A Day Out From Budapest

[calopez]

Spending a few days in Budapest next month. One of those days I’d like to use for a day trip away from the city. As I don’t know the country, I would welcome any suggestions.

As I will be travelling with my wife, I’m a little constrained, so…

• Needs to be accessible by rail (obviously!)
• Not too far – maybe up to two hours each way
• Nice scenery/historic town/good places for lunch
• Rail interest not essential but would be a bonus for me!

Lake Balaton looks like the obvious choice to me but are there any recommended places? Or somewhere else entirely?

 

[parkender102]

Szentendre - avoid at the weekends as it can get busy. HEV from Budapest Batthyany Ter (40 mins) - you can also take the Ferry (1.5 Hours) from Budapest - so could do Ferry / Train there and back and experience both.
Visegrad - also by Ferry from Budapest but there is no direct train connection - only bus from Budapest 1.25 Hours, Szentendre and Eztergom both 45 Mins. Although you can connect to Szentendre and Esztergom by Ferry.
Esztergom - Train from Budapest 1.5 Hours from Budapest Nyugati.
All Historic with lovely architecture, Churches and views etc.

 

[calopez]

Thanks for the suggestions. Szentendre and Esztergom seem quite interesting, Visegrad a little less so as it doesn't have a direct rail link. Only thing is, as we will be arriving in Budapest from Bratislava, we will have pretty much already passed by those towns - albeit at speed and on the other side of the Danube!