“Choo choo, all aboard!”. All the trains of Hungary at the Fusti Railways Park. Fusti Railways Park: inaugurated in the summer of 2000 and unique of its kind in Europe, it is an unforgettable experience for children since it is not just a static museum: young visitors, indeed, properly accompanied, can even try to drive the locomotives and they can also receive an “honorary engineer” certificate.
The theme park tells the story of the train in Hungary from various aspects and it is possible to admire over 100 examples of these extraordinary and ancient locomotives, perfectly restored and functioning.
Moving a little, the visit could continue at the Budapest Zoo, one of the oldest in the world (it was inaugurated in 1866) which welcomes a million visitors every year, including children and adults.
In an area of 11 hectares where characteristic Art Nouveau buildings richly decorated are located, the little visitors will be able to admire up close indigenous and exotic animals, including the young animals which, docile and tame, gladly lend themselves to cuddles, games, and caresses. Inside the Zoo, it is also possible to enjoy the services of a 600 sqm playroom extraordinarily “furnished” with an artificial pond, a giant tree to climb and many other attractions.
Next to the Zoo, here is the Lunapark, open all year round and also equipped with antique rides, such as wooden roller coasters.
Still in the same area, there are also the Great Circus of Budapest and the Transport Museum which exhibits a rich collection of railway, nautical, and aeronautical models, as well as vintage cars, motorcycles, and bicycles.
To end the Pest tour in total relaxation, the best advice is to visit the Széchenyi Thermal Baths which, among the largest in Europe, offer real fun made of coolness, play, relaxation.
Along with the Fusti Railways Park in Pest, a truly original attraction that will surely delight the little ones is the Children’s Train in the Buda area; the great attraction is the fact that on these trains, the service, under the constant and careful supervision of adults, is operated by boys aged between 10 and 14.
During the trip, carried out on open carriages that allow enjoying the view, the most beautiful points of the hills surrounding Buda are touched: János Hill, which is the highest point of the city (527 m); the Erzsébet Belvedere, named in honor of Queen Sissi; near the Szépjuhaszné stop, the ruins of the ancient Pauline monastery from the medieval period. At the terminus Hüvösvölgy, there is the Children’s Railway museum, where objects and images of the history of the little train are displayed.
We could then move to the Millennium Park, an excellent example of the recovery of a disused industrial area (the historic Ganz factory stood here) now transformed into an elegant and quiet green area in the very center of Buda.
Next to industrial archaeology monuments, large reclamation works have led to the creation of a large green park, with special micro-areas arranged to represent the different landscapes of the Hungarian regions. Permanently supporting this enterprise are over 400 trees and a 3,000 sqm pond, along with unexpected – but certainly original – typical cultivations, such as a small vineyard, a wheat field, apple trees instead of the usual purely decorative plants.
In the park, there is also the Palace of Wonders, a unique park for interactive scientific games, with about a hundred impressive games. It is one of the most important scientific and interactive museums in Central Europe: equipped with interactive games, demonstration exhibitions, large screens, optical puzzles, and labyrinths, it is the best place to teach children and young people (from 3 years old and up) how interesting the world and nature are.
But Buda is not only this, because it also extends underground, a place full of charm and mystery for children.
An ancient network of caves and underground tunnels, about 16 meters deep, is the Castle District Labyrinth that visitors can explore equipped with lanterns. To reach the entrance you can choose a characteristic means of transport, that is the funicular: it is almost 100 meters long and has a 48% incline.
Finally, another place worth visiting is the Tropicarium, a true indoor animal paradise, the only one in Hungary, dedicated to those who love the world of water and jungles. The main attraction is the shark aquarium, while every half hour a spectacular reproduction (lasting 2 minutes) of tropical rain takes place.
