The water tower
At the first sign of summer in Budapest, locals flock to Margaret Island. Formerly a royal hunting reserve known as the “Island of Rabbits”, the island was renamed in 1908 after King Béla IV’s daughter Margaret transformed it into a giant public park. From exploring the ruins of the Dominican Convent and climbing the water tower, to bathing in the Palatinus pools and relaxing in the green meadows, there’s plenty to do in a day on Margaret Island.
Explore the park
Margaret Island is 2.5 kilometres long and offers stunning walking routes through lush meadows and gardens. Hike through the grass or hire a bicycle and cycle along the tree-lined avenues. If you’re feeling particularly energetic and need a break from the hotel gym, slip on your trainers and run a loop of the 5000-metre jogging track around the island. Visitors can also get around the island via bus or rent bringo or golf carts.
The Dominican Convent ruins
Climb the water tower
Towering over a canopy of trees, the Margaret Island water tower stands tall in pride of place overlooking the park. The octagonal Art Nouveau-style structure is both functional – as a water supplier to the island – and decorative. It also moonlights as a lookout tower with one of the best viewing platforms in the city. Climb to the top for unbeatable views stretching as far as the impressive Parliament building, and make sure to check out the art and photography exhibitions on display on your way out.
Tour the Dominican Convent ruins
Margaret Island is home to a number of ruins, the most notable of which are the ruins of the Dominican Convent. The nunnery was founded in the 13th century by King Béla, who sent his daughter Margaret to live there at the age of 11 following the Mongol invasion of Hungary. It remained a working convent until the nuns left the island in the 16th century and remnants can still be explored today.
Palatinus
Bathe at Palatinus
If the summer heat gets a little too much, grab your swimsuit and head to Palatinus. The scenic leisure complex has a network of pools and baths including thermal pools filled with the island’s mineral-rich water, adventure pools featuring exciting flumes and slides, lengthy swimming pools, children’s pools and a wave pool. It’s guaranteed fun for visitors of all ages.
Take a stroll in the gardens
Opposite the baths, visitors can find the island’s Rose Garden (Rózsakert), a beautiful space filled with hundreds of roses of myriad varieties. There’s also a Japanese Garden (Japánkert) in the north of the island that features dwarf trees, artificial waterfalls and ponds filled with exotic fish.
Visit the petting zoo
If you’re an animal enthusiast, don’t leave without popping into the island’s petting zoo where visitors can get up close to a range of birds and animals such as fallow deer, peacocks, white-cheeked pintails, mandarin ducks, Asian silkies and owls. Younger guests can also enjoy pony rides.
The musical fountain
Watch the musical fountain
One of the highlights is the island’s musical fountain. Putting on a dramatic show five times a day (at 10.30am, 5pm, 6pm, 7.30pm and 9pm), it’s Budapest’s version of the famous Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas. Jets dance to music by a variety of composers and performers, from Vivaldi to the Rolling Stones, and shoot up to 10 metres in the air. For a special treat, catch the show after sunset, when the fountain is illuminated by hundreds of colourful lamps – a memorable close to a day on Margaret Island.
Article by Corinthia Hotels, home of The Budapest Times and its sister publication Budapester Zeitung
