Inktober Budapest: Drawing a Starfish Without a Beach in Sight

If you’ve joined the global art party called Inktober and your prompt for the day is “starfish,” you might think, “But I’m in Budapest! There’s no sea here, just the Danube, and the closest starfish lives several countries away.” Well, spoiler alert—you can find ocean vibes right here in the city, and you might just leave with enough saltwater inspiration to make your sketchbook sing.

Budapest Zoo & The Long Love Affair With the Sea

Let’s start at the Budapest Zoo, because believe it or not, this landlocked haven has a long history of showing off marine life. In fact, over a century ago, back in 1912, Hungary’s first public aquarium opened just under the grand Palm House. People walked in and—bam!—there were actual living sea creatures, a novelty in the days when “ocean” and “holiday” often meant dusty train rides to Lake Balaton. The building may be an elegant old gem, but it went through a major update about twenty years ago, ensuring the tanks are as photogenic as the fish inside.

These days, you’ll see more tropical freshwater fish in the historic aquarium, but if it’s saltwater stars you’re after, there’s one place in the zoo where the name says it all—the Shark School (Cápasuli). Opened in 2018, it’s a deep blue dive into the world of marine predators and coral companions. The zoo also joined the UN’s “Decade of the Oceans” initiative, meaning they’re serious about making you fall in love with ocean life—whether you’re sketching starfish, stingrays, or a shark that looks suspiciously like it’s grinning for the camera.

You might be standing there, pen in hand, surrounded by swirling fish and imagining your starfish floating lazily in the currents. Bonus point: sketching in the Shark School gives you the excuse to say you “spent the day underwater” without actually getting wet.

Tropicarium Budapest: Your Tropical Shortcut

If you want to take your starfish hunt to the next level, hop over to the Tropicarium in the city’s Campona shopping center. Think of it as Budapest’s own indoor ocean escape—giant aquariums, neon-lit jellyfish, and yes, plenty of sea friends to draw.

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Now here’s where it gets truly sketch-worthy: the Tropicarium is home to tiny starfish that love to hang out between rocks, and sometimes they’re bold enough to climb right up onto the glass, giving you that perfect, clear view. Some of these little wonders measure only two centimeters, which already feels minuscule—until you compare them to the world’s smallest starfish species, Parvulastra parvivipara, which clocks in at just five millimeters. Trying to capture that scale in your drawing can be half the fun. Imagine your sketch starting with a magnified view of those delicate arms, then zooming out to create a whimsical “giant starfish in Budapest” fantasy scene.

And while starfish might be the highlight for your prompt, the Tropicarium’s other residents—like helmeted chameleons in their newly renovated terrarium, or sharks gliding in the ocean tunnel—add atmospheric energy to your artistic inspiration. The blue lighting of the tunnel can give your sketches dramatic shadows and depth, making your starfish artwork pop even more.

Why This Is the Perfect Budapest Inktober Stop

Budapest might be famous for its baths, ruin pubs, and grand architecture, but when it comes to Inktober prompts like “starfish,” a trip to the zoo or Tropicarium is your secret weapon. By visiting these spots, you’re not only finding visual material—you’re tapping into over a hundred years of the city’s relationship with marine storytelling. And who knows? Between the whirl of fish, the slow sway of corals, and the adorable climb of a two-centimeter starfish on the glass, your pen might wander into new design ideas you didn’t expect.

So, grab your sketchpad, pack your fineliner pens, and go meet some Budapest starfish. Because in a city with no ocean, it’s even more of an artistic victory when you manage to draw one.

If you create a picture inspired by this post and share it, please tag us at #budappest.