Having lived in Budapest for seven years, I can honestly say it’s one of the great capitals of the world. The gorgeous waterfront is especially beautiful when viewed from a riverboat at night, when it’s brilliantly lit brighter than a chandelier at Versailles on the night of a royal gala. In fact, almost the entire waterfront is included in UNESCO’s designation of much of the city as a place of Outstanding Universal Value.
The city, known as “The Pearl of the Danube,” is divided in half by the river, and its rich history is just as impressive as its beauty. Walk through the streets, and you’ll find the history reflected in the architecture. You need only look up to admire Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassical, contemporary, and an impressive collection of Art Nouveau buildings.
With its central location, there are quite a few easy day trips from Budapest by train, allowing visitors to travel to some of its six wine regions, castles dotted throughout the country, the largest lake in Central Europe, and many other hidden gems. And, with a Before and After Stay, you’ll have more time to explore Budapest and the places nearby pre- or post-Danube River cruise.
See More of Budapest Before or After Your Danube River Cruise
Guests taking a cooking class in Budapest
Arrive or depart on a Celebrity River Cruises℠ sailing, and add a Before and After Stay to explore Budapest and its surroundings in depth. Enjoy breakfast at your hotel in the city center before venturing out with an intimate group and a Local StorytellerSM to discover some of the most beautiful places in the city.
Your storyteller will share the history of Budapest, which can sometimes feel like an action-packed movie. In fact, Budapest is one of the most popular movie-making cities in the world, so your favorite film may have been shot here.
Before and After Stays include:
- A choice of Premium or Ultra Premium hotel options in Budapest.
- Daily breakfast at your hotel.
- Seamless support before, during, and after your river cruise.
- Locally led experiences designed to bring you closer to the city.
You may also experience Celebrity River Cruises discovery tours that bring each destination closer, with insight from a Destination Insider℠ who helps you see the city through a more authentic lens:
- Storyteller Series℠ introduces you to hometown hosts who share the memories, rituals, and everyday details that shape the places they call home.
- Skillmaster Series℠ invites you to take part in hands-on traditions guided by local experts.
- Keys to the City Series℠ gives you more freedom to explore independently, with an insider perspective that keeps you connected to the city.
For accommodations, you’ll have the option to stay in a Deluxe Room at the Premium Kempinski Hotel Budapest. Overlooking the vibrant Erzsébet Park and the Budapest Eye Ferris wheel, escape the tumult of the city and enjoy a treatment in the spa, a relaxing sauna, or a dip in the swimming pool. Or, choose a Superior Room at the Ultra-Premium Al Habtoor Palace Budapest, and enjoy a variety of restaurants and bars serving international dishes, craft cocktails, and regional wines.
Before, after, or anytime, feel free to explore on your own. Soak in a thermal bath, visit an art museum, or take a day trip to explore one of the hidden gems near Budapest.
1. Szentendre, Visegrád, and the Danube Bend
A couple takes in the spectacular Hungarian Parliament from one of the famous panoramic viewpoints high in the Buda Hills along the Danube River.
An easy day trip from Budapest by train or boat, walk through the cobblestone streets of the artist community of Szentendre to some of its twenty-plus museums.
Having traveled here many times, I would highly recommend visiting the Margit Kovács Ceramic Collection. Considered one of the innovators of Hungarian ceramic art, she donated her life’s work to this museum. Make your way to the 18th-century Serbian Orthodox cathedral to admire the intricate stone carvings and gold decorations of this neo-Baroque church. A visit to the Szamos Chocolate Museum will definitely make your day sweeter.
Next, head up the river to Visegrád, to visit the enormous castle, sometimes called the citadel, a 13th-century hilltop fortress offering breathtaking panoramic views over the Danube Bend. Climb through the various passages and stairways, where you’ll find medieval exhibitions, a wax museum, and occasional jousting events.
From Visegrád, you’ll enjoy a view of the Danube River Bend, Hungary’s version of Horseshoe Bend in Arizona. It’s a great photo opportunity. You can also opt to take a day tour from Budapest to the bend to swim, hike, and kayak.
Travel time by train to Szentendre is approximately 40 minutes, and another 40 minutes by bus to Visegrád. There’s also a nice boat ride that stops at both.
2. Hollókő: A Village Preserving Earlier Life
Though only one street, Hollókő is a village that has been deliberately preserved as a living example of rural life before the agricultural revolution of the 20th century. Half-timbered houses sit on stone bases with white-washed walls in this UNESCO-designated village.
The village’s approximately 400 mostly older residents still observe their gastronomic, religious, and folk art traditions. Learn about traditional artisanship at the Weaving House. Visit the 13th-century castle, which, though in a bit of disrepair, is a nice climb and offers excellent views of the surrounding area. Take an easy hike on the Forest Trail to enjoy the beauty of the Hungarian countryside fully.
Traveling to Hollókő takes about two and a half hours by bus or an hour and a half by car — an easy trip before or after your Danube River cruise.
3. Eger: Drink Bull’s Blood in the Valley of Beautiful Women
Wine tasting flight and appetizer spread
As one of Hungary’s six wine regions, Eger is for wine lovers. The trademark wine, Egri Bikavér, with its rich, spicy flavors, is also known as Bull’s Blood. Just a short walk from the town center is the Valley of Beautiful Women, where you’re invited for wine tastings in the wooden and stone buildings housing the 150 cellars. This is a truly can’t-miss experience.
Enjoy a walk through the city’s cobblestone streets, filled with cafes and shops, to the basilica, the second largest in Hungary.
Head to the castle, which has been rebuilt multiple times since it was first constructed at the turn of the 11th and 12th centuries. Explore galleries filled with historical weapons, archaeological finds, and literary history.
About 90 minutes by car, or two hours by train, this is one of the best day trips from Budapest.
4. Lake Balaton: A Day at the Beach
Lake Balaton
Hungarians refer to Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Central Europe, as “the sea.” Their escape from the summer heat in Budapest. During a visit there, you’re just as likely to meet a Hungarian as a foreign tourist. Enjoy watersports, including swimming, sailing, SUP, waterskiing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, and kayaking. Stroll lakeside promenades, passing marinas, and stopping in some of the beach boutiques, cafes, and ice cream shops.
Visit the hill town of Tihany for fantastic views overlooking the lake, while you hike along one of the well-marked trails. What’s that smell? That’s the famous Tihany lavender. If you visit from mid-to-late June, you’ll be there for the lavender festival.
Though a train to the lakeside town of Balatonfüred takes about two hours (getting to Tihany is a longer ride), to get the most from your day, think about driving, as it will take about the same amount of time — but you’ll be able to discover more of the towns around the lake, including Tihany.
5. Miskolc: A Soak in a Cave Bath
Home to the oldest cave baths in the country, Miskolc is the place to relax. The salt content of the cave rock and the warm water bubbling from the thermal passages deep underground combine to create a cave microclimate that many swear has healing properties. Here, you don’t just soak, you breathe in the minerals, warmed by the waters.
Other must-visit sites include the Wooden Church. Built from 95% wood, it dates back to 1698. Rebuilt and renovated numerous times, after a 1997 fire, it was again rebuilt following the 1938 plans.
The Kazinczy Street Synagogue was built between 1856 and 1863 in the Neo-Romanesque style, and is one of the remaining places marking Jewish presence in Miskolc, whose current Jewish community numbers about 10% of its pre-WWII population. Just around the corner, the Miskolc Jewish Museum and Visitors’ Center builds on the history of Miskolc Jewry.
6. Gödöllő: A Royal Palace Fit for a Beloved Queen
The inner courtyard of the Gödöllő Royal Palace
Built by an aristocrat in 1735, the Baroque-style Gödöllő Royal Palace was bought and reconstructed by the state and presented as a gift to Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elizabeth for their coronation as King and Queen of Hungary. The King and Queen, affectionately known as Sisi, spent spring and fall hunting seasons here. Following World War II, part of the palace was used as barracks for Soviet and Hungarian soldiers, and a home for senior citizens. The rest was left to decay before renovations took place in recent decades.
Walking through various rooms, you’ll get insight into all eras of the palace, from the six rooms dedicated to its first century of existence, to the royal suites, to its not-so-glorious time after World War II. Tour the Baroque theater, the riding hall and stables, and a World War II bunker.
After wandering through the palace, stop at one of the nearby restaurants for lunch or, even better, pick up some food to go, and return to the Palace Park (there’s no fee to visit the park), a great place for a picnic on the expansive lawn. Then stroll along one of the nature trails for some bird watching or walk on the barefoot trail.
Only 40 minutes by train, this is one of the easiest trips from Budapest and is great for families looking for extra exploration before or after a river cruise.
7. Esztergom: The Crown of Castle Hill
The largest church in Hungary, the Esztergom Basilica and Cathedral Treasury, is more than impressive from both the outside and inside. At 325 feet high, with over 18,000 square feet of floor space, it’s even more awe-inspiring when viewed from below, as it’s perched like a crown atop Castle Hill. Remembered as the church that hosted the coronation of King Stephen, the first king of Hungary, its history is as impressive as its architecture.
There’s more to see on Castle Hill because, of course, there’s a castle. First built in the 10th century, it was destroyed and rebuilt multiple times. As the oldest stone castle in Hungary, it’s now a museum sharing what everyday life was like in the Middle Ages. Be sure to see the Royal Chapel, the oldest Gothic architectural work in Hungary.
Only about an hour by train or car, this is one of the easiest trips from Budapest.
Explore Budapest and Beyond Before and After a Danube Cruise
Castles, museums, unspoiled villages, wine, and lakes are easily reachable and all there to discover during a trip to Budapest. Before and After Stays make that extra time feel seamless, with premium hotel options, daily breakfast, and locally led experiences tailored to your time in the city.
Whether you want to wander Budapest’s historic streets, follow the Danube Bend to Visegrád and Esztergom, or spend a day discovering wine country, an extended stay gives you more ways to experience Hungary like only a local can.
Explore Budapest river cruises and extend your journey with a Before and After Stay in the city.
