Visegrád is the perfect base from which to explore the diverse towns and villages of the Danube Bend. Even after a bit of lazing about, a coffee and a delicious breakfast, you’ll still have plenty of time to set off, as Szentendre, Vác or even Esztergom are just a few kilometres away – it’s up to you where you go!
As you sail down the Danube, let yourself be enchanted by the panorama born of the union between the river and the mountains. Along the riverbank, the treasures of a thousand-year-old culture come into view: Solomon’s Tower, the Visegrád Upper Castle, the world of Zebegény, the Esztergom Basilica… Set off into the Visegrád Mountains or the woodlands of the Börzsöny, or opt for a stroll through the town, from the cobbled streets of Szentendre to the Baroque town of Vác.
Click on any of them for more details – including contact details, places of interest and transport information.
The Basilica and King Saint Stephen – for most Hungarians, this is the first thing that springs to mind when they think of Esztergom. However, in the capital of the Danube Bend, there are further marvellous treasures to discover, offering both a rich history and modern attractions.
As early as the Migration Period, numerous peoples settled here, at the confluence of the Danube and the Garam: the Eastern Goths, Sarmatians, Avars, Slavs and Celts. The Roman Empire left behind many fine monuments, as well as the town name ‘Solva’.
Prince Géza chose Castle Hill as his seat of power. It was here that our King Saint Stephen was born and crowned; he went on to establish the archbishopric in Esztergom, which remains the centre of the Hungarian Church to this day.
After the Mongol invasion, the city was rebuilt, but Béla IV moved his seat of power to Buda. A new golden age dawned during the reign of Matthias – Archbishop János Vitéz’s palace, filled with works of art, was famous throughout Europe. During the nearly 140 years of Ottoman rule, Esztergom was reduced to a state of near ruin; the restored mosque and the former Ottoman baths still serve as reminders of this period today.
The world wars and the 1956 uprising also left their mark, but thanks to reconstruction work and archaeological excavations, visitors can now discover the city’s treasures by exploring the museums in Esztergom.
Historical walks in Esztergom – During the season: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; at other times on request (minimum 10 people).
Contact
Esztergom and the Surrounding Area TDM
5 Széchenyi Square, 2500 Esztergom.
+36 33 769 034 · +36 70 601 0018
info@iranyesztergom.hu · facebook.com/iranyesztergom
Would you have thought that Hungary’s only triumphal arch stands in this city, and that our country’s only triangular Baroque square is located here?
There are just as many things to experience in the main square in the city centre as there are along the riverside promenades, where you can also cycle along the Vác section of EuroVelo 6. Vác is a child-friendly, cycle-friendly and dog-friendly town, a charming destination for families and groups of friends alike.
Vác is easily accessible from Visegrád by both ferry and train, with services running every hour. On the Nagymaros side, the railway station is about a 5-minute walk away; from there, the train takes 15 minutes to reach Vác. It can also be reached by boat: the main square is about a 15-minute walk from the Vác boat station. By car, there are hourly ferry crossings between Visegrád and Nagymaros, and between Tahitótfalu and Vác.
Baroque Main Square – the most popular public space, with colourful buildings, a bandstand, a fountain and the ruins of St Michael’s Church.
Danube Promenade – medieval castle walls, a sculpture park, playgrounds and one of Hungary’s longest promenades, featuring a cycle path running its entire length.
Triumphal Arch (Stone Gate) – Our country’s only triumphal arch was built in five months in honour of the arrival of Maria Theresa.
Memento Mori – the naturally mummified remains found in the crypt of the Church of the Whites; the artefacts are on display at the Ignác Tragor Museum.
Cathedral – The Cathedral of Our Lady is the fourth-largest basilica in the country.
Hétkápolna, Liget – a park with ancient trees, a chapel and Stations of the Cross, and a lake fed by springs believed to have healing properties.
Sajdik’s collection of cartoons – A retrospective exhibition of the works of Ferenc Sajdik (Artúr Gombóc, Pom Pom).
Vác Castle – on the banks of the Danube, the former castle wall with a statue of King Géza I.
Bishop’s Palace – A 250-year-old listed building, a symbol of Kristóf Migazzi’s work as a town planner.
Town Hall – a Baroque building on the main square; now home to the works of the International Mobile MADI Museum.
Tourinform Vác
Vác and Surrounding Area TDM Non-profit Ltd.
17 Március 15 Square, 2600 Vác.
+36 27 316 160 · info@tdm.vac.hu · visitvac.hu
Discover Szentendre, the Baroque gem at the gateway to the Danube Bend! The town has borne the title „City of Painters” since 1928, when the Szentendre Painters’ Society was founded. Visitors can look forward to numerous museums and galleries, cobbled streets with a Mediterranean feel, and a rich culinary scene. The Open-Air Ethnographic Museum (Skanzen) is unique, with its nine regional sections showcasing the folk architecture of the Carpathian Basin.
In the morning, there are no boats running from Visegrád to Szentendre, so the town can be reached by car or by Volán bus.
There (Nagymaros Ferry → Szentendre, bus station): 08:35–09:20 · 09:25–10:10 · 10:25–11:10
Back (Szentendre → Nagymarosi ferry): 18:05–18:50 · 19:05–19:50 · 20:25–21:50
„A” – Sightseeing, free time, wine tasting: 09:25 departure; from 10:30, a guided city tour lasting approximately 2 hours (Hungarian-language tour: 18,000 Ft per group; foreign-language tour: 20,000 Ft per group; individual: 2,500 Ft per person); lunch; free time in the afternoon; 17:00 wine tasting at the National Wine Museum (2,000 Ft per person for 5 wines, 3,000 Ft per person for 8 wines); 19:05 return.
„B” – Sightseeing, museum visits, free time: Following the guided walk, a guided tour of a permanent exhibition from 14:00 to 15:00 (Margit Kovács or Béla Czóbel; Hungarian: 8,000 Ft per group, foreign languages: 10,000 Ft per group, individuals: 2,500 Ft per person – admission separate); return at 18:05.
„C” – Open-air museum + city centre: 10.45: Guided tour of two sections of the Skanzen (8,000 Ft for Hungarian-speaking groups, 10,000 Ft for foreign-language groups); 13:30 lunch at the Jászárokszállás Inn; free time in the town centre in the afternoon; 18:05 return.
Szentendre Tourinform
Szentendre and Surrounding Area TDM Ltd.
22 Dumtsa Jenő Street, Szentendre, 2000.
+36 26 317 965 · +36 26 317 966
tdm@szentendre.hu · iranyszentendre.hu