Budapest’s second biggest park can be found in the heart of the city, yet its size makes it ideal for anyone who wants to break out of the concrete jungle for a while. Budapest City Park is a vaste playground. You can choose from numerous, easily accessible walkways and look at some architectural wonders along the way, and its building, the Vajdahunyad Castle and the Széchenyi Thermal Bath are splendid.
Once the sun comes out, we take to the park for a walk, to play with the dogs, or just hang out with family or friends.
The area of today’s City Park used to be a swamp and was called Rákosmező where the Hungarian kings were elected between the 13th-16th centuries. It was also a favourite hunting ground of noblemen. Later, trees were planted in the territory.
After the marshy land had been planted with trees in the 18th century, it became a favourite target for outings, although work on it continued through most of the 19th century when a lake, rows of trees, as well as bath and various places of entertainment were created here.
Completed in 1896, in time for a variety of celebrations marking one thousand years of Hungarian history, this park has everything you need for an enjoyable day, from a pretty pond to a number of interesting historic sites.
Ever since the 1870's the lake in Városliget has been turned into an ice rink, next to which in 1895 a neo-Baroque building.
Budapestians have a great history with skating which starts from the second half of the 19th century. Are you interested in the history of our ice?
Source: 'Skating season has arrived! Here’s 100 years of skating fashion in the City Park Ice Rink'
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Right in Városliget is Budapest Zoo. The 150-year-old “állatkert” which literally translates to “animal garden,” the Hungarian word for “zoo”, is one of the oldest in its category. The zoo is constantly expanding with better services and better accommodation for the animals, which keep children and adults alike fascinated. The zoo boasts the most ornate elephant and hippo house you’ll likely ever see and has everything from gorillas and orangutans to wombats and koalas.
Most of the buildings were put in Art Nouveau style during a large renovation between 1909 and 1912 mainly to the plans of Károly Kós and Dezső Zrumeczky.
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The amazing Vajdahunyad Castle or Vajdahunyad vára was built for the celebrations in 1896 and the architects intended to show all the styles used in Hungary from the Medieval times. As part of the Millennial Exhibitopn, on the artificial island of the lake of City Park they set up this 'historical' building showing the 1000-year-history of Hungarian architecture. Due to lack of time the complex was built partly out of wood, but because locals came to love is so much, it was rebuilt in stone between 1904 and 1908.
In the inner courtyard of Vajdahunyad castle you can see the statue of Anonymus a medieval Hungarian chronicler.
The building houses the Museum of Agriculture or Mezőgazdasági Múzeum.
Don't miss Széchenyi Baths or Széchenyi fürdő! This is one of the largest spas in Europe and its springs cure rheumatc illnesses. Completed in 1913 to the plans of Győző Czigler, the neo-Renaissaince building has a variety of pools, saunas, massages and steam rooms.
In 1926 outdoor pools were added, between 1998 and 2006 the complex were renovated and the pools were fitted with modern hydraulic systems.
The most impressive bath units are located outdoors. One of the best experiences is to be in one of the open air thermal water pools heated at 37°C (98°F) in the middle of winter when it is below freezing. And of course the Hungarian men playing chess in the water...
