Budapest’s surrounding area
The 23 districts of the city of Budapest are home to a wealth of different treasures that are well connected to the historical quarter, but it is also worth looking beyond the capital to the surrounding area. In the surroundings of Budapest you will discover a range of places that are well worth a visit on an excursion lasting a few hours, a full day or even several days.
If we start by exploring the area close to the Hungarian capital, one must-visit place is Memento Park. Situated just a few minutes from the centre, it surprises visitors with its open-air sculptures from the Communist era. In terms of excursions, a good place to start is Szentendre, which is just 22 kilometres away and is a charming place to visit. The small town with lovely Orthodox churches and steep streets provides unforgettable moments. What’s more, if you visit during the festive period, the town looks like a genuine living nativity scene. You can get there from Budapest by car or by ferry, which runs daily in high season and only on weekends throughout the rest of the year.
Forty kilometres to the north of the capital is another interesting option, Visegrád. The town is known for a famous image of the bend of the Danube with the Citadel in the background. The small town is not only worth visiting for its history but also the scenery. Once the capital of the country, it retains a unique fortified layout that can be explored inch by inch and offers walks and beautiful views. You can even get there by boat – just like Szentendre – which provides a good dose of excitement. If you are visiting in summer, your trip may coincide with Visegrád’s International Palace Games, an event in which the Citadel seems to be transported back to the Middle Ages with different enclosures offering falconry demonstrations, medieval wrestling, etc.
A little further on, 50 kilometres away, is Esztergom, the city that became the home of the Archbishop of Esztergom after the creation of the Kingdom of Hungary. In terms of landmarks, we must mention the basilica, built in honour of St Adalbert, which stands next to the Danube with its beautiful green dome. On a walk through the city the monument to St Stephen’s conversion to Christianity, the sculpture of the Holy Trinity on Széchenyi square, St Ignatius church and the Archbishop’s Palace are also not to be missed. One unusual feature is the archbishops’ subterranean system of cellars underneath the castle.
If you have enough time, 135 kilometres from Budapest in a southerly direction is the natural area of Lake Balaton. The largest lake in Central Europe, it is also to one of the best places in the country to do water sports, hiking and even wine tourism. The area surrounding the lake, which has 197 kilometres of coastline, has become a popular tourist destination offering everything visitors could ask for including villages, restaurants and places to enjoy leisure activities.
Last up is an excursion to Bratislava, which, although it is in Slovakia, is just 200 kilometres away from Budapest. On a route through the capital of this neighbouring country, be sure to make the most of its atmosphere, its wine and its sights. Must-visit places include Bratislava castle, St Martin’s cathedral, Devin castle, the unusual UFO bridge, Grassalkovich palace… and also the sculptures dotted around the city.
Without a doubt, taking advantage of a trip to Budapest to discover other nearby places is a great idea that you can learn a lot from.
Related plans
Castillo de Vajdahunyad, una fantasía histórica en piedra y ladrillo
Esta ecléctica construcción es uno de los lugares más visitados de Budapest, ideal para conocer la arquitectura histórica de Hungría y una de las colecciones agrícolas más importantes del mundo.
Qué ver y hacer en el Lago Balatón, auténtico balneario de Hungría
Con permiso de Budapest, el Lago Balatón es el principal destino vacacional húngaro. Un entorno natural salpicado de localidades con encanto y donde bañarse en cuanto llega el buen tiempo.
Travel to Budapest with friends and enjoy spas, beer, ruin bars and the Danube.
Visiting Budapest with friends is a great idea. It’s a city that is both interesting and fun, with tours and experiences that can be enjoyed as a group, from spas and nightlife to discovering its rich heritage.
Memento Park, dedicated to Communist Hungary
One of the most interesting parks when visiting Budapest is Memento Park or Memorial Park (Szoborpark in Hungarian). This green area of the city is an open-air history museum, with statues and other monuments from Hungary’s Communist era. It provides a historical overview of the country.