The best way to see and experience Budapest is through walking. It is a well planned and people-friendly city with many spots to give your tired feet a rest and take a breath.
Here is our selection of benches around the city that offer a view, comfortable seating and fun of crowd watching.
Városliget (City Park), considered the first public park in the world, is a vast recreational area with many historic sites and entertainment facilities, including the zoo, amusement park and thermal baths.
The 180-year-old Botanical Garden in Vácrátót is a natural preserve and the richest scientific plant collection of Hungary. The 27-hectare park is home to many plants from all over the world including species from Russian steppes, Central-Asian mountains, trees and shrubs from the Far East, and unique collection of cactuses.
The botanical garden of Eötvös University (Fűvészkert) is the oldest botanical garden in Hungary and home to many trees from all over the world, including tropical species in its octagonal Palm House, sakuras, bonsai trees and many conifers. Rich in colours, scents and textures it is a peaceful source of inspiration.
Öböl XI is the new recreational area, built in the Lágymányosi bay in XI district of Budapest.
It is located to the the right side of Lágymányosi bridge in Buda.
99% residential and very quiet part of 11th district spreading over Buda hills. It has both old villas now shared by several families, and housing of socialist times with spacious lawns.
It is a great place for peaceful weekend walks (but only if you are comfortable with quite steep slopes).
Located 477 meters high in the Buda Hills, Normafa is a huge forest in the city, one of the most popular green spots of Budapest. Fresh air and the panoramic view make Normafa an attractive place for jogging, family outings, romantic walks and downhill biking.
Népsziget is yet another island in Budapest (though far less popular than Margit Island or Óbudai Island) connected to XIII district in Pest and Római part in Buda. Római part is lively recreational area with many cafes and open air pools.
Népsziget is the land of semi-abandoned factories, various sport facilities and camping sites, an ungroomed park with its distinctive atmosphere.
In 1241 king Béla IV was trying to escape Mongol hordes and took an oath that he would offer up his yet to be born daughter to God if his family and country were saved from the enemies.
Thus, Princess Margaret born next year become a nun and in 1251 the king built a cloister and a church for the order she belonged to on the Island of Hares.
Today, this island is known as Margaret Island or Margit-sziget in Hungarian. It is a 2.5 km long and 500 meters wide island and recreational park in the middle of Danube and Budapest. In fact, it used to be three separate islands, but in the end of the 19th century they were connected and raised to control the flow of the Danube and flooding.
