The capitals are always a magnet for tourists, but if you want to know more about the country, it is best to get away a little and go further. Today I propose a journey beyond Budapest, capital of Hungary.
The gateway will undoubtedly be the capital, but with these fantastic day trips from Budapest you will get to know this beautiful country better. Will you accompany me?
Hungary and Budapest
Hungary is in the center of Europe and it has borders with Ukraine, Slovakia, Romania, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia and Austria. Thus, you can enter from many other countries or, directly by plane, getting off in Budapest.
The capital is the financial center of the country and the entire ancient Danube area is a World Heritage Site with monuments, old churches, synagogues, the medieval castle and fantastic thermal baths. If you arrive by plane the Ferenc Linszt International Airport will welcome you. It is 16 kilometers from the center and the trip can be done by bus, taxi or train. By train it takes about 25 minutes from Terminal 1.
Now, after seeing what you have to see in Budapest, you have to plan what day trips from Budapest to do. There are many options, but these are my proposals.
Day trips from Budapest
Szentendre It is one of the most popular nearby destinations as it is only 20 kilometers north of the capital and can be reached by train in about 40 minutes. You can also take the bus or go down the river, which is not cheaper, but it is undoubtedly more beautiful.
If you go on a good weather day it is great to walk, eat and drink in one of its so many restaurants and food stalls or buy Hungarian souvenirs. It is a charming town, of Cobbled streets, trees and old buildings, such as the Blagovescenska Church from the mid-XNUMXth century.
Rest on the banks of the Danube so spending time on the coast is also advice. Walk along the pedestrianized Dumtsa Jeno or its museums, stroll around the Central Plaza or the Postás Park and resting on the beach is great. To say goodbye, you can climb the Angryal Lookout. If your idea is to spend the whole day you can rent a bike.
Visegrád It is a town near Budapest that is also very beautiful. It has a treasure, its castle, and from the top of its walls the view of the landscape crossed by the Danube is great. The most important part of the tour is to visit the XNUMXth century castle which is at the top of the hill. From up here there great views, although you have to climb between two and three hours. Worth it!
Don't you want to walk so much? Well then there is a bus that you can catch at the ferry station. Apart from the castle there are some cafes, the ruins of a renaissance palace and a museum. How do you get to Visegrád? El train from Budapest It takes an hour, and then you have to take a ferry across the river to Castle Hill. Also there is a bus from Újpest-Városkapu which takes an hour and a half. In high season you can go down the Danube, by hydrofoil, In an hour.
One of the oldest towns in Hungary is Esztergom, just 60 kilometers from Budapest. For lovers of history and old buildings this is a destination that must be known. Why? There is a beautiful cathedral with columns, towers and a magnificent entrance, the Royal Palace from the XNUMXth century and several museums. Once here you can sign up for tours around the area or rent a car to go to tour the Pilis Mountains.
You can get here from Nyugati Station by train, in about an hour and a half. You can also take a bus from the central bus station in the capital and it takes an hour. And, of course, by hydrofoil it takes you from Vigadoter and it also takes an hour and a half.
If this is the style of town that you like, another possible destination is Eger, on the southern slopes of the Bükk Mountains, 140 kilometers east of Budapest. You'll see Baroque churches, thermal baths, markets and landscapes beautiful. The Eger Basilica dates from the first half of the XNUMXth century and offers beautiful views. It is not the only church, there are 17 baroque churches to know, in addition to the Dobó Castle or the Baroque Lyceum with its 53 meter high tower.
The historic old town of Eger is a walking treasure and his pearl, without a doubt, is the Eger Castle dating from the XNUMXth century and it has endless stories. And finally, if you have time to spare or you like wine a lot, you can visit the vineyards that are on the outskirts from the town, in the Valley of the Beautiful Women. Eger can be reached by bus in almost two hours or by train in an hour from Keleti station.
Another recommended destination is Aggtelek National Park and Baradla Cave. Both destinations are magnificent and not in vain the park is a World Heritage Site. It is right on the border with Slovakia, two and a half hours drive from Budapest, and has a network of paths to admire the local flora and fauna. And of course, the best thing is the Baradla Cave with a main tunnel of 7 kilometers that goes into the neighboring country. Visiting the cave is a must
This it is one of the most remote day trips, so it is advisable to leave the Hungarian capital early. The best is go by rented car because the road is also beautiful, but if you can't, there is public transport: the train and the bus arrive but both obviously take more than four hours.
Finally, the last recommended destination is Holloko. By bus from Budapest it takes two hours and the service departs daily from Puskás Ferenc station. There is one bus on weekdays and two on weekends. You can go by train but it is not convenient because it takes a long time.
Holloko It is a typical Hungarian village, World Heritage, with the ruins of a beautiful castle XNUMXth century on a hill, many cultural festivals and a couple of streets containing 67 typical houses rebuilt in stone and wood ideal for exploring.
There are several museums, the Museum of Dolls or the Museum of WeaversFor example, and if you go especially at Easter, people dress in their typical costumes and everything is very colorful. Good weather is also better to visit the Skansen Open Air Museum, to get to know some of the Hungarian traditions.
So far some of the most recommended day trips to do from Budapest. You will not regret any of them.