Trips from Budapest

These are places which are within easy travel distance of Budapest by train or bus, for a day out. If you have enough time, while you are in Budapest, you can easily visit Esztergom, Visegrad or Szentendre.

Esztergom - Each year this more than 1000- year-old settlement (founded 973) the first capital of the country, site for the baptism into the Christian Church of St. Stephen king, where the pagan rebel Koppany was cruelly executed, seat of kings and achbishops for centuries - attracts around 1 million visitors. Hungary’s largest church, the Basilica, stands atop Castle Hill. There is a statue of St. Stephen not far away, and the recently rebuild Maria Valearia Bridge alsto contributes to the delightful view of the surroundings.

Visegrad - is a synthesis of the past, present and future. At one time, the border of the Roman Empire, the limes, ran past the settlement, you can still see the ruins of Roman watchtowers along the Danube. The first king of Hungary, St. Stephen established a stewardship here and raised the archdeacon’s church, the foundations of which still stand on Castle.

Szentendre - This neat town with a decidedly Mediterranean feel has preserved its 18-19th century compact and unified layout. Its picturesque stting on the Danube, its achitecture and historical monuments all contributed to the formation over the years of colonies of painters, sculptors and artists who lived and still live today in Szentedre. Thre is a particularly strong Serbian culture all around, brought here by Serb communities fleeing in a Turkish onslaught in the late 17th century. Most of the houses which once belonged to wealthy merchants are now museums, in fact, the galleries, workshops, exhibition centres and museums just come one after the other. Sentendre is home to the first (and still the largest) skanzen or open air museum in Hungary.

If you use a "Budapest Card" you have to pay the equivalent of about US$ 2 extra for the section beyond the city limits. Another pleasant way to go is by river boat. Be prepared for a lot of walking - both the HEV station and the boat dock are about 1km from the town, in which all the streets are for pedestrians only.

Godollo - is a town about 35km (22 miles) north-east of Budapest.  Built in the 18th. century, for many years the palace was the summer residence of the Austrian Hapsburg Emperor Franz Josef. Part of the fortification surrounding it still remains. The palace was badly damaged during the 50 year occupation by Soviet troops, but the main building has recently been beautifully restored, as seen in this view from the park in the rear. The extensive park has reverted to its wild state as a result of half a century of neglect. But you can hike there or rent horses.

Esztergom and Visegrad are easily accessible by Volanbusz departing from the Ujpest-Varoskapu station on metro line 3. A suburban railway service (HEV) to Szentendre departs from the Batthyany tere station, and to Godollo from Ors Vezer tere station at the end of Metro line M2. If you have a Budapest card,  when you are buying tickets for suburban railway service (HEV) you have to pay extra for the section beyond the city limits.