Margaret Island (Margitsziget)

The capital's most beautiful and protected park is home to numerous rare and valuable plants that are a delight to the eye. On the Island there are also protected heritage buildings, as well as sports grounds and open-air swimming pools for leisure activities.

When the River Danube was regulated, Margaret Island evolved from several smaller islands. Today it is a 95.6 hectare area, 2,500 metres long and, at its widest part, 500 metres wide.

Its most famous plants are the vast plane trees which, in some cases measure 2 metres across. The unique maple and ash tree which have grown into one another stands at St Margaret's grave among the ruins of the former Dominican Monastery. Strollers can take a rest in the Japanese garden, in the rose garden, next to tended flower beds, or at the small wildlife park.

Margaret Island boasts several heritage sights: the protected Water Tower, Musical Well, ruins of the Franciscan church, reconstruction of the St Michael's church of the Premonstratensians. Among the many statues in the Park, there is the so-called Artists' Avenue along which there are a series of busts representing some of the great figures of Hungarian art. The Island caters for sporty people (sport and tennis grounds, the Alfréd Hajós Sport Swimming Pool, jogging track) and also for bathers (Palatinus). Margaret Island is accessible to wheelchairs. With the exception of taxis, no personal vehicle traffic is allowed on the Island. It can be reached by tram (Nos. 4, 6) or by bus (No. 26).

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