If you live in Budapest long enough, two things start to happen: you stop noticing how beautiful the Parliament building is, and you start wondering what the hell is outside the city.
Budapest is a bubble. A beautiful one, sure – full of brunch, ruin bars and progressive politics. But get even 30 minutes outside the capital and things shift: the tempo slows, the voting patterns flip, and the air smells more like pálinka than espresso.
This guide isn’t necessarily for tourists looking to squeeze in a photo-op between Gellért Hill and Széchenyi Baths. It’s for expats – the ones who’ve done the walking tours, know which thermal bath is least grimy, and have finally accepted that Hungarian customer service is what it is.
Over the past few years, I’ve taken day trips as a way to understand the rest of the country – not through curated “experiences” or influencer maps, but by getting lost and asking awkward questions.
What follows is a lived-in list: the good, the bad, the odd, the underrated. Some trips are easy train rides, some need a car, and a few are barely worth the fuel (I’ll tell you which). But all of them give you a version of Hungary that Budapest doesn’t – sometimes weirder, sometimes slower, often more honest.
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Day Trips From Budapest within Hungary
1. Lake Balaton
Distance from Budapest: 1.5–2 hours by train or car
Best by: Train (direct routes from Déli Station)
Perfect for: Escaping the heat, mild hedonism, lavender ice cream, small-town chaos
Hungary has no coastline, but it does have Balaton – the country’s oversized, over-loved lake that becomes a heat-fueled migration zone every summer. Come June, every other sentence in Budapest seems to end with “…we’re going to Balaton.”
Tihany is my pick if you want a slow day. The lavender fields get all the attention, but it’s the village itself – quiet cobbled streets, an abbey that somehow always looks photogenic – that makes it feel cinematic. Avoid the souvenir soap. Embrace the lavender ice cream.
Siófok, on the other hand, is unfiltered Balaton energy: beach clubs and techno beats. It’s loud and slightly tacky but not without charm if you approach it like an anthropologist with a fröccs.
If you want nature, calm, or something more local-feeling, skip both and head to Balatonfüred or the north shore wine villages like Csopak or Badacsony. Less chaos, better wine.
How to Get There
Quick Notes
- Go midweek if you want any shot at peace. Weekends are chaos.
- Tihany can be overly sleepy by late afternoon – plan to eat early or bring snacks.
- For something more active, check out this paddle board tour through Tihany National Park.
One of the best things I did during my time in Hungary was sailing on Balaton — I had a friend with a boat, but if you don’t, this private sailing cruise with a skipper gets you close.
2. Hollóko
Distance from Budapest: 1.5 hours by car
Best by: Car (bus is possible but inconvenient)
Perfect for: Folk traditions, village quiet, history without the tourist gloss
If you’ve ever wanted to time-travel to a medieval village without the plagues and gender inequality, Hollókő comes close. It’s a preserved Palóc settlement in northern Hungary and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The houses are wooden, the shutters creak open in the mornings, and there’s no background noise except maybe a rooster or two.
I visited during the autumn harvest festival, where the streets came alive with traditional dress, local performances, and homemade wine passed around without pretense. I didn’t understand a word of what was being said, but the atmosphere didn’t need translation. It was local, lived-in, and refreshingly uninterested in appealing to outsiders.
The hilltop castle adds a bit of structure to the visit – modest but scenic, and enough of a climb to justify a long lunch.
How to Get There
Quick Notes
- Visit during Easter or Harvest Festival if you want to see traditional dress and performances.
3. Szentendre
Distance from Budapest: 30–40 minutes
Best by: Train, boat, or bike
Perfect for: Art, riverside cafés, low-effort escapes
Szentendre is charming, curated, and extremely aware of its own aesthetic. Cobblestone streets, pastel facades, galleries at every corner, and shops full of overpriced ceramics you don’t need. It’s one of the easiest day trips from Budapest, and because of that, it rarely feels like a secret.
I’ve biked there – a flat, riverside ride that’s scenic and manageable. You might question your decision to do cardio outdoors in the summer, but the views make up for it. I’ve also taken the HÉV train and once, the ferry, which was slow but easily the most enjoyable way to arrive. It’s the kind of town where you wander, snack, sit by the river, and wander again. No major sites, but that’s not really the point.
Its reputation as an artists’ village still holds up in parts. You’ll find open studios, small museums, and a few genuinely interesting galleries. But it’s also very much on the tourist loop, so expect crowds, especially on weekends. That said, the atmosphere is relaxed, and it’s a solid pick if you want a break from the city without overcommitting.
How to Get There
Quick Notes
- Eat by the river, not in the center. It’s less crowded and less gimmicky.
- Don’t go with a checklist. This is a town best enjoyed with nowhere to be.
- The bike ride from Római Part is worth it – flat, shaded, and lined with food stalls and river views. Római Part itself feels like a forgotten summer town – grab a lángos or a fröccs before you even hit the trail.
4. Eger
Distance from Budapest: 2 hours by train
Best by: Train
Perfect for: Wine cellars, thermal baths, baroque façades, and a bit of sensory whiplash
Eger tries to be a lot of things at once – and mostly pulls it off. You’ve got a hilltop castle, a couple of baroque churches, thermal baths, and a wine region all packed into one walkable town. It’s like Hungary’s “greatest hits” in a compact, slightly chaotic package.
I went expecting a sleepy wine town. What I found was a place where you can visit a church, drink something called “Bull’s Blood” in a cave, then end the day in a hot pool that smells faintly like chlorine and centuries-old steam. Somehow, it works.
The castle is small but worth the climb – especially for the views. The real star is the Valley of the Beautiful Women (yes, that’s the actual name), where you’ll find a row of wine cellars carved into the rock. Most are run by local families, and you can pop into a few, taste different vintages, and leave tipsy and a little confused about Hungarian wine labels. It’s laid-back, affordable, and no one tries to upsell you.
The town center is cute, but not overly memorable. The Turkish Baths are average, but they serve their purpose if your feet hurt or your wine tasting got ambitious. Eger has a student population, so it doesn’t feel dead in the evenings. That said, it’s not exactly buzzing either.
If you’re short on time, Eger works as a long day trip. But if you want to make the most of the wine, stay overnight. You’ll have a better time and fewer regrets.
How to Get There
Quick Notes
- Some cellars are closed midweek – weekends are better for tastings.
- You don’t need a guide, but a local wine tour can help if you’re serious about the grapes.
- The thermal baths are clean but can get crowded – skip if you’ve been to better ones elsewhere.
Get a taste of the best Hungarian wines in this Wine Tour to Etyek just a short distance away from Budapest.
5. Visegrád
Distance from Budapest: 1–1.5 hours
Best by: Car or seasonal boat
Perfect for: Danube views, castle ruins, half-day hikes
Visegrád doesn’t have one huge attraction, but it does offer a solid mix: forest trails, a fortress with sweeping views, and just enough historical intrigue to justify the day trip.
The citadel is the main event – perched above the Danube Bend with one of the best panoramic views you’ll find near Budapest. It’s a short, steep hike to the top (or a drive, if you’re not into hills), and the fortress itself is more about the scenery than the structure. Inside, there’s some museum signage and medieval weapon displays, but you’re mostly there for the vantage point.
There’s also the Renaissance Palace nearby if you’re into royal history, though I found the walking trails more rewarding than the architecture.
How to Get There
Quick Notes
- Avoid peak midday sun in summer as there’s not a lot of shade at the top.
- Wear decent shoes, the path up to the citadel gets slippery when wet.
You can also take a tour that combines both Szentendre and Visegrád into one trip.
6. Gödöllő
Distance from Budapest: 30–40 minutes
Best by: Train
Perfect for: Royal palace lovers, Sisi fans, and people who want culture without crowds
Gödöllő is one of those trips that sounds more glamorous than it actually is. Its main draw is the Grassalkovich Palace, the former summer residence of Empress Elisabeth (aka Sisi), and the largest Baroque palace in Hungary. But if you’re imagining Versailles, dial it way down.
The palace is elegant, yes, but also fairly subdued. The exhibitions are well-curated and do a decent job of explaining Habsburg-era Hungary without romanticizing it too much. I appreciated the space more for its quiet than its opulence. It felt like a rare corner of royal history that hadn’t been overly staged for tourists.
The gardens are genuinely lovely – nothing extravagant, but peaceful, green, and often empty. Outside the palace, the town itself is sleepy. Not much going on, and that’s kind of the point. Gödöllő is where you go when you want something low-effort and historical but don’t want to commit to a full-day mission.
How to Get There
Quick Notes
- Skip it entirely if you’re looking for buzz, this one’s for history or palace architecture fans only.
- Great weekday option when you want something quiet.
- Not worth a full day, plan something else in the afternoon or pair it with nearby parks.
- A guided tour isn’t necessary unless you’re a Habsburg completist.
7. Esztergom
Distance from Budapest: 1.5 hours
Best by: Bus or car
Perfect for: Basilica views, quiet streets, and ticking off “crossed into Slovakia” without really trying
Esztergom doesn’t try to impress you with ten things. It puts all its energy into one: the Esztergom Basilica. It’s the largest church in Hungary and dominates the skyline like a stone spaceship parked on a hill. If you like big buildings that make you feel small, this one delivers.
You can climb to the top of the dome for sweeping views of the Danube and, on a clear day, into Slovakia. Inside, it’s got marble, gold, frescoes, and that musty incense-meets-tour-group smell you get in most monumental churches. It’s beautiful, though. And massive.
The town itself is quiet – like, actually quiet. A few riverside cafés, some modest museums, and not much else. Which, if you’re craving a pause from Budapest’s chaos, might be exactly what you need.
There’s also a pedestrian bridge across the river into Slovakia if you want to say you left the country without needing a passport. Not much waiting on the other side, but it’s a fun flex.
How to Get There
8. Bükk National Park (near Miskolc)
Distance from Budapest: 2.5 hours
Best by: Car or train + bus
Perfect for: Forest hikes, limestone cliffs, and a real reset button
Bükk is where you go when you want to hear leaves crunch underfoot and not much else. It’s Hungary’s largest national park, and it trades in scale more than spectacle – rolling hills, dense beech forests, and miles of walking trails.
I based myself near Lillafüred, a popular entry point that still manages to stay peaceful. It’s home to the photogenic Hámori Lake, the Szent István Cave, and the Anna Cave – both small but worthwhile if you’re in the mood for limestone formations and a bit of history told in Hungarian.
The trails are well-marked, especially around Szilvásvárad, and you don’t need to be a hardcore hiker to enjoy them. I did a moderate loop that opened up to wide views over the Bükk Plateau and ended at a small roadside food stand serving hot lángos. Hard to complain.
How to Get There
Quick Notes
- Bring cash if you’re stopping at smaller cafés or food stands near the trails.
- Lillafüred has a scenic narrow-gauge forest railway that’s worth hopping on if you’re not in a rush.
9. Pécs
Distance from Budapest: 2.5–3 hours
Best by: Train
Perfect for: Art, architecture, café culture, and a very different slice of Hungary
Pécs is one of those cities that feels like it belongs in another country. It’s still Hungary, sure, but the vibe is distinctly different—lighter, more lived-in, less buttoned up. Maybe it’s the mix of Roman ruins, Ottoman mosques, and baroque facades, or maybe it’s just the university energy that gives it movement.
I’ve been twice—once solo, once tagging along with some visiting friends—and both times it felt like a city designed for wandering. Not sightseeing in the box-checking sense, but actual slow wandering. We ducked into bookstores, tried wines we couldn’t pronounce, and accidentally sat through a student art performance that made no sense but was weirdly fun.
The Zsolnay Cultural Quarter is the best example of what Pécs does well: repurposed industrial buildings now filled with ceramics, sculpture, cafés, and low-key events. It’s not flashy, but it’s smart, local, and slightly odd in a good way.
Yes, you can visit the mosque-turned-church in the main square—it’s a national landmark—but don’t expect grandeur. It’s more interesting for what it represents (centuries of cultural layering) than what you actually see inside.
How to Get There
Quick Notes
- Eat in the city center, but grab your coffee from one of the university-adjacent cafés.
- Pécs is a long day trip, but possible if you leave early.
- Zsolnay Quarter sometimes hosts evening events; check their website ahead if you’re going late.
10. Tata + Bokodi Floating Village
Distance from Budapest: 1.5–2 hours
Best by: Train + car
Perfect for: A quick photo op and a peaceful walk, if that’s all you’re after
Tata and Bokod often show up on day trip lists like they’re hidden gems – but I’d argue they’re more polished stones than anything precious.
Tata has a scenic lakefront, a castle that photographs well, and a well-maintained walking loop around the water. It’s a nice enough stroll, especially if you hit it during golden hour. But the town itself is quiet to the point of dull. I kept waiting for something to surprise me. It didn’t.
Bokod, just 20 minutes away, offers that one hyper-Instagrammable view: wooden fishing cabins on stilts, mist rising from the water, and narrow boardwalks stretching into the lake. And yeah, it looks great – from a very specific angle. But once you’ve taken the photo, there’s nothing else to do. The rest of the lake is closed off or fenced, the power plant hums in the background, and you’re left wondering if the whole thing was just built for Pinterest.
I did it as a combined trip with Tata, and I’m glad I saw it – but I wouldn’t go again.
How to Get There
11. Debrecen
Distance from Budapest: 2.5–3 hours
Best by: Train
Perfect for: Slow city strolls, student cafés, and low-key exploration
Debrecen is Hungary’s second-largest city, but you wouldn’t know it by the pace. It’s calm, tidy, and feels more like a stretched-out town than a true metropolis. The Great Reformed Church anchors the city center, but it’s the quiet buzz of university life that gives the place any edge.
It’s not packed with sights, but that’s kind of the point. I spent a good hour wandering through Nagyerdő Park, grabbed coffee in a student café, and browsed stores that haven’t changed their signage since the ’80s.
How to Get There
12. Aggtelek National Park
Distance from Budapest: 3 hours
Best by: Car
Perfect for: Untouched nature, quiet hikes, and one surreal cave system
If you only do one nature-focused day trip from Budapest, make it this one. Yes, it’s far. And no, it doesn’t have cafés or curated experiences waiting at the trailhead. That’s the whole point.
I started in Jósvafő, a tiny village so frozen in time it feels like it opted out of the 21st century entirely. From there, the trail led through forest, along a stream, and into a meadow so absurdly picturesque I genuinely expected a deer to start speaking. Instead, I got something better: a full herd of horses tearing across the ridge, unprompted and unbothered. One of those rare moments where time slows down and you’re just… there.
The main draw here is the Baradla Cave, a vast underground system filled with eerie stalactites and glowing chambers. The tours are in Hungarian, but honestly, the visuals do the talking. It’s part sci-fi, part natural cathedral—and big enough to remind you how small you are.
If caves aren’t your thing, skip them. Just hike. You’ll barely see anyone, the silence is total, and it genuinely feels like modern life is on pause.
How to Get There
Quick Notes
- The caves stay cool year-round so pack accordingly.
Day Trips From Budapest to Other Countries
Before You Cross Borders: If you’re still getting to know Budapest itself, start there — this weekend in Budapest itinerary covers the essentials without feeling rushed.
13. Bratislava, Slovakia
Distance from Budapest: 2 hours
Best by: Train or car
Perfect for: A breezy country hop and pastel-toned city center
Bratislava is probably the easiest way to leave Hungary without much effort. A two-hour train ride and you’re in a whole other capital – one that doesn’t ask much of you and delivers just enough in return.
The Old Town is compact, colorful, and surprisingly chill for a national capital. I wandered into cafés, walked cobblestone alleys, and stopped at Bratislava Castle mostly for the view. The castle itself is more polished than atmospheric, but the view across the Danube makes the climb worth it.
Lunch was potato dumplings with sheep cheese (bryndzové halušky)—comforting, weirdly heavy, and not for the lactose-averse. Would I stay overnight? Maybe. But as a one-day hop from Budapest, it’s satisfying without feeling rushed.
How to Get There
For a hassle free Day Trip to Bratislava from Budapest, take this tour.
14. Vienna, Austria
Distance from Budapest: 2.5 hours
Best by: Train
Perfect for: Maximalist architecture and feeling slightly underdressed
Let’s get this out of the way: Vienna deserves more than a day. It’s not a quick-hit kind of city – it’s palatial, detail-obsessed, and built for people who enjoy long museum visits followed by longer café sessions.
That said, if you’re short on time and committed to the blitz, here’s what I’d do:
– Start at Schönbrunn Palace early to beat the tour buses.
– Head into the city center for St. Stephen’s Cathedral, grab a schnitzel, and wander the MuseumsQuartier.
– End at a classic Viennese café—preferably one with chandeliers and waiters in waistcoats.
Vienna felt like Budapest’s richer, more conservative cousin. Everything is manicured. The buildings are so pristine they barely look real. Horse-drawn carriages trot by like it’s 1784. It was almost too perfect—but undeniably beautiful.
How to Get There
15. Zagreb, Croatia
Distance from Budapest: 3 hours
Best by: Car
Perfect for: Getting a taste of Croatia—but not much more
I’ll be blunt: Zagreb isn’t worth doing as a day trip.
It’s not that the city isn’t interesting. The Upper Town is cute, with street art, tiled roofs, and that vaguely melancholic Balkan vibe. The Museum of Broken Relationships is quirky and well-done, and the Dolac Market has a good rhythm to it. But between the drive time and border delays, most of your “day trip” will be spent on the road.
If you really want to see Croatia, give it the time it deserves. Zagreb is a decent entry point, but it’s no beach town, and it’s certainly not representative of the country’s highlights. I’d file this one under: only if you’re desperate for a passport stamp.
How to Get There
Zagreb might be your gateway, but I’d recommend making a longer trip and if you keep heading south, you’ll hit two of the Balkans’ most unforgettable cities. Here’s what to actually do in Mostar, and why Sarajevo will probably leave a much bigger impression than you expect.
Map of Day Trips from Budapest
Click on the top right corner to open in the Google Maps app. Click on the star to save to your google account.
Going Beyond Hungary
After a while, every city starts to feel like a loop – even one as full-on as Budapest. These trips helped break that rhythm. Some were surprising, others underwhelming, but all of them made Hungary feel a little more knowable.
If you’re itching to go further, I’ve also put together options for a full Europe itinerary that balances trains, time, and taste – especially if you want to travel like someone who’s already lived here a while.
Because the best trips usually start with “What if we just…?”
