Hungary map & highlights
Follow the Danube to see some of Hungary’s most beautiful towns and cities or, in the case of Komarom, places that also straddle the border with Slovakia. Small group tours and cycling vacations typically cross the border from Austria or Slovakia, while trains can whisk you between Budapest and far-flung capitals such as London and Istanbul. In Budapest, explore on foot, bus or by orange tram – just do it out of high season. Anyone keen to spot birds and see some Hungarian countryside should head north-east of Budapest, for the national parks around winegrowing Eger.
Budapest
1. Budapest
A city of two halves – Buda and Pest – taken as a whole, Budapest packs in extravagant architecture, homegrown wine and wide boulevards into its Danube-straddling footprint. Catch a funicular to Castle Hill for spectacular views of the Gothic Revival Parliament Building and soak in Gellert Baths –a bit like swimming in an Art Nouveau arcade. Avoid the creeping coach and cruise crowds by timing things right
Bukk Mountains
2. Bukk Mountains
Hungary is a popular place for twitchers. Guided birding vacations are often based at Eger, which has a huge variety of habitats and birds on its doorstep. Bukk National Park is mainly woodpecker-friendly deciduous forest, Lake Tisza and Heves Plain are home to storks and eagles, while Hortobagy National Park, Bodrogzug and the Tisza Floodplains teem with wetland birds and the raptors that prey on them.
The Danube
3. The Danube
The Danube careers into Hungary via its northwest border with Austria and Slovakia, steers around the mountainous Danube Bend towards Budapest and waves goodbye at the corner of Croatia and Serbia. The best way to explore its floodplains and fortified towns isn’t on a crowded river cruise, but via the Danube Cycle Path. It ploughs through borders passport-free – and, thanks to Schengen, so can most travelers.
Eger
4. Eger
In the hills of the Bukk Mountains, Eger is famed for its castle and wine. Try some Egri Bikaver – Bull’s Blood – before (or maybe after) climbing the 40m-high minaret and relaxing in one of the thermal baths, all a legacy of Turkey’s 91-year rule of the city form the late 16th century. Move over, Liverpool – there’s also Egri Road Beatles Museum here.
Esztergom
5. Esztergom
The former capital of Hungary, Esztergom is the seat of the Hungarian Catholic Church and is chock-full of architectural gems such as the Royal Castle Palace and Vizivaros – or Watertown – so named for its hot springs. The must-see and can’t miss sight, though, is the Basilica, the third largest church in Europe, on the banks of the Danube overlooking Slovakia.
Gyor
6. Gyor
Halfway between Budapest and Vienna, the baroque city of Gyor sits at the confluence of three rivers including, you’ve guessed it, the Danube. The city’s ancient core is Kaptalan Hill, but don’t miss the impressive Town Hall, Becsi Kapu Square, and picturesque Kiraly Street. Cycling vacations typically cruise through here en route to Esztergom and Budapest.
Prague to Budapest cycling vacation
A wonderfully contrasting ride through the heart of Europe
From
US $4200
11 days
ex flights
Bird watching tours in Hungary
Visit Bukk N.P. with a birding specialist
From
£890
7 days
inc UK flights
Krakow to Budapest vacation
Get a taste of Poland, Slovakia and Hungary
From
US $1820
8 days
ex flights
Danube cycling vacation, self guided
Discove the compelling history of the Danube
From
US $2390
14 days
ex flights
North Eastern Europe motorcycle tours
Ride the highest alpine passes in Europe on a bmw motorbike!
From
€5429
15 days
ex flights
Budapest to Venice tour
Experience the best of Hungary, Italy and the Balkans
From
US $3545 to US $3830
19 days
ex flights
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Hungary sample itineraries
Vienna to Budapest self guided cycle ride (8 days)
Vienna > Petronell-Carnuntum Roman ruins > Bad Deutsch-Altenburg > Hainburg > Bratislava > Mosonmagyarovar > Halaszi > Gyor > Tata > Esztergom > Danube Bend > Szentendre > Budapest
Hungary bird watching tour (7 days)
Budapest > Eger > Bukk National Park > Lake Tisza & Heves Plain > Hortobagy National Park > Bodrogzug & Tisza Floodplains > Budapest
Eastern Europe cultural tour (14 days)
Budapest > Eger > Valley of the Beautiful Woman > Maramures > Cluj Napoca > Transylvania > Sighisoara > Brasov > Bran Castle > Bucharest > Veliko Tarnovo > Sofia > Plovdiv > Istanbul
Europe by train (4 weeks)
London > Amsterdam > Berlin > Prague > Vienna > Bratislava > Budapest > Zagreb > Venice > Florence > Rome > Paris > London
Vienna > Petronell-Carnuntum Roman ruins > Bad Deutsch-Altenburg > Hainburg > Bratislava > Mosonmagyarovar > Halaszi > Gyor > Tata > Esztergom > Danube Bend > Szentendre > Budapest
Hungary bird watching tour (7 days)
Budapest > Eger > Bukk National Park > Lake Tisza & Heves Plain > Hortobagy National Park > Bodrogzug & Tisza Floodplains > Budapest
Eastern Europe cultural tour (14 days)
Budapest > Eger > Valley of the Beautiful Woman > Maramures > Cluj Napoca > Transylvania > Sighisoara > Brasov > Bran Castle > Bucharest > Veliko Tarnovo > Sofia > Plovdiv > Istanbul
Europe by train (4 weeks)
London > Amsterdam > Berlin > Prague > Vienna > Bratislava > Budapest > Zagreb > Venice > Florence > Rome > Paris > London
Hungary travel times
The following times give you a rough idea of the travel times between the main attractions in Hungary.
More Hungary articles
When to go bird watching? What about hiking? Here's when to visit when you go to Hungary, wherever you're heading.
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The Danube is your way into the great plains, vineyards and castle towns that lie outside Budapest.
We’ve spoken with our vacation specialists to get some Hungary travel tips that cover cycling the Danube, and what to take.
Responsible tourism issues in Hungary are underreported, but they still exist.
