Top 6 day trips to take from Budapest

While there is much to explore in Budapest, there are plenty of destinations within easy reach of the city that are perfect for day trips, from castles and palaces to one of the world’s leading wine regions.

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Crowstone

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About 55 miles northeast of Budapest, in a valley in the Cserhát Mountains, Hollókő is a traditional Hungarian town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old part of the town is a conservation area of 55 houses that have been rebuilt in wood and stone to reflect the original rural architecture of Palóc. The protected area includes the 12th century castle ruins that stand on a hill above the village. It earned the title of the most beautiful town in Hungary on several occasions and there are a number of festivals throughout the year that celebrate local traditions and crafts.

Getting to Hollókő from Budapest: The easiest way to travel to and from Hollókő is by car. The journey takes about 90 minutes. Alternatively, there is a direct bus service from Puskás Ferenc Stadion (on the blue metro line). The trip takes about two hours and there is one service per day during the week and two services on weekends.

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Székesfehérvár

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Between Budapest and Lake Balaton, Székesfehérvár is one of the oldest cities in Hungary. It served as the country’s capital in the Middle Ages and parts of its iconic cathedral date back to 1235. The colorful city features beautiful Baroque buildings and there are many cultural attractions to explore, including the King Saint Stephen Museum, the Toy Museum and the Istvan. Csok Art Gallery. Just outside the center, Bory Castle is worth seeing. It was built by the architect and sculptor Jeno Bory between 1923 and 1959 as a loving tribute to his wife. The castle features a variety of architectural styles including Romanesque and Gothic, and is set in beautiful gardens filled with sculptures.

How to get to Székesfehérvár from Budapest: There are frequent trains leaving from Budapest-Déli station. The trip lasts between 65 and 80 minutes. There is also a direct bus service from Budapest’s Népliget Station. Travel time is about 80 minutes. Ticket prices are roughly the same for the train and the bus, however the bus station is closer to the city center than the train station.

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Lake Venice

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While Lake Balaton is the largest lake in Hungary (and the largest in Central Europe), it is a bit far from Budapest for a day trip. However, Lake Velence is only a 45-minute drive away and is a great place to spend a few hours of sunshine by the water. The warm shallow waters can reach temperatures of 26-28 degrees Celsius in the summer months and there are several beaches that line the shoreline. The reeds cover almost a third of the lake’s surface, making it attractive to rare water birds and fish. Activities include biking, kayaking and windsurfing and there is a thermal spa in Agárd.

How to get to Lake Velence from Budapest: There is a direct train service from Budapest-Déli station to Gárdony that takes about 45 minutes. One-way tickets cost around $ 5. If you are renting a car, the trip takes around 45 minutes.

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Gödöllő

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Less than an hour northeast of Budapest, Gödöllő is home to a magnificent royal palace that was once the summer residence of the Austrian Emperor, Franz Josef. Built in the mid-18th century, it is the largest Baroque manor house in Hungary and was a favorite haunt of the much-loved Empress Elizabeth (better known as Sissi). It served as a barracks for Soviet and Hungarian troops under communism until it was renovated in the mid-1980s and now you can enjoy strolling through the lavish interiors that have been restored to reflect the imperial era. There is also a beautiful botanical garden to explore that covers an area of 190 hectares.

Getting to Gödöllő from Budapest: There is a frequent HÉV suburban train service from Budapest Örs vezér tere station or an hourly bus service from Puskás Ferenc Stadion. Both trips take around 45 minutes.

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The curve of the Danube

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North of Budapest, the Danube Bend (Dunakanyar) is the most picturesque stretch of the second longest river in Europe. The best way to explore it is on a boat trip when the river is at high tide between May and September. Traveling from the capital you will pass picturesque peaks and lush riverbanks. In the West Bank you can visit some of the oldest settlements in Hungary: Szentendre, a small Baroque town with cobbled streets lined with art galleries, museums and shops; Visegrád, with its 13th-century hilltop citadel and Renaissance palace ruins, and Esztergom, the country’s former capital, home to Hungary’s largest cathedral.

Getting to the Danube Bend from Budapest: There are a number of guided boat tours that depart from Budapest between May and September and visit Esztergom, Visegrad and Szentendre. You can expect to pay around $ 50 for a full-day tour that includes lunch. Alternatively, there is a train service from Budapest’s Nyugati station that goes to Esztergom via Vác and Visegrád and lasts up to 90 minutes. Or you can take bus 880 BK-SZ from Budapest Újpest station, which goes to Szentendre, Visegrád and Esztergom. Renting a car would give you the most flexibility if you want to explore each city independently.

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At the foot of the Bükk Mountains, about 85 kilometers northeast of Budapest, Eger is one of the best-known wine regions in the country. The winemaking traditions of the area date back to the 11th century and many of the old wineries are carved out of limestone that form a network of underground tunnels. The most famous wine produced in the region is Bull’s Blood (Egri Bikavér), a blend of three or more grapes that have matured in oak barrels for at least 12 months. Head to Szépasszony-völgy (The Valley of Beautiful Women) to hop between wineries for tours and tastings.

Getting to Eger from Budapest: A direct bus service runs from Puskás Ferenc Stadion to Eger. The trip takes about two hours and a one-way ticket costs around $ 10. Alternatively, you can take a direct train from Keleti train station. The train also takes around two hours, but the train station is on the outskirts of the city, while the bus station is right in the center. If you are renting a car, the trip should take less than two hours.