Budapest for the Family: Top things to do with kids

A mother and two daughters viewed from behind with their arms raised while viewing a Budapest city street — Rear view of mother with daughters enjoying Budapest

As a family-friendly city, Budapest has a lot to offer for tourists of all ages. But it can be hard to choose what, out of all the possible sights and activities, will please everyone – especially the youngest members of your family. Read on to find out what are the best things to do with kids in Budapest — and adults too!

Go on a family-friendly tour with Insight Cities

A boy looking out onto the Danube River in the center of Budapest with the Hungarian Parliament building in the background

Want to explore Budapest with an expert guide, but not sure if your whole family will want to join? We at Insight Cities can help create the best tour for you and your family members of all ages. Our guides are not only deeply knowledgeable about their home city but also able to customize a tour to your and your kids’ interests so that everyone can have fun while learning more about this remarkable capital. Get in touch with us today at info@insightcities.com and start organizing your customized family touring today!

Outdoor activities for kids in Budapest

Explore Margaret Island

A young man creates a big bubble while a little girl watches with awe and a man looks on in the background among bicycles

If you’re in Budapest in the summer – or on a sunny, warm day any time of the year – Margaret Island is the place to go for some respite from the city’s hustle-and-bustle, right in the middle of it all. Climb the water tower, visit the Japanese gardens, go to Palatinus Baths for a dip in the outdoor pools, or just relax in the shade by the river. The musical fountain is one of the island’s most unique features, playing both classical and contemporary music five times a day.

Take the Children’s railway

A red-and-white train on a railway with child conductors saluting

The Children’s Railway gets its name not from its passengers, but rather from who runs it: children! The line snakes its way through the Buda Hills, with lookout towers, forest playgrounds, and other fun places to explore at every stop. This one-of-a-kind experience makes for a perfect half-day in the outskirts for kids.

Go to Gellert Baths

The Gellert Spa Interior in Budapest

The Gellert Baths are one of the most popular baths to visit in Budapest, in no small part because the baths are housed in a magnificent Art nouveau building. Though the kids may be more into the outdoor wave pool, which operates in the summer months. Note that kids under 14 are not allowed in the thermal pools.

The baths are situated on Gellert Hill, where there’s a playground featuring five long slides, a trampoline, and an elaborate jungle gym. And from the top you can enjoy some of the most fabulous views of Budapest.

The entrance to the funicular on the lower end of Buda Hill, with people waiting to get inside

Take the funicular to Buda Castle

Standing on Buda Hill, Buda Castle is one of the most magnificent landmarks in Budapest, and is a must-see for any visitor. The castle has lots to explore, featuring eight museums, a church, and an underground labyrinth.

You can choose to hike up the hill if you have an active crew. But the best way to visit Buda Castle with the kids is to take the historic funicular up the hill, treating you to a ride out of time along with great views of the city as the funicular crawls up the hill.

Museums include a history museum and a museum dedicated to the famous magician Harry Houdini, complete with a magic show! Visiting the Fisherman’s Bastion also treats you to some incredible views of the massive Hungarian Parliament and Pest side of the city lying beneath.

Image of a dark dungeon-like labyrinth in Buda Castle

The Labyrinth is a cool (literally – bring a sweater!) and unique trip through Budapest history, both ancient and modern, but it may be a bit scary for young kids who are afraid of the dark.

Insight Cities can also give you a custom family-friendly tour in which kids can discover the mysteries and legends of Buda Castle while the adults learn about the broader history. Contact us at info@insightcities to customize your Buda Castle tour so the whole family can learn and explore.

Visit City Park

With so many attractions and things to do, City Park is almost a city of its own. Visit Vajdahunyad Castle, a mock castle modeled after the famed landmark in Transylvania, which houses an agricultural museum and features a multitude of architectural styles. Walk around the lake, take a balloon up for a bird’s eye view of Budapest, and go to the zoo. If you’ve only got teens over 14, you can visit the Széchenyi Baths, famous for its large heated outdoor pools and occasional nighttime opening hours.

Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden

The entrance of Budapest zoo on a sunny summer day, with people entering through the doors

Located in City Park, the Budapest Zoo is an animal oasis in the center of the city. Otters, elephants, alligators, and komodo dragons are just some of the more than 1,000 animals that have a home at this zoo. In the newly-named America Tropicana house, feast your eyes on tropical plant and fish species.

Hungarian Railway Museum

The Hungarian Railway Museum, Europe’s largest open-air museum makes the history of train travel come alive, featuring 100 rare trains, some of which can’t be found anywhere else. The impressive collection includes fifty rare locomotives and other railway vehicles, such as railcars, hand-powered and motorized handcars, an inspection car, steam cranes, snow plows and snow blowers. You can take a ride on a real locomotive, an old turntable or a historic handcar. Little ones may especially enjoy the garden railway ride, in which you ride a miniature train through the park.

Note that the Railway Museum is closed during the winter months.

Indoor activities to enjoy with kids in Budapest

See the Center of Scientific Wonders

In the northern edge of Budapest, the Center of Scientific Wonders highlights the wondrous phenomena that shape the world around us. The center’s collection of interactive exhibits are sure to inspire fascination in visitors of all ages. Kids can hop on a lunar rover, try out games that test coordination and motor skills while immersing themselves in the world of physics, or finding their way through a mirror maze that plays tricks on the mind. The Center also features a laboratory where you can conduct your own experiments and discover the workings of science hands-on.

Budapest Puppet Theatre

Puppet theatre is a touchstone of Central European history, and Budapest Puppet Theatre continues to keep this tradition alive and well in the 21st century. Shows are held in Hungarian, but the amazing craftsmanship and care on display can be admired by anyone. The puppet theatre often puts on plays based on familiar stories, such as Peter Rabbit, Around the World in 80 Days, and Frankenstein, so you can familiarize your younger travelers with the story before your trip to prepare them for the Hungarian-language puppet performance. Most of this theater is pretty visual, with simple dialogue, and easy for non-natives to appreciate with a bit of prep!

If you plan to go on a family-friendly tour during your trip to Budapest, we’re delighted to help you arrange it. At Insight Cities, we’re proud of the exceptional guides on our team who can both entertain your kids with their passion and storytelling skills while also captivating their adults with their intimate knowledge of Hungary’s capital city. Contact us at info@insightcities.com to organize your touring today!