Looking for the perfect day trip from Budapest? Well, Szentendre might be the answer!
I was lucky enough to spend over a week in Budapest, mostly because I wanted to see more of Hungary than just its capital city. Fortunately, Budapest is an excellent base for exploring some smaller and more local towns, including Szentendre.
At the top of my list of day trips was the cute and colourful town of Szentendre. This lovely spot is just an hour from Budapest, and it’s a hub for culture, museums and galleries. It’s also the perfect place to experience a more local side to Hungary.
In this guide, I’ve shared all you need to know about visiting Szentendre. This includes getting from Budapest to Szentendre, the top things to do, where to eat, and other helpful tips.
How to get from Budapest to Szentendre
Budapest to Szentendre by train
The easiest way to get to Szentendre from Budapest is to catch the local train. It only takes about 40 minutes, so it’s an easy and efficient way to get between the two places.
To catch the train to Szentendre, you’ll need to go to Batthyány tér station in Budapest, close to the city centre and on the M2 Metro Line. This station is directly across the river from the Hungarian Parliament Building and might be walkable, depending on where you’re staying in Budapest.
From here, the ‘HEV 5’ Suburban Train takes you directly to Szentendre. The trains run regularly throughout the day, and you can download the BudapestGO app to get the latest timetable.
Now, this is where it can get a *little* bit confusing. If you have a public transportation travel card, such as a 72-hour unlimited transport pass, this will cover you for part of your journey but not the full thing. Your Budapest travel pass includes trains until Békásmegyer, but you need to buy an additional ticket from there.
Thankfully, this is super easy to do. Before you get on the train in Budapest, use a machine to purchase a Suburban Extension Ticket (when I bought mine, it was called a Szentendre extension).
When the ticket officer checks your ticket, you’ll need to show them both tickets. You normally need to validate tickets before travelling in Budapest, but I was told off for validating my extension ticket. According to a local, that’s only for within Budapest, and you don’t need to do that on regional trains. However, I don’t know how accurate this is. I would check with the ticket operator when you board the train.
If you don’t have a travel card, you can buy a Suburban Railway Ticket to Békásmegyer and then you’ll also need an extension ticket from there.
Once you arrive in Szentendre, walk down the steps under the main road. Luckily, Szentendre is a small town and you’ll reach the town centre within ten or fifteen minutes.
Budapest to Szentendre by boat
The other option to get to Szentendre is to catch a boat down the Danube River. This is operated privately and tends to be more expensive than the train. However, it means you can take a river cruise down the Danube and admire the wonderful views.
For those who want to cruise the Danube but still have some independence, consider this tour from Budapest to Szentendre. It includes return transport on the boat and over three hours to explore the town (which is ample time).
Szentendre Tours
The final option is to join a guided tour. I was keen to do this but sadly there were no tours on the day I could do. However, my friend did it a few days later and absolutely loved it.
This is the exact tour that she did, and it includes a half-day tour of Szentendre, as well as food tastings and some free time. It’s excellent value.
If you want to see a few more of the local towns along the Danube Bend, consider this tour, which includes a stop at Visegrad. Alternatively, you can opt for a private tour of the area.
How long to spend in Szentendre?
I spent about four hours in Szentendre, which was the perfect amount of time to wander around the town, try some food, and check out a couple of the historic sights.
You could easily spend a bit longer here, especially in the summer when there is more going on.
Best things to do in Szentendre
Visit the Town Square
Start your day in Szentendre by visiting the Old Town Square, known as Fő Tér. It’s only a fifteen-minute walk from the station and a great place to kick off your self-guided tour.
The Main Square is surrounded by colourful buildings and decorations, and the beautiful Blagovestenska Orthodox Church is hard to miss.
There are also a few shops and cafes, including the Karnevál Kávéház és Gasztrobár, which serves fantastic coffee and snacks.
Try some marzipan and visit the museum
No trip to Szentendre is complete without trying some of the famous local marzipan. In fact, Szentendre even has its very own marzipan museum. Yes, you read that right.
The Szamos Marzipan Museum is attached to a cafe of the same name. It houses marzipan creations, including figurines and various exhibits.
There’s also a shop where you can try some of the marzipan.
Check out the art galleries and museums
Despite its small size, Szentendre has several notable museums and galleries to consider adding to your itinerary.
First up is the National Wine Museum. Hungarians LOVE their wine, and as a white wine fan, I can safely say that Hungarian wine is delicious.
The National Wine Museum in Szentendre provides insight into the development of Hungarian wine culture and even offers tastings of various wines. A visit here is an absolute must for wine lovers.
Another famous museum in Szentendre is the Hungarian Open-Air Museum, which offers a fantastic insight into Hungarian culture. The museum is home to various Hungarian buildings, artefacts, and exhibitions. It’s quite a trek from the town centre, but it’s possible to catch a bus.
Another museum worth mentioning is the Margit Kovács Ceramics Museum. It houses an extensive collection of Margit Kovacs’s work. The museum was closed on the day I visited, but I’ve heard good things. Finally, the Ferenczy Museum is one of the most famous in the area and is home to various Hungarian art collections.
The town is also the perfect place for art lovers, with several galleries available to visit.
Tip: The galleries and museums are only open on certain days of the week, so check this in advance if there is a particular one you want to visit.
See the world’s smallest synagogue
Along with impressive Catholic churches, Szentendre is also home to what locals claim to be the world’s smallest synagogue.
Szanto Zsinagoga was built after World War II and acts as a memorial to Szentendre’s Jewish community who were impacted by the devastating events.
The synagogue is sometimes open to the public, and you can enter by donating.
Relax in the Japanese Gardens
While wandering around Szentendre, I saw signs for the Japanese Gardens (Japánkert) and decided to take a look.
Although small, this tranquil spot is filled with unique plants, water features and even a mini pagoda. There is a walking path through the garden and some benches to sit on and enjoy the peace and quiet.
Admire the views of the Danube River
There are several ways to admire the Danube River in the town.
For beautiful views, I recommend walking up to Szerb (Tobakos) kereszt and Tanners’ Cross, where there are a couple of viewing points. Not only are there lovely views of the Danube River, but you’ll also be able to see out above the roofs of the houses.
It’s a bit of a steep walk up to the viewing point, plus some steps, but it’s well worth it.
Alternatively, you can walk along the riverfront, where there is a path for pedestrians.
Visit the Church of Saint John the Baptist
At the top of a cobbled road overlooking the town, you’ll find the beautiful Church of Saint John the Baptist.
The Roman Catholic Church was built during the 13th Century and has an eerie gothic feel to it. At the time of writing this post, the Church is closed to visitors. However, it’s still worth walking up to and admiring from the outside.
The courtyard outside also boasts some aerial views of the town.
See the statues in Czóbel Park
Next to the Japanese Gardens is Czóbel Park, a local park with over 40 statues designed by Kerényi Jenő.
It’s quite a small park, but you can tie it into a trip to the Japanese Gardens. I walked there straight after visiting the Szerb (Tobakos) kereszt viewpoint. It was nice to wander through the streets and discover a more local side of Hungary.
Do some shopping
Szentendre is home to plenty of local shops and souvenir shops selling traditional souvenirs, local foods and quirky gifts for family and friends.
I found the shops here much more inviting and interesting than in Budapest. Many of the shops also have market stands outside during the summer months.
If you plan to do souvenir shopping in Hungary, Szentendre is the perfect place.
Where to eat in Szentendre
Szentendre is an excellent place to try some local Hungarian cuisine. There are plenty of local restaurants, pubs, and cafes serving local and international foods.
For Hungarian coffee, a sweet treat or a light lunch, I recommend trying Karnevál Kávéház és Gasztrobár, The Marzipan Museum or Cafe Lex (which makes some delicious vegan cookies).
For bigger meals, consider BLKN Bistro or Kereskedőház Étterem for some local food or Otranto for a pizza.
Summary: Is visiting Szentendre worth it?
If you have more than a couple of days in Budapest, a day trip to Szentendre is well worth it.
Not only is it an easy day trip from Budapest, but the charming town of Szentendre offers insight into local life, and it’s the perfect escape from the chaos of Budapest.
I suggest visiting early in the morning, as the town can get quite busy once the day tours arrive (especially during the summer months).
Although you don’t need to spend more than a few hours in the town, it’s a nice spot to add to your Budapest itinerary.
