1 Budavári Palota (Buda Castle Palace)
2 Gellért-hegy (Gellért Hill)
3 Halászbástya (Fishermen's Bastion)
4 Magyar Állami Operaház (Hungarian State Opera House)
5 Margit-sziget (Margaret Island)
6 Mátyás-templom (Matthias Church)
7 Országház (Parliament)
8 Szent István Bazilika (St Stephen's Basilica)
9 Szépművészeti Mùzeum (Fine Arts Museum)
10 Várhegy (Castle Hill)
Adrift in the Danube, this idyllic island is the perfect escape from the hurly-burly of the city.
Citizens of Pest will claim, quite justifiably, that Margaret Island in the Danube is one of Europe's first parks. While not large by city park standards - it can be strolled through in about two hours - it's worth allowing plenty of time for leisurely exploration. It was originally three islands, and the Romans built the first bridge to connect them with the Buda shore. The largest island was called Rabbit Island, reflecting its status as a royal hunting reserve. Its present name was given in honour of King Béla's daughter Margit, who retired to a nunnery there in 1252, aged nine. During the Turkish occupation it was home to a rather different group - a harem.
Credit must go to the Hapsburg gardeners who planted many of the 10,000 and more trees on the island, most of them plane trees. Here, but under an oak tree, poet János Arany (1817-82) composed 'Under the Oak Trees'. There are various amenities on the island, including a swimming pool, open-air cinema and theatre, a game reserve, rose garden, a Japanese garden and a garden of statues. At the northern end stands the famous old Grand Hotel (now the Ramada Grand Hotel), where the terrace offers a pleasant place in which to sit and enjoy the relaxed, tranquil atmosphere.Address: River Danube - between Árpád and Margaret bridges, Budapest X111
Open: Open access
Restaurant: Ramada Grand (Expensive)
Bus: 26; tram 4,6
Admission: Free
Practical: Access by car from Árpád Bridge and then only as far as the car park next to the Ramada Grand Hotel, otherwise cars prohibited on the island
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