Budapest is a capital full of places and activities to enjoy. This week, we just decided to make a break and put Budapest on hold, to explore its surroundings too. We put a limit on distance for this exploration because we will visit further places later when we leave the capital.
Therefore, we prepared for you our recommendations about what to visit nearby Budapest, meaning by “nearby”, places up to 100 km. This distance using a vehicle (your car, public transportation, or hitch-hiking) in regular traffic conditions should take you 1 hour and a half, 2 hours in a very crowded scenario. Still possible to do it in a day without big worries or hurry.
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Szentendre
23 km north of beautiful Budapest, we visited a very cute and picturesque town called Szentendre (Saint Andrew). It’s a very cool destination. We went there on a working day so it was not crowded. During some days or weekends, it can be full of visitors. It is a common destination not only for international tourists but also for locals looking for a quieter place.
Its main square, Baroque architecture, monuments, museums, multiple restaurants, coffee shops, souvenir spots, and the proximity to the Danube river provide everything you need to spend a great time. Walk around Szentendre is a very cool sensorial experience. Your eyes, ears, touch, taste, and nose will be fulfilled whit Szentendre’s Mediterranean vibes, Slavic accent, food, cobbled and narrow streets, Baroque buildings, people’s kindness, the creations of the large community of artists living there, and the presence of the romantic Danube.
By car, it should take you half hour to reach Szentendre from Budapest. By public transportation, from 40 to 45 minutes. The suburban train (HÉV, Hungarian abbreviation of railways of local interest) is an efficient, affordable, and comfortable choice. For more details about transportation, what to do in Szentendre, and if you are interested in the story behind a mystery we discovered there, click Why does Szentendre smell like Serbia?
Gödöllő Palace
Being in Hungary, of course, you will visit castles and palaces. Wait, aren’t they the same? No, they are not. A palace is supposed to be built to live and show off wealth. While a castle has defense objectives.
So, we went 30 km northeast of Budapest to visit this large Baroque palace. It was the Summer residence of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Elisabeth, Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. It was given to her when she got crowned Queen of Hungary in 1867. The royal couple spent time in this building between 1867 and 1916. It’s kept in very good condition and there’s a lot of history there. You can see the fancy rooms and secret passages inside and explore the beautiful gardens and stables surrounding the palace. There’s a fee of 3200 Huf (8 EURO) per adult to access the palace.
Vác
We drove 46 km north from Budapest, to visit Vác, a nice town located in a zone called the Danube Bend, a popular curve of the Danube river. We felt a big difference when compared with Szentendre. While Szentendre has become a tourist spot, Vác offers kind of a similar atmosphere and things to do but with a local touch. This provides it with an even quieter and more relaxing vibe.
We arrived close to noon. We bought a very tasty Hungarian lángos in the center. We walked around and we saw more Baroque style, cute houses, churches, the Mary’s Ascension Cathedral, and the arch of triumph (18th century).
Then we headed to the Danube bank. From the center, at different points, there’s access to a very nice long park next to the Danube. We found a fair installed there, families walking, folks exercising, kids playing on the grass, and couples enjoying the Danube’s view from a bench. We bought an ice cream and chose a bench to join the locals.
Talking with people there, we were told that there were some boats to enjoy the Danube, even to arrive here from Budapest. But due to the pandemic, first, they were canceled, and later some got back but you should check properly availability and schedules if you are interested. These services are not as constant as they were before the pandemic.
To reach Vác by driving was not hard, the road from Budapest kind of led us there. And to find a parking spot was easy. This is great news because currently, free and safe parking is on extinction. You also can arrive in Vác by public transportation.
Balatonvilágos - Siófok – Tihany and the Balaton lake
A visit to the popular Balaton lake is a must if you are in Hungary. Balaton lake is a nice, friendly, and refreshing lake you should visit to relax and refresh in a natural place. It’s one of the favorite destinations of Hungarian and international tourists. There are beaches, nice villages, resorts, protected wetlands, volcanic hills, wine-producing zones, and hiking trails, all along the many kilometers of the Balaton’s shoreline.
On this day we broke the limit of the 100 km we originally established but it was Balaton’s fault!
We took the car around 6 am in Budapest. Our mission was to visit an old friend: Balaton lake. We love it! We drove 93 km southwest of Budapest (1 hour and 15 minutes) to reach Balatonvilágos, meet the lake, walk around, get some pics, and that’s it. But being in Balatonvilágos was nice. Our encounter with Balaton lake was great and Világos was very cute. You easily can spend a day there, enjoying the beach, and eating tasty food in one of its restaurants. But it was still early when we were there. Most places were close. We got tempted by the beautiful turquoise color of the lake and were very touched by our traveling memories.
Years ago, "M" and I visited Siófok during a hitch-hiking trip and we got an awesome time together. When we met, we hitchhiked a lot around Europe. And that day, it was very hard to reach Siófok. It took us hours to get a ride. We were very tired but when we saw the lake, wow, we directly jumped into it wearing underwear! Hahaha. We didn’t want to waste time looking for a changing room. We swam, played in the fresh, turquoise-color water, and saw together a beautiful sunset. Lovely and unforgettable!
So, after realizing that Balatonvilágos is only 15 km away from Siófok, 20 minutes away tops, soon we were driving direction of Siófok hahaha.
Guys, to be in Siófok again and together was extremely nice! We got awesome flashbacks! The central beach, the water tower, the camping spot where we slept, and that sunset! You have to visit this lake and jump into its fresh, turquoise water at least once in your life. You will have a great experience. It’s a very friendly lake. Depending on the area where you are, it can be shallow for you to walk or to reach 10 or a bit more meters in depth. Swimming there is delicious. And you can walk as long as you feel like it along the shoreline. It’s more than enough to have a nice chat with friends or with your loved one.
By now, shops and restaurants were open. We grabbed some tasty bread from a bakery and a coffee and we got breakfast in front of the beautiful Balaton lake. Once we made the belly happy, we checked the map and we saw Tihany, an interesting peninsula on Balaton lake. By then, we were hypnotized by the charm of the lake. We were 20 km away from Tihany so… Yes! We drove in its direction!
We took our car on the ferry to shorten the trip and it was a fun experience. There’s a fee for every car (2,000 HUF) and each person (800 HUF) to go on board. You can pay with cash or a bank card. The ferry just takes around 10 minutes, even less, to cross the lake and reach Tihany. You can get there without the ferry but it will take you longer. Once there, we saw:
Tihany’s abbey. It’s maybe the main attraction in the peninsula and it dates back thousands of years ago (1055). Through time, it has been a monks’ shelter, a castle in Turkish times, a home for old people during socialist times, and now, a big attraction for locals and foreigners. It’s located in a privileged place on the peninsula. The view from there is great. Unfortunately, we couldn't get inside because, during our visit (2022), it was closed due to renovations.
People recommend going there also to play with a specific phenomenon of echo (echo hill). People say that if you are on this hill and you shout towards the building of the abbey, your voice will be echoed 7 times in 2 seconds, mostly during the Winter. It’s fun to see how some people were attracted to this hill just to try the echo. Nobody managed to get the 7 repetitions even though they screamed hard hahaha. People said that the echo now it’s harder to get due to the landscape changes the area has experienced over time. And we have to say that the place was noisy and not in its normal condition. The renovation work was intense. Workers, heavy machines, and the constant sound of hammers hitting rocks could be the reason for this failure. But who knows, maybe it’s true! ;)
The lavender house. A place to learn about Tihany’s geology, from the time it was full of volcanos to the present quiet landscape. And of course, you will get information about lavender planting and its importance for the place.
The paprika house. Walking into the center we saw this cute and exotic thing. A house completely covered by paprikas. All sizes of it, organized in a very cool way so they become exotic ornaments, like curtains for the house. They sell a variety of products made of paprika.
Restaurants with terraces towards the Balaton. We walked for a long time admiring the lake. To lie on the grass for a while with such a view in front of you is something we recommend. We got hungry so we walked to pick a restaurant. There are different choices but what it’s a must is to choose one with a terrace to keep enjoying the Balaton.
I ordered a beef goulash, a very tasty and warm stew with potatoes, onions, paprika, and beef. "M" ordered a chicken paprikash, some like chicken dumplings with a creamy sauce of onion, garlic, sweet peppers, and tomatoes. I drank a cold beer and "M" a cappuccino because he was the brave driver of this adventure. And in Hungary, there’s zero tolerance for alcohol if you drive.
After that, we got back to Budapest. This trip was very nice and we confirmed that Balaton lake and its surroundings have a lot for you to see. This was our second time here but we explored new places this time and for sure we will get back to greet the Balaton again and discover more stuff.
Distance (Based on Google maps):
Budapest to Balatonvilágos, 93 km.
Budapest to Siófok, 105 km.
Budapest to Tihany, 123 km (using the ferry). Approx. 139 km via M7 and route 8 (without ferry).
Our route this day:
Budapest to Balatonvilágos, 93 km.
Balatonvilágos to Siófok, 15 km.
Siófok to Tihany, 20 km.
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Conclusion.
So, we just gave you 6 awesome places to visit near Budapest. Check them out when you are on your next Budapest trip, or, if you are living in Budapest (lucky you), use them for your next weekend trips.
And remember, to have fun, you only need to pack and go!
Check more interesting articles about Budapest, Hungary:
5 Reasons to Fall in Love with the Buda Side of Budapest: An Insider's Guide