Hungary has an amazing history. This country is full of cultural traditions. Since the country emerged from the shadow of communism in the late 1980s, it has become a popular destination for travelers. With a mix of natural, historical and cultural destinations, tourists are sure to find many Hungary sights to visit.
Visitors to Hungary quickly learn that this is a land of many cultures, having been ruled by Romans, Ottomans, Mongols, Magyars, Czechs and Soviets. Remains of Roman fortifications as well as spectacular buildings from the Middle Ages can be found here.
Hungary is one of the best vacation destinations in Central Europe, with its rich history, stunning Baroque architecture, beautiful national parks and lush vineyards. Budapest has some of the best nightlife in the world, and some of the resorts on beautiful Lake Balaton host non-stop parties during the summer months. Here is our list of the 25 best places to visit in Hungary.
25. Győr
The city with more than 130 thousand inhabitants between Budapest and Vienna is located in the small Hungarian Plain in the northwest of the country. A branch of the Danube flows through the city. At the confluence with the Raba lies the historical old town with numerous unique sights.
Győr is considered a model city in Hungary in many areas and manages the balancing act of being one of the most important industrial cities in the country while also exuding the flair of a cultural city with unique sights.
Győr is a historically grown city and with its old, mainly baroque buildings, with countless churches, bishop’s palace and relics, with museums, galleries, monuments and the famous city hall ideal for city trips. Great hotels and guesthouses, as well as romantic restaurants in the historic old town make a visit to the city a special experience. Győr also has some beautiful theaters to offer. The Győri Ballet is known far beyond the country’s borders.
The “Four Seasons” festival attracts more and more visitors to the city every year with sophisticated programs for all generations. There are also wine and beer festivals, children’s and city festivals, season opening celebrations, summer concerts and much more.
Győr with its Rába spring medicinal, thermal and adventure bath is also ideal for spa vacations, the water of the thermal spring is recommended for diseases of the locomotive system, chronic joint and muscle inflammations, chronic lung problems and gynecological diseases. Active vacationers will also find great offers in the adventure pool. Not far from the city there are lakes, beautiful golf courses and other thermal baths.
24. Pecs
The “showcase of Hungary” is the figurehead of a multicultural city. In Roman times, Pécs, then called Sopianae, was an administrative seat of Pannonia. At the foot of the Mecsek Mountains, the Latins, who came from the Mediterranean region, obviously felt at home. Already because of the climate. If you walk through the city today, you feel like you are in Italy. An absolutely Mediterranean atmosphere.
The southern-style Jókai Square, then the Korso with its restaurants and cafeterias, all the way to Király Street. Everything could also be in a city in Tuscany. The culture of Pécs was Hungarian at the time of the university foundation (1367), Turkish in the 17th century, German and Latin at the end of the 18th century, and Hungarian by name in the 20th century.
Relics of these cultures are today sights, attractions. There are the ancient Christian, painted burial chambers from the 4th century Sopianaes, which was then an important cultural center, a flourishing provincial seat of Pannonia. The Romans culturally shaped the life of this region until the 10th century, when Stephen the Saint, the first Hungarian king, founded a bishopric in early Christianity.
23. Debrecen
Debrecen has a long exciting history, which begins in 1235. As early as 1361 the city was granted the right to hold markets, and this made Debrecen an important trade center and its citizens rich. In 1555 the city was conquered by the Ottomans. But the inhabitants of Debrecen, with a lot of diplomatic skill, managed to drive the Ottomans, as well as all later conquerors, out of their town again. Since 1693 Debrecen has been a free city, which to this day has the reputation of being particularly tolerant and cosmopolitan. Today, more than 25,000 students are enrolled in the old university of the Hungarian metropolis.
They enliven the cityscape with its beautiful old houses and the many cozy pubs and coffee houses. There is something going on in Debrecen all year round. There is the famous flower carnival on the Hungarian national holiday in August, the big turkey festival with folk dancing and many specialties and the spring festival, to which visitors come from all over Hungary.
Debrecen has a number of beautiful old buildings. These include the Great Reformed Church, built in 1819, which, together with the Reformed College, is a beautiful neoclassical ensemble. Also worth seeing, however, are St. Anne’s Church, built in 1746, and the Csokonai Színház, a neo-baroque building now used as a theater and concert hall.
As in many cities in Hungary, Debrecen has its thermal baths, which can be found in well-preserved Art Nouveau buildings. If you want to go out in the evening, you will find the best offer in the historical old town. In the cozy restaurants you can also try the Hungarian specialties such as the traditional goulash with lots of onions and peppers.
22. Sopron
Sopron is located directly on the Austrian-Hungarian border, surrounded by the Sopron Mountains and Lake Fertõ.
Strolling in the atmospheric city center, one feels transported to the Middle Ages. The winding streets, the colorful facades and arched gates of the old burgher houses, the remains of the city wall, church and former public buildings radiate the harmony of a fairy-tale city.
Sopron offers a lot to see: it has the most sights after Budapest. Without claiming completeness, we highlight only a few, such as the Fire Tower – the symbol of the city, the Storno House, the Goat Church, the Pharmacy Museum, the Fabricius House on the main square.
Sopron is also a historical wine region. Wine growing has existed there since the Roman times. In the immediate vicinity was the Pan-European Picnic on August 19, 1989, the first lifting of the “Iron Curtain”, which contributed significantly to the reunification of Europe. Many former citizens of the GDR fled here to West Germany, leaving everything behind in the hope of freedom, which is commemorated by the memorial park established on the site of the picnic.
21. Szeged
The Mediterranean-looking city is called the “City of Sunlight” because of its 2100 hours of sunshine a year. The fourth largest city in Hungary is definitely worth a visit.
The many street cafes in the center invite you to linger in the shade of the lovingly restored Art Nouveau houses, the many museums, churches and monuments do not let boredom arise.
During a flood catastrophe in 1879, Sczeged was almost completely destroyed – and with international help rebuilt along the lines of major European cities. Szeged is best known for its culinary products, such as pick salami, spicy paprika and Sczeged fish soup.
Most of the sights can be found within the Inner Ring near the Belvárosi Bridge. At the Cathedral Square (Dóm tér), one of the most beautiful squares in Hungary, there is a whole building complex of sights.The square is dominated by the neo-Romanesque votive church built in 1913- 1930 by the citizens of Szeged in gratitude for their rescue during the floods.
Inside the church you can find a special Madonna representation in mosaic. The “Madonna in fur” wears a peasant coat typical for the region and red slippers typical for Szeged. In summer, open-air concerts and theater and opera performances are often held on the church forecourt.
In front of the church also rises the oldest building of the city, the octagonal Demetrius Tower (Dömötör-torony) from the 12th century. Statues of famous Hungarian personalities from art, literature, economy and politics can be seen in the shady Szeged Pantheon under the arcades around the Votive Church.
20. Kecskemet
On the Great Plain, about 90 km southeast of Budapest, between the Tisza and Danube rivers, lies the city of Kecskemét. About 110 000 inhabitants live in this economic and cultural center.
Kecskemét is the home of one of the national drinks of Hungary, the apricot brandy, called “barackpalinka” in Hungarian. This city is also known about the international air show that takes place there every year. Plan your Hungary vacation so that you can witness this impressive show.
The Hungarian composer, Zoltán Kodály was born in this city. Music lovers know the Zoltán Kodály Institute of Kecskemét. Kecskemét is also known by horse lovers. Competitions, including world championships, for carriage driving are regularly organized there.
Most of the sights of the town can be seen on the main square. These are: the Town Hall, the Ornate Palace, the Old Church, the Municipal Theater and others.
The architecture of the buildings of Kecskemét was strongly influenced by the Art Nouveau style. Apart from the Town Hall and the Ornate Palace, several buildings such as the Luther Palace and the Katona Jozsef Gymnasium were built in Art Nouveau style. They are beautiful examples of Art Nouveau in Hungary.
19. Puszta
Puszta is the name given to the barren, vegetation-poor plain between the Danube and the Tisza, which is considered to be the western foothill of the Eurasian steppe. The name is derived from the Old Slavic word “pust”, which means “barren”, “desolate”, “empty”. The term appeared when the population retreated to the cities during the Turkish rule and the land became desolate. Later, individual farmsteads were established again, which at first were cultivated only temporarily because of the regular flooding.
When the Tisza River was canalized in the 19th century, the floods stopped, which led to karstification of the soil. Today, large-scale agriculture is again practiced with artificial fertilizers, as evidenced by sunflower fields reaching to the horizon. Originally, the Puszta is only in a few places, e.g. in the Hortobágy National Park or in smaller areas around the Tisza River.
18. Heviz
Located on the Hungarian Spa Road, the spa town of Bad Heviz is a very special destination. The city is located on the largest natural thermal lake in the world. Characterized by historic spa facilities and nestled in a particularly picturesque landscape, the small town offers the opportunity to experience Hungary from its most beautiful side.
The history of the town is closely connected with the importance of the thermal lake. The Romans already appreciated the healing effects of the world’s largest thermal lake. Haviz became one of the most famous spa resorts in the country towards the end of the 18th century. In 1795, Count György Festeticx built the first bathhouses and spa facilities after the therapeutic effects of the thermal water were scientifically proven.
As demand increased, more spa facilities were built in the 1960s and the number of spa guests grew steadily. Today, Heviz is a center of attraction for nature lovers, wellness enthusiasts and people with chronic and degenerative joint diseases.
The medicinal lake invites for bathing all year round, because the lake of about 4.4 hectares is fed by a thermal spring from a crater. In summer, the lake offers bathers a water temperature of 33 to 36 °C and around 25 °C in winter. Rich in sulfur, carbon dioxide, calcium, magnesium and hydrogen carbonate, the lake is perfect for achieving physical relaxation.
Accordingly, bathing in the lake is especially indicated for rheumatic and motor complaints. The lake mud is also used in the field of physiotherapeutic measures, which are offered in the spa houses of the city. The water can also be used as part of a drinking cure to counteract stomach complaints and digestive problems.
17. Aggtelek National Park
In the northeast of the country, on the Hungarian side of the Gömör-Tornai Karst (today’s name: Aggtelek Caves and Slovak Karst Region), with a number of natural and cultural treasures, on an area of 20,000 hectares, the Aggtelek National Park was established in 1985. The almost 300 caves located on the territory of the Aggtelek Karst were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995.
Here you can find the longest cave in Hungary, the Baradla Cave, which also crosses the border, with a length of more than 25 km and an age of 2 million years. It is the largest and most magnificent stalactite cave of the Magyar land and unparalleled in its beauty within the temperate climate zone. Baradla Cave, which has been declared a World Heritage Site, can be explored both from Aggtelek and from Jósvafő within the framework of guided walks.
16. Eger
Eger is located in the north of Hungary, about 130 kilometers from Budapest, and is one of the oldest cities in Hungary. The region around the historic city is popular among visitors mainly for its beautiful landscape, historic buildings, wine-growing areas and thermal springs.
The city of Eger is a baroque treasure chest. Especially the many historical alleys delight many visitors. In addition, there are some special sights in the city. One of the most famous buildings in the city is the classicist domed basilica. It was built between 1831 and 1837 and today it is the second largest in the country. The entrance to the basilica is decorated with sculptures of saints. Within its walls, a truly divine acoustic can be experienced during organ concerts.
Also worthwhile is a visit to Dobó Square. It is considered the heart of the city. The fountain at the beginning of the square is refreshing in the summer heat. In the middle of the square there is a group of statues representing one of the most important moments in the history of Eger.
Another highlight is the Eger Castle. The spacious castle is located on a hill immediately west of the city center. It is still in excellent condition today. From its walls, there is an impressive view of the Eger Minaret, which dates back to the time of the Turkish occupation. After conquering the 97 steps, one is also rewarded with a beautiful panorama.
15. Lake Balaton
Lake Balaton is the largest lake in Hungary. It is about 600 km² in size. The total length of the shore is about 200 km. The lake is also ideal for swimming vacations with children, because the water is shallow, especially on the southern side.
In midsummer, the water temperature in the shore area reaches about 28 degrees. In general, you can swim there from June to September, but in some years already from May.
On the northern side, the surroundings of the lake are mountainous. Many hills have volcanic origin. That is why the soil in the area is very suitable for viticulture. Exemplary is Badacsony, where the “Grey Monk” is produced.
The lake is also very popular among anglers. Among the most common fish species there are the pike, catfish and pike-perch.
For the nature lovers, the immediate surroundings of the lake with its geological formations, forests, numerous plant and animal species offer a great variety, especially in the area of the National Park of Balatonfelvidek (Balaton Uplands).
Those interested in culture can also enjoy the sights around the lake, such as one of the most beautiful and largest castles in the country, the Festetich Castle in Keszthely, where castle concerts are often held in the summer behind idyllic backdrops. When the weather is nice, the boat trips on the lake also offer an unforgettable experience.
14. Budapest
Budapest is not only the largest city and at the same time the capital of Hungary, but with about 1.7 million inhabitants it is also one of the eight largest cities in the European Union. The city is divided by the Danube into three large districts, which were independent cities until 1867. The districts are called Buda, Pest and Óbuda.
Most of the city’s sights are located in the Buda district, as it is more mountainous and the construction of castles and citadels lent itself to this location. Especially famous is the Gellért Hill with the Statue of Liberty. Buda is also home to the Royal Palace and the Castle District, which are not to be missed when visiting the city. But there are also much older sights in Budapest, the area was after all already inhabited by the Romans 2,000 years ago. Accordingly, the amphitheater can still be admired today and the Turks have also left traces with their baths. As a tourist, you should not miss the landmark of the city, the Chain Bridge, which is, however, only one of nine bridges.
Apart from sightseeing, there are many other activities to do in Budapest. One can visit various theaters, such as the Hungarian State Theater, operas or concerts. In the Museum of Fine Arts of Budapest, friends of Egyptian and ancient art as well as those interested in baroque art will get their money’s worth. In downtown Pest, you can shop to your heart’s content and take a break in the small street cafes. Those who need some peace and quiet can find it in the Buda Hills.
13. Tihany
The dreamlike location at Lake Balaton with wonderful views over the lake is the trademark of Tihany. The village is located on a mountain up to 80m high and is already from a distance an unmissable eye-catcher. This panorama and the ideal ferry connection often invite even visitors who actually spend their vacation on the southern shore of Lake Balaton to make a short detour.
In the village center with its narrow and often steep alleys, the vacationer can discover the past of the region at first hand. In addition to historic buildings, farmhouses and fishermen’s houses have been lovingly restored as in an open-air museum and, with their arcades and thatched roofs, give an impression of the former life in the village.
At the harbor of Tihany, tourists will also find everything their hearts desire. Many terraces offer a wonderful view over the lake, in the small inns and cafes travelers can indulge in regional specialties. Fish dishes have a long tradition at Lake Balaton and the fiery fish soup is considered a specialty especially in Tihany.
Tihany is a culturally important place on Lake Balaton. In 1055 King Andrew I founded a Benedictine abbey on the peninsula, which quickly gained supra-regional influence. The foundation charter of the monastery is one of the most important documents of Hungarian history, in which more than 50 localities of the surrounding area were mentioned for the first time.
12. Esztergom
Esztergom is one of the oldest cities in Hungary and according to legend the first Hungarian king and founder of the state Stephen I was born here.
As the first royal residence (in the 11th century) and the current seat of the head of the Catholic Church, the Bishop of Esztergom, the city plays a significant role in Hungarian consciousness.
On the castle hill rises the massive basilica, the headquarters of the Catholic Church in Hungary.
With its length of 118 m and width of 40 m, the basilica is the largest church in Hungary and the third largest in Europe. The narthex is supported by 22 Corinthian columns, above which rises the central dome, over 100 meters high. The built-in Bakócz chapel with red marble wall cladding is also unique.
The treasury houses one of the most extensive collections of sacred art. The Hungarian coronation cross, Gothic horn goblets and the cross of Matthias Corvinus are among the most beautiful exhibits. At the consecration of the basilica in 1869, Franz Liszt conducted his famous Gran Mass composed for the occasion.
On the southern promontory of the castle hill, a few steps from the basilica, are the remains of the Royal Palace, the first Hungarian royal residence. Built in the 11th and 12th centuries for King Béla III, the castle was filled up during the Turkish siege.
The excavations were started only in the 60’s of the last century and the ruined fields have been accessible since 1988.
11. Tokaj
One hundred years ago, Hungary was one of the most prominent and largest wine exporting countries in the world. Many Hungarian sweet and red wines were on the menus of the most famous hotel restaurants in London or New York. After the communist takeover in 1947, the great era of Hungarian wines quickly came to an end, the large wineries were expropriated and the communist planned economy could not deliver quality – and later not even mass.
After 1990, things slowly started to look up, but it is only in the last few years that an enormous amount has happened in Hungarian quality viticulture. One look at the modernizations in the most famous region, Tokaj, is enough to see that Hungarian winemakers are once again making world-class wine.
The vineyards of Tokaj are located in northeastern Hungary, at the foot of the pristine Zemplén Mountains, meeting the vast Hungarian lowlands that provide summer heat for the vines. The soils of the vineyards are mainly volcanic riolite tuff. The climate is characterized by hot summers, long autumns, cool winters and an average annual precipitation of 550 mm. The first written sources of viticulture date back to the 13th century.
The region is named after the town of Tokaj, the former trade center and became famous for the legendary Aszú white wines. The French king, Louis XIV already in the 17th century called this wine “the wine of kings, the king of wines”.
10. Holloko
Hollókő is a kind of living museum: the centuries-old houses, reminiscent of the past, are full of life, as most of them are still inhabited and used. The history of the old village of Hollókő dates back to the 13th century. The founding documents of that time usually mention only the castle built after the Mongol storm.
In the time of the Ottoman Empire Hollókő was depopulated like many other settlements, but already in 1720 the village was full of life again. Built in the 17th/18th century, the village is an example of traditional architecture and what village life was like before the 20th century, preserved in its original state.
In the heart of the settlement is the iconic building of the village, the Catholic church with a wooden tower and a shingle roof. Its history dates back to 1889.
The characteristic whitewashed wooden and brick houses and thatched roofs burned down many times in its long history. Thus, the village got its present face only around 1910 in the course of a complete reconstruction. Some of the houses house workshops, where the old trades are represented, museums and exhibition halls.
The 67 protected houses in the Old Village (Ófalu ) have been under the protection of the Hollókő since 1987 managed to be the first in Hungary to be included in the list of the most valuable cultural heritage sites in the world, and it was the first village in the world to receive this title.
9. Szentendre
A touch of nostalgia wafts through the small town of Szentendre with its lovingly restored old town. The artist town on the Danube is characterized by its unique Mediterranean atmosphere – and is a popular tourist destination.
Winding narrow streets and alleys, picturesque vistas, manifold churches and, above all, numerous galleries of contemporary artists make this place a cultural experience. Numerous museums and churches offer a varied program – but also simply walking through Szentendre is an experience.
The center of Szentendre is above all the square Fö tér, which is lined with baroque merchants’ houses. The square is dominated by an iron cross – the Merchants’ Cross, erected by the Serbian merchants.
The Kmetty Museum in house No. 21 on Fö tér houses a permanent exhibition of cubist painter János Kmetty (1889-1975). On the Danube side of Fö tér one finds the beautiful Serbian Orthodox Church Blagovescenska, built in the 17th century.
You can get a magnificent view of the roofs of Szentendre from Castle Hill, where you can also find the medieval parish church with its Gothic sundial. Also worth seeing is Göröd utca, which leads from Fö tér to the bank of the Danube. This picturesque alley was built in the 18th century mainly by Greek families.
8. Visegrad
The picturesquely situated town a little 40 km from Budapest is a tourist magnet mainly because of its citadel and the remains of the royal palace.
Visegrád still lives on the splendor of its past – having risen to the status of national capital in the 14th century, it possessed the largest building complex in Hungary at that time – the Royal Palace.
Its red marble fountains, halls with gilded columns, ballrooms, extensive gardens with fish ponds and pools made the palace famous far beyond the borders of Hungary.
Today only the ruins of this legendary palace can be visited, because during the Turkish wars the palace was partially destroyed and later buried by masses of earth. It was not until 1934 that excavations were started.
But already the visit of the ruins is recommendable: the salamon tower, remains of the baths with cold water basins, terraces and columns, an arcade with late Gothic net vaults and other remains give an idea of the beauty and size of the former royal palace.
A majestic impression is still given by the 13th century citadel (Fellegvár) picturesquely overlooking the town. The partially restored fortress consists of several ramparts and was secured by a system of gates and drawbridges. In the eastern part is the Treasury Tower, where the Hungarian St. Stephen’s Crown was kept for over 200 years.
7. Kőszeg
Kőszeg has a small old town, partly surrounded by a castle wall from the 13th century. Strictly speaking, the old town consists only of Jurisics tér which is reached after crossing the Heroes’ Gate. This Heroes’ Gate was built in 1932 in commemoration of the victory over the Turks. 400 years earlier, the castle commander Miklós Jurisics successfully defended the town after a 25-day siege by the Turks.
Since this happened at 11:00 noon, the bells still ring at this time today, commemorating the historic event. According to a legend, Jurisics even allowed the losers to raise the Turkish flag symbolically. The exterior of the castle as seen today dates back to 1777, after a fire destroyed large parts of the town and the castle.
On Jurisics tér you can see a lot of nicely arranged burgher houses, almost all of which are listed as historical monuments. The most striking building is probably the town hall from the 15th century, which was built in several eras and bears Gothic and Baroque features. The left one of the facade paintings is also the coat of arms of the Jurisics family. In general, the name Jurisics cannot be omitted from the town due to the events of 1532. It is not without reason that there is a Jurisics monument in the castle of the same name, which is located above Jurisics tér.
Other sights in Kőszeg are, of course, the unmissable churches on Jurisics tér. The most important and also one of the oldest is St. Jacob’s Church, built at the beginning of the 15th century.
6. Keszthely
The history of the town dates back to the Roman times, when there were already settlements in this place. In 1247 Keszthely was mentioned in a document for the first time and in 1421 it also received the right of market.
The town owes its rise mainly to the Festetic family, who had the castle of the same name built in 1745. The Festetic Castle in Keszthely is still considered one of the most beautiful baroque castles in Central Europe.
A short time later, towards the end of the 18th century, Count György Festetics founded the Agricultural College, the Georgikon. Today it is the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Veszprém.
Tourism developed soon after, in the 19th century. Nowadays, many restaurants, bars and hotels line the shore area, making Keszthely one of the most popular towns on Lake Balaton.
The most significant sight is the already mentioned castle at the northern end of the pedestrian zone. It has a U-shaped ground plan and is located in the middle of a well-kept castle park with many, partly very old plants and trees. The park was created a good 120 years after the construction of the castle in the course of a reconstruction.
In summer, many cultural events take place in the castle, such as readings, exhibitions and concert series. Visitors can take guided tours of the castle. It is also home to the Helikon Library, one of the largest libraries in Hungary.
5. Veszprem
The city of Veszprém is located 15 km from the northern shore of Lake Balaton and is, besides its good shopping opportunities, especially known for its beautiful old town with the venerable bishop’s residence. The medium-sized city is populated by 50-70 thousand people – depending on whether it is the semester break or not… A large part of the population lives here only to study at the famous university. Accordingly, the choice of bars, cafes and nightclubs around the old town core is also pronounced.
The biggest attraction of the city is the castle and the surrounding baroque old town. If we want to get to know the city of queens, we must first decipher this name. The origin of the city is closely connected with the emergence of Christianity in Hungary. Our Holy King Stephen I was our first baptized king. His wife, Gizella the Bavarian princess from Passau, founded the veszprém bishopric and settled here in the newly built castle. She gave the bishops an honorary privilege: the coronation of the king’s wife. This custom was preserved until the end of the kingship in Hungary, the last coronation was that of Queen Zita.
The castle houses many things worth seeing. During a walk it is recommended to keep your head constantly focused on both sides if you do not want to miss anything. The pride of the castle is the baroque fire tower standing on ancient ground, which for a long time served to protect the city. Today it is one of the most beautiful viewpoints of the city.
4. Lake Bokodi
Bokod is a small fishing village with just 2250 inhabitants, located in the north of Hungary, in the administrative district of Komáron-Esztergom. Those who take the way here will undoubtedly be rewarded with one of the most beautiful photo motifs of the country. Built on stilts, the so-called “floating wooden fishermen’s houses” are somewhat reminiscent of overwater bungalows, such as those usually found in the Maldives.
If you sit down early in the morning or in the evening at sunrise or sunset directly in front of this scenery, you will be offered an unforgettable moment. The sun reflects slightly orange in the water, the wooden fishing huts shine in a very special glow, especially in the late evening hour. It is almost magical, so beautiful is the image that these few houses here give off.
3. Székesfehérvár
Székesfehérvár is situated halfway between Budapest and Lake Balaton. Székesfehérvár is a town with a long historical past. It was the coronation town of Hungary. Several kings were crowned and buried there until the 16th century.
The first period of prosperity of the town ended with the Turkish rule (16th-17th centuries). The second one came in the 18th century, when Székesfehérvár recovered from the Turkish rule. At that time the present town center got its baroque form.
Székesfehérvár is rich in sights. The most important ones are: the remains of the former coronation church of the country in the ruined garden, the bishop’s palace in pigtail style, the baroque basilica, the Gothic Saint Anne’s Chapel, the church of the Cistercians, in which there is the unique wood-carved interior of the sacristy, and the flower clock.
The Hiemer House, which is located in the town center, is also a baroque building worth seeing. There, the ruined parts of the earlier centuries were uncovered in the lower floors over several floors and well integrated into the present house.
In this house there is also a unique toy museum with a rich collection of dolls. These are masterpieces from the 18th and 19th centuries with many, cute dolls, doll houses, small furniture and kitchenware. Lead soldiers and castles are also not missing in this exhibition.
2. Szalajka Valley
In the 4.2 km long valley they can admire the Fátyol (Veil) Waterfall, the Rock Spring, and the Cave Man Cave Istállós-Kő. You can visit the Forestry Museum, the Game Reserve, the Trout Farming Ponds, the Open Air Forestry Museum, and relax on the shores of the beautiful Great Lake and the Upper Lake or at the Gloriette Glade.
The Szalajka Valley has been inhabited since ancient times, as Paleolithic findings show that people had passed through the area as early as 35-40,000 years ago.
The permanent settlement of the Szalajka Valley began with the 14th century, when people settled in the village of Wárad, now known as Szilvásvárad. The high quality wood served as a source of urban income already in the Middle Ages and as a result more and more people settled here. Later, potash was also extracted from the valley, which eventually gave the area its present name. Potash in Latin means “Sal Alcali” and these words were adopted into the Hungarian language.
Within the waters such as the Szalajka stream, wild trout have lived for thousands of years, and nowadays their population continues to grow, so fishermen sell them as a regional delicacy.
Visitors often refer to the Fátyol Waterfall as the most beautiful part of the Szalajka Valley, which is quite imposing with its length of 17 meters.
Not far from the Fátyol Waterfall is a rare and beautiful natural phenomenon, where the crystal clear water comes to the surface through a cave: the Rock Spring. The Szalajka Valley is a fairy-tale world of brooks, waterfalls and smaller and larger lakes. The main attractions of the game reserve are the mouflon and the fallow deer.
1. Miskolc
As one of the most diverse destinations in Hungary, Hungary’s third largest city offers an excellent mix of sightseeing, spa recreation, discovery and active vacations, and winter sports. Architecturally, the cityscape is reminiscent of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but Venice also sends its regards.
Art and culture are evident with numerous museums and art collections from different periods and styles and are thus in no way inferior to the architecture. Cave bathing is a very special highlight in Miskolc and promises healing effects.
Archaeological excavations, deep coniferous forests or rushing waterfalls leave no leisure wishes unfulfilled. In winter, ice climbers, snow hikers and skiers like to meet in Miskolc.
