6 Top Day Trips from Budapest

You truly get your money’s worth when visiting the stunning Budapest—the architecturally rich Buda and the vibrant Pest—but the adventures don’t end there; more treasures lie just outside the city.

A short journey takes you to the countryside, where charming wine cellars, picturesque cobblestone towns, and artistic historic sites along the Danube await. The region surrounding Budapest is beautiful year-round, and after indulging in history, art, wine, and nature, you can unwind in Budapest's luxurious thermal baths before dinner.

These day trips from Budapest are easily accessible by bus, train, car, or even boat—so lace up your walking shoes and start your adventure.

1. Delve into Hungary’s history with a glass of wine in Eger

Travel Time: 1½ Hours

Located northeast of Budapest, Eger Castle is famed for its heroic stand against the Turkish invasion, though remnants of the town's eventual Ottoman conquest, such as a 40m-high (131ft) minaret and traditional Turkish baths, are woven throughout Eger’s baroque streets.

Beyond its siege history, Eger is renowned for its wine—most famously 'Bull’s Blood,' which the Turks believed endowed the Hungarians with superhuman strength in battle. Today, you can sample Eger wines directly from the barrel in the Valley of Beautiful Women (Szépasszony-völgy Hétvége), where the wine cellars are hewn into the hills' bedrock.

If time permits, don’t miss the historic Lyceum, featuring its wooden baroque Archdiocesan Library and the Great Tower, which houses an astronomy museum filled with vintage instruments and a camera obscura that offers panoramic views of the city.

Getting to Eger from Budapest: A drive to Eger takes about 1½ hours. Alternatively, you can catch a train from Budapest's Keleti station to Eger station, which takes around two hours.

2. Explore the artistic streets of charming Szentendre

Travel Time: 40 Minutes

As you wander through the cobbled streets of Szentendre, with the 18th-century tower of Blagoveštenska Church rising above the warm hues of wine-red and sunset-yellow houses, it’s clear why this beautiful town is the go-to day trip from Budapest. While Szentendre attracts visitors all year round, try to steer clear of weekends in peak summer when it can get quite crowded.

In the 18th century, Szentendre was home to a vibrant Serbian community and later gained fame as an artists’ colony in the late 1920s. The town is still filled with galleries, including the Margit Kovács Ceramic Collection and the Serbian Ecclesiastical Art Collection. Further cultural experiences await at the open-air ethnographic museum on the town's outskirts and the National Wine Museum, which showcases the history of winemaking in Hungary and offers tours with tastings.

Getting to Szentendre from Budapest: Szentendre is roughly a 40-minute drive north of Budapest, but you can also reach it quickly by train. The H5 HÉV suburban train line operates from Batthyány tér station in central Budapest. In the summer, boat services run along the Danube to Szentendre.

3. Indulge in luxury at the stunning Gödöllő Royal Palace

Travel Time: 40 Minutes

Once the summer residence of Emperor Franz Josef and his wife, Elizabeth, the Gödöllő Royal Palace epitomizes Habsburg opulence. This sprawling baroque palace, located in the small town of Gödöllő, features a facade adorned with gold accents and rooms furnished in rich silks of burgundy, turquoise, indigo, and lavender. Perhaps a bit extravagant? Not for the Habsburgs.

Golden chandeliers hang from ornate ceilings above plush velvet chairs, while Caucasian knotted carpets cushion the floors, and painted ceramic stoves serve as a warm reminder of how this opulent palace kept cozy during the frigid Hungarian winters. The grounds extend into manicured lawns, bordered by an arboretum of meticulously arranged trees, statues, and botanical wonders. Be sure to visit the Baroque Theatre for an insider's view of a functioning 18th-century playhouse.

Getting to Gödöllő from Budapest: Gödöllő is located east of Budapest, approximately 45 minutes away by car. Alternatively, you can take a direct train from Budapest’s Budapest-Keleti station, which takes around 40 minutes.

4. Embrace the spiritual atmosphere of sacred Esztergom

Travel time: 1 hour

Esztergom is the holiest city in Hungary. The town's massive basilica towers over both the town and the Danube River, creating a stunning view that seems to rise unexpectedly from the lush countryside. You might find yourself questioning if it's real.

Yet, Esztergom offers more than just its famous dome; you can also visit a former royal palace that now serves as a museum. Interestingly, this city has been the center of Roman Catholicism in Hungary for over 1000 years, and it surprisingly houses a 400-year-old mosque (also a museum) for visitors to discover.

For lunch or a relaxing coffee break, Esztergom features several excellent cafes – don’t miss the stunning courtyard at Padlizsán or the creative offerings at Prímás Pince, located in the cellars beneath the basilica. There are also several good hotels and campsites if you decide to stay overnight.

Getting to Esztergom from Budapest: Located northwest of Budapest, Esztergom is about an hour's drive away and approximately 1 hour 20 minutes via direct trains from Budapest-Nyugati station.

5. Spend a day soaking up the sun at Balatonfüred

Travel time: 1½ hours

During the summer months, Lake Balaton becomes the prime escape for locals looking to unwind from the city's bustle. The charming resort town of Balatonfüred is a perfect introduction to lake life, just a short train ride from the capital.

This town once attracted a host of artists, writers, and scientists; you can spot the names of notable past visitors on plaques embedded in the walls of the Pantheon. It overlooks Gyógy tér, a green square featuring a natural spring that dispenses slightly sulfuric but drinkable thermal water.

Balatonfüred continues to be a favorite resort, celebrated for its lakeside promenade that winds past yachts in a cozy marina, offering hazy views of the distant Tihany peninsula. Don’t miss the chance to take a boat trip around the lake from the jetty for the finest views.

How to get to Balatonfüred from Budapest: Located southwest of Budapest, Balatonfüred is roughly 1½ hours away by car. Alternatively, some direct trains from Kelenföld Railway Station in southern Budapest reach Balatonfüred in about two hours, or you can go to Lepsény (one hour) and catch a direct bus to Balatonfüred (one hour).

6. Trek the path to Visegrád Castle

Travel time: 1 hour

Visegrád is a quaint town perched on the Danube Bend, renowned for its spectacular vistas. A challenging hike along a rocky woodland trail will lead you to the 13th-century citadel overlooking the town, offering breathtaking views of the river’s dramatic curve and the Börzsöny Hills in the distance. If hiking isn't your style, you can also opt for the City-Bus taxi service from the ferry pier to the castle.

Back in Visegrád town, take a stroll through the romantic remnants of the stunning Renaissance palace, once home to the warlike king Matthias, who ruled Hungary in the 15th century. Afterwards, delve into the world of Hungary’s beloved pálinka (fruit brandy) at the local pálinka museum, where you can discover how it’s made and, of course, sample some.

How to get to Visegrád from Budapest: Visegrád lies to the north of Budapest, just over an hour away by car. You can take a bus from Újpest-Városkapu train station in Budapest (one hour and 15 minutes), but for a more romantic experience, consider traveling by boat up the Danube (one hour by hydrofoil or three hours and 20 minutes by slow boat) from April to September. Alternatively, take the train from Budapest-Nyugati station to Nagymaros-Visegrád (one hour), then catch the hourly ferry across the river.