Let the family discover the city together! – ‘Budapest with Kids’ map published
Cool, shaded parks, tucked-away bookshops, family-friendly confectionery shops and cultural hubs exciting for children as well. The ‘Budapest with Kids’ map published in early December is an open invitation to discover more than 100 hidden places tailored for families.
Why not show our capital from a new, family angle as well? This inspired idea came to Fruzsina Nyári, founder of the Babagúz and Lottirose family travel assistance service. The fact is that in the course of her work, she found herself frequently being asked where foreign families visiting Hungary should go when in Budapest. “We, too, had the same question when we travelled with the kids to some foreign destination, for example, Dublin or Barcelona: what a great thing it would be if there was a collection of the best places for families, because neither an Irish pub nor the long queue to enter Sagrada Familia makes for the ideal experience when you have two tinies in tow,” says the brains behind the ‘Budapest with Kids’ map, speaking from personal experience.
The booklet, which is designed to help both families in Budapest who want to wander around and families with children visiting as tourists, has a "slow&green" approach. The slowed-down exploration of the city is encouraged by the fact that families can open a classic map format in the digital world and browse and plan together with their children.
Anna Babics, the drive behind the project’s creative concept, spoke more about this approach: “We know that in itself, the urban environment surrounds children with masses of stimuli: noisy, pressing and fast-moving. When we set about choosing leisure activities, it was important for us to select slow&green programmes and venues in which it is possible to be enriched with simple experiences, calmly and quietly.”
In this light, the Budapest with Kids map proposes more than 100 special places from natural playgrounds through green shops and cultural programmes all the way to family-friendly catering outlets. “The map features tried and trusted favourites, the sort of places that we like to visit with our own families: one of our old favourites is the Pony Courtyard at Normafa, we enjoyed a family picnic birthday in the beautiful wooden playground of Szent Ferenc Hospital, both my son and daughter learnt to walk in the great parks of Újbuda, while most weeks we find something to read in the Bartók Pagony bookshop,” says Anna Babics about the overtly subjective selections.
Illustrations of places waiting to be discovered were made by László Báthori, while the overall refined design of the city compass is the work of Zita Lengyel-Szabó: “Laci and I looked through dozens of foreign city map designs, for days we just drew inspiration because we wanted to create a really fine product.”
“The best compliment the project received later on was when somebody asked: on what stock page can you find these graphics of the places? I really had to laugh and I told the person that Laci had drawn them all.”
The first picture to be done was the Czakó Smallholders’ Market, in which the illustrator also depicted a kitten. The other members of the project liked this touch so much that they asked for the appearance of more cute animals when putting together visuals of other locations.
The first edition of Budapest with Kids was published in Hungarian and English in 1000 copies, and is currently available on the Babagúz webshop and Lottirose Deák Square package point. Part of the HUF 1500 price is earmarked for charity. “It was always important for us to back good causes. We work independently with Amigos for Children Foundation and manager Sára Forgács-Fábián to ensure a happier childhood for those who come into contact with us. A percentage of every map sold goes to Amigos and it was an enormous joy for us that influencers helping the map campaign also offered their fees to the Foundation,” reveals Fruzsina Nyári.
Today, the map helping families in their journey of discovery, which is packed with peaceful experiences, has been supplemented with numerous other services: there are family and pocket colouring books and even a full-size poster, which can be a handy adornment for children’s bedrooms. Shortly, Babagúz online platforms will be running a one-minute video series covering places shown in the map, with the participation of a ‘tester team’ made up of children.
And what does the future hold? In 2020, the team is preparing for a really special summer surprise, and in the first half of the year they are debuting the ‘Budapest with Kids’ app as well, which alongside the 100 places already on the map will suggest further ideas.
On top of this, it brings together pushchair and walking pathways of discovery in which diaper changing stations, ice cream parlours, parks for resting and the best playgrounds are just as much integral parts as a sightseeing tour enjoyable both for adults and children.
Of course, the Budapest with Kids map is not a ‘mission accomplished’: Fruzsina Nyári and her colleagues are constantly updating and expanding the list of places recommended for families. “We would like to initiate a dialogue about what can be done to make Budapest a truly family-friendly city. We are always seeking cooperation with major companies, hotels, restaurants, as well as decision-makers because there is still much to do in the fields of transport and services. As is evident on our map, too, we have a beautiful city rich in ideas and family venues, it is our common responsibility to look after it!”
