Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A Day in City Park
Morning
Várolisget is a great place
for a family outing. Start
off early with a dip in
Budapest's most popular
thermal baths,
Széchenyi
(see p89)
, situated right in
the middle of Városliget
with its own metro station
on the Lilliputian Millen
nium line. Refreshed, you
can then take the kids next
door to the
Budapest Zoo
,
to admire both animals
and buildings. Just north
of the zoo is the park's
Funfair
(see p45)
, with an
assortment of rides. This
will keep everyone happy
till lunch, which can be
eaten on the go from one
of the funfair's numerous
snack bars. Try
kolbász
-
Hungarian sausages eaten
by hand, that taste all the
better for it.
Afternoon
Start the afternoon off at
the
Museum of Fine Arts
(see p89)
at the edge of
the park in
Heroes' Square
.
Although you could spend
all afternoon here, try to
restrict yourself to an hour
and a half, but don't miss
the Raphael
Madonna
or
the fabulous collection of
El Grecos. Then, double
back to the park to the
Transport Museum
(see
p44)
, where children love
climbing over old railway
wagons and buses. Next,
admire the architecture
of
Vajdahunyad Castle
,
ideally from a rowing boat
on the park's central lake.
If you are visiting in winter,
you can take your kids ice
skating on the lake
(see
p44)
. Finally, end the day
with a superb family
dinner at
Robinson
(see
p93)
, one of Budapest's
most famous restaurants.
The Millennium Exhibition
Much of Városliget, including the
monument that marks its
entrance, was built for the 1896
Millennium Exhibition, that cele-
brated a 1,000 years since Árpád
inhabited the area near Budapest.
Besides the monuments around
Városliget, the exhibition saw the
opening of the millennium metro
line - Continental Europe's irst,
the installation of the city's irst
gas lights, and the construction of
an innumerable number of
Secessionist buildings.
are seven chieftains, representing
the seven tribes who settled in
Hungary.
d
Map E2 • XIV, Hősök tere
(
Art Gallery
Facing the Museum of Fine
Arts, the Art Gallery was com-
pleted in 1895. The imposing
building, dominated by its portico
with six supporting columns, was
designed by Fülöp Herzog and
Albert Schikendanz. Today, it
houses temporary exhibitions and
concerts.
d
Map E2 • XIV, Hősök tere
• 460 70 00 • Open 10am-6pm Tue-Sun
• Adm (free on Tue) • Dis. access •
www.mucsarnok.hu
)
Budapest Zoo
Over 130 years old, the city's
zoo is one of the best in Central
Europe, and is known for its large
primate house. There is a chil-
dren's zoo where tamer animals
can be petted, and various shows
are held twice a day. Most of the
animal houses are listed build-
ings, erected between 1909 and
1911 in late-Secessionist style.
d
Map E2 • XIV, Városliget, Állatker ti körút
6-12 • 363 37 10 • Open May-Aug: 9am-
6:30pm Mon-Thu, 9am-7pm Fri-Sun; Apr
& Sep: 9am-5:30pm Mon-Thu, 9am-6pm
Fri-Sun; Mar & Oct: 9am-5pm Mon-Thu,
9am-5:30pm Fri-Sun • Dis. access • Adm
• www.zoobudapest.hu
91
