Bus 26 is the answer. It runs from Nyugati pályaudvar, on metro M3, across Margaret Bridge and along the island, and stops outside the Palatinus entrance. It is the route the park itself recommends.
The tempting alternative is the tram to Margaret Bridge and a walk, and on a winter evening it is the wrong one, with about 20 minutes each way along a dark island. Driving is the other one to rule out, because the island is closed to private cars and its one car park has limited space.
Location and address
By public transport
There is no metro on the island, so every route ends on bus 26 or on foot.
By bus 26
Bus 26 starts at Nyugati pályaudvar, crosses Margaret Bridge, calls at eight stops along the island and carries on to Göncz Árpád városközpont. Get off at Palatinus fürdő, the fourth stop on the island coming from the Margaret Bridge end, outside the Palatinus entrance.
Both ends of the route are on metro M3, so from the south of the city ride to Nyugati pályaudvar, and from the north to Göncz Árpád városközpont. Buy a ticket before you board or use a travel card, and validate a paper ticket on board.
By tram 4 or 6
Trams 4 and 6 run the Grand Boulevard and stop at Margitsziget / Margit híd, on Margaret Bridge itself, at the ramp down onto the island. Bus 26 stops close by, at the stop of the same name, so change onto it for the last stretch rather than walking.
From Buda, both trams start at Széll Kálmán tér on the M2, which makes them the quickest way over from the Castle District side.
By metro
- M3 to Nyugati pályaudvar, where bus 26 starts. Quickest from most of Pest
- M3 to Göncz Árpád városközpont, the other end of the 26, if you are staying in the north of the city
- M2 to Széll Kálmán tér, then tram 4 or 6 to Margaret Bridge and bus 26 from there, from Buda
On foot
Every walk to Lumina ends with a stretch along the island, which is flat, paved and quiet after dark.
From the tram stop on Margaret Bridge (about 20 minutes)
Down the ramp from the Margitsziget / Margit híd stop and north along the island’s main road, about 1.6 km to the Palatinus entrance. Pleasant on an autumn evening, long on a cold one, and longer still on the way back with children, so catch the bus.
From Nyugati pályaudvar (about 35 minutes)
About 2.7 km, west to Margaret Bridge along Szent István körút, over the bridge to the ramp and up the island. Only worth walking if you want the view from the bridge; otherwise the 26 leaves from outside the station.
From Lukács Thermal Bath (about 30 minutes)
About 2.3 km, from Lukács to the Buda end of Margaret Bridge, over to the ramp and north along the island. A soak at Lukács before the trail opens makes one long, warm-then-cold outing.
By car and taxi
A taxi can only bring you onto the island if the car is electric or one of the plug-in hybrids allowed on, so book one rather than flagging it down. Book the ride home before you leave the trail, too, rather than waiting for it at the gate in the cold.
The full rules on cars, parking and taxis on the island: getting to Margaret Island.
Accessibility
The island is flat end to end, and its main road is paved. BKK lists the tram and bus stops at Margitsziget / Margit híd and both Palatinus fürdő stops as wheelchair accessible, so the easiest route is a tram to the bridge and bus 26 from the stop of the same name to the Palatinus entrance.
Neither Lumina nor the bath publishes any access information for the trail itself; what is known is on the Lumina Park hub.