Csepel Island is the largest island in Hungary, being located on the Danube River. Indeed, it amounts to 48 kilometers in length and its maximum width measures 8 kilometers. This might sound contradictory, since Hajogyari Island is said to be the largest island in Budapest, which is true.

The point is Csepel Island does not pertain, administratively speaking, to Budapest in its entirety. It is only the north section of Csepel Island that is part of Budapest, being tagged as district XXI (the only district of Budapest which is located neither in Buda nor in Pest), also referred to as Csepel District.

Csepel Island is not necessarily one of the major tourist hotspots of Budapest. On the other hand, the island has played an important role in the shaping of the historical trajectory of nowadays Hungary. Thus, Arpad, the great ancestor of the Hungarian culture within the Carpathians, used Csepel Island as center of dominion after the coming of the Hungarians in East Central Europe. In fact, the story goes the island bears the name of Arpad's horse groom, Csepel.

As from the Middle Ages onwards, it was one of the top choices of the Hungarian kings in terms of vacation retreats, as well as one of the most prized wedding presents the royal faces of the Hungarian dynasties used to make to their future spouses.

At present, the island is linked to Pest (district IX and district XX) by means of the Csepel HEV railway. Furthermore, there are ferries which link the south part of Pest to Csepel. One of the most notable attractions here refers to the Csepeli Bath, one of the public seasonal bathing establishment of Budapest.

Name:
Csepel Island (Csepel Sziget)
Address:
Budapest, Hungary
Website:
www.csepel-sziget.hu
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