Dent, Bob: Budapest for Children - Our Budapest (Budapest, 1992)

12. Here and There - A mixture of places

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HERE AND THERE

older children. However, visitors are only allowed in as part of guided groups and only then when parliament is not in session. English-speaking guided tours (unfortunately only covering part of the building) are organised by 1BCJSZ (Ferenciek tere) and Budapest Tourist (Roosevelt tér).

Uránia Observatory [Csillagvizsgáló]

Look at the stars through a big telescope. The observatory normally caters for groups of Hungarian school- children, but foreign children are welcome to come and stargaze. Open throughout the year apart from the summer school holiday period, Monday to Friday, from dusk to 10 pm. Situated at 3/b Sánc u., Bp. I (off Hegyalja út; bus no. 8 from Március 15. tér).

Tiger Playcentre [Tigris játszóház]

No. 10 Mérleg u., Bp. V. Small premises near Roosevelt and Erzsébet squares. The city’s only (apart from hotels) child-minding service. Small fee charged to leave your child here while you go shopping or whatever. Open 9-19. Toddlers welcome, activities and food arranged. English-language teaching for small children. Saturday morning playschool, etc.

Excursions

Space does not permit extensive details, but among the towns on the popular Danube bend to the north of the city (one of Hungary’s most beautifuls spots) the following are worth noting for children.

On the outskirts of Szentendre there is a large, open-air village museum. At weekends there are usually people demonstrating traditional crafts and skills. Visegrád has a hill-top castle and, nearby at Lepence, a hill-side open- air swimming pool with a marvellous view. Esztergom has one of Hungary’s best castle museums, and you can also climb up to the dome of the huge basilica for a fine view.