Visiting Hungary for The First Time | Not Only Budapest!

When you mention Hungary, people think of Budapest. Right? We’re sure you agree with us. Budapest indeed has many highlights, yet Hungary is a country with so many hidden gems! 

Hungary is a truly magical country in Eastern Europe, full of charming towns and villages, rich in culture, a deep history, architectural sites, hilltop castles, thermal baths, Christmas markets and, of course, surrounded by beautiful scenery.

Arriving in Szeged 

We arrived in Szeged late in the evening, after taking four continuous fully packed trains with 6.5 hours from Serbia. As you can imagine, we were dead tired!

Luckily, we stayed with our friend Anna and her friends at their apartment. We hosted Anna at our place in Malta back in 2019. It was such an emotional moment seeing her again after two years! And what a warm greeting that was! Welcomed with a homemade traditional Goulash Soup, I spent the night renewing memories back when we first met and kept on exchanging life stories.

Our days with Anna were packed! She took us all around Szeged and showed us the less touristy places, which were incredibly beautiful!

We immediately fell in love with Szeged, so we extended our stay in this charming town for an extra three days, where we spent them hosted by one of the kindest locals, Reka. She accepted us immediately and ardently welcomed us into her home. We spent our days wandering around the streets of Szeged and tasting more traditional Hungarian food, homemade by Reka herself.

What to see in Szeged 

Tisza River 

Tisza River is 966km in length. You can enjoy a long walk along this river surrounded by large trees and nature, and assuming as we do, you like abandoned buildings, this walk will lead you to an attraction of the old railway station of Szeged, which is left abandoned.

Votive Church of Szeged 

The Votive Church lies on Dóm Square beside the Dömötör tower. It was constructed between 1913 and 1930. It took a long time to be fully built due to the outbreak of the First World War.

Móra Ferenc Museum  

Móra Ferenc Museum is situated on the bank of the river Tisza and the city’s Downtown Bridge.

Flood Memorial  

The Flood Memorial monument memorialises the dramatic events 1879 when a massive flood ruined the city. This was the most thrilling tragedy the town suffered since the era of Ottoman rule in the region.

If you have not heard of Szeged, note it and visit it when you travel to Hungary.

After exploring each corner of this fantastic city, it was time to visit the famous Budapest. But we couldn’t leave Szeged without saying goodbye to Anna, so she met us again at the train station exactly before leaving!

Budapest 

Budapest, the capital of Hungary (as you all know), is a marvellous city, bisected by the Danube River. On the west side, you see Buda, while on the east side, you find Pest.

Must See in Budapest 

Danube river 

The Danube is Europe’s second longest river in Europe, with gorgeous mountains and gorges landscapes.

Hungarian Parliament 

The magnificent House of Parliament is the most iconic building in Hungary. UNESCO World Heritage-listed this building in 1987 on its lists as part of the Banks of the Danube.

Fisherman’s Bastion (Halászbástya) 

One of the most well-known monuments in Budapest is The Fisherman’s Bastion. You can find it near Buda Castle. It’s well-known by tourists due to the unique panorama of Budapest.

How do you go from Buda to Pest or vice-versa?

Crossing from one side to another is very easy. We stayed on the Pest side. However, whether you decide to stay in Buda or Pest is only a matter of choice.

You can walk from side to side by crossing the Danube River. We recommend taking the first permanent bridge across the Danube, the Chain Bridge, which we found closed due to maintenance.

The walk will take approximately an hour, but it’s worth it!

TIP: If you prefer to reduce time, you can take an 11-minute ride on the subway. 

If you visit Hungary around December, we highly recommend visiting one of the many Christmas markets in Budapest.

Moving on to Esztergom 

We stayed in Esztergom for only a day, as we had in mind to visit again while in Slovakia since it was next on our list. 

Esztergom is one of the oldest Hungarian cities, and it has a remarkable history. You can enjoy strolling around the city and appreciating the stunning halls of the Basilica.

Where to Stay in Hungary 

Do you usually stay in luxurious hotels? Or do you prefer guesthouses or hostels? What about a bed and breakfast? Maybe camping? Stop worrying about which is the best to choose.

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Every time you travel, remember that the country you’re visiting isn’t just its capital. Get out of your comfort zone, meet locals and see places that aren’t tourists. Each capital city has its beauty, especially Budapest, but once you see those hidden destinations, you’ll realise what you’re missing!

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