13 Things to Do on Margaret Island, Budapest
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. It means that if you make a purchase, I may receive a small compensation. It does not cost you anything extra and it helps me maintain this website. For more information, read the full privacy policy.
Margaret Island is a popular spot in Budapest, and it is one of the best places in the summer. When I was a kid, my parents used to bring me and my siblings here for the day, and after I got older, I spent a lot of time here with my friends.
Some of my favourite things to do on Margaret Island is to hang out with friends, go running, have a picnic, play badminton, or read a book.
The best time to visit is in the spring and summer when the weather is warm and sunny. Recently, I visited the island in winter, and even though it was cold, I still enjoyed escaping the city and spending time in nature.
BUDAPEST ESSENTIALS
🚢 Budapest River Cruise: Evening Cruise
⭐ Free Walking Tours in Budapest: GuruWalk
🏠 Best Hotel and Spa on Margaret Island: Ensana Hotel
Information for Visiting
Is Margaret Island free to enter?
Yes, the Margaret Island is free to visit. It is one of the things I like about Budapest that many things are free to visit. The island is open all day long, but I recommend visiting in daytime hours, before it gets dark.
When is the Best Time to Visit?
The best time to visit the Margaret Island is in the spring, summer and early autumn when the weather is good.
The island is really pretty in the spring when the flowers bloom. There are lots of flowers around the island, and I love it here when you can see the island with all the flowers.
Summer is the best time on the island. Lots of families and friends come to the island to hang out, have a picnic or play sports, like badminton. I used to come here a lot with my friends, but you can also come here on your own, sunbathe, listen to music or read a book.
The Margaret Island is also open in the winter. Weather-wise, winter is not the best time to visit, but it’s still good to come here for a walk or a run.
I usually visit Margaret Island in the spring or summer, but recently I visited it in the winter. I found it was good for a walk, but the island was a bit sad without the flowers blooming. It can also get really cold, so dress in warm layers and thick socks to keep warm. There are a few cafés where you can warm up with a tea or coffee.
Is Margaret Island Worth Visiting?
Yes, I definitely recommend visiting Margaret Island (‘Margit-sziget‘ in Hungarian)! It’s the locals’ favourite hangout place in the summer, and I like to spend time here whenever I am in Budapest.
Margaret Island is the perfect place to relax and recharge in Budapest. It is in the middle of the city, yet being on an island, it is so peaceful!
It used to be called the “Island of Rabbits” due to its wildlife, but it was later renamed Margaret Island, after the daughter of King Béla IV.
It is easy to spend time on the island, anywhere from a few hours to the whole day. The main attractions include the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden, the ruins of a medieval convent, the musical fountain, and the Palatinus Bath. In the winter months, a magical light show is installed at Lumina Park on the Margaret Island.
Margaret Island Vibes:
Margaret Island: Map of Attractions
Best Things to Do on Margaret Island
Relax at the Japanese Garden
The Japanese Garden is such a cute little oasis, and it is one of my favourite places on the Margaret Island. It is on the north edge of the island (on the side closer to the Árpád Bridge) and has two small ponds and a small wooden bridge. In each pond, there is a small statue, one of them nicknamed as the “Little Mermaid”.
It was built in 1882, and then it was renovated in 2014. It’s such a nice place to visit within the Margaret Island and it is one of the places you cannot miss. The ponds also have fish inside, which is fun for small kids to see.
Visit the Rose Garden
The Rose Garden is the most beautiful place on the Margaret Island in the spring and summer when the roses are in bloom. There were rose gardens on the island as far back as 1810, and over the years, it grew into a garden with over 12,000 roses.
One of the most famous Hungarian poets, János Arany, used to spend a lot of time at the Margaret Island in the summer, and there is also a statue for him near the Rose Gardens.
Step Back in Time at the Ruins of a Medieval Convent
Another one of my favourite places on the island is the ruins of a medieval convent. It’s the perfect place if you love history!
King Béla IV founded the convent for his daughter, Princess Margaret, in 1259. According to a legend, King Béla VI promised to commit his daughter to a life of nunnery if Hungary could successfully defend itself from the Mongol Invasion (1241-42). After the Mongol withdrawal, King Béla VI built the convent and palace for his daughter.
Although many European royals wanted to marry Margaret, she remained true to her vows of staying a nun. She was canonized into a saint in 1943, and the island is also named after her.
Watch the Show at the Musical Fountain
The Musical Fountain on Margaret Island is a massive fountain, around 36 m/118 ft in diameter. It usually operates from May to October, and it is not operational during winter.
There is a show at the fountain with music once an hour (10 am to 10 pm). In the evenings, there is also a light show, so the evenings are the best times to visit it. They play famous songs during the shows, and you can hear anything from Vivaldi to Coldplay, or Mozart to Guns N’ Roses.
The fountain was first built in 1962, and at that time, there was live music by the fountain. Its current form was built during a renovation in 2013, and the music played now is digitalized.
Visit the Water Tower and Open-Air Theatre
The water tower was built to supply water for Margaret Island. It is 57 m (187 ft) tall, and they built a lookout point from the tower as well, so it is now most popular for its 360° panoramic views of Budapest.
Right next to the water tower, there is an open-air theatre that runs theatre plays during the summer months. There is an entry ticket to the water tower, however, if you watch a play at the open-air theatre, then you get free entry into the water tower.
The last we visited the Margaret Island, it was winter, and the water tower was closed so we couldn’t go up to see the view. Next time if I visit, I’ll stop by in the summer months, so I can check out the view.
Cycle around the Island on Bringóhintó
There are these funny vehicles on the Margaret Island called “Bringóhintó”. It’s like a tiny car but you have to pedal it like a bicycle.
The Margaret Island is closed off from cars (except for the Bus 26, and the car park on the north side), and so you can get around the island only on foot, bicycle, e-scooter or on one of the “bringóhintó”.
We once took it, and it was so much fun. You can hire them near the entrance of the island on the south sound for around HUF 7,000 (USD 22) for 30 minutes, and HUF 9,000 (USD 28) for one hour.
They come in different versions. Some are smaller and can fit two people, while others can fit 4 or more people. I loved it so much when we hired one. It’s such a fun way to get around the island.
Have a Picnic
In the summertime, Margaret Island is one of the most popular places to come for a picnic in Budapest. When the weather is good, the island is full of families and friends hanging out. The island is massive and there are many places that serve like a park.
It’s the perfect place to get away from the city center of Budapest and enjoy some time in nature. When I was a kid, we used to come here a lot with my family. Then, as I got older, I used to come here with my friends to hang out or to play sports.
Visit the Mini Zoo
There is also a mini zoo on Margaret Island. It is not as big as a proper zoo and there are not that many types of animals, but it is interesting for kids.
They have some deer, ponies, owls, stork, peacocks, and ducks. What I like about the mini zoo here is that they rescue injured animals, and after they recover, they release them. It’s free to visit, you don’t need any special ticket to see the zoo.
Go for a Swim at Palatinus
The Palatinus Thermal and Open-Air Bath is one of the most popular pools in Budapest, especially in the summer. They have many different pools, indoor pool, pools with thermal water, outdoor swimming pool, kids pool, and also water slides.
It’s most famous for its outdoor wave pool, where once an hour the pool generates waves, recreating the feeling of being by the seaside.
They also have a sauna, steam room, and massage services. The perfect place to relax and recharge in the summer heat!
Have Drinks by the River
In the summer, there are bars and cafes open by the riverside on the island. It’s such a nice place to go for some drinks with friends. You get to chill by the river, plus have some good food and drinks. Check out Hippie Island and other restaurants and bars around.
Go Running
Margaret Island is a popular place to go running and you can see lots of people running here all year round (even in winter). There is a running track that goes around the island, and it is 5.3 km (3.3 miles) long.
The running track is right next to the walking path and make sure to not go on the running track if you are only visiting the island to walk around. If you live in the city center of Budapest, it is the perfect place to go running. It is easy to get to, and the air is cleaner.
Stay at the Ensana Hotel and Spa
Spending time at Margaret Island is so peaceful. It is in the center of Budapest, and yet it is so quiet, it being on an island on the River Danube. The Ensana Hotel is right on the Margaret Island, and it overlooks the River Danube.
It has indoor and outdoor pools, thermal water pools, sauna, spa, and gym. The perfect place to relax and recharge!
⭐ Book a stay at Ensana Hotel here!
Check out the Light Show at Lumina Park (Winter Only)
In the winter, there is an immersive light show at Lumina Park on Margaret Island. The entry to the exhibition is right at the Palatinus Beach, and it runs from October to March.
It’s like stepping into a fairytale, and you are transported into a magical world. They recreate themes from Christmas, famous monuments from around the world, and from Disney movies. It’s fun for both kids and adults!
It took us around 2 hours to visit, and what I really recommend is to dress in very warm clothes. Winter is so cold in Budapest, and if you spend a few hours outside, then you need to wear thermal layers under your clothes, and put on warm socks, hat, scarf, and gloves.
How to Get to Margaret Island
The Margaret Island is located on the Danube River that splits Budapest into two parts: Buda and Pest. It is close to the Parliament, so if you stay in a hotel close to the Parliament, you can even walk to the island.
By public transport, you can take the Tram 4 and 6, or the Bus 26 to get to Margaret Island.
The Tram 4 and 6 operates across central locations in Budapest and it also has a stop by the Margaret Island, so the Tram 4/6 is one of the best ways to get to the island by public transport. You can get on the tram at various locations, including the Blaha Lujza Square, Oktogon or the Nyugati Railway Station.
The Bus 26 is another option. You can get on at Nyugati Railway Station, and it takes you directly onto the island. However, I prefer to take the tram or to walk across the bride on foot.
On the north side of the island, you can also get to the island via the Árpád Bridge. It is the best point of entry if you are coming to visit the island by car. There is a car park on the north edge of the island where you can park. (Parking fees apply).
The last time we visited Margaret Island, we parked near the Parliament, walked onto the Margaret Bridge and then to the island. I loved the walk across the bridge as we could also get amazing views of the Parliament and the Buda Castle.
FAQs: The Best Things to Do on Margaret Island
How long do you need on Margaret Island?
You need around 3 hours to explore the Margaret Island, but it is easy to spend half a day or a full day on the island. We spent around 3 hours just to walk around and visit all the places on the island, plus we also took a short tea break. If you also plan to take a picnic, play sports, then you can easily spend a day on Margaret Island.
Can you walk around Margaret Island?
Yes, the Margaret Island can be walked around. There are footpaths along the island, some that go on the edge of the island, close to the river, and others that go in the middle of the island across parks.
Is Margaret Island good for families?
Yes, the Margaret Island is great for families. Lots of families visit the island with kids whether you want to bring your kids for a walk or a picnic. There is also a playground for kids, a pond with fish at the Japanese Garden, and there is also a small zoo with deer, peacock and owls.
Are there toilets on Margaret Island?
Yes, there are toilets on the Margaret Island. They charge HUF 250 (USD 1) per person. If you buy some food and drinks at the cafes, they also have toilet, and customers can use their toilet for free.
My Final Tips on Visiting Margaret Island
Margaret Island is the perfect place to escape the busy city center of Budapest and spend some time in nature. Margaret Island is practically in the center of Budapest, and yet, it feels like you are in a totally different place.
The best time to visit the island is in the spring and summer when the weather is warm and sunny. It can also be visited in the winter but make sure to dress in warm layers as it gets super cold after one or two hours of being outside.
You can spend any time here, but generally you need around 3 hours to see everything on the island. Many people come here to spend the whole day here, having a picnic, sunbathing and playing with friends. You can bring snacks with you, but there are cafes and restaurants where you can get food and drinks.
