Magnificent Cities Close to Budapest: Exploring Hungary’s Gems
Welcome to Hungary The country that boasts about rich history of development, striking architectural buildings, and an exciting culture. Despite the fact that completely dedicated capital Budapest is full of interesting things to see, there are beautifully located interesting cities nearby. In this post, we will walk you through some of the beautiful and astonishing cities a tad closer to Budapest and unveil their beauty to you.
Esztergom: Where History Meets Beauty
If you are interested in history, Esztergom is one of the places that you should visit when in Hungary. It is only a sixty minutes’ drive away from Budapest and is known as the cradle of the Hungarian state and also of Hungarian Christianity. The roof of the impressive Esztergom Basilica is the largest church in Hungary; it overpowers the town and strikes the eye. It will be also nice to have a walk along the Danube River and admire the beautiful view of Slovakia from the other side of the river.
Szentendre: A Charming Artist’s Paradise
Many come to Szentendre, the art town located merely within 20 kilometers away from Budapest, to capture the artistic spirits of this place. Famous for it baroque style buildings and firmly standing small alleys, Szentendre is an artists’ paradise since the early years of the millennium. New designs are showcased in various art galleries, museums and arts and crafts that are unique from the museums and delicious Hungarian food known all over the world is available.
Gödöllő: Palace Life and Majestic Gardens
To have a feel of how the royal deserves to live, then one can visit Goedollo, town in Hungary 30km away from Budapest. Here you will find the Gödöllő Palace, which used to be the summer residence of Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary also known as Sisi. Contemplate the richness of the stucco work, walk around numerous gardens there and enjoy the legends about the royal family. One of the places which can give the tourists an idea about the royal Hungary is Gödöllő Palace.
Visegrád: Castle Ruins and Panoramic Views
Located 40 km north from Budapest along the Danube River lies Visegrád, a picturesque town well known for its medieval atmosphere and the splendid views of the Danube Bend. The sight of interest in Visegrád is the Castle ruins with the beautiful view of the mouth area of the Danube River and hills at the background. Understand the historic past of the town by visiting the historic exhibits showcased in the town or participate in a knights’ tournament, take a Danube river cruise among other activities.
Debrecen: The Cultural Capital of the Great Plains
If you’re daring enough to go 230 km further east from Budapest you will get to Debrecen which is the second largest city in Hungary. A great city of art and culture, history and beautiful parks and gardens, Debrecen is indeed the cultural capital of the great plains. Go through the architecture of the Great Reformed Church, see the Déri museum and spend a nice time in Nagyerdő park.
Nagymaros: Nature’s Tranquility
To all lovers of the countryside, there is a wonderful place which is in approximately 40 kilometers of distance from the city of Budapest referred to as Nagymaros. This charming town lies on the right side of the Danube river which provides an excellent point of view of the river as well as opportunities to enjoy a range of recreational activities. You can also go cycling, ride a horse, visit the grazing cows and goats, hills of the Börzsöny Mountains, magical forests or follow the beautiful trails beside the river.
Conclusion
Hungary has immensely beautiful cities apart from Budapest with a deep history, elaborated culture and fantastic views for tourists. From historical and art lover’s point of view or even if you are a nature enthusiast, these cities present a broad spectrum of activities. Therefore, if you are lost in the charming and romantic city of Budapest, do not only wander around beautifully constructed Budapest but take your time to go around the beautiful cities found near this city. Happy travels!
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