Budapest’s City Park (Városliget) has been named Europe’s best large urban park at the World Urban Parks Awards 2026. The nearly 100-hectare green space was recognised for its professional management, high standards of green space maintenance and visitor experience, placing it among the leading parks internationally.
Benedek Gyorgyevics, CEO of Városliget Zrt., the company responsible for managing the park, announced the achievement at a press conference in Budapest on Monday. The award was presented in Istanbul over the weekend as part of the World Urban Parks Awards ceremony.
The recognition honours the maintenance, management and operation of the park, which attracts millions of visitors each year. According to Gyorgyevics, more than ten million people visit what he described as Budapest’s favourite public park annually.
“We are extremely proud of this prestigious international recognition, as this time the award acknowledges the maintenance of City Park and the professional work that ensures its high standards every single day,” Gyorgyevics said.
He added that, following international recognition for property development, architecture, culture and tourism, the Liget Budapest project had now received a major international award for park management as well.
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What makes City Park stand out?
Maintaining City Park is one of Hungary’s most complex park management tasks. More than 200 years old, the historic park combines extensive green spaces with sports facilities, playgrounds, recreational areas and major cultural institutions.
These include the House of Hungarian Music, the Museum of Ethnography, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Millennium House. Other key attractions include the Great Playground, the Sports Centre, the Piknikkert picnic area, the Mihály Mőcsényi Botanical Garden, the Garden of the Blind and the City Park Lake.
Each area requires different maintenance methods and inspection schedules, making the coordinated operation of the park particularly challenging.
In recent years, more than 270,000 square metres of green space have been renovated. Meanwhile, annual visitor numbers have reportedly increased from around five to six million to between eight and nine million, although the park’s management company says the total can exceed ten million.
The park’s upkeep extends far beyond its lawns and flowerbeds. The site contains nearly 7,000 trees representing 225 different species, while the City Park Lake covers approximately 60,000 square metres. Staff must also maintain the park’s infrastructure, paved surfaces, furniture, waste bins, drinking fountains and playgrounds.
More than 70 professionals work together daily to keep the park in good condition, including during the busiest weekends and public holidays.
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Smart technology helps keep the park in shape
City Park’s management combines on-site maintenance with digital monitoring systems and a round-the-clock dispatch service.
The condition of nearly 400 waste bins, 35 drinking fountains and the playgrounds is regularly monitored. Soil moisture sensors help optimise plant care, while sensors track the water quality of the lake.
Városliget Zrt. also introduced a service-level agreement (SLA) model for green space maintenance, using measurable quality indicators to assess performance. The company was the first in Hungary to introduce this approach and has been applying it for four years in cooperation with the gardening division of BKM FŐKERT, Budapest’s municipal green space management service.
According to Gyorgyevics, the secret lies in treating City Park not simply as a collection of green spaces, but as a large urban park requiring continuous professional management, measurable standards and data-driven operations.
He said the aim was to ensure that visitors could enjoy the same levels of cleanliness, order and safety throughout the year.
International recognition for Budapest’s flagship park
The World Urban Parks (WUP) is an international professional organisation connecting local authorities, park management bodies and experts working in urban parks, public spaces and recreation around the world. Its 2026 awards programme received 55 nominations from five global regions. Four European projects were recognised, with City Park winning in the Large Urban Parks category.
Visitors also give City Park high marks
The international award comes alongside positive feedback from visitors. A survey commissioned by Városliget Zrt. and conducted by Inspira Research Group involved 1,000 people interviewed in person at 11 locations across the park.
According to the results, 99% of respondents were satisfied with the quality of the completed developments. The same proportion considered it an advantage that City Park brings together opportunities for sport, relaxation, family activities and cultural experiences in one place.
The survey also highlighted how regularly people use the park: almost three-quarters of respondents said they visited at least once a week, while 41% reported going several times a week.
