Budapest for The Three Generations: a Friday-to-Monday weekend
Thermal water, ruin bars, and a river that cuts the city in two.
A weekend everyone can keep up with. Flat routes and places to sit, a boat or a funicular for the view, one highlight a day that works at eight and at eighty, and dinners with a long table.
Friday: Easy riverside
- Széchenyi Chain Bridge
A flat walk across the bridge with benches at each end, the castle above and the river below.
- Legenda evening cruise
A seated hour on the Danube with the Parliament and the castle lit up; a drink is included and boarding is level from the dock.
- Menza
A relaxed dinner on a leafy square, with big tables, a children's menu and food everyone can eat: goulash, schnitzel, duck.
Saturday: Zoo, long lunch, thermal pools
- Budapest Zoo
Flat paths with benches, an elephant house and a petting zoo; the Art Nouveau buildings are worth a look even for the grandparents.
- Gundel
A grand dining room next to the zoo with large round tables, a long lunch and palacsinta for dessert. Book a table.
- Széchenyi Baths
The warm outdoor pools suit all ages, with steps and rails for the grandparents and shallow ends for the children.
Sunday: The funicular and a gallery with lifts
- Castle Hill Funicular
An 1870 funicular, a ride for all ages that saves the steep climb to Castle Hill; the view of Pest opens as you climb.
- Hungarian National Gallery
Inside the Royal Palace, with Hungarian painting through the centuries; there are lifts, benches and a café on the upper floor.
- Déryné Bistro
A bright bistro below the castle with big tables, a lunch menu and cakes; call ahead for a table for six.
Monday: A market and a cake
- Great Market Hall
A flat, covered market with paprika, salami and a few stalls selling langoş; the upper gallery has seats and a view over the stalls.
- Café Gerbeaud
A historic coffeehouse on the main square, with big tables, a children's chocolate and a cake for everyone before the airport.