Nature

MARGARET ISLAND

Surrounded by the Danube river, Margaret Island is a 2.5 kilometres long and 500 metres wide island in the middle of Budapest and this is the green heart of the city. It lies in the middle of the Danube between Margaret Bridge and Árpád Bridge. Apart from a couple of hotels and sports facilities, there are no buildings on the island - it’s a huge recreational space with promenades and benches, cycle paths and a jogging track, great for a date or a picnic. Here is where you’ll find the Hajós Alfréd National Sports Swimming Pool, the popular Palatinus Lido, a petting zoo, and a Japanese Garden. Towards the north end of the island, in the shadow of the Water Tower, an open-air concert venue operates in summer for mainstream entertainment. Close by, the ruins of a medieval Dominican convent are historically linked to former resident Margaret, daughter of Béla IV, after whom the island is named. One of the highlights of Margaret Island is its musical fountain. Putting on a dramatic show five times a day (at 10:30 AM, 5:00 PM, 6:00 PM, 7:30 PM and 9:00 PM), it’s Budapest’s version of the famous Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas. Jets dance to music by a variety of composers and performers, from Vivaldi to The Rolling Stones, and shoot up to 10 metres in the air. For a special treat, catch the show after sunset, when the fountain is illuminated by hundreds of colourful lamps.