore several ruins, such as the ruins of a Dominican Order nunnery, a Franciscan monastery, and there is also a Premonstratensians convent.

If you would like to go for a swim, you can go to the Palatinus Bath located on the island, and there is also the Alfréd Hajós Sports Pool. There are two hotels on the island, and there is a water tower you can visit. The other sights include a Japanese garden with a fishpond, a small zoo, a music well, and, last but not least, a music fountain with light shows. The island is easily accessible both by car or public transportation. It is an ideal location to spend your free time.

Millenáris Széllkapu

This is one of the newest additions of green areas to Budapest and probably one of the most modern-looking parks in the capital. The park is located in Budapest’s district II, and it is over 26,000 m², which makes it one of the largest recreational parks in Central Europe, according to their website.