Károlyi Garden

Located in the heart of Pest’s historic inner city, Károlyi Garden is a French-style gated garden, bearing the name of its original owners, the noble and immensely wealthy Károlyi family (whose grandiose palace connects to the garden from the west). Dating from the 17th century, it is Budapest’s oldest garden, and although it has seen a lot of changes in the few decades since it was declared a public park in 1932, this lush oasis still retains some of its original Baroque charm.

Known for its playground, cool fountain, romantic pathways, well-kept hedges and beautiful flowers, Károlyi Garden is a popular destination among families, couples, nearby office workers looking for some peace of mind, as well as young students preparing for an upcoming exam. If you have your blanket with you but forgot the other two picnic essentials – food and wine, namely – then drop by to the neighbouring Csendes Társ – they’ll have everything you’d need.

City Park

Budapest’s most beloved family venue is also the world’s first public park: conscious tree planting efforts in the area date back to Empress Maria Theresa’s 1755 decree, when the whole park was essentially still one big marshland. It was under the direction of Archduke Joseph, Palatine of Hungary, that City Park started to take its present form, thanks to the efforts of the Royal Beautification Committee set up by him. At the end of the 19th century, City Park became the centre of the Millennium Celebrations, with the whole world’s attention focused on this 100-hectare patch of earth for a brief momentum.

Nowadays, City Park is a revered place of recreation, whether you choose to relax by admiring artworks (Museum of Fine Arts), studying the historic architecture styles of the Kingdom of Hungary (Vajdahunyad Castle), bathing in thermal water (Széchenyi Spa), laughing at clowns (Capital Circus), meeting wild animals (Budapest Zoo), jogging, or having an al fresco party with a basketful of delicious foods in the company of your friends.

Nagyrét

Margaret Island is the dream of every urban nature lover: surrounded by the gently flowing Danube on all sides, this centrally located island is actually one big park, close to the city, but far enough so that you can forget about its hustle and bustle.

Margaret Island has everything from a spectacular music fountain, a free petting zoo and medieval ruins to a unique Japanese garden and an enormous meadow – the eponymous Nagyrét. Nagyrét gives home to a number of plants and animals that are protected by law, so be careful when you lay down your picnic set!

Philosopher’s Garden

Hidden atop Gellért Hill, Philosopher’s Garden is a mysterious little green treasure box named after a group of sculptures which are located in the southern part of the garden: the statues depict Akhenaten, Jesus Christ, Buddha, Lao-tzu, Abraham, Gandhi, Bodhidharma, and Saint Francis of Assisi, and call for the better mutual understanding of each other. Offering an amazing view, benches, and quite a lot of space in the silky smooth grass for plaids and baskets, Philosopher’s Garden is one of the city’s most low-key cool picnic spots – and certainly Budapest’s most inspiring!

Nehru Part

Bearing the name of India’s first prime minister, this lovely and green hangout venue stretches some 300 metres from Bálna to Petőfi Bridge, flanked by the Danube and tram number 2 on the sides. The 26,000 square metres park was created in the late 1960s, after the razing of a number of obsolete turn-of-the-century warehouses. In 2016, Nehru Part got a significant overhaul, and now awaits locals with colourful and multifunctional seats, sports facilities, a brand new skate park, an exciting playground for the kids, and lots of grassy areas for your friendly-foodie get-together.

Fűvészkert

You may have heard the word ‘fűvészkert’ (which means botanical garden in Hungarian) before, since this particular garden is the main scene of Ferenc Molnár’s famous novel, The Paul Street Boys. In Fűvészkert, the first botanical garden in Hungary, more than 8000 types of plant can be found – you can even take a guided tour with an expert who will tell you all about them! The centrally located garden is otherwise ideal for long walks, romantic dates, and, of course, picnic.

Margaret Island

There is nothing like Margitsziget in sunny weather. The 2,5-kilometer long green island is located on river Danube, halfway between Buda and Pest, and visited by every Budapester in springtime including the enthusiasts of outdoor sports, dog lovers, cyclists, youngsters, pensioners, workers, locals as well as foreigners. You can try lángos, the Hungarian fatty food specialty; borrow a bike, watch the fountain show, use the street workout facilities, take the running path, or just chill on Nagyrét. Don’t miss out!

The yard of the Hungarian National Museum

The yard of the Hungarian National Museum is located in the heart of Budapest, between Astoria and Kálvin tér. In 1848 it was the meeting point of Hungarian revolutioners, nowadays it is that of the students of the nearby universities who either lie in the grass, or sit on the stairs drinking, eating, and chatting. Although the noise of the busy streets may be bothering for some, the vigorous vibes of the young compensate.

Garden of Philosophy

Situated a bit lower than the Citadel but still over the city there is Gellért Hill’s hidden gem, the Garden of Philosophy. The park was named after Nándor Wagner’s sculpture which has stood there since 2001. Garden of Philosophy is less known by the tourists, so it is not as crowded as the Citadel but the view is similarly impressive.

Kopaszi-gát

Buda has its own island of peace, namely Kopaszi-gát (gát meaning dam). The huge green area at the waterside is situated in the outskirt of Budapest, which might be the reason why it is so calming walking around the recently renovated area. You will find restaurants and cafés in case you forget to bring your own for the picnic. Remember not to take dogs, because they are not allowed in the park.

Római-part

When you take the train to the only natural coast of the city, you will be amazed by the retro atmosphere the place has preserved since the second half of the nineteenth century. There are plenty of restaurants and cafés that mostly serve Hungarian specialities you can try, or you can organize a barbecue while enjoying the closeness of the river.

Normafa

Normafa is the perfect choice for families who would like to get away from the urban bustle to spend a day in green environment. You can take one of the walking paths, go up to Erzsébet Lookout Tower for a beautiful view over the nearby hills, take the children’s railway, or just enjoy the afternoon on a blanket while the kids are having fun at the playground.

Erzsébet tér

As soon as the warm weather arrives, every year Erzsébet square becomes loaded with people chilling in the sun in the afternoon, and getting pre-drinks in the evening. This green spot of Deák square is filled with loud laughter mixed with the sounds of jamming musicians every day.