The following attractions are for kids of all ages, since just about everyone loves a train ride in the hills, a spin on a Ferris wheel, or a good puppet show. Three attractions here -- the zoo, the amusement park, and the circus -- are located in City Park (Városliget), along the famed Animal Garden Boulevard (Állatkerti körút). You could easily spend a whole child-oriented day here.
In addition to the listings, see the information on the Palatinus Strand outdoor swimming-pool complex and horse and pony riding in the Buda Hills.
Bábszínházak (Puppet Theaters)--Kids from around the world love Hungarian puppet theater. The shows are all in Hungarian, but with such standard fare as Hungarian versions of Cinderella, Peter and the Wolf, or local favorites Misi Mókus, Marcipán cica, and János Vitéz, no one seems to have trouble following the plot. The audience is an important part of the show: For instance, Hungarian children shriek "Rossz farkas!" ("Bad wolf!") at every appearance of the villain in Peter and the Wolf.
Budapest has two puppet theaters, with the season running from October to mid-June. Tickets are extremely cheap, usually in the 600-Ft-to-1,100-Ft ($3-$5.50) range. The Budapest Puppet Theater (Budapesti Bábszínház) is at VI. Andrássy út 69 (tel. 1/321-5200); the nearest metro station is Oktogon (Yellow line). The Kolibri Puppet Theater (Kolibri Bábszínház) is at VI. Jókai tér 10 (tel. 1/353-4633); Jókai tér is halfway between the Oktogon and Opera stations of the Yellow metro line. Shows start at various times throughout the day (days vary, so call in advance) with the first show usually at 10am and the last at 5pm, and tickets are available all day at the box offices.
