COMPLETE FILE

Overview

Family vacation by train in Hungary

Have you ever dreamt of the splendours of the Old World? What about diving into the refined and hushed atmosphere of one of the most charming countries of Europe? Welcome to Hungary, a marvellous land you will get to know with this journey by train. Start off with Budapest, for sure the finest city of the country, and nicknamed the Pearl of Danube thanks to the countless splendid buildings rising at every corner. From the Parliament House, an authentic fairytale-like palace to the exclusive shops of the upscale district, as well as for the monumental spa facilities where the whole European nobility used to flock decades ago, the Hungarian capital offers more enchantments that you can dream of, and walking around its streets is like time travelling.
The next stop of your journey is Györ, of which the medieval heart has an abundance of architectural remains from the 13th century to the Baroque era, nested in a green case. The abbey of Pannonhalma will seduce you by its site and the eclectic architecture, and you'll get the chance to taste delish local wins such as Riesling, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, among the finest in Hungary. Go on to the beautiful Sopron, near the Austrian-Hungarian border, also full of treasures as displayed on the main square lined with classical palaces et pastel-coloured facades, typical of this region. It's actually there that an important part of the country's fate was played out, and every tile of the Old City seems to be a reminder of the past. However, the climax of this tailor made trip could be the stunning city of Szombathely, where art, culture and heritage thoroughly rule over, summing up the fascination power of Hungary. From the memories of Magyar horsemen to the delicate features abounding everywhere, get ready to fall in love with Hungary...

Feel free to contact our Central Europe expert at Uniktour to get more information about this unique travel by train in Hungary!

Itinerary

Day 1| International flight
Flight to Budapest, capital of Hungary.

Day 2| Budapest
Arrival and private transfer to your hotel. Accommodation with breakfast in a 4* hotel in Budapest to discover the Hungarian capital.

Day 3| Budapest
Free time in Budapest, considered one of the finest cities in Central Europe. Walking around the streets of the old city is like daydreaming back to the times of the Hungarian Empire. Majestic monuments rise at every corner, and the most impressive of all is the Parliament House, built at the end of the 19th century in neo-gothic style. With its imposing 96m height, and 268m length, it is one of the definitive buildings of the capital. Eighty-eight statues decorate its main façade, which overlooks the Danube, and the great domed hall with its star-vaulted ceiling is frequently used for national ceremonial events. Andrassy Avenue, the ultimate shopping district with posh boutiques and high end brands, is by far the most stylish part of Budapest. Elegant facades and quiet tree-planted alleys are reminiscent of the Empire golden age. Other milestones include the neo-renaissance Basilica of St-Istvan, the ornamented Ethnographic Museum, the Millenium Monument celebrating the one-thousand-year anniversary of the Hungarian Conquest, the State Opera House, and countless other wonders.

Day 4| Budapest - Györ (125 km / 1h10 min)
After breakfast transfer on your own to the train station and board the train to Györ. Györ is a traditional and industrial town, and the old city has retained much of its heritage charm. Its streets hug the former castle, which is converted into the bishop's residence. After a short tour in the centre of Györ we would suggest to visit Pannonhalma. At Pannonhalma, the abbey stands atop a low promontory, ideal for the former Benedictines' quest of serenity. Today the abbey also runs a school for boys, a well-known vineyard and showcases a splendid baroque and gothic architectural legacy.

Day 5| Györ - Sopron (35 km / 30 min)
After breakfast, the trip continues to Sopron. Sopron is situated near the Austrian border, and comprises an important German-speaking community. As far back as the Roman Age it was an important crossroad of major trade routes, and was spared not only by the Turks but also later by Hungarian revolutionaries. The old city is surrounded by castle walls. Here you could get lunch or dinner in the -Poncihter'' House and visit the Sopron Wine Tresor with wine-tasting. Don't miss the baroque-styled main square with the City Hall, the fire tower and all kinds of historical buildings. Overnight with breakfast in a 4* hotel.

Day 6| Sopron - Szombathely (60 km / 60 min)
After breakfast, you will explore the Szombahely, formerly called Savaria. It's the oldest city of Hungary, and its foundation dates back to the 1st century AD. During two thousand years, invasions, commerce, politics built up an incredible patrimony and as of today the main landmarks include traditional cultural events, thermal baths, baroque palaces, a casino, water and equestrian sports, gastronomic restaurants, fine art museums, old churches, vineyards, classical music concerts and adorable tiny villages around.

Day 7| Szombathely - Budapest (228 km / 2h50 min)
Breakfast and the round trip will end back in Budapest in the afternoon. Enjoy your last hours of free time to get some souvenirs or walk around the old city. An interesting alternative is to pay a visit to the worldwide famous spas built for the European elite in the beginning of the 20th century. Grandiose atmosphere and upscale amenities blend into each other to offer a luxurious health center.

Day 8| Budapest - International flight
Breakfast and free time until the private transfer to the airport to board back home.

Budget

**Rates published on this website are for information purposes only and are not legally binding (since departure dates are not given). Prices on this website are known to fluctuate frequently in relation to changes in currencies and hotel pricing. In order to obtain a definite quote, please click here.

Other fees

Lodging

Overview

Hungary is a country in central Europe sharing borders with Austria to the west, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia in the south and south-west, Romania to the south-east, Ukraine to the north-east and Slovakia to the north. Its area is 93,000 km ² for a population of 9.9 million inhabitants, known as the Hungarians, a term also used to depict the national language. The capital and largest city in the country is Budapest (1.7 million inhabitants), located in north-central Hungary.
By its geographical location which made it a crossroads of Europe, Hungary, whose territory has fluctuated numerous times with the vagaries of history, has a remarkable cultural richness, and happens to be one of most advanced countries in the region after the fall of communist yoke in the late 20th century.

Geography

Hungary lies on a low plain steppe. Its vast flat horizons - less than 2% of the area exceeds 400 m above sea level - are completely ruled by the Danube river system. The backbone of the relief is represented by a diagonal line of massifs, dolomitic tablelands and volcanic outcrops raised in the Tertiary: it's the range of the Bakony, Mátra and Bükk Mountains, which extends south- west to north-east peaking at 1,015 m at Mount Kékes, to the west of Eger. They are heavily forested and contain important deposits of bauxite. However, Hungary has almost no well-defined natural boundary, but is divided into three main geographical regions: the Great Plain to the east of the Danube, on both sides of the Tisza, which extends to the sandy area of Nyirség. To the west of that large plain lies the Transdanubia, a hilly region west of the Danube spreading to the foot of the Austrian Alps and the northern hills, beyond the Great Hungarian Plain. Here is a swampy area with good drainage, the Little Plain (Kisalföld) in the region of Györ. Finally, on the southern and western sides of the Danube River - which divides the country into two parts – follow the depression of Lake Balaton, the Somogy hills and the mountainous region of Mecsek which contain deposits of uranium and coal. Hungary has no sea outlet, which explains the importance it attaches to the inland waterways.

Culture

Hungary maintains a very strong Turkish influence because of 150 years of invasions in the 16th and 17th centuries. This influence is mainly obvious according to the large number of spas in this country. Archetypal relaxation spots, one can enjoy water heated to about 30 degrees even in winter or under a starry sky. The swimming pools offer not only massage water jets, but also hot tubs as well as the opportunity to indulge in the pleasure of chess playing on a tablet erected at the surface of the water. Anyone who visits the Hungarian absolutely must spend a delightful time in one of those special places.
Fervent admirers of their own musical culture, the Hungarian cultivate this taste by organizing various festivals, such as the Folk Music and Dance Festival of Sopron in June and July and the Festival of Folk Art in Nagykallo in August. Let's also mention the summer festival on the island of Obuda in downtown Budapest and the Jazz Days in Debrecen in September. The Hungarians also have a taste for partying, which is clearly reflected in folk dances strongly influenced by the gypsy themes. In February, at Mohazi, Hungarians go out and play and dance in the street during Mardi Gras (Busójárás). Exuberant and colourful event, it is an undeniable proof that Hungarians have a know-how when it comes to enjoy the pleasures that life offers. In addition, local often hang out to the famous cafes that are found everywhere to chill and talk for hours.
In architecture, influences from Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Secessionist Art Nouveau blend into each other especially in the capital Budapest, which was modernized in the nineteenth century. But throughout the country, palaces, churches, monasteries and other buildings testify clearly marked sophistication and identity, making Hungarian cities among the most beautiful of the continent.
Finally, the craft traditions are an integral part of Hungarian culture which has become known worldwide. Among them, mention may be made of Halas lace, tablecloths and embroidered garments of Kalocsa, the famous embroidered and hand-sewn Szedeg slippers, remnants of the Turkish occupation. Note also Herend chinas, the Tokaj wine, Unicum liquor, paprika from Szeged and Kolocsa, horse parades of the Puszta and finally the magnificent murals on ceilings with floral motifs in the region of Kalocsa.

Climate

Hungary has a typical hyper continental climate defined by cold winters and very hot summers. The average annual temperature is 11 ° C, ranging between 27 ° and 35 ° C in summer and from 0 to -15 ° C in winter. The average annual rainfall is quite unpredictable as to their distribution and frequency, usually reaching 600 millimeters. The western part of the country usually receives more rain than the eastern part, where severe droughts may occur during the summer. The weather in the Great Plain (eastern Hungary) is especially harsh, with hot summers, cold winters and little precipitation.