Places to Visit in Hungary | Cities, Towns & Lake Balaton
Hungary has far more to see than Budapest, with historic cities, spa towns, Lake Balaton, Danube Bend villages, and plenty of places easy to reach by train. I’ve visited Hungary several times, including with the dog, and keep finding new places worth exploring.
Hungary is well known for its impressive architecture, cuisine and countless thermal baths. Its national dish is goulash, which is on most menus serving Hungarian food. Hungary has eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including cultural sites, historic landscapes and natural areas.
The Danube, Europe’s second-longest river, runs through Hungary, and many towns and cities lie along its banks. There are many attractions along the river, including the epic sights in the capital. We’ve visited many of the country’s main sights and found plenty to do to keep us coming back.
Best Places to Visit in Hungary From Our Trips
My favourite places to visit in Hungary so far are Budapest for major sights, Pécs for history, Győr for a relaxed city break, Lake Balaton for waterside walks, Keszthely for Festetics Palace, Hévíz for the thermal lake, Sopron for its old town and the Danube Bend for riverside views and Visegrad Castle.
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Cities to Visit in Hungary
Budapest
Budapest is a fabulous city to visit with or without a dog, and there is plenty to see. Countless tourist attractions await, from museums to castles. The Danube offers many sights for visitors. This includes the imposing Buda Castle and the impressive Hungarian Parliament building. The Fisherman’s Bastion at the castle is one of my favourite features in the entire country.
The Jewish Quarter has an interesting history with a few synagogues to visit. This area is also famous for its ruin bars, which make for a great evening out. Heroes Square and City Park are also fantastic to visit and offer plenty of space for dog walking.
There are loads of restaurants in the city, many of which serve traditional Hungarian cuisine. There are also many pet-friendly establishments to dine out at while visiting the capital.
Pécs
Pécs is a lovely city in the south of the country, near the Croatian border, and is a great place to visit. It is an ancient city founded by the Romans. Pécs is known for its fascinating architectural sights, including Sopianae, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In addition to Roman history, the Ottoman Empire occupied the city. During the Ottoman occupation in the 16th century, the domed Mosque of Pasha Gazi Kasim was built. This is now used as a Catholic church. Pécs also has a splendid cathedral for visitors to see. There are also lots of pleasant restaurants in Pécs, many of which serve Hungarian cuisine.
Győr
Győr is a beautiful city to visit in the north of the country, and it’s just over an hour by train from the capital. It is unique, as the capitals of two neighbouring countries are closer than the Hungarian capital: Vienna and Bratislava.
Győr has a beautiful town centre with pretty churches and pleasant town squares. Three rivers run through or near the city, and all eventually flow into the nearby River Danube. This creates plenty of options for things to do in Győr, keeping you busy in the city and nearby area.
Finding dog-friendly accommodation was straightforward on Booking.com. Out and about, many people are out with their dogs, enjoying various pet-friendly bars, cafes and restaurants.
Sopron
Sopron is a pretty city near the border of Austria and has lots of places of interest. The city has lots of beautiful buildings throughout, including baroque architecture. Sopron’s old town is special, with features like the Fire Tower in the main square, beautiful churches, and historic city walls. It also offers many museums to explore, covering topics from local history to mining.
Throughout Sopron, there is a range of bars and restaurants where you can enjoy food or drink. My favourite is Gyógygödör Borozó, in a basement, which serves good goulash and local Soproni beer. Many of these are also in pretty and historic buildings.
We enjoyed our stay in the city and found it a very friendly place. Sopron is easily reached from the capital on a direct train, which takes about two hours.
Szombathely
We enjoyed a brief visit to Szombathely, a city near the Austrian border. Szombathely has an interesting history dating back to the Roman era when it was called Savaria. The central areas are pretty, including Fő tér, Our Lady of the Visitation Cathedral and the Bishops’ Palace. There are also lots of museums to visit, covering a range of topics, including one dedicated to the city’s Roman archaeology.
The city has lots of nice bars and restaurants, including many dog-friendly options. On our visit, we enjoyed some delicious local food at Komló Étterem & Kávézó.
Lake Balaton and Spa Towns
Lake Balaton
Lake Balaton, in western Hungary, is a lovely place to visit. It is a popular holiday and fun destination for Hungarians; it is essentially Hungary’s seaside. Lake Balaton is the largest lake in Central Europe and offers many towns and villages to visit. The lake is a hub for watersports, with plenty of options to enjoy. These include sailing, SUP, kayaking, and freshwater swimming.
It’s also a fantastic place to go fishing on a boat or on the shore. Cycling on the lakeside is also very popular and a great way to see the sights. To the north shore are mountains and hills, many of which are home to vineyards.
Lake Balaton has quiet villages, cities and party destinations on its shores. Trains and buses mostly connect these. You can reach most towns on the lake by direct train from the capital. The lake is also fantastic for dog walking, and it has some dog-friendly beaches. The lakeside towns have lots of restaurants, many of which allow pets on their terraces.
Keszthely
Keszthely is a lovely city to visit on the shores of Lake Balaton. It is a beautiful city with plenty to see. Its primary attraction is the Festetics Palace, a Baroque palace with formal gardens.
You can also visit many museums, historic churches, and town squares. Keszthely also has a few beaches on the lake, which are great for bathing or water sports. There are many restaurant options to dine at, many of which are dog-friendly or have outdoor seating.
Hévíz
Hévíz is a lovely spa town in Zala County, roughly 5 miles from Keszthely on Lake Balaton. It is a lovely town to explore, with some fantastic restaurants serving Hungarian food.
A main reason people visit is to visit the Thermal Lake of Hévíz. The Thermal Lake of Hévíz is the largest swimmable thermal lake in the world. Thermal springs heat the lake, and the water is medicinal. It is a lovely way to enjoy a relaxing day out while benefiting your well-being.
Szigliget Village
Another beautiful place to visit at Lake Balaton is Szigliget. Szigliget is a fantastic village for a day trip. The principal tourist attraction in Szigliget is its hilltop castle, which offers splendid views of the nearby countryside and the lake. Szigliget Castle is dog-friendly and has some fascinating exhibits about the area’s history.
Hiking in the area is fantastic and can be steep, and there are lots of beautiful views to enjoy. Wineries and lovely Hungarian restaurants are nearby for dining out. The waterfront area is fantastic if you like water sports or beach fun. Szigliget is very close to a large wetland that is home to many wildfowl. This is a popular spot for fishing and wildlife spotting.
Danube Bend Places to Visit
A pleasant area of the country to visit if you enjoy the countryside and small towns is the area near Nagymaros and Visegrad. You can reach the Danube Bend towns from the capital in under an hour by train or bus. Both towns are on the banks of the River Danube and are connected by a ferry. Both towns have a variety of pleasant restaurants and bars with river views.
One of the main reasons people visit is for Visegrad Castle, which sits on a hill overlooking both towns and the Danube Bend. Other interesting things to do include hiking in the Duna-Ipoly Nemzeti Park or along the river. On our visit, we saw the major sites, took some walks, and enjoyed the area’s relaxing vibe.
Is Hungary Worth Visiting?
Hungary is a fantastic country with plenty of places to visit and many beautiful cities, including the popular capital. It has over 1,000 years of history, and its sights reflect that.
The countryside is also nice, including along the Danube and the Balaton region. It is also quite cheap compared to other European countries. Finally, the food and drink throughout the country are delicious and hearty. To save some money, there are free ATMs in most major towns.