Budapest deserves more love. You’ve likely seen it before. Given that movies use it as a stand-in for charming European cities, it’s already well-loved. The city is charming, full of history, amazing food, drinks, and things to do.

One of the lesser known attractions that deserves a visit is Margaret Island, in the middle of the Danube. To access the island, you can take a bus or drive. One of the more entertaining and unique options is to travel there by boat. Luckily, you can pair your visit to the island with a Danube Cruise. By doing this, it also brings you past some of the other incredible sights in the city. One of them includes the House of Parliament (seen below).

Some of the cruises even offer a glass of champagne if you book it. That means you get a leisurely tour of the city, a little drink, and drop-off & pick-up service on the island. There is also an option for a boat that isn’t a sightseeing tour, if you’re keeping a budget in mind. If this interests you, you can find boat schedules on this website.

The island doesn’t allow cars apart from arriving on the island, which gives it a charming feel to be able to simply walk or bike around the island to see the many sights. Be cautious of your timing and make sure you keep an eye on the timetables for the boats. Otherwise, you may miss your return. If you do, you can always figure out a bus or taxi in a pinch.

What To See

Once you’re on the island, you can wander at your leisure. If you’re looking for more specific sights, you can check out some of the following sights on the island:

• Margaret Island Water Tower – You can even climb it if you choose (it’s only 152 steps). Otherwise, you can wander right up to the tower and take pictures of it in all its pastel glory
  
• Rose Garden – If you’re there when roses are in bloom, it’s a great photoshoot to take pictures, but otherwise, you can literally walk around and smell the roses!
  
• Mini Zoo / Game Reserve – It’s not a substantial area of the island, but there are still enough barnyard animals to make it charming and quaint and a fun stop (especially if you have little ones!)
  
• Dominican Convent Ruins – There’s even a little slice of history, though there’s not much in the way of guideposts or information, so it’s more of a self-guided tour that you can enjoy as you wander the island

Once you’re done exploring, you’ll leave the way you came (by car or by boat). If going by boat, there’s typically a little snack stand where they drop you off and pick you up, in case you’re feeling a bit peckish!

So when you’re headed to Budapest, take the time to explore this hidden gem. Get away from the hustle & bustle of the city for a peaceful respite in nature just off the shores of the Danube.

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