# Danube Bend The curve of the Danube between the hills, an hour from Budapest: the citadel and palace at Visegrád, Esztergom basilica and the bridge to Slovakia. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/hungary/danube-bend · Revisado: 2026-11-12 A day trip from Budapest: north of the capital, the Danube leaves the plain, forces its way between the Pilis and Börzsöny hills and makes a sharp turn to the south. This is the Danube Bend (Dunakanyar), and it holds two of the most important places in Hungarian history: Visegrád, with the castle on the heights and King Matthias's palace below, and Esztergom, the first capital of the kingdom, with its basilica above the river and Slovakia on the opposite bank. It is an hour from Budapest and can be seen in a day. ## Getting there from Budapest To Esztergom, by train: direct from Budapest-Nyugati station, every half hour, in about 65 minutes. To Visegrád, by bus: along the bank of the Danube, via Szentendre. There is also a bus between Visegrád and Esztergom. By boat: in season, the Mahart hydrofoil reaches Visegrád in an hour and Esztergom in an hour and a half, only on some weekends from May to September. By car: on road 11, about 45 km to Visegrád and 65 to Esztergom. If you are coming from Spain, you land in Budapest and can be in Esztergom in a little over two hours. ## Visegrád, Esztergom or both? With one day and no car, pick one and take it slowly, or combine the two using the bus that links them. With a car, do both and, if you like, stop in Szentendre in the morning. Visegrád is the castle. Climb up to the 13th-century citadel to see the curve of the river from above: it is the image of the Bend. Below, beside the road, is King Matthias's royal palace, with its Renaissance courtyards and the Hercules fountain. To sleep, the Hotel Visegrád, next to the landing stage. Esztergom is the basilica. Esztergom Basilica is the largest church in Hungary: the church itself is free, and you pay for the crypt, the treasury and the dome. Afterwards, walk across the Maria Valeria Bridge to Štúrovo, in Slovakia, and come back for lunch at Prímás Pince, in the cellars beneath the basilica, or at Csülök Csárda. If you have the afternoon to spare, try a tasting in the wine tunnel. ## When to go From April to October, when opening hours are long, boats run and the forest in the hills is green. In winter it looks just as good but with shorter hours: in November the citadel opens from 9:00 to 16:00 and in January and February only from Friday to Sunday; the royal palace closes on Mondays. With the Danube low, as in November 2026, the Mahart boats do not sail. ## Dónde está - Zonas: Danube - Cerca: Vác and Nagymaros (a 15.6 km), Szentendre (a 17.6 km), Budapest (a 33.5 km), Gödöllő (a 38.5 km) ## Qué hacer - **Visegrád Citadel (Fellegvár)** (2 h · All ages; ascent by car, taxi or on foot along a steep path · Adult 2,800 Ft · students and pensioners 1,400 Ft · under-6s and over-70s free): What it is The citadel, which Hungarians call Fellegvár ("castle of the clouds"), crowns a 300-metre hill right where the Danube turns south. It was built after the Mongol invasion of the 13th century and the Holy Crown of Hungary was kept in it. Inside there are exhibitions on the history of the castle, medieval weapons, the nobles' hunting and a panopticon with figures from the 1335 summit of kings. But what you come to see is the landscape: the river turning between wooded hills, with Nagymaros opposite. Opening hours 26 October to 30 November: every day from 9:00 to 16:00. 1 to 23 December: from 9:00 to 15:00; closed on the 24th and 25th. 11 January to 28 February: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 to 16:00. March: every day from 9:00 to 17:00; April to September, from 9:00 to 18:00. The ticket office closes 30 minutes earlier. You can buy tickets online. Prices Adult, 2,800 Ft; students and pensioners, 1,400 Ft; under-6s and over-70s, free. How to get up By car on the panoramic road, with paid parking at the top. Without a car, on foot along the path that leaves the village, short but steep, or by taxi. In high season there is a bus to the top; out of season, do not count on it. - **Esztergom Basilica, Crypt, Treasury and Dome** (2 h · All ages; the dome only if you can manage narrow stairs; the church is not wheelchair accessible · Combined 5,600 Ft · dome 3,300 Ft · treasury 2,100 Ft · crypt 800 Ft · family (combined) 13,700 Ft): What it is Esztergom Basilica is the primatial cathedral of Hungary and its largest church, built in the 19th century on the hill where the first court of the Hungarian kings stood: St Stephen was crowned here in the year 1000. Its dome can be seen from kilometres upriver. Inside you have the nave, the red-marble Renaissance Bakócz Chapel, the crypt with the archbishops' tombs, the treasury, one of the richest in the country, and the climb up the dome, from whose gallery you see the Danube, the bridge and Slovakia on the other bank. Opening hours On the published autumn and winter schedule, the church opens from 8:00 to 17:00; the crypt and treasury from 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry at 16:40 and 16:30); the dome from 9:00 to 16:00. In summer the hours are longer: check them on its website. Prices 2026 AdultReduced* Combined (crypt, treasury and dome)5,600 Ft3,300 Ft Dome3,300 Ft1,900 Ft Treasury2,100 Ft1,000 Ft Crypt800 Ft— *For EEA citizens aged 6 to 26 with a student card and EEA pensioners. The combined family ticket, for one or two adults with at least one child under 18, costs 13,700 Ft. Getting there Address: Szent István tér 1. From Esztergom railway station, about a 25-minute walk or a city bus; from the Maria Valeria Bridge, ten minutes uphill. - **Visegrád Royal Palace** (1 h 15 · All ages): What it is In the 15th century, Visegrád had one of the largest Renaissance palaces in central Europe, that of King Matthias Corvinus. It was buried and rediscovered in the 20th century; today the Mátyás Király Museum shows the restored courtyards and terraces, the chapel, the royal kitchen and the Hercules fountain, beside the riverside road, at the foot of the citadel. Opening hours From 1 November 2026 to 28 February 2027, the exhibitions are open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:00 to 16:00; on Mondays it is closed. The Solomon Tower, the keep in the lower part, is closed during this period. Check prices and summer hours on its website. Getting there It is at Fő utca 23, in the centre of Visegrád, a few minutes from the bus stop and the landing stage. Telephone: +36 26 597 010. - **Maria Valeria Bridge, on Foot to Slovakia** (40 min · 1 km · All ages; suitable for pushchairs): The Maria Valeria Bridge crosses the Danube between Esztergom and Štúrovo, in Slovakia. It was opened in 1895, blown up in 1944 and not rebuilt until 2001. Crossing it on foot takes about ten minutes and, with both countries in the Schengen Area, there is no border control: just carry your ID card. The best photo of the basilica, whole above the river, is taken from the Slovak side or from the middle of the bridge. On the other side you pay in euros. - **Hydrofoil from Budapest to Visegrád and Esztergom** (1 h 30 · All ages; children aged 2 to 14 at a reduced rate · Visegrád 11,000 Ft one way, 15,000 Ft return · Esztergom 13,000 and 17,000 Ft · children aged 2 to 14, from 8,500 Ft): The journey The Mahart hydrofoil is the fast way up the Danube from Budapest: it leaves at 9:30, stops at Vác at 10:10 and Visegrád at 10:30 and reaches Esztergom at 11:00. The return leaves Esztergom at 16:30, passes Visegrád at 17:00 and reaches Budapest at 18:00. It travels at 65–70 km/h, with panoramic windows and a toilet. When it runs It is not a daily service: in 2026 it sailed only on some long weekends between May and September (1 to 3 May, 23 to 25 May, 26 to 28 June, 24 to 26 July, 20 to 23 August and 18 to 20 September). The 2027 dates are published in spring. Prices One wayReturn Budapest–Visegrád, adult11,000 Ft15,000 Ft Budapest–Esztergom, adult13,000 Ft17,000 Ft Children aged 2 to 14, to Visegrád8,500 Ft13,000 Ft Children aged 2 to 14, to Esztergom11,000 Ft15,000 Ft You can only travel with a ticket bought beforehand: there is no ticket office at Vác or Visegrád. It cannot be cancelled in the 48 hours before. - **Wine Tasting in the Cellars Beneath Esztergom Basilica** (1 h 15 · Adults · 3 wines 5,990 Ft · 5 wines 7,990 Ft · 7 wines 9,990 Ft, plus a 10% service charge): Beneath Esztergom Basilica there are almost 3,000 square metres of vaulted cellars, built at the same time as the cathedral. Today they house the Prímás Pince restaurant and a wine tunnel that presents the wine regions of the Carpathian Basin. The tastings are of 3, 5 or 7 wines, 1 dl of each, with a board of cheese, ham and bread: 5,990, 7,990 or 9,990 Ft per person, plus a 10% service charge. They are booked in advance by email, choosing the time. ## Dónde comer - **Csülök Csárda** (Restaurant, Esztergom, €€). Qué pedir: The roast knuckle to share between two and a goulash in a cauldron. - **Prímás Pince** (Restaurant, Esztergom, €€€). Qué pedir: A meal beneath the vaults and, if you have time, a three-wine tasting in the tunnel. ## Car-free: The Danube Bend Without a Car Without a car, the Danube Bend works well as a day trip if you choose: Esztergom by train, or Visegrád by bus, or both with a bus between them. In summer, the boat or hydrofoil makes the journey part of the plan. The budget is per person per day, with one night, meals and transport. Presupuesto orientativo: 70–130 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir without a car - **Hotel Adalbert** (Hotel): The place Hotel Adalbert is the hotel of the Archdiocese of Esztergom's service centre, with two buildings at the foot of the basilica hill: the Szent Tamás house, at Batthyány Lajos utca 6, and the Blessed Zoltán Meszlényi house, at Dózsa György tér 1. It has three stars, a restaurant, a garden and secure parking, and welcomes families, travellers passing along the Danube and groups. Location You sleep five minutes' walk from the basilica, from the Prímás Pince cellars, which the same house runs, and from the bridge to Slovakia. It is the base for seeing Esztergom unhurriedly and continuing the next day to Visegrád. Booking When booking on its website they charge no booking or cancellation fees. Telephone of the Szent Tamás house: +36 33 599 115. - **Hotel Visegrád** (Spa hotel): The place Hotel Visegrád is a four-star wellness hotel on Rév utca, the street of the landing stage, on the bank of the Danube. It is designed for families: standard and superior rooms with extra beds, a wellness area with a pool, a restaurant and a bar. It sells packages with activities in the village: medieval tournaments in season, boat trips, routes in the Pilis hills and visits to a pálinka museum with a tasting. Location You are on the bank, next to the landing stage for the boat and the ferry to Nagymaros, a few minutes' walk from the royal palace. The citadel is above, by car or on foot along the path. ### Servicios - **Train to Esztergom and Bus to Visegrád from Budapest**: Direct train from Budapest-Nyugati to Esztergom in about 65 minutes, every half hour · Buses along the Danube bank to Visegrád and Esztergom ## By car: The Danube Bend by Car on Road 11 By car you see the whole Bend in a day: Szentendre in the morning, Visegrád Citadel at midday and Esztergom Basilica in the late afternoon, following road 11 along the river bank. It is the way to reach the citadel without the path. The budget is per person per day, with accommodation, food and petrol. Presupuesto orientativo: 80–140 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir if you're driving - **Hotel Adalbert** (Hotel): The place Hotel Adalbert is the hotel of the Archdiocese of Esztergom's service centre, with two buildings at the foot of the basilica hill: the Szent Tamás house, at Batthyány Lajos utca 6, and the Blessed Zoltán Meszlényi house, at Dózsa György tér 1. It has three stars, a restaurant, a garden and secure parking, and welcomes families, travellers passing along the Danube and groups. Location You sleep five minutes' walk from the basilica, from the Prímás Pince cellars, which the same house runs, and from the bridge to Slovakia. It is the base for seeing Esztergom unhurriedly and continuing the next day to Visegrád. Booking When booking on its website they charge no booking or cancellation fees. Telephone of the Szent Tamás house: +36 33 599 115. - **Hotel Visegrád** (Spa hotel): The place Hotel Visegrád is a four-star wellness hotel on Rév utca, the street of the landing stage, on the bank of the Danube. It is designed for families: standard and superior rooms with extra beds, a wellness area with a pool, a restaurant and a bar. It sells packages with activities in the village: medieval tournaments in season, boat trips, routes in the Pilis hills and visits to a pálinka museum with a tasting. Location You are on the bank, next to the landing stage for the boat and the ferry to Nagymaros, a few minutes' walk from the royal palace. The citadel is above, by car or on foot along the path. ### Servicios - **Driving Along Road 11**: Budapest–Szentendre–Visegrád–Esztergom along the bank of the Danube · About 65 km · Paid parking at the citadel and next to the basilica ## By plane: Fly to Budapest and Go Up the Danube by Train, Bus or Boat The Danube Bend has no airport: you fly to Budapest-Ferenc Liszt (BUD), with direct flights from Madrid and Barcelona, and from central Budapest you go up for the day. To Esztergom there is a direct train from Nyugati in about 65 minutes; to Visegrád, a bus along the river bank. By hire car, collected at the airport, it is a little over an hour to Visegrád. ### Dónde dormir if you're flying - **Hotel Adalbert** (Hotel): The place Hotel Adalbert is the hotel of the Archdiocese of Esztergom's service centre, with two buildings at the foot of the basilica hill: the Szent Tamás house, at Batthyány Lajos utca 6, and the Blessed Zoltán Meszlényi house, at Dózsa György tér 1. It has three stars, a restaurant, a garden and secure parking, and welcomes families, travellers passing along the Danube and groups. Location You sleep five minutes' walk from the basilica, from the Prímás Pince cellars, which the same house runs, and from the bridge to Slovakia. It is the base for seeing Esztergom unhurriedly and continuing the next day to Visegrád. Booking When booking on its website they charge no booking or cancellation fees. Telephone of the Szent Tamás house: +36 33 599 115. - **Hotel Visegrád** (Spa hotel): The place Hotel Visegrád is a four-star wellness hotel on Rév utca, the street of the landing stage, on the bank of the Danube. It is designed for families: standard and superior rooms with extra beds, a wellness area with a pool, a restaurant and a bar. It sells packages with activities in the village: medieval tournaments in season, boat trips, routes in the Pilis hills and visits to a pálinka museum with a tasting. Location You are on the bank, next to the landing stage for the boat and the ferry to Nagymaros, a few minutes' walk from the royal palace. The citadel is above, by car or on foot along the path. ### Servicios - **Train to Esztergom and Bus to Visegrád from Budapest**: Direct train from Budapest-Nyugati to Esztergom in about 65 minutes, every half hour · Buses along the Danube bank to Visegrád and Esztergom ## As a family: The Danube Bend with the Family A castle on the heights, a king's palace, a basilica with a dome and a bridge to cross into another country on foot: the Danube Bend has plenty of hooks for children. ### What works best Visegrád Citadel, with weapons and medieval figures; free for under-6s The Maria Valeria Bridge, to cross into Slovakia on foot The dome of Esztergom Basilica, with a family ticket The hydrofoil, in season ### Sleeping Hotel Visegrád, a family hotel with a pool Hotel Adalbert, with a garden ### Eating Csülök Csárda, with a children's menu Prímás Pince, with a café of cakes ### Bear in mind The path to the citadel is very steep: go up by car or taxi The dome staircase is narrow ### Qué hacer as a family - Visegrád Citadel (Fellegvár) - Esztergom Basilica, Crypt, Treasury and Dome - Visegrád Royal Palace - Maria Valeria Bridge, on Foot to Slovakia - Hydrofoil from Budapest to Visegrád and Esztergom ## With teenagers: The Danube Bend with Teenagers For teenagers, what hooks them is the castle and the border: a day of medieval kings and a bridge to cross on foot into Slovakia. ### What works best Visegrád Citadel, with the best view of the river The dome at Esztergom, with stairs up to the gallery King Matthias's royal palace The bridge to Slovakia ### Sleeping Hotel Visegrád, with a pool ### Eating Csülök Csárda, knuckle to share ### Bear in mind EEA students up to age 26 pay less at Esztergom with a student card ### Qué hacer with teenagers - Visegrád Citadel (Fellegvár) - Esztergom Basilica, Crypt, Treasury and Dome - Visegrád Royal Palace - Maria Valeria Bridge, on Foot to Slovakia - Hydrofoil from Budapest to Visegrád and Esztergom ## With young children: The Danube Bend with Small Children With children up to the age of six, choose just one stop: the citadel, by car, or Esztergom with the bridge. ### What works best Visegrád Citadel, free for under-6s The Maria Valeria Bridge, flat and suitable for pushchairs Watching the boats from the bank at Visegrád ### Sleeping Hotel Visegrád, with rooms with extra beds ### Eating Csülök Csárda, with a children's menu ### Bear in mind Do not take a pushchair up the citadel path ### Qué hacer with young children - Visegrád Citadel (Fellegvár) - Maria Valeria Bridge, on Foot to Slovakia - Hydrofoil from Budapest to Visegrád and Esztergom ## Consejos ### Go to Esztergom by train and come back by boat, or the other way round In season, the hydrofoil leaves Esztergom at 16:30; the train runs every half hour. ### Climb the dome at Esztergom before 16:00 It closes an hour earlier than the church. ### Bring your ID card For crossing the bridge into Slovakia and for student discounts. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How do you get from Budapest to Esztergom? By direct train from Budapest-Nyugati, every half hour, in about 65 minutes. Also by bus, by car on road 11 or, on some summer weekends, by hydrofoil. ### Can you see Visegrád and Esztergom in a day? Yes, easily by car; without a car, using the bus that links the two towns and starting early. ### How much does Esztergom Basilica cost? The church is free. The combined ticket for the crypt, treasury and dome costs 5,600 Ft. ### Can you walk to Slovakia? Yes, across the Maria Valeria Bridge, in ten minutes. Bring your ID card. ### Is there a boat in winter? No. The hydrofoil only sails on some weekends from May to September.