Planning a one day trip from Budapest and not sure where to go?
After visiting Budapest twice, I knew I wanted to explore more of what Hungary has to offer without straying too far from the capital. That’s how I ended up discovering two of the best places to visit near Budapest: Visegrád and Szentendre.
Each has its own charm: one with scenic views over the Danube River and the other with colorful streets and cute houses that feel like a real-life painting.
In this post, I’ll walk you through everything you need to plan the perfect day trip, including how to get to Visegrád and Szentendre, what to see in both towns, and whether it’s better to go independently or book a guided tour.
I’ll also share a handy map to help you visualise the route and offer my personal tip on which order to visit them (yes, it matters!).
Prefer a hassle-free option? There are also several organised tours that visit both Visegrád and Szentendre—perfect if you’d rather not worry about public transport or planning.
That said, if you’re going independently, I recommend starting your day in Visegrád and then continuing to Szentendre, returning to Budapest in the evening. Both are small towns, so spending half a day in each is usually enough to soak up the highlights without rushing.
Let’s dive into one of the best day trips from Budapest—easy, beautiful, and absolutely worth it!
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Day trip from Budapest – Visegrád
» How to get to Visegrád from Budapest?
The first option for getting to Visegrád from Budapest involves using a train and a ferry. At the metro and train station Nyugati pályaudvar, you can take one of the trains towards Visegrád (Z70 or G70).
There are several train options. However, the Z70 is faster and takes about 40 minutes to reach your destination.
The price of the train ticket is 840 HUF (~2.1€) and you should check the train timetable beforehand. If you’re considering going by train from Budapest to Visegrád, this is your best option.
Once in Visegrád (station name: Nagymaros-Visegrád), simply take the ferry at Penztar Cassa (about 1.5€). This is necessary as Visegrád is located on the other bank of the river.
The trip is very short but beautiful!
The second option is to travel by bus from Volanbusz. There are direct buses that connect the city of Budapest to Visegrád, which is also a great alternative for your Visegrád day trip. However, the journey takes a bit longer. You can check the available timetables as well as where the bus stops here.
» What to visit in Visegrád?
The main point of interest in Visegrád is the Castle and its unbeatable views over the Danube river. At the top of the castle, you feel an incredible silence and mystique that can hardly be explained in words.
The visit is especially magical on sunny days. But, despite visiting the castle on a cloudy day, I still loved it.
📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: A visit to Visegrád Castle costs 2500 HUF (~6,3 €). You can find the most up-to-date information about the price and opening times.
In Visegrád, we asked at the tourist point how we could get to the castle. Apart from a taxi, the best option is really to get there on foot.
The path is still relatively steep and through the middle of the vegetation, taking about 30/40 minutes.
Along the way, we will find several signs pointing the way to the castle (they usually say “Fellegvar”, i.e. castle in Hungarian).
💡 EXTRA TIP: If you want to spare this climb, you can opt to take a Volanbusz bus that stops next to the Visegrád Toboggan Park (Visegradi Bobpalya).
While in Visegrád, you can also take the opportunity to visit the Royal Palace or be a little adventurous at the Visegrád Toboggan Park. The park has an alpine rollercoaster and bobsleigh in the summer.
📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: You can check the prices and opening hours of the Park and the Royal Palace.
Two other interesting options are the Miklós Bertényi Botanical Garden and Solomon’s Tower, which was part of the castle.
Day trip from Budapest – Szentendre
» How to get from Visegrád to Szentendre?
To get to Szetendre from Visegrád, you just have to take a bus. The company that offers this service is Volanbusz. The bus route is the same as the Budapest – Visegrád trip. Find out more information.
The journey is still relatively long (40 to 50 minutes) and tickets can be purchased directly from the driver.
» How to get from Budapest to Szentendre?
If, for some reason, you prefer to start this day trip from Budapest in Szentendre instead of Visegrád, it is also possible to reach this city from Budapest.
The easiest way to get from Budapest to Szentendre is to go by train.
Budapest to Szentendre by train is quite a simple option with the Szentendrei HÉV (H5, purple line), which takes about 40 minutes. You take the train in Batthyány tér or in Margit híd, both connecting with the Budapest metro.
💡 EXTRA TIP: The individual tickets or public transport passes we use in Budapest can’t be used on this trip. The train from Budapest to Szentendre requires a supplement ticket of 15 km.
It is also possible to travel between Budapest and Szentendre by bus from Volanbusz.
The bus number is 880-889 (the same one that connects Budapest to Visegrád) and you can check the most updated version of the timetable. However, I do not recommend this option as the bus departure station in Budapest (Újpest) is a bit far from the city centre.
Finally, you can also go for the more stylish option and do the journey by boat. However, this service is usually seasonal. You can request more information from the company offering this service.
» What to visit in Szentendre?
Szentendre is a lovely town and what steals our hearts is the historical centre with the colourful small houses. A stroll through the historic centre alone makes you sure that this one day trip from Budapest was already worthwhile.
In the historic centre, apart from the many souvenir shops, don’t miss the main square – Fő tér, where you will find the most original street lamps, the Blagovestenska Orthodox church or even a pillory.
Explore the narrow streets in the city, getting lost in the historical centre of Szentendre. This really is the best way to enjoy the city!
Also take the opportunity to walk along the river – Danube Promenade, where you can find some colourful pebbles right on the bank.
Another must-visit in Szentendre is Templom Square (Templom tér), which is located on a higher level, thus offering very nice views.
And speaking of beautiful views, make to check out the best view over the Danube in Szentendre.
And finally, for those who are interested, you can always explore one of the city’s many museums:
- Ferenczy Museum: a collection of paintings, and sculptures by Szentendre, but also has temporary exhibitions of international artists
- Retro Museum to appreciate various pieces and objects from the 70s
- Hungarian Open Air Museum showing life in Hungary in the past (however, this museum is located on the outskirts of Szentendre)
- Cukrászda Museum: to learn about marzipan and see marzipan creations
- ArtMill: museum of contemporary art
And the list of Szentendre’s museums does not end here. You can find more information.
Final thoughts on this day trip from Budapest
If you’re looking to escape the hustle of the capital, this day trip from Budapest to Visegrád and Szentendre is one of the easiest and most rewarding getaways you can take.
From medieval castles and panoramic views to cobbled streets and riverside cafés, these two spots are without a doubt some of the best places to visit near Budapest.
Whether you go by train, bus, or on an organised tour, the journey is straightforward. And the experience? Totally worth it.
Have you already been to either of these towns, or are you planning your own adventure soon? Drop a comment below and let’s chat about your favourite hidden gems around Budapest!
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