Start here · Viewpoint
Start with the fairytale towers, the city views and the outside of Matthias Church.
Tip: Take Bus 16 to Szentháromság tér to avoid walking uphill.
40-45 minSzentháromság tér, 1014 BudapestView on Google Maps
One Day in Budapest With Kids: Itinerary and Map
1 day · 7 stops
Route
One Day in Budapest With Kids: Itinerary and Map
What to do in Budapest with kids in one day: 7 stops from Fisherman's Bastion to a wizard-themed dinner, with a bus and a tram to break up the walking.
By Amit Keren- Budapest, Hungary
- 1 day · 7 stops
- Families with kids
- Updated
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The 7 stops
22 min by bus (19 min walk)
9 min by tram (16 min walk)
9 min walk
8 min walk
2 min walk
9 min walk
Route total: 4.5 km between stops
Is Budapest good for kids? Very. This one-day Budapest itinerary with kids mixes the classic views with things children actually enjoy: a riverside tram ride, an interactive exhibition, a Ferris wheel, gelato shaped like a flower and a wizard-themed restaurant.
Start on Castle Hill at Fisherman's Bastion, ride Bus 16 down and walk across the Chain Bridge, then take Tram 2 along the Danube. In Pest, visit IKONO, ride the Budapest Eye, see St. Stephen's Basilica with a gelato from Gelarto Rosa, and end the day at The Magic.
Castle Hill, the Danube and Pest
Allow 6-7 hours. Bus 16 and Tram 2 break up the walking, and there are no taxis.
Open route in Google MapsTake the bus: Bus 16 from Szentháromság tér to Clark Ádám tér, then walk across the Chain Bridge, about 22 min.
Walking takes 19 min (1.3 km).
Stop 2 · Transport · Scenic tram ride
Take Bus 16 downhill to Clark Ádám tér and walk across the Chain Bridge (about 10-15 min). Then board Tram 2 heading south for a short riverside ride to Március 15. tér.
Tip: Allow 35-45 min for the whole transfer, with waiting and the bridge crossing. Sit on the right for the river views.
35-45 min with the transferSzéchenyi István tér, 1051 BudapestView on Google MapsTake the tram: Tram 2 from Széchenyi István tér to Március 15. tér, then a 5 min walk, about 9 min.
Walking takes 16 min (1.1 km).
Stop 3 · Attraction · Interactive exhibition
Closed Tuesdays
About 5 min on foot from the tram: interactive rooms, playful installations and unusual family photo spots.
Tip: Book a time slot. IKONO is closed on Tuesdays.
Stop 4 · Attraction · Ferris wheel
Walk about 12-15 min to the Budapest Eye and enjoy a ride above the city.
Tip: The time includes a reasonable allowance for the queue.
Stop 5 · Attraction · Basilica
Walk about 5-10 min to the Basilica. Keep this to a quick look at the outside and a family photo.
10-15 minSzent István tér 1, 1051 BudapestView on Google MapsStop 6 · Café & dessert · Gelato
Daily 11:00 to 22:00
Just beside the Basilica, watch your gelato being shaped into a flower. The Basilica and the gelato work as one relaxed visit to the square.
Stop 7 · Restaurant · Wizard-themed restaurant
Daily 10:00 to 22:00
Walk about 10-15 min to the wizard-themed restaurant. This is the special meal to finish the day.
Tip: Reserve a table at this branch, on Hajós utca.
Route total: 4.5 km between stops
Recommended hotels
Where to stay in Budapest
Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace
Chain Bridge, Pest side
Best for: Danube views
Art Nouveau palace at the Pest end of the Chain Bridge, with views across the Danube to Buda Castle.
Aria Hotel Budapest
Near St Stephen's Basilica
Best for: Rooftop bar
Music-themed hotel next to St Stephen's Basilica, with the High Note rooftop bar.
Matild Palace
Váci utca, by Elisabeth Bridge
Best for: Belle Époque
Restored 1902 palace at the Elisabeth Bridge end of Váci utca, a short walk from the Central Market Hall.
Kempinski Hotel Corvinus
Central Pest, by Deák Ferenc tér
Best for: Walk to the big markets
Five-star hotel a few minutes' walk from Advent Bazilika, Vörösmarty tér and Városháza Park.
Hotel Clark Budapest
Buda, by the Chain Bridge
Best for: Castle market
Modern hotel next to the funicular up to Budavári Advent, with a rooftop bar looking at the river.
Hotel Moments Budapest
Andrássy út
Best for: Location
Boutique hotel on Andrássy Avenue near the Opera, between Deák Ferenc tér and the Jewish Quarter.
Prestige Hotel Budapest
Near St Stephen's Basilica
Best for: Value luxury
Four-star hotel in a historic building between the basilica and the Danube, with a spa.
Hotel Rum Budapest
Palace Quarter
Best for: Design on a budget
Design hotel with a rooftop bar close to the Central Market Hall and the Hungarian National Museum.
Adina Apartment Hotel Budapest
Újlipótváros, near Margaret Island
Best for: Families
Apartments with kitchens and a pool, on the tram line towards the city centre.
Maverick Budapest Soho
Jewish Quarter
Best for: Budget
Hostel with private rooms in the middle of the Jewish Quarter, close to the ruin bars and the Dohány Street Synagogue.
Recommended activities
Things to do in Budapest
1 hour
Danube sightseeing cruise
A seated way to see Parliament and the castle from the river. Evening cruises show the city lights.
Book2 hours
Tropicarium Budapest
Sharks, rays and a rainforest house. A good rainy-day plan for kids.
Book2-3 hours
Széchenyi thermal bath tickets
Warm outdoor pools in City Park. Children under 14 must skip some of the hot pools.
BookBefore you go
Good to know
- Not on a Tuesday
- IKONO is closed on Tuesdays, so plan this route for another day of the week.
- Add a savoury snack
- Plan a quick savoury food break before or after IKONO, or bring sandwiches so you do not need another restaurant stop.
- Kids ride free
- Children under 6 travel free on Budapest public transport, so only older kids and adults need tickets for the bus and tram.
This guide was written by Amit Keren
spotz.guide is a collection of travel maps and step-by-step routes, made to be opened on your phone and followed on the ground. Every guide is put together and checked by founder and editor Amit Keren.
Spots come from time on the ground and strong recommendations, and each one is checked before it goes on the map.
- Every spot is pinned to its exact Google Maps listing, with dates from official sources
- Edited by Amit Keren
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