“Choo choo, all aboard!”. All the trains of Hungary at the Fusti Railways Park. The 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: the little visitors, in fact, appropriately accompanied, can even try to drive the locomotives and for them, the issuance of the “honorary driver” certificate is also provided.
The theme park tells the story of the train in Hungary in various aspects and it is possible to admire over 100 examples of these extraordinary and ancient locomotives, perfectly restored and operational.
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 style buildings richly decorated are located, little visitors can admire up close native and exotic animals, including the puppies who, docile and tame, willingly offer themselves for cuddles, games, and caresses. Inside the Zoo, it is also possible to use 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 is the Lunapark, open all year round and also equipped with antique rides, such as the wooden roller coasters.
Still in the same area, there are also the Great Circus of Budapest and the Transport Museum which displays a rich collection of railway, nautical, and aeronautical models, as well as vintage cars, motorcycles, and bicycles.
To end the Pest tour in complete 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.
Together with the Fusti Railways Park in Pest, a truly original attraction that will definitely please children is the Children’s Train in the Buda area; the great attraction is the fact that on these trains, the service is operated by children aged between 10 and 14, under constant and careful adult supervision.
During the journey, carried out in open carriages that allow enjoying the view, the most beautiful spots of the hills surrounding Buda are touched: the János-hegy, 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, dating back to the medieval era. At the Hüvösvölgy terminus, there is the Children’s Railway Museum, where objects and images from the history of the little train are exhibited.
We could then move to the Millennium Park, an excellent example of the recovery of a disused industrial area (the historic Ganz factory once stood here) today transformed into an elegant and quiet green area in the heart of Buda.
Next to monuments of industrial archaeology, extensive reclamation work has led to the creation of a large green park, with special micro-areas set up 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 in place of the usual purely decorative plants.
The park also houses 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, demonstrative exhibitions, large screens, optical puzzles, and mazes, it is the best place to teach children and young people (from 3 years and up) how interesting the world and nature are.
But Buda is not just that, 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 Labyrinth of the Castle District which visitors can explore with lanterns. To reach the entrance, one can choose a characteristic means of transport, the funicular: it is almost 100 meters long and has an inclination of 48%.
Finally, another place that deserves a visit is the Tropicarium, a true indoor animal paradise, the only one in Hungary, dedicated to those who love the world of waters and jungles. The main attraction is the aquarium with sharks, while every half hour there is a spectacular reproduction (lasting 2 minutes) of tropical rain.
