With the kids now home for the holidays, you’re going to need to keep them entertained with certain pandemic restrictions still in place. Most of the attractions listed below are open to all, although some require adults to be carrying an Immunity Certificate.

Photo: Polyák Attila - We Love Hungary
10 best petting zoos, wildlife parks and interactive farms in and around Budapest

Photo: Barka Állatsimogató
Barka Állatsimogató
1/10
This
small family farm on the fringes of Dunakeszi, just north of
Budapest,
is home to chickens,
horses, rabbits,
sheep, all kinds of four- and two-legged animals, in
fact, and
you can also peek into the daily life of the farm. Most of the
creatures
move around
freely, and
you
can
come into direct contact with them as
soon as you enter.
There is also a mini playground and a straw-bale jump on site.
Admission is free for children under four, you can buy a zoo
treats at the entrance. No Immunity
Certificate required.
Barka
Állatsimogató, 2120
Dunakeszi
Current
opening hours: Sat-Sun 10am-5pm
Volánbusz
308 from Újpest-Városkapu to
Dunakeszi Széchenyi utca (the last stop before Fót, 20min journey
time), then 20min walk – or train from Rákospalota-Újpest to
Dunakeszi (6min journey time), then taxi (approx 3km)

Photo: Polyák Attila - We Love Budapest
Budakeszi Wildlife Park
2/10
Budakeszi
Wildlife Park is a popular and well-known destination, but if you
haven't been there in the last couple
of years,
there have been quite a few changes. In addition to the interactive
nature
trail and games, playgrounds built by the Ilona Mill Workshop,
the adventure park and the farmyard at the entrance, there
were other
new additions
during the shutdown.
Eight new animal runs and birdhouses were built, the forest-themed
playground was expanded with additional elements, and a barefoot
trail was also created. Together with the Dino Park next door, you
can plan a whole day’s activities. Twilight visits
are also planned on Friday evenings in July from 6pm, when you can
tour the game park with a Hungarian-language guide. Immunity
Certificates are required for over-18s.
Budakeszi
Wildlife Park, 2092
Budakeszi
Current
opening hours: Mon-Fri
9am-5pm (Fri tours in July from 6pm), Sat-Sun 9am-6pm
Bus
22, 22A and 222 from Széll
Kálmán tér to Szanatórium utca (Vadaspark), then a 15-20min
signposted walk

Photo: Kertvárosi Tanyaudvar
Kertvárosi Tanyaudvar
3/10
Way
up in Mátyásföld, near the HÉV rail stop of the same, the Kertvárosi
Tanyaudvar established in 2019 is home to many farmyard
animals, including goats, donkeys and birds. It is also worth taking
a stroll
in the shady, bird-friendly garden and the orchard named after
life-long gardener
György Bálint,
who passed away in 2020 at the age of 101. Immunity Certificates are
required for over-18s, masks not obligatory.
Kertvárosi
Tanyaudvar, District
XVI. Sarjú út 5
Current
opening hours: Sat-Sun 10am-4pm
HÉV train from Örs vezér tere to Mátyásföld alsó

Photo: Pákozdi Pagony
Pákozdi Pagony Vadaspark & Arborétum
4/10
This
year, the Pákozd Arboretum in Sukoró will continue to operate under
a new name but still offering the same
services. Set on Mészeg Hill, on the northern fringes
of Lake Velence, it’s just off the M7 motorway, 50km from Budapest.
Big forest game can be observed in their
natural environment: red deer, fallow deer, wild boar and mouflon.
You will also find an interactive exhibition, a nine-stop
forestry nature trail and a 15-metre
lookout tower. This is an all-day
destination, also ideal for groups of
friends, with communal spaces, barbecue
places and a forest playground. Immunity Certificates are required for over-18s.
Pákozdi
Pagony Vadaspark & Arborétum, 8096
Sukoró
Current
opening times: Daily 10am-7pm
Frequent
train from Budapest Déli to Velence (journey time 40mins), then
Volánbusz 707,
747, 748 or 749 to Pákozd, Honvéd Emlékmű (journey
time 15mins),
then 10min walk

Photo: Piczinke Póniudvar
Piczinke Póniudvar
5/10
At
the Piczinke Pony Farm, little visitors can pet dwarf ponies,
rabbits,
dwarf piglets, goats and alpacas. In addition to the petting zoo, you
will find a sandpit, a playground, and children can try out various
vehicles. You
can hold a birthday
party here or organise summer camps and holiday-themed days. No
Immunity Certificate required. All
of this is close to
Normafa, Budapest’s favourite hilly getaway, so you can even
organise a full-day’s activities in the area with picnics, the Chairlift and the Children’s Railway.
Piczinke
Póniudvar, District
XII. Konkoly Thege Miklós út 20
Facebook
Current opening hours: Wed-Sun 10am-6pm
Bus
21 from Széll Kálmán tér to Sötetvágás utca

Photo: Pónifarm
Pónifarm
6/10
You can meet many animals around
the Pony Farm in Taksony. Llamas, alpacas, rheas,
donkeys, dwarf pigs, rabbits,
Dutch Landrace
goats, Cameroonian goats,
ducks, geese, hens, foxes, South
American coatis, horses and, of course, Welsh and
Shetland ponies await visitors. There is also a children’s
playground and a pedal go-kart track. In addition, as a new service,
there will be Hungarian-language puppet theatre. Immunity
Certificate required
for over-18s.
Pónifarm, 2335
Taksony, Forrás utca 6
Current
opening times: Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm
Hourly
train from Budapest Keleti to Taksony (35min journey time), then
15-20min walk

Photo: Pónikaland Minifarm Facebook
Pónikaland Minifarm
7/10
Lolka,
Zita, Maya and Csillag are waiting for you at the mini farm on the
edge of Veresegyház where, in addition to
pony rides, you can also find
birds, goats and sheep. Families are welcomed at
weekends and bank holidays, at times posted on the social networking site. In addition to summer camps,
they can also hold birthdays and pyjama parties. You reach the farm
in front of Veresegyház Medveotthon, turning towards the petting
zoo. No Immunity Certificate required.
Pónikaland
Minifarm
, 2112
Veresegyház, Patak utca 48D
Current
opening times: Tue & Thur 10am-5pm, Fir 10am-6pm, Sat 9am-6pm
Hourly
train from Rákospalota-Újpest to Ivacs (30min journey time)
theninfrequent Volánbusz 389/396 to Veresegyház,
Medveotthon (journey time 4mins) or 20min walk

Photo: Seholsziget
Seholsziget Élménypark/Alpaca Farm
8/10
From
Budapest, ‘Nowhere Island’ is a whole day out, its main
attraction being the alpaca farm which requires prior registration
for a 45-minute guided visit (HUF 3,000, 5-15s HUF 2,000, under-5s
free). Around the rest of the adventure park, you’ll
first be greeted by Kokó the parrot, who wisely stays near the
restaurant, overseeing
the petting zoo, little train and wooden playgrounds which comprise
the other attractions. No
Immunity Certificate required.
Alpaca
Farm, 2610 Nőtincs, Diófa út 41
Facebook
Current
opening hours: Sat-Sun 10am-5pm
Hourly
Volánbusz 330 from Újpest Városkapu to Nőtincs, kasztely (1hr
journey time), then 10-15min walk. Alternatively, regular train from
Rákospalota-Újpest to
Vác (30min journey time), then half-hourly buses to Nőtincs
(40min journey time).

Photo: Szigethalmi Vadaspark
Szigethalmi Családi Vadaspark
9/10
This
family-run attraction
awaits
visitors with
a petting zoo, fishpond, pony rides, animal feeding, a retro and
forest playground, and plenty
of picnic
opportunities. At the entrance, treats
for the
residents
are
available. When
you’re here, be sure to try Hungary's smallest passenger
railway. This year's novelty is the free-to-use skateboard track on
the road from the car park. No
Immunity Certificate required.
Szigethalmi
Családi Vadaspark, 2316
Szigethalom, Rákóczi Ferenc utca 147
Current
opening times: Tue-Sun
10am-5pm
Hourly
HÉV train from Közvágóhíd to Szigetcsép (45min journey time),
then 10min walk

Photo: Törökmezői Kis-Állatpark
Törökmezői Kis-Állatpark
10/10
This little zoo has been welcoming
visitors since 2016 to Törökmező in the Börzsöny Hills,
about 60km from Budapest. With nearly 120 creatures
representing 35 species, colourful birds, Bennett’s
tree-kangaroos, emus, llamas, you'll also find pony rides, feeding times and animal
demonstrations. There’s an
excellent adventure park on-site, with varying degrees
of difficulty, and which can be used by
three year
olds an up. By
the tourist lodge, there are hiking trails, so the trip can be
extended to a full day. The restaurant serves hot and cold dishes.
Immunity Certificates required for over-18s in the adventure park.
Törökmezői
Kis-Állatpark
, 2626
Nagymaros, off Törökmezei út
Current
opening times: Daily 10am-6pm
Train
from Rákospalota-Újpest
to Kismaros
(journey time 30mins),
then
hourly Volánbusz 350/351 to Törökmezei turistaház bej út
(journey time 10mins), then 20min walk downhill on Törökmezei út