Budapest to Esztergom: Day trip with an itinerary

Just over an hour’s train journey from Budapest, one of Hungary’s most impressive sights rises above the Danube: the magnificent Basilica of Esztergom, whose dome can be seen from afar, watching over the hills of the Danube Bend. If you’re staying at the a&o Budapest City, you’ll have the perfect base for a day trip that combines history, architecture and a touch of border romance, as the fortress walls offer a direct view of Slovakia.

Getting there: How to get from Budapest to Esztergom

From the a&o Budapest City, Nyugati pályaudvar railway station is about a fifteen to seventeen-minute walk away; alternatively, the tram will take you there in just a few minutes. From there, you have two tried-and-tested options for travelling to Esztergom.

By train (recommended)

Regional trains operated by the Hungarian railway company MÁV run directly from Nyugati station to Esztergom several times an hour, taking around sixty-five minutes to cover the approximately fifty-kilometre journey. As no changes are required and the journey can be easily covered using the standard national travel card, the train is the most convenient and, at the same time, the cheapest option for most visitors.

By bus

Alternatively, bus route 800 runs from the Árpád híd bus station – situated right next to the metro station of the same name on Line 3 – and also goes directly to Esztergom. The journey time is slightly longer than that of the train, at around seventy-five to ninety minutes, but in return the route offers some very scenic stretches along the banks of the Danube.

Our advice: to make the most of your time in Esztergom, it’s worth taking the train there, whilst the return journey by bus makes for a leisurely end to the day. As timetables and fares are subject to change, it’s advisable to check the MÁV website or the Volánbusz timetable service in advance.

Sights in Esztergom

Esztergom Basilica

Hungary’s largest church stands majestically on Castle Hill and, with its imposing dome, is visible from a great distance. Inside, you’ll find the red marble Bakócz Chapel, the treasury housing ecclesiastical treasures, and a crypt of striking tranquillity. For those with a head for heights, the climb to the dome is well worth it: from there, the view stretches across the Danube and far into Slovakia.

Esztergom Castle

Right next to the basilica lie the remains of the former royal castle, where Hungarian kings were once crowned. A small museum recounts the eventful history of the city, which for centuries was the seat of both the Church and the Crown.

Assumption of Mary Bridge (Maria Valéria Bridge)

This elegant bridge links Esztergom with Štúrovo in Slovakia on the other side of the Danube. A stroll across it is well worth it if only for the view of the basilica, which is particularly impressive from there.

Old Town and Christian Museum

At the foot of the castle hill, the tranquil waterfront town, with its colourful houses, small cafés and the Christian Museum, invites you to take a leisurely stroll. There you’ll find one of the most significant collections of medieval Hungarian painting.

Detailed Itinerary

• 08:30 am: Set off after breakfast at the a&o Budapest City, walk to Nyugati railway station
• 09:00 am: Train departs for Esztergom
• 10:05 am: Arrival in Esztergom, short walk to the castle hill
• 10:30 am: Tour of the basilica, including the crypt and treasury, followed by a climb up to the dome
• 12:00 am: Tour of Esztergom Castle with a visit to the museum
• 01.00 pm: Lunch in a restaurant at the foot of the castle hill, perhaps in the Water City
• 02.30 pm: Walk across the Maria Valéria Bridge with a view back towards the basilica
• 03.30 pm: Stroll through the old town, visit the Christian Museum or take a leisurely break by the Danube
• 05.00 pm: Return journey on the 800 bus towards Budapest, arriving at the Árpád híd coach station between 6.15 pm and 6.30 pm
• 07.00 pm: Return and round off the day with dinner near the a&o Hostel in Budapest

This means you can explore Esztergom comfortably in a single day, without rushing, and with plenty of time to soak up the special atmosphere of the ‘Knee of the Danube’.

Got hooked?

Then book your trip with a&o to Budapest!