In addition to the diverse lantern art creations and compositions, there will be animal attractions, including the zone presenting domestic animals and the Shark School, which will also remain open in the evenings. The Amusement Park (Vurstli) will also operate, featuring the 1908 Schäftner carousel, the dwarf wheel, several other nostalgic carousels, and the children’s train.
As spring arrives, the evenings become warmer, and the weather more pleasant. We offer a charming evening program with the Spring Lantern Magic, where, of course, the lanterns themselves are the main attraction.
With hundreds of lantern art creations arranged into compositions in multiple places, the creators present a variety of themes. Some of the lanterns represent “light creatures”, depicting animals, plants, or mythical, legendary creatures. Among the lantern figures, you will find tigers, butterflies, various birds and reptiles, a giant panda, a gorilla, a Tasmanian wolf representing extinct species, a prehistoric armadillo, and even a composition depicting a polar bear in an Arctic scene and another featuring fish, rays, and jellyfish from the marine world.
Some of the lanterns evoke Chinese civilization, which is fitting since lantern art itself originates from China. The creations on display have arrived from Sichuan province in China, made by Chinese lantern artists. The two largest lanterns, each around ten metres tall, depict dragons, a key symbol of Chinese civilization, and particularly relevant now, as the Year of the Dragon began with the Lunar New Year on February 10. Additionally, there is a lantern creation depicting the terracotta army of the first Chinese emperor, Qin Shi Huang, which is especially interesting because these world-famous terracotta statues are known to be monochrome, although they were originally painted, just like the colourful lantern figures representing them.
Several of the lanterns created by the Chinese artists depict elements from other cultures. For example, there is a composition depicting ancient Egyptian pyramids and sphinxes, figures of Father Frost (Ded Moroz) and Snow Maiden (Snegurochka) from Eastern Slavic culture, and even Vincent van Gogh’s painting “Still Life: Vase with Twelve Sunflowers” represented in lantern art.
In addition to the lanterns, there are also animal attractions awaiting the visitors to the Lantern Magic. In this zone of the Zoo, you can see domestic animals, including the residents of the Farmyard and surrounding pens. Many have recently given birth, so visitors will also be able to see growing baby goats and lambs. The Shark School is also located here and remains open until 9:30 p.m. every evening during Lantern Magic, featuring various species of sharks, rays, schooling fish, and other fascinating marine animals.
During the Spring Lantern Magic, the games in the Amusement Park will operate every evening. You can ride the Schäftner carousel, operating since 1908, two nearby nostalgic carousels, the dwarf wheel, and even the children’s train, which is also very popular with kids. Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening, we also offer gastronomic experiences, including Hungarian Focaccia Pizza and various Strudels.
Opening Hours
The Spring Lantern Magic at the Zoo is open from Monday, March 18 to Sunday, 21 April 2024, in the evenings. From March 18 to 31, the gates will open every evening at 6:00 p.m., and in April, they will open at 6:30 p.m. The Zoo closes at 10:00 p.m. every evening, and visitors must leave the area by that time. On-site daily ticket purchases are available until 9:00 p.m. each evening, and the Shark School and Amusement Park (Vurstli) close at 9:30 p.m. Therefore, we recommend that visitors arrive by 9:00 p.m. at the latest.
Ticket Purchase Information
From 19 April to 21 April 2024, we are offering a 1+1 pair discount, allowing two people to visit the Spring Lantern Magic for the price of one ticket.
This offer cannot be combined with other discounts and is only valid on the designated discount days. It applies only to full-price individual tickets, with the pair being eligible for the discount when purchasing a ticket at the higher price category according to their age.
Tickets can be purchased online via the Zoo’s ticket purchasing website or from the on-site kiosk ticket machine, which accepts bank cards, SZÉP cards, and cash.Tickets will be available for purchase from 14 March 2024. Purchased tickets can be used on any evening during the Lantern Magic opening hours, up to April 21.
Zoo discounts and Zoo passes do not apply to this program.
We are unable to refund purchased tickets.
Location and Directions
The Spring Lantern Magic is held in the eastern part of the Zoo, in the zone extending from the camel enclosure to the historic carousel and the outdoor paths in front of the Biodome’s enclosures. This part of the Zoo is located to the right of the circus when viewed from the Zoo Boulevard, towards Hermina Street. Accordingly, entry is not through the main entrance of the Zoo but through the gate next to the historic carousel, located at Állatkerti krt. (Zoo Boulevard) № 14.
The location is most conveniently accessible by public transport via Trolleybus № 72 (Széchenyi Bath stop), the M1 metro – also known as the Millennium Underground (Széchenyi Bath stop), or Tram № 1 (Kacsóh Pongrác Road stop), which stops a little farther away. For more information on public transport, please visit the Budapest Transport Centre (BKK) website.
For those arriving by car, we recommend using the Zoo’s parking area at the end of Zoo Boulevard near Hermina Street or utilizing the parking spaces on nearby public roads (paid parking zone!).
The program will be held even in rainy weather. In cases of extreme weather conditions or a prolonged power outage, the exhibition will be closed. Visitors will be notified of any closures by 4:00 p.m. on our official online platforms.
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