Page 14 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Hungary

12  INTRODUCING HUNGAR Y DISC OVERING HUNGAR Y  13

Two Days in Budapest Synagogue, the largest in Europe, One Week in Hungary
before heading up Andrássy út
to view – or even take a tour of
Straddling the Danube, – the opulent Opera House • Arriving Arrive at Budapest
Hungary’s capital city offers (pp92–3) and the striking eight- Liszt Ferenc Airport. It’s
two contrasting, but equally sided Oktogon square, beyond about 50 minutes by public
compelling, sides – Buda which lies the engrossing, but transport to the centre.
and Pest. sobering, House of Terror • Getting Around A car is
Museum (p105). essential for this trip.
• Arriving Budapest Liszt
Ferenc Airport is 20km (13
miles) southeast of the city. It’s Afternoon Ride the beautifully
about 50 minutes by public preserved M1 metro line to Day 1: Budapest
transport to the centre. Heroes’ Square (pp108–9) and Pick a day from the city itinerary
its mighty monuments. Then, opposite; Day 1 takes in the
either amble around the lake in city’s major historical and
Day 1 Városliget park (p110) before cultural landmarks, or mix and
Morning Explore the Castle visiting Budapest Zoo (p121), match to suit your taste. Tokaj wine ageing in underground rock-hewn cellars
District (pp56–69), the historic whose Secessionist-style animal Baroque statue supporting a window lintel
heart of Buda. Admire the fine enclosures are a delight, or go at Festetics Palace near Keszthely Day 2: Lake Balaton Day 3: Kaposvár to the renowned csikós (the Plains
13th-century Mátyás Church for a blissful soak in the fabulous Head southwest from Budapest Villány-Siklós Wine Road cowboys) and their thrilling
(pp66–7) before taking in the Széchenyi Baths (p111). before enjoying a cultural fix at to Lake Balaton (pp198–9). Due south of Balaton lies displays of horsemanship.
superlative views across the the village museum in Zamárdi Start in Tihany (p206), where Kaposvár (p189), which merits a
Danube from the Fisherman’s Two Days on (p199). Board the ferry to the you can nose around this visit by virtue of its links to To extend your trip…
Bastion (p64). Move on to the Lake Balaton lake’s northern shore, landing at pretty village, crowned by a József Rippl-Rónai, one of Drive to Hungary’s second
Royal Palace (pp58–9), home to the Tihany Peninsula (p206), glorious abbey church, or go Hungary’s most celebrated city, Debrecen (pp254–5), in
the engrossing Hungarian with its pleasing little village off and explore the peninsula’s artists. Continue south again to eastern Hungary, then on to
National Gallery (pp62–3). Holiday playground for crowned by the Abbey Church. inland lakes. After lunch, board Pécs (pp190–91), a vibrant city Nyíregyháza (pp258–9),
many Hungarians, and the Lunch in one of the village’s the ferry to Siófok (p198) on noted for its splendid Turkish- whose church architecture
Afternoon After lunch on the largest lake in central many traditional restaurants. the southern shore; try your influenced architecture. End the is second to none.
Hill, take the Sikló funicular Europe, Balaton is packed hand at some beach activities, day with a short tour along the
down to the majestic Chain with both active and Afternoon Make the short trip then, for a drop of culture, sunny wine road between
Bridge. Cross the bridge to Pest cultural pursuits. to Balatonfüred (p207) for a follow the shoreline down to Villány (p187) and Siklós Day 6: Through the Northern
and St Stephen’s Basilica (pp90– • Arriving From Budapest walk along the shoreline of the Balatonföldvár (p199) and (p188), home to many of Highlands
91), Budapest’s most important airport, you can hire a car, go lake’s most graceful resort. its exceptional Iron Age Hungary’s most renowned No better way to start the day
ecclesiastical building. Ride the Return back down along the fortifications, or Köröshegy vintners; dozens of cellars await than by sampling some world-
scenic no. 2 tram along the Pest by train from Budapest Déli coast to Badacsony Mountain (p199) and its Gothic church. for some impromptu tasting. famous Tokaj wine, in the town
station, or take a domestic
embankment as far as the (p205), and follow the trail up of the same name (p232). Take a
Central Market Hall (p118), flight to Keszthely – in which into the vineyard-clad hills and To extend your trip… Day 4: Baja to Kesckemét trip through the beech-covered
case, reverse the itinerary.
where you can indulge your the Kisfaludy Lookout Tower, Continue along the lake’s Cross the Danube near Baja hills of Bükk National Park
senses and treat yourself to a • Getting Around Public where you can enjoy views of western shore to cultured (p238) – fish capital of Hungary (pp224–5), visiting either the

few goodies. In the evening, transport is feasible; a car the lake with a glass of wine. Keszthely (pp200–201) and the – and push on towards Szeged Anna Cave in Lillafüred (p225)
take in a performance at the gives you more flexibility. thermal lake at Héviz (p204). (pp246–7); here, an architectural or the Lipizzaner horses in
Liszt Academy of Music (p105). Day 2 treasure trove awaits, notably Szilvásvárad (p228). In the far
Morning Heading inland, visit the Great Synagogue and Reök western reaches of the
Day 2 Day 1 Tapolca (p205), whose sublime Palace, two Secessionist master- Highlands, explore Hollókő
Morning Absorb yourself in the Morning Take to the beach in setting is one of the best on the pieces. Drive north through (pp218–19), an extraordinary two-
atmospheric Jewish Quarter Siófok (p198), and perhaps try lake; do not miss the incredible Kiskunság National Park (p239) street village where traditional
(p104), dominated by the Great your hand at some watersports, Cave Lake. Back down on the to Kecskemét (pp240–41) where customs remain strong.
shoreline, the pretty village of you’ll find fabulous museums.
Szigliget (p204–5) lies in wait, Day 7: Down the Danube
with its atmospheric castle ruins. Day 5: Across the Great Plain Spend a day by the Danube.
Make your way into the heart of Begin in Vác (p137) with a stroll
Afternoon Venture round to the Great Plain, the first stop of around its gorgeous Baroque
the lake’s western shore and the day being Lake Tisza square, then board the ferry to
Keszthely (pp200–201), packed (pp252–3) where you can try Visegrád (p145) on the west
with great museums and the your hand at some boating or bank, whose citadel and palace
Festetics Palace (pp202–3), birdwatching – or just chill out both merit a visit, as do the
notable for its remarkable on the beach. After a picnic surrounding hills. Continue
Helikon library and gorgeous lunch, head east to Hortobágy south along the river to
English gardens. Have a pit stop National Park (p256), classic Szentendre (pp142–4) and
in one of the town’s convivial Puszta territory, with its diverse learn about the town’s strong
cafés before the short trip to range of wildlife (water buffalo, Serbian links and rich artistic
Héviz (p204) for a soak in one of Visegrád on the Danube Bend, at one of the corkscrew-horned sheep and legacy. From here, it’s a short
Budapest’s Royal Palace atop Castle Hill, the historic heart of Buda the world’s largest thermal lakes. river’s narrowest points wild boar). It’s also home to the trip back to Budapest.
For practical information on getting around Budapest, see pp310–11

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