Our favourite Children's Day activities that parents can enjoy, too

What exactly will we be covering?

-    Springtime relaxation on the shores of Lake Balaton at the five-star Mövenpick Balaland Resort Lake Balaton

-    Adventures at Hungary’s first and only car safari park, Richter Safari Park

-    Extreme adventures at Zemplén Adventure Park

-    Family-friendly water slide fun at the Zalakaros Family, Adventure, and Thermal Bath, one of Hungary’s most versatile water parks

-    Fun in Debrecen by car, train, and water, recommended by Visit Debrecen

If you haven’t been to the shores of Lake Balaton yet this year, Children’s Day at the end of May is the perfect excuse for a spring getaway by the water. We warmly recommend one of the country’s most adventurous themed hotel complexes – the five-star Mövenpick Balaland Resort Lake Balaton in Szántód – to both adults and children alike. If possible, book a room at this lakeside hotel, whose playful spaces were inspired by Jules Verne’s adventure novel Around the World in Eighty Days. The family-friendly, spacious rooms and suites are sure to capture children’s hearts, while adults can relax in the fourth-floor wellness area during downtime. 

Even if you’re only visiting Szántód for a day, it’s worth planning to attend the BalaLand FamilyPark event: there will be a full-day party on May 31! As part of the Children’s Day celebration, Danny the Music Clown will perform on the Tico Terrace in the morning, and in the afternoon, young fans can enjoy a concert by Goldi Geri. Throughout the day, every child will also receive a sweet surprise. The event is accessible with a playhouse ticket, which can now be purchased online on the FamilyPark website, without having to wait in line.

Hello Hungary’s tip: You can also complement your visit here with a boat ride. Ferries depart from Szántód to the north shore every 30 minutes, but on May 31, it’s also worth visiting Siófok: among BAHART’s scheduled trips, there will be a Children’s Day boat ride featuring a spectacular balloon juggling show!

If you’d like to break away from the routine on Children’s Day – say, by taking a tour with an East African vibe – head to Nagykőrös! That’s where you’ll find Hungary’s first and only drive-through safari park, the Richter Safari Park. On the 32-hectare grounds, you don’t just watch the animals: part of the safari experience is observing the park’s residents up close while spending the day in an exciting yet family-friendly environment. After the drive-through adventure, you can join a monkey tour, visit the predators, or “travel” to the Lemur Island, where you can hand-feed the extremely friendly, playful ring-tailed lemurs. The park also offers other attractions, including a dinosaur park, go-karts, and a roller coaster.  

During Children’s Day, we can also take part in special programs, but what truly makes the place special is the accommodation. In the lakeside cottages and cozy glamping luxury tents, you can enjoy a truly unique safari experience. Wake up to the sounds of Africa in the morning, explore during the day, and drift off to sleep at night surrounded by elephants, camels, and zebras.

Sometimes a Children’s Day program is more than just simple fun: it’s a real test of courage, shared laughter, and high-speed thrills. The Zemplén Adventure Park in Sátoraljaújhely is exactly that kind of place! It’s hard to stay in one spot here, and people of all ages can find their own adventure among the activities. The day can begin on Hungary’s longest bobsled track, stretching about 2.2 kilometres, and then the bravest can test themselves on the extreme zip line: 150 meters above the ground, they can admire the landscape at speeds of up to 80 km/h.

One of the park’s most unique attractions is the world-record-breaking bridge stretching 84 meters high between Szárhegy and Várhegy, from which the beauty of the Zemplén landscape unfolds before us. The glass floor in the middle of the National Unity Bridge is more than just a visual feature: for a moment, you truly feel as if you’re floating among the mountains.

To continue the day, it’s worth climbing up to the Magas-hegyi lookout tower, which offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the unspoiled Zemplén landscape, followed by a ride on the 1.3-kilometer-long cable car or one of the six adventure trails of varying difficulty.

If your family is full of little water lovers and you’re in the mood for splashing around and soaking up the spring sunshine, the Zalakaros Family, Adventure, and Thermal Bath is the perfect choice. They have special programs planned for Children’s Day, but just exploring the spa itself can keep you busy all day: in addition to the indoor children’s area, you can practically get lost among the exciting zones of the 12-hectare outdoor beach, and for the more adventurous, we recommend trying out the variety of slides. It’s easy to lose track of time as you wander from one pool to another, always finding another “just one more time” run on the slide.

While the little ones take turns trying to break the sliding records, we recommend that adults try out the services of the modern yet traditional wellness center, as well as the sauna oasis and the herbal steam baths. If you don’t want to rush, it’s worth planning your trip with accommodations: book a room at the Fürdő Hotel in Zalakaros, so the fun doesn’t end at closing time!

There’s always something happening in Debrecen, and Children’s Day is no exception! On the last weekend of May, nearly the entire city transforms into a family adventure hub: Debrecen Drive returns to Nagyerdei Park with spectacular drift and stunt shows, children’s programs, and hundreds of unique vehicles. Children’s Day weekend at the Debrecen Zoo also promises to be exciting: the organizers are welcoming children and their families with concerts, craft workshops, feeding shows, and interactive programs.

But the list of possibilities doesn’t end there: on Children’s Day, you can visit the special programs at the Agóra Science Experience Center at a discount; at the Aquaticum SPA and the newly opening Aquaticum Debrecen Beach, you can choose from a variety of family and water activities; and the Vojtina Puppet Theatre troupe will perform at the Nagyerdei Open-Air Stage. We can also ride the Zsuzsi Forest Railway on Children’s Day, making it easy to plan a full-day outing to Nagyerdei Park. In the city, you’ll find exciting activities on nearly every corner – from family concerts and bouncy castles to soap bubble shows – so be sure to check out Visit Debrecen.com for more events!