When travelling with kids, you need to choose your holidays wisely, even more so when booking a city break and travelling solo. Whilst teenagers might embrace a trip to a new city, younger children can easily get bored, so picking the right destination for your city trip with kids is crucial. Just imagine carrying a toddler and a pushchair along narrow footpaths and cobbled alleyways or queuing at popular attractions with impatient, hungry kids in tow. Sounds like a nightmare? It needn’t be. There are plenty of exciting and fun cities in Europe to visit with kids. One such destination is Budapest. Here are some practical tips to help you plan your city trip to Budapest with kids:
Family-Friendly Attractions
One of the things that makes Budapest stand out as a family-friendly city break destination is the way the city presents its rich history in such a kid-accessible way. This enables parents to explore cultural experiences without feeling like they are dragging the little ones through boring museums and exhibitions.
Buda Castle & Funicular
Once a medieval fortress, the grand castle has a fairy-tale vibe to it, making it the right setting for touring as a family. Start your journey by hopping on the Buda Castle Funicular, an adventure in its own right. The historic cable car takes you to the castle grounds in just ninety second providing spectacular views of the Chain Bridge and the Danube and saving tired little feet the 15 minute walk up the hill.
Enjoy a walk around the grounds and gardens of Buda Castle, or visit one of the exhibitions now housed in the castle buildings, such as the Hungarian National Gallery, which offers kid friendly guided tours getting children of all ages interested in art.
Fisherman’s Bastion
Located on Buda Castle hill, Fisherman’s Bastion can be combined with a visit to Buda Castle or Matthias Church. With its fairytale spires and parapets, this architectural marvel looks remarkably similar to the iconic Disney castle. This is a magical castle to explore with kids, and a perfect spot to enjoy stunning views over the Danube River.
Guided tours
Sound boring? Book a themed tour – there is something for everyone, from family friendly tours including fun activities and entertaining history to tasting tours for foodie families. For holidays with teenagers, check out the Guided Segway Tours or the EZRaider tours, a fun way to explore Budapest with older kids on a unique electric ATV.
Parks & Playgrounds
Budapest is home to several parks and playgrounds. If you are visiting in the summer, make sure to check out Green Meadows Park or City Park and let your kids cool down at the splash pads and waterfall. Another popular park is Margaret Island, the city’s car-free “green lung” with its lush green lawns, medieval ruins, and beautiful gardens.
Fun Pools & Thermal Baths
Margaret Island also has a major attraction for families: the Palatinus Strand Baths, a historic lido, which today features no less than 15 indoor and outdoor pools, including a fun pool and 5-lane slide, as well as several saunas. Back in the City Park, Széchenyi Thermal Bath offers 18 geothermal pools, saunas, and outdoor pools fed by natural hot springs. The Neo-Baroque building is a stunning sight, but children under 14 years are limited to the use of the three rather grand outdoor pools.
Travelling to and Around Budapest with Kids
Getting to and around the city with kids is easy. Budapest is well-connected with the rest of Europe with many of its major cities offering direct flights. Whether you live in London or Paris, you can find your flight to Budapest with Air France and other major airlines and get your trip off to the right start.
Once in Budapest, a well- connected public transport system means you can get anywhere quickly and easily, even with kids in tow. Trams are pushchair-friendly, the metro straightforward to use, and much of the city is walkable – even in the dark. Don’t skip a ride on one of the bright yellow trams – an adventure in its’ own right for young kids.
When to Visit Budapest with Kids
Whether you are travelling with kids or not, choosing the right time to visit Budapest is the key to success. So, when is the best time to travel to Budapest with kids?
Spring and autumn are arguably the best times to travel to Budapest. The periods between April & June and September & October see far fewer tourists arriving in the city, the weather is milder, and prices are lower. If you are budget conscious travellers and your kids are not yet at school or have holidays during those months, you are in luck.
But don’t worry, there are also some benefits to visiting Budapest in the summer. You can enjoy the Sziget Festival, a family-friendly music and cultural festival, the Festival of Folk Arts on Buda Castle, or the fireworks on 20 August for the St. Stephen’s celebrations. And of course, August is tourist season, so all attractions are open, including Margaret Island’s water park.
Where to Stay in Budapest with Kids
It’s important to find a location with convenient access to the main local sights if you want to have a stress free Budapest city trip. Hauling the kids across town will wear everyone down before you even arrive at your chosen destination. Try to stay somewhere central to save time travelling. There are plenty of options suiting every budget, from AirBnB and fully fitted apartments to family-friendly hotels.
How to Create a Balanced Itinerary
Needless to say, a balanced itinerary is your key to success. Find a healthy mix between sightseeing and downtime. A big noisy attraction should be followed by a restful evening and night in to save overtired kids and toddler tantrums. Equally, an adult museum should be paired with a kid-friendly spot, such as a park or playground, to keep all ages happy. Make sure you involve the kids in the trip planning – it can make a world of difference.
Whatever you do, don’t over plan – the best memories are made when everyone is rested, and the best places are often the hidden secrets that were not on your list of the top ten sights to see in Budapest.
Conclusion
Holidays with teenagers and young kids can be daunting whether you are a single parent or not. Each age group brings its own challenges, so doing a little research and finding the right city trip with kids can really tip the odds in your favour. A city trip to Budapest with kids provides the perfect balance of attractions for adults, teens, and kids. To make the most of the trip, ensure you create a balanced itinerary that caters to everyone’s fun needs. And most importantly, take your time. Cramming a whole city into two days to save money on annual leave and accommodation is a recipe for disaster. Give yourself 3 to 4 days and leave room for spontaneous pursuits, tired kids, and unexpected events, such as a delayed flight.
