Day Trip to Margaret Island in Budapest (Beginner’s Guide)

Margaret island is a beautiful little oasis on the Danube river. It is a wonderful way to spend a day when you are traveling in Budapest. And the best part – most of the attractions are completely free!

You can find maps of the island and its sights all over – or just follow the arrows and paths.

Getting There

The island is connected to both sides of Budapest with bridges. It is very easy to get onto the island thanks to public transport. You can take tram 4 or 6 to the stop Margit híd, budai hídfő, from where you can walk across the bridge onto the island within 5-10 minutes.

Another option is to take bus 26, which will take you directly onto the island. Cars are banned on the island – only vehicles with special permits are allowed.

Opening hours

The island is accessible daily from 11am to 10pm.

1. Enjoy the theatricality of the Musical Fountain

The musical fountain is perhaps the most notable attraction on Margaret island. It catches your eye as soon as you enter the island from the southern side. It has hourly music shows, as well as daily light shows at night. The music ranges from pop music like “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran to traditional Hungarian children’s songs, depending on when you get there. It is beautiful and fascinating to watch – I could’ve sat there for hours!

2. See the Lego Lion

Also near the southern end of the island, a few metres in front of the musical fountain, there is a lion statue built out of 850 000 lego bricks. It is a 1:1 replica of the lion statues found on the most iconic bridge in Budapest, the Chain Bridge.

3. Rent a Cart

Since there are no cars allowed, you can rent a pedal cart or even a golf cart on either side of the island to help you get around. Of course, it is perfectly pleasant to go by foot, but if you don’t have quite as much time or just want to rent one for the fun of it, go for it!

4. Visit the animals at the Mini Zoo

At around the halfway point, you will come across the Mini Zoo. It is free to enter, and has only a small number of animals, mainly birds – ducks and storks, but they also have two ponies and three deer.

5. Stop and smell the roses

Behind the zoo, there is a beautiful rose garden. There are roses of 17 species and almost as many colours! There is even a map depicting the different varieties.

6. Have a drink at the top of the Water Tower

Hungary’s oldest water tower, situated in the centre of Margaret Island, offers panoramic views of the entire city and the river. At the top of the tower is a restaurant, so it is the perfect place to stop for some drinks or lunch, if you’d like. Exhibitions also take place here from June to September. Unfortunately, the tower was under construction when I visited Budapest, so I was unable to explore the tower. But it is definitely at the top of my list for my next trip!

7. Make a splash at Palatinus Strand

The other place I was unable to visit was the Palatinus baths. I can now imagine that the perfect day trip to Margaret Island might start here. It has 11 baths and, being powered by hot springs, is still open during cold winter months. This is, of course, one of the few places on the island that you will need tickets for. You can book tickets online at https://tickets.palatinusstrand.hu/.

8. Find your Zen in the Japanese Garden

As you get to the northern end of the island, you will come across the Japanese garden. Its design is, of course, inspired by Japan. There is a pond, in which koi fish swim around, with a little wooden arched bridge and a waterfall. It is a lovely place to sit down for a light snack as you come to the end of your trip to Margaret Island.

This short guide should help you build an itinerary for the perfect day trip to Margaret Island. It has a certain charm that you will not find in a big city like Budapest. I only went to Margaret Island on my second trip to Budapest, and it was absolutely worth the visit!