7 Days in Hungary: Budapest, the Danube Bend, Eger and Lake Balaton

Get ready for a week with a bit of everything: a grand river capital with steaming thermal pools, a green bend of the Danube lined with castles, a baroque wine town with a legendary fortress, and Lake Balaton to finish. This plan suits first-time visitors who want more than Budapest without living on trains.

The pace is steady: three full days in Budapest, three adventures beyond the city and a slow final morning by Lake Balaton. Prices and hours were checked on official sites on 24 October 2026. Where a number couldn’t be confirmed, you’ll see “check the official site” instead of a guess.

At a glance

Day	Area	Highlights
1	Pest riverside	Parliament, Shoes on the Danube Bank, St Stephen’s Basilica, night views
2	Buda Castle Hill	Funicular, Matthias Church, Fisherman’s Bastion, National Gallery, Jewish Quarter evening
3	Andrássy Avenue and City Park	Széchenyi Thermal Bath, Heroes’ Square, Opera district, river cruise
4	Danube Bend	Szentendre’s lanes, Visegrád Citadel (or Esztergom Basilica)
5	Eger	Eger Castle, baroque old town, Valley of the Beautiful Women wine cellars
6	Lake Balaton	Balatonfüred, Tihany peninsula and Benedictine Abbey
7	Balatonfüred to Budapest	Lakeside promenade, train back, farewell evening

Day 1: Pest’s grand riverside

Morning

Get ready for a jaw-dropping first morning! Start where Budapest shows off most: the Hungarian Parliament. Book a timed tour ticket on the Parliament’s official visitor website before you travel. For prices, check the official site.

Afterwards, walk south along the embankment to the Shoes on the Danube Bank, a quiet, moving Holocaust memorial. It’s a short, easy walk by the river.

Afternoon

Head inland through elegant Lipótváros to St Stephen’s Basilica. Its dome terrace gives you a classic first view over the city. Hours and prices vary with services, so check the official site. Then slow down with coffee and cake in a traditional café.

Evening

Go back to the river after dark, when Parliament, the Chain Bridge and Buda Castle are lit up. The embankment walk is one of the best free things to do in Hungary.

Day 2: Buda Castle Hill and the Jewish Quarter

Morning

This is the day for fairy-tale views. Cross to Buda and ride the historic Budavári Sikló funicular up Castle Hill, or walk up if you enjoy a climb. If you buy funicular tickets online, there’s a 175 HUF convenience fee per ticket. The operator asks you to check opening hours and maintenance days before buying.

At the top, go straight to Matthias Church. An adult church ticket costs 3,400 HUF (5,000 HUF with audioguide). The audioguide runs on your own charged smartphone. Fancy a view? The adult tower ticket is 4,000 HUF and is valid only for your chosen time slot. It includes a short 10-minute guided tour, and the terrace is 197 steps up with no lift. Book the tower slot online in advance. Church services and state visits take priority, so check the church’s website for that day’s hours.

Right next door is Fisherman’s Bastion, the fairy-tale lookout everyone photographs. Mornings are calmest.

Afternoon

Wander south along the cobbled streets to the Buda Castle palace complex, home of the Hungarian National Gallery. Entry is included with the Classic Budapest Cards (see “Getting there and getting around” below).

With a 48-hour or longer Classic Budapest Card, the Citadel (Bastion of Liberty) on Gellért Hill is included too. Check opening details on the official site.

Evening

Cross back to Pest for the old Jewish Quarter in District VII. Admire the Dohány Street Synagogue (check the official site for visiting days if you want to go in), then explore the courtyards and famous ruin bars nearby.

Day 3: Andrássy Avenue, City Park and a thermal soak

Morning

Today is spa day, and you are going to love it. Széchenyi Thermal Bath opens at 07:00 on weekdays and 08:00 at weekends. Early birds can use the “Good morning Budapest” ticket (entry before 9 am). It costs 10,500 HUF Monday to Thursday and 11,800 HUF on Fridays, and isn’t offered at weekends.

A standard daily ticket with locker costs 13,200 HUF Monday to Thursday, 14,800 HUF on Fridays and weekends, and 15,800 HUF on holidays and peak days. Buy online if you can. On the day, tickets are sold at the entrance opposite the Circus and can only be paid by bank card. The bath suggests getting there on the Millennium Underground (M1) or trolleybus 72.

Afternoon

Walk through City Park to Heroes’ Square and its sweeping colonnade. Then ride the Millennium Underground back down grand Andrássy Avenue and get off near the Opera House. For guided Opera tours, check the official site for times and prices.

Evening

End your Budapest chapter on the water. The Budapest Card lists Danube cruises among its free attractions, so check its partner list. Or simply enjoy dinner near the Opera.

Day 4: The Danube Bend

Morning

Time for a scenic escape! Just north of Budapest, the Danube swings through wooded hills. Note for autumn 2026: MAHART’s Danube Bend boats to Szentendre, Visegrád and Esztergom are suspended from 13 July to 31 October 2026 because of low water. In other years too, check MAHART’s timetable before you rely on the boats.

So go by land. Szentendre, an artists’ town of painted houses, is on Budapest’s H5 HÉV suburban railway. Check in the BudapestGO app whether your ticket covers the whole journey. For stretches beyond the city, BKK sells suburban railway tickets by distance (400 HUF for 10 km, 600 HUF for 30 km). Spend the morning in Szentendre’s lanes and on its riverside promenade.

Afternoon

Continue upriver to Visegrád by regional bus (check times and fares with the operator). The hilltop Citadel has spectacular views over the Bend. Adult tickets are 2,800 HUF (1,400 HUF for students and pensioners). From 26 October to 30 November it is open daily 09:00 to 16:00, and the cash desk closes 30 minutes before closing time. The climb is steep, so wear proper shoes.

Prefer churches to castles? Swap Visegrád for Esztergom and its enormous Basilica. Entering the church itself is free. Inside, a combined ticket costs 5,600 HUF, the dome lookout 3,300 HUF, the Treasury 2,100 HUF and the crypt 800 HUF.

Evening

Head back to Budapest by bus or train (check last departures) for a relaxed dinner. Tomorrow starts early.

Day 5: Eger, castle and wine

Morning

Save your appetite for castles and wine: take an early train from Budapest to Eger. Budapest has several main railway stations, so check which one your train leaves from, plus times and fares, on MÁV’s official journey planner.

Walk up to Eger Castle, famous for its heroic defence against the Ottoman army. The full adult museum ticket is 4,800 HUF and covers the castle and the Dobó István Castle Museum’s exhibitions. The reduced 2,800 HUF ticket is for EEA citizens only. Until 31 October 2026, the castle gate opens daily 06:00 to 20:00 and the ticket office 09:00 to 18:30. Winter hours are different, so check the official site.

Afternoon

Inside the castle, “The Dungeon” and the Eger wine-tasting exhibition are open daily 10:00 to 18:00 (autumn 2026 hours). Then wander down into the baroque old town around Dobó Square, admire the slender Ottoman-era minaret and have lunch on a terrace.

Evening

Finish in the Valley of the Beautiful Women (Szépasszony-völgy), a horseshoe of wine cellars dug into the hillside, with a glass of Egri Bikavér (Bull’s Blood). Catch an evening train back, or stay overnight in Eger.

Day 6: Lake Balaton and Tihany

Morning

Lake days are here! Pack a small bag and take the train to Balatonfüred, an elegant spa town on the lake’s north shore (check MÁV for times and fares). Drop your bags and enjoy the lakeside.

Afternoon

Head to the Tihany peninsula by local bus or taxi. Its hilltop Benedictine Abbey looks out over the lake. A full-price ticket is 3,400 HUF, and the ticket office takes cash and cards. In October it’s open Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 17:00 and Sunday 11:15 to 17:00. From 1 November 2026 to 18 January 2027 it closes an hour earlier, at 16:00. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing, and church services can change the hours.

Afterwards, wander the village lanes and stop at the viewpoints.

Evening

Watch the sun set over Balaton from the Balatonfüred promenade, then enjoy a lakeside dinner of fish and local white wine.

Day 7: Slow morning, then back to Budapest

Morning

No rush today. Enjoy a slow breakfast and a last walk along Balatonfüred’s tree-lined Tagore promenade.

Afternoon

Take the train back to Budapest. Flying out today? Leave plenty of time for the train and the airport transfer.

Evening

Spend your last Budapest night at your favourite spot: a riverside bench, an Andrássy Avenue café or a ruin bar courtyard.

Getting there and getting around

From the airport. Bus 100E Airport Express runs from Liszt Ferenc International Airport to Deák Ferenc tér via Kálvin tér. BKK gives the journey time as 40 minutes. It runs 24 hours a day: every 6 to 10 minutes in the daytime and on average every 30 to 40 minutes at night. You need the special 2,500 HUF airport shuttle bus single ticket. You can buy and validate it by tapping your bank card on board (Budapest Pay&GO), in the BudapestGO app, or at BKK machines and offices. Holders of some Budapest passes can buy a 1,000 HUF add-on ticket instead. Travellers of any nationality aged over 65 ride the 100E free.

Taxis. Use a licensed taxi only. BKK recommends ordering by app or phone. Its list of licensed companies is Bolt, City Taxi, Elit Taxi, Főtaxi and Uber Taxi. Official fares are the same at all times of day and with every company. Since August 2026, an airport base fare of 2,100 HUF applies to trips to or from the airport.

In Budapest. BKK’s main options:

Ticket	Price
30-minute ticket	600 HUF
90-minute ticket	850 HUF
Block of 10 tickets	4,500 HUF
24-hour Budapest travelcard	2,750 HUF
72-hour Budapest travelcard	5,750 HUF

The Budapest Card combines unlimited public transport with free entry to around 40 attractions, including the Hungarian National Gallery and Lukács Thermal Bath, plus discounts. Prices are 17,990 HUF (24 hours), 23,990 HUF (48 hours), 29,990 HUF (72 hours) and 38,990 HUF (96 hours). A 72-hour card suits Days 1 to 3 if you’ll use the included sights. Otherwise, the 72-hour travelcard is the budget choice.

Outside Budapest. Trains to Eger and Balatonfüred are run by MÁV, Hungary’s national railway. Check times and fares on MÁV’s official website or app on the day you travel.

Where to stay

• Belváros-Lipótváros (District V): right on the Pest riverside, within walking distance of Parliament and St Stephen’s Basilica. Ideal for first-timers who want to walk everywhere.
• Erzsébetváros (District VII): the old Jewish Quarter, full of bars and street food. Great for night owls. Light sleepers should ask for a room facing the courtyard.
• Terézváros (District VI) around Andrássy Avenue: grand boulevards, the Opera and quick access to City Park. A calmer central option.
• Balatonfüred: your lake base for the sixth night. It has a railway station, a long promenade and plenty of restaurants, so you won’t need a car. Tihany is a quieter, more scenic alternative.

Budget

The daily range in the frontmatter covers sights and local transport only, for a mid-range traveller. It leaves out flights, accommodation, meals and drinks, trains and buses between cities, and the Parliament tour (check the official site).

Item	Typical cost
Airport bus 100E, single	2,500 HUF
72-hour Budapest travelcard	5,750 HUF
72-hour Budapest Card	29,990 HUF
Széchenyi Bath daily ticket with locker	13,200 to 15,800 HUF
Matthias Church, adult	3,400 HUF
Visegrád Citadel, adult	2,800 HUF
Esztergom Basilica, combined ticket	5,600 HUF
Eger Castle museum ticket, adult	4,800 HUF
Tihany Abbey, full price	3,400 HUF
Taxi airport base fare (plus metered fare)	2,100 HUF

Practical tips

• Dress code: Matthias Church, Esztergom Basilica and Tihany Abbey are working churches. Dress modestly, and expect services to take priority over sightseeing.
• Bath timing: Széchenyi’s cash desks close one hour before closing time, and you must leave the pool areas 20 minutes before closing.
• Discounts: many reduced tickets (Eger Castle, Esztergom Basilica) are for EEA citizens only. If you’re from outside Europe, budget for full-price tickets.
• Validate every ticket: on the metro, validate at the station entrance. On buses, trams and trolleybuses, validate as soon as you board, and use a new ticket each time you change. Keep it until the end of your trip.
• Carry your passport: you must show ID if the police ask, and a photocopy is not accepted.
• SIM and eSIM: an eSIM bought before you fly is the easiest way to arrive connected. Local SIMs are sold at phone company shops.
• Money: Hungary uses the forint (HUF). Cards work on the 100E bus, at Széchenyi and in licensed taxis. Use ATMs inside banks where possible.

Entry and visas. Hungary is part of the Schengen area. The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is being introduced, so many non-EU visitors will register fingerprints and a photo on their first arrival. Visa rules depend on your nationality. Well before you book, check the official EU guidance at Your Europe and the EU’s Travel Europe EES website, or contact your nearest Hungarian embassy.

Heads-up

A few simple precautions keep your trip carefree:

• Danube Bend boats are not running until 31 October 2026. MAHART has suspended its Szentendre, Visegrád and Esztergom cruises because of low water. Plan to go by land, and check the timetable in other seasons.
• Winter closures: from 11 January to 28 February, Visegrád Citadel opens only Friday to Sunday. It is closed on 24 and 25 December, and so is Eger Castle.
• Unlicensed taxis: only get into yellow taxis that show the “qualified Budapest taxi” sign on the front door, yellow plates and the official fare table. BKK recommends ordering by app or phone.
• Bill scams: the UK government warns that some bars, clubs and restaurants overcharge tourists, sometimes taking them to cash machines to pay. Always ask for a menu with prices and check your bill. Be wary of taxi drivers or people in the street who recommend a bar.
• Pickpockets: watch your bags on busy transport, at stations and markets, and as trains pull into stations.
• Money changers and ATMs: never change money on the street. Use official ATMs or banks.
• Drink spiking has been reported in Budapest bars. Buy your own drinks and keep them in sight.
• Demonstrations often take place on national holidays such as 15 March and 23 October. Keep away from large crowds.
• Driving: Hungary has a zero-alcohol limit for drivers, and you must buy an e-vignette before using the motorways.

FAQ

Is the Budapest Card worth it on this itinerary?

Yes, if you’ll use included sights such as the Hungarian National Gallery and Lukács Thermal Bath on Days 1 to 3. If you only need transport, the 5,750 HUF 72-hour travelcard is far cheaper.

What’s the easiest way from the airport to the centre?

Bus 100E Airport Express. It runs 24 hours a day to Kálvin tér and Deák Ferenc tér, takes about 40 minutes according to BKK, and costs 2,500 HUF. Tap your bank card on board to buy and validate your ticket.

Can I visit the Danube Bend by boat?

Not until at least 31 October 2026, because MAHART’s Danube Bend cruises are suspended due to low water. Use the H5 HÉV and regional buses or trains instead, and check MAHART’s timetable for future seasons.

Can I do Eger as a day trip?

Yes. Start early so you reach the castle when the ticket office opens at 09:00, and check MÁV for your return train. Staying overnight gives you a more relaxed evening in the wine cellars.

Is Hungary safe for tourists?

Generally yes, though UK government advice warns about pickpockets and bar bill scams in tourist areas. Use licensed taxis, check prices before you order and keep valuables close.

Do I need cash?

Not much. Cards work on the airport bus, at Széchenyi Bath, in licensed taxis and at Tihany Abbey. A little forint cash is handy for small cafés and market stalls.