I always dreamed of showing my children the world and vowed that having little ones would not limit my travel experience. While it has certainly changed the way I travel, I’m a firm believer that if you do your research even a city break can be on the radar forglobetrotting parents.
The welcoming city of Budapest is a fabulous place to take youngsters.Not only do the locals embrace tourists in general, but there are also lots of family friendly attractions waiting to be discovered. Here is my top selection of what to add to your city break agenda.
Budapest Zoo
Budapest Zoo has got to be one of the highlights of a family visit to this fabulous city. Your children will have the chance to see all kinds of animals, including lions, rhinos, tigers and lots more. While the kids marvel at the baby animals in the ‘Kindergarten’, you can take the opportunity to appreciate the many Art Nouveau buildings that make up the different areas of the zoo. This lovely leafy place is spacious and very well looked after.If you’d like to check out any more information before you go, take a look at their website.
Museum of Transport and Hungarian Railway Museum
At the Museum of Transport you can introduce your youngsters to all things transport related. With a host of model steam trains and planes, as well as some life sized replicas of locomotives, the museum covers the history of transport from the days of horse drawn carriages. The collections of old cars and bikes will have your older kids wondering how anyone ever got anywhere, while the space travel section will get them thinking and asking all manner of interesting questions.
For more old machines (and the chance to try some of them out!) the Hungarian Railway Museum is the place to head to. Young minds will be intrigued when they get to sit up in a steam engine, ride on a horse drawn tram, or enjoy a simulated experience on the most powerful Hungarian electric railway engine. There is also a great café here and lovely landscaped grounds, which are ideal for a picnic.
Budapest Puppet Theatre
In today’s technological world, a puppet theatre is not something most kids will have seen. However, with such a strong tradition of puppetry in Hungary’s capital you really should indulge your children in this cultural one-off. The city’s puppet theatre is 60 years old and offers special shows for children in the mornings and afternoons. There are several English adaptations shown, so for a little fantasy and a good fun family activity, this one is a must!
I’ve really just scratched the surface of what’s on offer for children in this wonderful city, and there is much more. From the incredible playground at Millenaris Park to the sandy beach at Kopaszi-gát, Budapest has the potential for a memorable, family friendly city break.
How to Get to Budapest
With a relatively short flight time of two and a half hours, travelling to Budapest Airport with youngsters is very doable. Several budget airlines provide a regular service, including easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air.
On arrival, you’re going to want to get the kids to your hotel as soon as possible and with the minimum of fuss. This is where Shuttle Direct comes in. Pre-book online in the UK, choose from a range of shared or private transfers, and you can rest assured that your onward 20-minute journey to the city centre will be as straight forward as it can be.
Where to Stay
Budapest Best Location Apartment – The fresh modern feel of these self-catering apartments makes themvery appealing to families. With plenty of space to spread out over the four bedrooms, they also have a private patio and a well-equipped kitchen, meaning that meals can be on your own terms. The free Wi-Fi is a plus, especially for those times when the children just need to wind down with some onscreen entertainment. Budapest Best Location Apartment is located within easy reach of all the sights.
Hotel Bara – I really enjoyed the central location of this place when I travelled with my two girls and the bus stop is less than a minute’s walk away. The fridge in the rooms is a godsend when you’re stockpiling snacksandtrying to keep drinks cool. I also like the fact that there’s an onsite restaurant at Hotel Bara that offers local and international dishes. This is ideal when you don’t want to be out pounding the streets in the evening with little ones in tow.
The Three Corners Hotel Art Superior – A definite hit with my family, this welcoming spot is set on a pedestrianised streetclose to lots of attractions. It offers a fabulous buffet breakfast, which is important to get kids off to a great start for long days out. The rooms at The Three Corners Hotel Art Superior have theall-important Wi-Fi that kids will be grateful for, and the minibar is great for those evenings you fancy a drink but want to get the kids to bed early. If you have time to enjoy the sauna and fitness room here,all the better!
About Shuttle Direct
Shuttle Direct is the leading provider of transport from airports around Europe and North Africa, taking great pride in offering a professional, competitively priced service. When travelling with young children, onward travel from your arrival airport has to be simple. Book with us and you can count on a seamless transfer from the airport to your chosen destination.
