# Eger

A Baroque town two hours from Budapest: the castle that held out against the Ottomans, a minaret, cellars cut into the rock and thermal baths.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/hungary/eger · Revisado: 2026-11-12

Eger is about 140 km north-east of Budapest, in the foothills of the Bükk mountains, two hours away by train or a little less by car. It is a small Baroque town with three reasons to visit: the castle, where in 1552 a handful of defenders held off an Ottoman army; the wine, tasted in the cellars cut into the rock in the Valley of the Beautiful Woman; and the water, with a spa in a park and a Turkish bath from the early 17th century. It can be done as a long day trip from Budapest, but with one night you will enjoy it much more.

## Getting there from Budapest

By train, from Budapest-Keleti, in about two hours; some trains require a change at Füzesabony. The station is a 20-minute walk from the centre.

By car, on the M3 motorway, about 140 km and a little under two hours. Hungarian motorways require an electronic vignette.

If you are coming from Spain, you fly to Budapest and can be in Eger in just over three hours, or hire a car at the airport.

## What to do in one day

Start at the castle at 9:00: watch the short film about 1552, go down into the casemates and walk the walls. Head down to Dobó Square, climb the minaret if narrow spaces don't bother you, and have lunch at Macok Bisztró, at the foot of the castle, or at Palacsintavár, with its 40 cm pancakes. In the afternoon, the basilica and the Lyceum with its camera obscura, facing each other. Finish in the water: the thermal baths with the afternoon ticket or the Turkish bath, which stays open until 21:00.

## With one night: the valley of the cellars

What you miss if you go back to Budapest the same day is the evening in the Valley of the Beautiful Woman, a 20-minute walk from the centre: dozens of cellars cut into the rock where you taste Egri Bikavér, Eger's red blend, and Egri Csillag, the white, straight from the barrel. Walk there and take a taxi back. To sleep, try the Imola Hotel Udvarház, at the foot of the castle, the Senator-Ház, on Dobó Square, or, if you have no children, the Imola Hotel Platán, next to the baths.

## When to go

From April to October, when the terraces at the cellars are open, and especially in September and October, at harvest time. In winter, the castle and the baths open every day, the town is quiet and a hot bath at the end of the day is very welcome. On 24 and 25 December the castle is closed.

## Dónde está
- Zonas: Thermal getaways
- Cerca: Hollókő (a 59.6 km), Gödöllő (a 84.2 km), Vác and Nagymaros (a 94.3 km), Szentendre (a 100.6 km)

## Qué hacer
- **Eger Castle** (3 h · All ages; the casemates have stairs and low passages · Adult 4,800 Ft · EEA students aged 6 to 26 and pensioners aged 62 to 70, 2,800 Ft): What it is
Eger Castle is the symbol of the town and one of the most visited museums in Hungary. In 1552, about two thousand defenders under István Dobó withstood the siege of an Ottoman army many times larger; the story is told in the novel Stars of Eger, which every Hungarian child reads. Inside the walls there is a museum of the castle's history, the heroes' hall, the prison, the underground casemates, a panopticon, a wine-tasting exhibition in the Dobó Bastion and a cinema that shows a short film about 1552 every half hour.
Opening hours (until 12 March 2027)

Castle gate: every day from 6:00 to 18:00; ticket offices from 9:00 to 17:00.
Castle history and heroes' hall: from 9:00 to 16:30.
Varkoch Bastion and lower casemates: from 9:30 to 16:00.
Cinema: from 9:30 to 15:30, every half hour.
On 24 and 25 December it is closed; on the 26th, only the grounds.

Prices
Adult, 4,800 Ft. Students aged 6 to 26 and pensioners aged 62 to 70, 2,800 Ft, for EEA citizens only and with ID. The ticket is also valid for the Gárdonyi house museum, the Ziffer gallery and the Lenkey house.
Getting there
Address: Vár 1. You walk up from Dobó Square in ten minutes.
- **Eger Thermal Baths (Termál- és Strandfürdő)** (3 h · All ages; children's area in the southern part · Adult 4,600 Ft · children from 4, students and pensioners 3,700 Ft · afternoon from 15:00, 3,000 Ft · sauna 2,000 Ft): What it is
Eger's municipal spa occupies a 5-hectare park five minutes from the centre, with 13 pools, outdoor and indoor, sports courts and a play area. The northern part is the quiet one, with radioactive medicinal water and sulphurous thermal water; the southern, younger part has the children's pools. In the park grows an oriental plane tree more than 250 years old that was European Tree of the Year in 2013. From the same grounds you can pass into the Turkish bath.
Prices and opening hours

Adult, 4,600 Ft; children over 4, students up to 23 and pensioners, 3,700 Ft.
Afternoon ticket, from 15:00: 3,000 Ft.
Sauna all day, 2,000 Ft extra; Turkish bath, 3,600 Ft extra.

From 1 September 2026 it is open every day from 9:00 to 18:00; the ticket office closes at 17:00 and you must leave the water at 17:30. Discounts are verified with photo ID.
Getting there
The visitors' entrance is on Petőfi tér, a few minutes' walk from the basilica.
- **Valley of the Beautiful Woman (Szépasszony-völgy) and Its Cellars** (3 h · Adults; with children, by day): What it is
The Szépasszony-völgy, the Valley of the Beautiful Woman, is an amphitheatre of cellars cut into volcanic tuff about a 20-minute walk south-west of the centre. According to the tourist office, it is Eger's first tasting place. Each cellar has its own door and its tables inside or outside, and you go from one to another trying wine from the barrel: Egri Bikavér ("bull's blood"), the region's red blend, and Egri Csillag, the white.
One cellar
Sike Pince, run by the Sike family, is at Disznófősor 43 and works 27 hectares of vineyard, mostly in Egerszólát. It offers tastings and tables with a reservation; groups book on +36 30 742 9024 and the cellar can be reached on +36 36 951 138.
Getting there
On foot from the basilica along Király utca and Szépasszonyvölgy utca, about 20 minutes, or by taxi. By car, there is parking at the entrance to the valley, but if you are tasting, don't drive.
- **Eger Turkish Bath (Török Fürdő)** (2 h 30 · Adults and children; children up to 16 years at a reduced rate · Adult 4,600 Ft (2 h 30) · children up to 16 years 3,200 Ft · evening from 19:00 (Sunday to Thursday) 3,000 Ft): What it is
Eger's Turkish bath was built between 1610 and 1617, when the town was Ottoman, and its pool under the dome is the oldest part. The rest of the building was added over the following centuries. Today it has six pools 90 cm deep: three of radioactive medicinal water at 30 degrees (the Turkish one and two "mirror" pools), one hot at 38, one warm at 36 and one cold at 28. There is a sauna, an infrared sauna, a steam bath, an aroma cabin and a rest room, and hammam-style massages.
Wellness hours

Monday and Tuesday, from 16:30 to 21:00.
Wednesday and Thursday, from 15:00 to 21:00.
Friday, from 13:00 to 21:00.
Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, from 9:00 to 21:00.

You must leave the water 30 minutes before closing. On weekday mornings the building is given over to medical treatments.
Prices
2 h 30 ticket: 4,600 Ft; children up to 16 years, 3,200 Ft. From Sunday to Thursday, from 19:00, 3,000 Ft. Each extra minute is charged at 30 Ft.
Getting there
Fürdő utca 3-4, next to the thermal baths park, five minutes from the basilica. Telephone: +36 36 510 552.
- **Eger Basilica** (40 min · All ages): Eger Basilica is the second largest church in Hungary and one of the great works of neoclassicism in the country, from the first half of the 19th century. It is recognised by the staircase with statues of saints and apostles and the columned portico. It is at Pyrker János tér 1, in the centre, opposite the Lyceum: you see it on the way between the castle and the baths. Enter quietly if a mass is under way and check at the door for visiting hours and organ concerts.
- **Eger Lyceum, Library and Camera Obscura** (1 h 30 · All ages; the tower is reached by stairs): The Lyceum is a great 18th-century Baroque building opposite the basilica, now home to the university. Inside you can visit the archbishopric's library, with a painted ceiling and very valuable documents, and, in the tower, the observatory and science centre, with an 18th-century camera obscura that the tourist office presents as the oldest on the continent that still works: a mirror and a lens project the town live onto a table in the darkened room. It is at Eszterházy tér 1. Check opening hours and prices at the tourist office before you go.
- **Eger Minaret** (30 min · Adults with no fear of heights or confined spaces; the staircase is very narrow): Eger's minaret is what remains of a mosque from the Ottoman period, in the 17th century, when the town was in Turkish hands after the fall of the castle in 1596. It is about 40 metres tall and has a cross at the top, placed after the reconquest. You can climb a very narrow spiral staircase to the balcony, from where you see the castle and the rooftops. It is at Knézich Károly utca 4, five minutes from Dobó Square. It is not for anyone who is claustrophobic.

## Dónde comer
- **Macok Bisztró & Borbár** (Restaurant, Eger, €€€). Qué pedir: The Flavours of Our Region menu with an Egri Bikavér from the wine list.
- **Palacsintavár** (Restaurant, Eger, €). Qué pedir: A 40 cm savoury pancake to share and a sweet one for dessert.

## Car-free: Eger by Train and on Foot
Eger can be seen perfectly well without a car: the direct train arrives from Budapest in about two hours and the centre is small. The Valley of the Beautiful Woman is a 20-minute walk away, which also lets you taste wine without worrying about driving. The budget is per person per day, with accommodation, meals, tickets and train.
Presupuesto orientativo: 70–130 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir without a car
- **Imola Hotel Udvarház** (Small hotel): The place
Imola Udvarház is a small three-star hotel in the pedestrian zone of the historic centre, next to Eger Castle. It has 15 rooms: singles, doubles and larger apartments with a fitted kitchen, which suit families or groups of friends. On the ground floor is the Macok bistro, with a Bib Gourmand, and its wine shop.
Location
You step out onto the square and have the castle gate two minutes away, Dobó Square five and the baths ten. It is the place to see Eger without a car.
- **Senator-Ház** (Small hotel): The place
Senator-Ház is a house almost 300 years old at the entrance to Dobó Square, the Baroque heart of Eger. It reopened in May 2024 after a renovation, with 11 rooms and a restaurant. There are classic rooms, single rooms, attic rooms and the larger "Senator's room".
Rules
Rooms are available from 15:00 and must be vacated before 10:00. As in all Hungarian accommodation, on arrival each guest is registered with their identity document. Its website explains where to park in the centre.
### Servicios
- **Eger Railway Station**: Direct trains from Budapest-Keleti in about two hours · The station is about a 20-minute walk from the centre
- **Tourinform Eger**: Eger's tourist office, in the centre · Maps, museum opening hours and the cellars in the valley

## By car: Eger by Car, Two Hours from Budapest
By car you reach Eger from Budapest in a little under two hours on the M3, with an electronic vignette. Leave the car at the hotel or in a car park outside the historic centre, which is largely pedestrianised, and get around on foot. If you are going to the cellars, don't take it. The budget is per person per day, with accommodation, food and petrol.
Presupuesto orientativo: 80–150 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're driving
- **Imola Hotel Platán** (Spa hotel): The place
Imola Hotel Platán presents itself as the first adults-only hotel in Hungary: four stars in the centre of Eger, right next to the thermal baths park. It has a spa with a sauna and sauna ceremonies, a gym, a grill terrace and the restaurant Borág, which organises dinners with Eger winemakers and themed nights.
Who it is for
For couples and friends who come to Eger to drink good wine and bathe, without children. The thermal baths and the Turkish bath are around the corner.
- **Imola Hotel Udvarház** (Small hotel): The place
Imola Udvarház is a small three-star hotel in the pedestrian zone of the historic centre, next to Eger Castle. It has 15 rooms: singles, doubles and larger apartments with a fitted kitchen, which suit families or groups of friends. On the ground floor is the Macok bistro, with a Bib Gourmand, and its wine shop.
Location
You step out onto the square and have the castle gate two minutes away, Dobó Square five and the baths ten. It is the place to see Eger without a car.
- **Senator-Ház** (Small hotel): The place
Senator-Ház is a house almost 300 years old at the entrance to Dobó Square, the Baroque heart of Eger. It reopened in May 2024 after a renovation, with 11 rooms and a restaurant. There are classic rooms, single rooms, attic rooms and the larger "Senator's room".
Rules
Rooms are available from 15:00 and must be vacated before 10:00. As in all Hungarian accommodation, on arrival each guest is registered with their identity document. Its website explains where to park in the centre.

## By plane: Fly to Budapest and Continue to Eger by Train or Car
Eger has no airport with flights from Spain: you fly to Budapest-Ferenc Liszt (BUD), with direct flights from Madrid and Barcelona. From there it is about 140 km: by hire car, a little under two hours on the M3 motorway; without a car, the 100E bus to the centre and the train from Budapest-Keleti, about two hours.
### Dónde dormir if you're flying
- **Imola Hotel Platán** (Spa hotel): The place
Imola Hotel Platán presents itself as the first adults-only hotel in Hungary: four stars in the centre of Eger, right next to the thermal baths park. It has a spa with a sauna and sauna ceremonies, a gym, a grill terrace and the restaurant Borág, which organises dinners with Eger winemakers and themed nights.
Who it is for
For couples and friends who come to Eger to drink good wine and bathe, without children. The thermal baths and the Turkish bath are around the corner.
- **Imola Hotel Udvarház** (Small hotel): The place
Imola Udvarház is a small three-star hotel in the pedestrian zone of the historic centre, next to Eger Castle. It has 15 rooms: singles, doubles and larger apartments with a fitted kitchen, which suit families or groups of friends. On the ground floor is the Macok bistro, with a Bib Gourmand, and its wine shop.
Location
You step out onto the square and have the castle gate two minutes away, Dobó Square five and the baths ten. It is the place to see Eger without a car.
- **Senator-Ház** (Small hotel): The place
Senator-Ház is a house almost 300 years old at the entrance to Dobó Square, the Baroque heart of Eger. It reopened in May 2024 after a renovation, with 11 rooms and a restaurant. There are classic rooms, single rooms, attic rooms and the larger "Senator's room".
Rules
Rooms are available from 15:00 and must be vacated before 10:00. As in all Hungarian accommodation, on arrival each guest is registered with their identity document. Its website explains where to park in the centre.
### Servicios
- **Eger Railway Station**: Direct trains from Budapest-Keleti in about two hours · The station is about a 20-minute walk from the centre

## As a family: Eger with the Family

Eger is a well-rounded trip with children: a real castle with a siege story, underground passages and a spa with children's pools five minutes away.

### What works best
The castle, with casemates, a cinema and figures from the 1552 siege

The thermal baths, with a children's area in the southern part

The Lyceum's camera obscura, which projects the town live

The basilica and its staircase

### Sleeping
Imola Hotel Udvarház, with apartments with kitchens

### Eating
Palacsintavár, giant pancakes to share

### Bear in mind
The Imola Hotel Platán is for adults only

The minaret is not for small children: a very narrow staircase

### Qué hacer as a family
- Eger Castle
- Eger Thermal Baths (Termál- és Strandfürdő)
- Eger Basilica
- Eger Lyceum, Library and Camera Obscura

## With teenagers: Eger with Teenagers

For teenagers, Eger has battle history, a minaret to climb and baths for the afternoon.

### What works best
The castle and its casemates

The minaret, with its spiral staircase

The Turkish bath, with a reduced rate up to age 16

The Lyceum's camera obscura

### Sleeping
Imola Hotel Udvarház

Senator-Ház

### Eating
Palacsintavár

Macok Bisztró

### Bear in mind
The valley of the cellars is an adult outing; with teenagers, go by day

### Qué hacer with teenagers
- Eger Castle
- Eger Thermal Baths (Termál- és Strandfürdő)
- Eger Turkish Bath (Török Fürdő)
- Eger Basilica
- Eger Lyceum, Library and Camera Obscura
- Eger Minaret

## Consejos

### Go on a weekday
At weekends groups arrive from Budapest and the baths fill up.

### Bring cash
Palacsintavár and many cellars in the valley do not take cards.

### Do the Turkish bath at the end of the day
From Sunday to Thursday, from 19:00, the entrance costs 3,000 Ft.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How do you get from Budapest to Eger?
By train from Budapest-Keleti, about two hours, or by car on the M3, a little under two hours.

### Can you see Eger in a day from Budapest?
Yes, if you leave early: castle, centre and baths. For the valley of the cellars, it is better to stay the night.

### How much does the castle cost?
4,800 Ft for adults; 2,800 Ft with a discount for EEA students and pensioners.

### What wine do you drink in Eger?
Egri Bikavér, a red blend, and Egri Csillag, a white.

### Are there thermal baths in Eger?
Yes, a spa with 13 pools in a park and a Turkish bath from 1610–1617.