The Tour of Hungary

Buda, the castle district and Mount Gellért. Visiting Budapest means meeting three cities, Buda, Pest and Óbuda, which were only unified in 1873. The discovery of the historic soul of the capital is centred around the castle (Várhegy) and its green neighbour, Mount Gellért (Gellérthegy).From Deák tér, go to Széchenyi Square (formerly Roosevelt Square) via József Attilla Street, one of Hungary's greatest poets, and discover Gresham Palace and the Academy of Sciences. In front of you opens the Chain Bridge (Lánchíd), the oldest bridge in the city. Cross it to reach Clark Ádám tér, from where the funicular takes you to the Royal Palace. You can also reach the castle by foot via the King's Staircase (Király Lépsc). From the Royal Palace, which houses the Széchenyi National Library and two museums (the Hungarian National Gallery and the City History Museum), you will discover a panoramic view of Pest and all the city's bridges. You can see the Castle Theatre (Várszínház, now Nemzeti táncszínház) in Rococo style on Dísz tér Square, walk along the old ramparts to the National Archives and Bécsi kapu, the gateway to Vienna, where the main streets of the hill meet. Walk past the Lutheran temple and the Mary Magdalene Tower, then take Országház Street to Mathias Church (Mátyás Templom), whose roofs are covered with coloured tiles and in which the Habsburg kings were crowned. In front of the church, the Baroque column of the Holy Trinity, which was erected against the plague, marks the highest point on the castle hill.Behind the church stands the Fishermen's Bastion, named after the League of Danube Fishermen who were to defend this part of the ramparts, as well as the statue of St Stephen, the founding king of Hungary.Stroll through the streets surrounding the church. Let yourself be tempted by one of the typical cakes of the famous Ruszwurm pastry shop. Come down from the hill by the stairs of the Fishermen's Bastion, then by the countless stairs that lead to Batthyány Square. Get on the tramway No. 19 along the Danube on the Buda side and get off at the Szabadság híd (Freedom Bridge) at Szent Géllert tér station, you are in the square of the famous Art Nouveau style Hotel Gellért, which has a spa (the Gellért baths) and a very popular wave pool After having taken a look at the entrance to the baths, you can climb Mount Gellért by the small paths to reach the citadel, the majestic Statue of Liberty at the top. Go down again enjoying the view of the Danube and cross the Liberty Bridge to return to the banks of Pest.

From Deak tér, reach Place Vörösmarty and the famous Café Gerbeaud and head for Dunakorzó, the walk along the Danube, from where you can enjoy an exceptional view of the river, the castle hill and the citadel. Follow the korzó to Petöfi Square. You will pass in front of the Vigadó concert hall, the Serbian Orthodox Baroque church and arrive at the foot of the statue of Sándor Petöfi. Turn left to take the Pianista utca, where the former Faculty of Arts is located, and join Ferenciek Square. On this square, take a look at the very beautiful passage of Paris built in 1909 and which mixes styles (not always open). Cross over to the other side of Ferenciek Square. After the Franciscan church and the University Library, you can take a break at the famous Café Central (Centrál Kávéház), an 1887 literary and artistic café restored in a 1920s style. Join the pedestrian street Váci by Arany street to the Grande Halle, the largest central market of the late 19th century. Also admire the neo-Renaissance style university of economics built by the same architect as the halls. Head for the main boulevard towards Kálvin Square and Ráday Street, lined with café terraces, then go to the Hungarian National Museum (Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum) founded by Count Széchenyi in 1802. Continue to Astoria Square where the famous hotel of the same name is located. A little further on, on the right side of the boulevard, begins the Jewish quarter and the largest synagogue in Europe. Then return to the boulevard to reach Deák Square and go to the colossal St. Stephen's Basilica, inspired by the Neo-Renaissance era. Take Október Street 6 to the main Freedom Square, Szabadság tér, where there is a monument honouring the Soviet liberators of 1945 and the impressive stock exchange building, formerly the headquarters of Hungarian TV. From this square, go through Honvéd Street and Hold. You will discover Art Nouveau buildings (Hungarian Art Nouveau House, Postal Savings Bank) and reach the Parliament (Országház). Also on Kossuth Lajos Square (Parliament Square), the Ethnographic Museum and the Ministry of Agriculture. On the banks of the Danube, you can take the tramway No. 2 along the Danube to return to Deák tér.

The most elegant avenue in Pest, starting in Deák tér, extends almost three kilometres to Bois-de-la-Ville. On your left, you will see the Hungarian National Opera opposite, the Dreschler House. A little further on, the pastry shop M?vész and a famous tea room decorated with mirrors in golden frames. At the first major crossroads with Nagymez? street is Budapest's Broadway with the Thália Theatre, the Operetta Theatre, the Moulin Rouge and the Mai Manó House (Museum of Photography). Continuing on to Andrássy út, you arrive at Franz Liszt Square, which is full of cafés and on which there is the statue of the musician, the most Hungarian of Austrians, and the Academy of Music. Admire the very beautiful entrance of this academy and enter the interior, now open for visits and concerts, it regained its full splendour in 2013. Andrássy Avenue then leads to a large octagonal crossroads called Oktogon and a popular meeting place. Continue on the avenue, while taking a look on both sides lined with magnificent private mansions, most of which house embassies. You will pass in front of the House of Terror and notice the Kodály körönd Square for its magnificent painted facades that reflect the architectural refinement of Budapest. At the end of the avenue, you will arrive at the main square of the Heroes (Hosök tere). On the left side, the Museum of Fine Arts, on the right left, the National Gallery of Modern Art. Enter the Bois-de-Ville where you can relax and refresh yourself by the shores of a canoeing lake transformed into an ice rink in winter. You will find the famous Széchenyi (Széchenyi Fürdo) baths, a Art Nouveau zoo classified as a historical monument, an eclectic castle parc d'attractionsand a castle (château de Vajdahunyad). Near the baths, you can board Budapest's oldest metro (földalatti) and return to Deák tér.

At the Batthyány tér metro station (Buda), take the "Hév" suburban train to the Szentendre terminus. 18 km from Budapest, we discover a unique old village of artists. The old colourful 18th century houses, alleys and terraces give this city an astonishing Mediterranean atmosphere. Stroll through the alleys, discover the artist galleries, the many Orthodox churches and stop in the main square (Fotér). A pleasant walk through time and the Hungarian "Montmartre". On the outskirts of the city, the open-air museum brings together the most beautiful traditional houses of Hungarian popular housing.

To the north of Budapest, the Danube is bending. This region is one of the most beautiful in the Danube.By road n° 11, you will follow the Danube and arrive at Szentendre, a charming village of artists by the water. Walk through the village, soak up the Mediterranean atmosphere, just a few kilometres from the capital.Continuing the road to the northeast, stop for a while in Vác, a baroque town on the left bank of the Danube. Continue to Visegrád and its citadel offering a unique view of the Danube loop. Esztergom, further north, the first capital of the Magyar kingdom is a pretty town, close to Slovakia, whose basilica and Christian Art Museum bear witness to its important role in the past Leave the Danube to discover a charming historical city, Tata, famous for its 250 ha lakes and old water mills. For horse lovers, the Eszterházy stud farm is one of the most beautiful thoroughbred farms in Hungary.

On the western road, make a detour to Komárom, a spa town on both sides of the Danube that has been divided in two since the Treaty of Trianon (the northern part of the town is in Slovakia)

Arrival in Komárom which includes three forts including the Monostori Erod, a huge fortress listed as a Historic Monument.

Gyor, the city of the three rivers at the confluence of the Danube, Rába and Rábca rivers, is rich in monuments that recall the history of Christian and Baroque Hungary. Take a walk in the pretty old town

In the vicinity of Gy?r, visit Pannonhalma Abbey, the most beautiful in the country. In the direction of Sopron, access Ferto Castle, a baroque jewel that belonged to the Eszterházy family. Located near Lake Ferto and rich in well-preserved historical monuments, the small town of Sopron is simply irresistible.

Continue on to Szombathely, taking the time to visit the Széchenyi manor house in Nagycenk and K?szeg, famous for its medieval castle. Discover the splendour of the diversity of Hungarian Baroque and Gothic architecture. Once you arrive in Szombathely, an old Roman city, nowadays rather modern and commercial, set sail for Lake Balaton. Recommended thermal resorts: Balf, Bük, Gyor and Sárvár.

The largest lake in Europe, the Balaton, deserves its nickname as a "Hungarian inland sea". Renowned for its many spas and villages, Lake Balaton is the favourite resort of the Hungarians.

Starting from Székesfehérvár in the north of Balaton, go first to Veszprém where there are many Baroque churches and palaces. Passing through the Balatonfüred spa north of the lake, then take the road n° 71 to discover Tihany, a peninsula still wild, one of the most beautiful sites on the lake.

At the end of the lake, you will reach Keszthely and its huge Baroque castle. You can then easily go to Hévíz, the largest hot water lake in Europe where you can swim in the middle of the water lilies. Spa resorts not to be missed: Héviz, Zalakaros, Alsópáhok

After a pleasant stay by the lake, head to Kaposvár, a baroque and romantic city at the gateway to Southern Transdanubia

The road stops again in Pécs, the largest urban area in the region, one of the most beautiful and charming cities in Hungary (European Capital of Culture in 2010).

In the surroundings, you can visit Szigetvár Castle and the medieval castle of Siklós

Stop in Villány, an important wine-growing region, to taste the very fruity pinot noir and in Szekszárd, known for its delicious red wines. Recommended baths: Harkány, Siklós, Szigetvár.

A region that can be visited by car or... horseback. From Szekszárd, enter the Puszta De, a protected natural area covered by swamps, dunes and forests.

Continue along the road to discover Kecskemét, the "orchard of Hungary" where the famous apricot brandy is made. Take the N5 to Szeged, a splendid city, a major urban centre in southern Hungary. Go through Békéscsaba and Gyula Castle to the northern part of the Great Plain

Debrecen, Hungary's second largest city, a university and industrial centre, is also a centre of religious and cultural diversity. It houses the largest Calvinist temple in Hungary. From Debrecen, road 3 will take you across the puszta from Hortobágy to Tiszafüred. Hortobágy National Park is the oasis of the Hungarian steppe. By coach or by car, you can cross herds of horses. Recommended baths: Debrecen, Hajdúszoboszló, Szeged, Gyula and Tiszafüred

The Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region includes 28 localities on the southern and southeastern slopes of the mountain. "Wine of kings, king of wines", this region is one of the most touristic in Hungary.

"Wine of kings, king of wines", this region is one of the most touristic in Hungary. Pass through Mátészalka on the banks of the Tisza and in the far east of Hungary, then through Nyíregyháza and the Sóstófürdo spa to Tokaj and its vineyards

45 km to the north, admire the fortress of Sárospatak, considered the Renaissance stronghold of Hungary. Then head for Miskolc, Hungary's second largest city and an industrial city. Discover its Reformed Gothic style church and its Orthodox church. Recommended baths: Sóstófürdo (Nyíregyhaza), Miskolctapolca spa cave, Sárospatak, Szerencs.

From Miskolc, go through Lillafüred to Eger, in the valley where the famous red wine "egri bikavér" is produced. A visit to this charming little town and its fortress is most enjoyable. The Ottoman occupation has strongly permeated the city. From the Bükk Mountains to the Aggtelek National Park and Caves, nature is not to be outdone in the region. Then head for Gyöngyös by the M3 road

In its central square, visit the Szent Bertalan Church, Hungary's largest Gothic church. Your journey through the Mátra, the massive mountains of northern Hungary, begins here. A winding and forested road will take you to the foot of Kékesteto, Hungary's highest point (1,014 m). On a clear day, you will enjoy a view to the Tátra in Slovakia and the Hungarian Great Plain. Many hiking trails are available to you. Continue your journey to Hollóko, a Palóc ethnic centre and a UNESCO World Heritage Village. From its castle, you can discover a splendid view of the hills and vineyards of the region. Return to Budapest via the Baroque castle of Gödöllo, Sissi's residence. Recommended thermal resorts: Eger, Egerszalók.