Budapest City Park (Városliget)

The basics

Though this capacious space was once a royal hunting ground, today it's open to the public, and packed with things to do. Find verdant, tree-lined walkways and a developed infrastructure with a castle, lakes, playgrounds, and even a beer garden.

If you're visiting independently, you can walk up Andrássy Avenue (Andrássy Út), enter through the park's opulent Heroes’ Square (Hosok Tér), and find your way toward the Széchenyi Baths. You can easily stop by a museum along the way—Vajdahunyad Castle houses an agricultural museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts is a short walk from Heroes' Square—or choose a guided tour; most Budapest sightseeing excursions visit the park.

Things to know before you go

• The City Park is ideal for spontaneous travelers—you're bound to find something to do.
• Bring comfy shoes if you're exploring on foot—the park covers more than 300-acres (121-hectares).
• Kids and families shouldn't miss the Budapest Zoo.
• Don't forget a swimsuit if you're heading to the baths.

How to get there

The most convenient way to reach the park is by taking the metro. You can hop on M1 line to the Heroes’ Square stop (for the main entrance) or the Széchenyi Fürdő stop (to start at the thermal baths). Alternatively, you can book a hop-on hop-off bus tour, walking tour, or even a Segway tour—most stop at this must-see attraction.

When to get there

Though there's really no bad time to visit, spring, summer, and fall offer the best weather; winter is typically blustery with gray skies. The Széchenyi Thermal Bath is most pleasant during the summer months, since you can enjoy the outdoor pools, and shoppers looking for a bargain should visit on Sundays to stop by the weekly flea market.

The Development of Budapest's City Park

As Budapest emerged as an urban center, the city's modernization coincided with a grand fete: the country's millennial birthday. This 1896 occasion was marked by furious construction. Andrássy Avenue was created, Vajdahunyad Castle was erected in celebration of Hungarian architecture, and the turn-of-the-century Millennium Underground Railway cemented the city's reputation as a metropolis. You can experience all these sights while visiting City Park, the main venue for the turn-of-the-century millenium festivities.