Even though Hungary boasts with a capital city that has a unique location and features, tourists arriving here must understand that Budapest is not all there is to Hungary. Even a one-day trip out of the city can enrich your stay and offer a lasting experience. A large number of towns and villages along the River Danube and the beauty of nature attract many visitors to the region. Below is a selection of some of the most interesting places that are definitely worth visiting.
Natural Treasures
The Danube Bend itself is a major attraction. The River Danube takes a sharp turn here to the south, after breaking through the gorge between the Pilis and the Visegrád Hills. The landscape is so captivating that the region, together with the medieval castle of Esztergom and the medieval royal seat of Visegrád, has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. A combination of well-kept parks and woodlands, game reserves, natural rarities, riverside resorts, islands, and water sports and winter sports opportunities give a special value to this region.
The Arboretum of Vácrátót is one place not to be missed. It is Hungary’s largest botanical garden which includes the richest collection of live plants in the country, presenting 13,000 plant species and varieties on an area of 29,000 hectares. Visitors can walk around under the shades of 3,100 trees and bushes, in the leafy woods of Eastern Asia and in the pine forests of North America.
The Budakeszi Wildlife Park is located on a 26-hectare area northeast of the capital and it presents games indigenous in Hungary and Europe, in their original environment. In addition to showing games, the wildlife park is an atmospheric place for day trips and picnics, and also offers regular events.
Csepel Island starts at the southern tip of Budapest and extends nearly 50 kilometres south, being one of the largest islands of the River Danube. Csepel Island was the first centre of conquering Hungarians, being the lodgement of Árpád's tribe. The island is named after Árpád's horse groom, Csepel. The land of the island was once used as a royal wildlife park. The island is surrounded by untamed floodplain woods and the Ráckeve cutoff channel is bordered by large reefs, attracting anglers hungry for success from afar.
Lidos and Spas
We also recommend some of the numerous lidos and spas to those who seek to experience local waters beyond the Danube and also wish to enjoy its vitalising effects.
First of all, there is the Aqua Island of Esztergom – Thermal, Therapeutic and Adventure Bath. The thermal springs of Esztergom are all karst mixed with thermal water, found in the vicinity of the town, at a temperature of around 29°C.
The recently refurbished Lido and Thermal Bath of Leányfalu also offers a variety of exciting features, including a warm-water adventure pool, a therapeutic pool, a training pool and a swimming pool. Visitors will not need to be without water adventures in Ráckeve, the capital of Csepel Island, either. The “Pearl of Keve” thermal and natural mineral water was declared to have therapeutic effects in 2007 and this was utilised by the Aqualand spa complex. A system of adventure pools offers plenty of enjoyment to children, as well as to those who like pampering, relaxation and recreation. Cegléd also awaits visitors with a Thermal Spa and Leisure Centre and an adventure park has been built at Lake Rukkel near Dunaharaszti.
Castles and Palaces
Those who aim higher above and wish to see some uplifting places, should definitely pay a visit to some of the area’s many historic castles and palaces.
The castle of Esztergom crowns the steep hillside at about 50 metres above the river on the right bank of the Danube. It played an important role in the history of medieval Hungary. Built in the 10th century, it was a royal seat for many years. The Castle Theatre, the Hungarian National Museum’s Esztergom Castle Museum and a wax-works operate in the southern part of the castle.
The Roman fortress named Pone Navata was built on a hill above the Danube at Visegrád in the first half of the 4th century. The building became derelict after the Romans had left. During the founding of the Hungarian state, the walls were refurbished and the county chief moved in. The settlement was named Visegrád at this time. It was destroyed during the Mongol invasion but the ruins can still be seen. A new fortress, the current Upper Castle, was built on the top of Castle Hill after the Mongols had left. During the Anjou dynasty of rulers, the Upper Castle was used for the safekeeping of the Hungarian royal insignia. During the Turkish occupation of Hungary, the castle was severely damaged and it was not suitable anymore for military purposes. Ever since that time, it has been in ruins.
The Lower Castle is part of the fortification system that connects the Upper Castle with the Danube. In its centre rises a residential tower (named Solomon Tower by error after a Hungarian king from the 11th century), a large, hexagonal structure dating from the 13th century. During a Turkish raid in 1544, the southern part of the tower collapsed. Its renovation began only in the mid 19th century and was finished in modernist style in the mid 20th century. At present, the Tower houses exhibitions installed by the King Matthias Museum.
The Royal Palace of Gödöll? is one of the most important and impressive large monument complexes in Hungary. It was built by Count Antal Grassalkovich. Elisabeth, Queen of Hungary (Sissy), enjoyed staying in Gödöll? where she was surrounded by a loving Hungarian environment. After her tragic death, a memorial park was built connected to the Upper Garden of the palace. The rooms of the palace including many original decorations are open to visitors and the well-kept building also houses exhibitions. The palace is surrounded by a beautiful park.
The refurbished Savoy Palace is the most impressive building of Ráckeve. This attractive palace was built by Prince Eugene of Savoy. Work started based on designs by Johann Lucas Hildebrandt in 1702. The palace completed in nearly two decades was the first representative of secular Baroque architecture in Hungary. As the original plans were not available, a revamp project started in the 1970s was based on analogies and surviving elements. The impressive interior space designed for creative activities currently hosts conferences, concerts and other events. The palace can be visited by appointment.
Rural Heritage Buildings, Museums and the Skanzen
If you are interested in high culture, you can plan your visit museum by museum and rest assured, it will be a varied journey, taking you both outdoors and indoors. Many towns and villages include rural heritage buildings or village museums, from Nagybörzsöny to Zsámbok.
The most important collection of rural heritage is without doubt the Open-air Ethnographical Museum of Szentendre. Folk architecture characteristic of various Hungarian regions, the home environment, the lifestyles of various levels of society, and traditional buildings from the 18th to the 20th century can be seen here. The 60-hectare area includes 247 buildings, including residential homes, stables, a church, workshops and a visitor centre, connected by 5 kms of pathways. The buildings are collected in 7 thematic groups by region. Starting from April this year, a Skanzen train will take visitors around the area.
If you are interested in unusual sights, we also recommend a visit to the home of naive painter Juli Dudás Vankó in Galgamácsa, the Museum of Sport History and the Museum of Drums in Cegléd and a museum presenting the history of radio and television in Diósd.
Another special place to visit is Szigetbecse at the southern tip of Csepel Island. The world-famous photographer André Kertész spent much of his childhood and made his first photographs here. After his death in 1985, it was in line with his will that a number of works and personal objects were taken back to the village and a memorial museum was set up to pay tribute to the photographer.
