Whoever once said that running was for cowards had never tried running in the parks and streets of Budapest. 

It’s a completely different way of sightseeing; fun, dynamic and healthy. Not that we’re saying do it to prove how much fun it is, do it if you’re already a regular runner. If you don’t, tomorrow you’ll have stiffness the size of Parliament waiting for you. 

If you’ve brought your desire to run and your stylish, lightweight supinator shoes, we’ve brought you the best routes, parks and places where you can practice your favourite hobby. Stretch, warm up and follow us.

Best Parks and places to run in the city centre of Budapest

Danube

A city that is known as the Pearl of the Danube must, by force, have the Danube at its heart. More than 2,800 kilometres long and running through ten countries, the Danube is the lifeblood at the heart of Budapest. 

In addition to all the activities offered by such a river; fantastic recreational cruises and water sports. To this we can now add running. 

On both banks of the river, on the Buda and Pest sides, there are routes and paths to enjoy the city from a new point of view.

First route; start your run at the Rákóczi Bridge and walk the six kilometres to the Margit Bridge. The course is fairly flat, with few elevation changes. It’s great for warming up and if you’re just starting out in running. 

The second running route with the Danube as its epicentre is the one that starts at the Liberty Bridge, and without losing sight of the Danube, goes over Gellért Hill and ends at the Margaret Bridge, known as Margit híd. Once there, do you want to discover the Margaret Island route? This is one of the most beautiful spots in Budapest.

Margaret Island

Margaret Island emerges between Buda and Pest as a true oasis of peace and tranquillity for the city’s residents and tourists. It is 2.5 kilometres long and stretches between the Margaret and Árpád bridges.

The island has a flat rubberized running track that goes five kilometres around it. You can run without inclines, among the trees and discover monuments and fantastic places such as a Jaonese garden with a pond, a small zoo with numerous birds, the “Fountain of Music”, the “Well of Music” or its octagonal water tower of more than 50 metres. 

It is a fantastic place to enjoy a different, quiet and relaxed part of Budapest. It’s a great idea to finish your running route here, or if you’re just starting out, you don’t even need to leave the island.

Buda Hills and Gellért Hill 

It seems that the more experienced runners are beginning to despair. Lots of flat and few hills, where are the challenges here? Your time has come, let’s talk about hills. 

Let’s test your calf muscles with the city’s most famous hills; Gellért Hill and Buda hills. 

Let’s start with the Buda Hills. Budapest’s most famous hill offers you several options to make the most of your visit. The starting point should be Városmajor park, and from there, you decide which route to take.

The Városmajor park itself is a good option for running on flat terrain and enjoying nature. But if you’re looking to give your legs a workout, then head north to the Buda Hills, where you can visit historic buildings and monuments such as the Budapest History Museum or the Fountain of the Fishing Children.

Our hill option is the Gellért Hill, closer to the city centre. From the entrance of the Gellért Spa, one of Budapest’s best spas, you can enjoy a leisurely run to Tabán, or climb up the hill to test your limits and enjoy one of the best views of the city.  

City Park

City Park, also known as Varosliget Park, is one of the most important and beautiful parks in Budapest. It is located in the northern part of the city, but without having to leave the city centre. 

This area is full of interesting spots, both inside the park and around it. Inside the park there is a four-kilometre-long marked trail. However, you can also use other trails that are not marked as running trails but are good for walking.

Within the large park area, covering some 120 hectares, you can walk along the paths that lead to such spectacular places as the Vajdahunyad Castle, the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture, with one of the most beautiful facades you will see in the whole city, or the Széchenyi Thermal Bath, one of the most beautiful thermal baths in Budapest. 

Don’t forget to take a little detour, cross the Zielinski Bridge over the lake in City Park to reach Heroes’ Square, guarded by two of Budapest’s best museums; Műcsarnok, the museum of contemporary art, and the Szépmüvészeti Múzeum, Budapest’s Museum of Fine Arts.