# Vác and Nagymaros The left bank of the Danube Bend, 25 minutes by train from Budapest: Vác's Baroque old town with its mummies and, in Nagymaros, the river opposite Visegrád. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/hungary/vac-and-nagymaros · Revisado: 2026-11-12 A day trip from Budapest: Vác and Nagymaros are on the left bank of the Danube, the one almost nobody visits. While the coach groups go along the other bank to Szentendre and Visegrád, here you have a Baroque episcopal city with a triangular square, an 18th-century crypt with real mummies, a very long riverside promenade and, twenty kilometres upriver, a village of vines and chestnut trees with Visegrád castle right opposite. It is all on the same train line from Nyugati station. ## Getting there from Budapest By train, from Budapest-Nyugati towards Vác or Szob: about 25 minutes to Vác on the zone-stopping trains and about 40 on those that stop everywhere. Vác station is ten minutes from the square. The same trains continue to Nagymaros-Visegrád. By car, on the M2 dual carriageway, about 30 km. The main square is closed to cars: park by the river or in the underground car park. By boat, from May to September on some weekends, the Mahart hydrofoil from Budapest to Esztergom stops at Vác. If you are coming from Spain, from Budapest airport you arrive in a little over an hour: 100E to the centre, metro to Nyugati and a train. ## What to see in Vác Start at Március 15 Square, an elongated Baroque square in a triangle with a bandstand, a fountain and the ruins of a medieval church at ground level. On one corner, beneath the White Friars' church, a crypt walled up since 1801 was found in 1994 with 264 naturally mummified bodies: the Memento Mori shows its painted coffins, clothing and mummies. It is open Wednesday to Sunday. To the south, the cathedral, a great basilica with columns and a viewing platform in the tower. To the north, the triumphal arch, the only one in Hungary, built in five months to welcome Maria Theresa. And between it all and the river, the Danube promenade, with sculptures, playgrounds and the EuroVelo 6 cycle path. ## And Nagymaros A short train ride upriver leaves you at Nagymaros-Visegrád. The village looks straight at Visegrád castle, and the ferry, which has crossed since 1890, takes you to the other side for 950 Ft: that way you link up with the Danube Bend. If you like walking, follow the blue trail up to the Julianus lookout on Hegyes-tető, about 4 km of forest with the bend of the river at your feet. In the centre, the Nagymaros church preserves the only medieval church tower left on the Danube Bend. ## Where to eat and sleep In Vác, Lujza & Koriander serves breakfast, brunch and the weekly lunch menu on the riverside promenade, admits dogs and is also open on Sunday; Remete Pince serves Hungarian cooking in a cellar from the Turkish period with a garden over the Danube, every day. To sleep, the eight rooms at Lujza & Koriander, almost all with a terrace over the river, or the Vácz Hotel, with free parking. ## How long? Half a day for Vác. A whole day if you add Nagymaros and the ferry, or the climb to Hegyes-tető. With a night, you can cross to Visegrád in the morning and continue along the Danube Bend. ## Dónde está - Zonas: Danube - Cerca: Szentendre (a 12.7 km), Danube Bend (a 15.6 km), Gödöllő (a 26.1 km), Budapest (a 31.9 km) ## Qué hacer - **Március 15 Square and Vác's Baroque Old Town** (1 h · 1.5 km · All ages; pedestrianised and flat · Free): The walk The centre of Vác is an elongated triangular square, Március 15. tér, surrounded by Baroque houses: according to the city's tourist office, the only Baroque square of that shape in Hungary. It has a bandstand, a fountain and, at ground level, the ruins of the old church of St Michael. On one corner is the White Friars' church, above the Memento Mori crypt; on another, the Baroque town hall with the MADI museum. From the square, Köztársaság street leads north to the triumphal arch and, south, to the cathedral. An hour is enough for the centre. - **Memento Mori, the Mummies of the White Friars' Crypt** (45 min · Adults and teenagers; it can upset small children): What it is Beneath the White Friars' church, on the main square, the town buried its inhabitants from 1731 to 1801; afterwards the crypt was walled up. It was rediscovered in 1994, during the restoration of the church, and the cold, stable air had naturally mummified the bodies: 264 remains, with their painted coffins, clothing, jewellery and burial objects. It is the largest and best preserved of the crypt burials found in Hungary. The Tragor Ignác Museum shows a selection at Március 15. tér 19. Opening hours Wednesday and Thursday, from 10:00 to 17:00. Friday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 18:00. Telephone: +36 30 555 7620. The official listing does not publish prices: ask at the ticket office. - **Vác Cathedral and the Tower Viewing Platform** (45 min · All ages; the tower, by stairs): What it is The Cathedral of the Assumption presides over the southern part of the centre, on an esplanade open to the Danube. The tourist office presents it as the fourth largest basilica in the country and the third great church of Vác. Its façade of Corinthian columns is the first thing you see on arriving from the station, and from the tower's viewing platform you see the river as far as the Börzsöny. Visiting It is ten minutes' walk from Március 15. tér along Köztársaság út. The tower's hours change with the season: ask at the tourist office on the square. - **Vác Triumphal Arch, the Only One in Hungary** (15 min · All ages · Free): What it is North of the centre, at the end of Köztársaság út, stands the only triumphal arch in Hungary, the Kőkapu or stone gate. It was built in five months for the arrival of Empress Maria Theresa. It is on the street and can be seen at any time; add it to the walk between the square and the Danube. - **Vác Danube Promenade** (1 h · 2.5 km · All ages; flat, fine with a pushchair · Free): The walk The Duna-parti korzó runs along the Vác riverbank, opposite Szentendre Island, and is one of the longest riverside promenades in the country, with a cycle path along its whole length that is part of the EuroVelo 6. There is a sculpture park, playgrounds and benches, and at one end remain parts of the castle wall and the statue of King Géza I. - **Nagymaros to Visegrád Ferry** (15 min · All ages · Person 950 Ft · bicycle 950 Ft): What it is Since 1890 a ferry has linked Nagymaros with Visegrád, on the opposite bank, at the foot of the citadel. The crossing gives the best view of the castle above the bend of the river and is the way to link this excursion with the Danube Bend. Times and price Departures roughly every hour from first thing until 20:00, from both banks. Person, 950 Ft; bicycle, 950 Ft. It is run by Atlantis Club, of Visegrád. The Nagymaros landing stage is a few minutes' walk from Nagymaros-Visegrád station. - **Climb to the Julianus Lookout on Hegyes-tető from Nagymaros** (3 h 30 · 8 km · Walkers; steady climb, wear boots · Free): The route Above Nagymaros rises Hegyes-tető, one of the first hills of the Börzsöny, crowned by the Julianus lookout tower, dedicated to the friar who in the 13th century went in search of the Hungarians who remained in the east. From the top you see the bend of the Danube with Visegrád opposite. From Nagymaros-Visegrád station, cross the bridge over the tracks and follow the blue trail: it is about 4 km of steady climbing through the forest, passing the Kövesmező meadow. Allow three to four hours there and back with stops. Bear in mind Bring water and hiking footwear; in winter, the path may be icy. Come down in time for the ferry to Visegrád or the return train. - **Nagymaros Church and Its Medieval Tower** (20 min · All ages): What it is The Catholic church of Nagymaros already appears in a document of 1324. It was Gothic and has been rebuilt several times, but its tower is, according to the town council, the only medieval ecclesiastical monument still standing on the Danube Bend. Set into the north wall is a Roman relief with vine leaves, and inside is the lime-wood Patrona Hungariae that Béla Ohmann carved in 1938, 2.83 m tall. ## Dónde comer - **Lujza & Koriander** (Café, Vác, €€). Qué pedir: A brunch on the terrace with a view of the river and a house cake with your coffee. - **Remete Pince Étterem** (Restaurant, Vác, €€). Qué pedir: The seasonal dish on the menu; in summer, a table in the garden with a view of the river. ## Car-free: Vác and Nagymaros Without a Car, by Train and Ferry It is one of the easiest car-free excursions from Budapest: the train from Nyugati leaves you in Vác in 25 minutes, the old town is covered on foot and the same train continues to Nagymaros, where the ferry crosses to Visegrád. The budget is per person per day, with one night, meals and transport. Presupuesto orientativo: 60–110 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir without a car - **Lujza & Koriander, Rooms** (Small hotel): The place Above the Lujza & Koriander café, on the Danube promenade, there are eight double rooms named after spices or plants: Bodza, Gyömbér, Menta, Sáfrány on the first floor; Vanília, Kamilla, Rozmaring and Hibiszkusz on the second. They measure between 18 and 26 m², with a large bed (two can be separated) and almost all have a terrace over the river; the remaining two face the garden with a French balcony. What there is Air conditioning, fridge, mosquito net, wi-fi and television with streaming platforms in all of them. In the inner garden there is a Finnish sauna and a terrace to relax on. Breakfast is taken downstairs, in the café. Getting there About a 15-minute walk from Vác station, on the riverside promenade, at the foot of the old town. - **Vácz Hotel** (Hotel): The place The Vácz Hotel opened in spring 2019 in a building that was already accommodation, completely rebuilt, a few minutes' walk from the centre. It has 14 rooms with bathroom, nine on the ground floor and five attic rooms, all air-conditioned and with free wi-fi. Reception is open 24 hours. Practical details The buffet breakfast, with natural produce, is included in the price. Free secure, supervised parking, useful in Vác, where the centre is paid. It is between the station and the old town: convenient both by train and by car. ### Servicios - **Vác Railway Station**: Suburban trains from Budapest-Nyugati in about 25 minutes (40 on those that stop everywhere) · 10 minutes' walk from the main square ## By plane: Fly to Budapest and Go Up to Vác by Suburban Train Vác and Nagymaros have no airport: you fly to Budapest-Ferenc Liszt (BUD), with direct flights from Madrid and Barcelona. The 100E bus takes you to the centre in about 40 minutes; from there, the M3 metro to Nyugati and the train to Vác, another 25. By hire car, from the airport to Vác it is about 50 km via the M0 and the M2. Almost everyone comes for the day from Budapest. ### Dónde dormir if you're flying - **Lujza & Koriander, Rooms** (Small hotel): The place Above the Lujza & Koriander café, on the Danube promenade, there are eight double rooms named after spices or plants: Bodza, Gyömbér, Menta, Sáfrány on the first floor; Vanília, Kamilla, Rozmaring and Hibiszkusz on the second. They measure between 18 and 26 m², with a large bed (two can be separated) and almost all have a terrace over the river; the remaining two face the garden with a French balcony. What there is Air conditioning, fridge, mosquito net, wi-fi and television with streaming platforms in all of them. In the inner garden there is a Finnish sauna and a terrace to relax on. Breakfast is taken downstairs, in the café. Getting there About a 15-minute walk from Vác station, on the riverside promenade, at the foot of the old town. - **Vácz Hotel** (Hotel): The place The Vácz Hotel opened in spring 2019 in a building that was already accommodation, completely rebuilt, a few minutes' walk from the centre. It has 14 rooms with bathroom, nine on the ground floor and five attic rooms, all air-conditioned and with free wi-fi. Reception is open 24 hours. Practical details The buffet breakfast, with natural produce, is included in the price. Free secure, supervised parking, useful in Vác, where the centre is paid. It is between the station and the old town: convenient both by train and by car. ### Servicios - **Vác Railway Station**: Suburban trains from Budapest-Nyugati in about 25 minutes (40 on those that stop everywhere) · 10 minutes' walk from the main square ## As a family: Vác and Nagymaros with the Family With children, the excursion works because of the river: a short train ride, a flat promenade with playgrounds, a ferry to cross the Danube and, for those who walk, a climb into the forest with a tower at the end. ### What works best The Danube promenade, with playgrounds and a cycle path The ferry to Visegrád, short and with the castle opposite Március 15 Square and the triumphal arch, car-free The climb to the Julianus lookout, for children who walk ### Sleeping Vácz Hotel, with parking and 24-hour reception Lujza & Koriander, with a garden ### Eating Lujza & Koriander, brunch and cakes Remete Pince, with a garden over the river ### Bear in mind The Memento Mori can upset small children The climb to Hegyes-tető is about 4 km uphill ### Qué hacer as a family - Március 15 Square and Vác's Baroque Old Town - Vác Cathedral and the Tower Viewing Platform - Vác Triumphal Arch, the Only One in Hungary - Vác Danube Promenade - Nagymaros to Visegrád Ferry - Climb to the Julianus Lookout on Hegyes-tető from Nagymaros ## With teenagers: Vác and Nagymaros with Teenagers For teenagers, what hooks them is the odd and the concrete: real mummies in a crypt, a cathedral tower with views and a hike into the forest that ends at a lookout over the bend of the Danube. ### What works best The Memento Mori, with painted coffins and mummies of the 18th century The cathedral tower viewing platform The climb to the Julianus lookout and the ferry to Visegrád ### Sleeping Lujza & Koriander, with a sauna in the garden ### Eating Remete Pince, in a cellar from the Turkish period ### Bear in mind The Memento Mori is closed on Monday and Tuesday ### Qué hacer with teenagers - Memento Mori, the Mummies of the White Friars' Crypt - Vác Cathedral and the Tower Viewing Platform - Nagymaros to Visegrád Ferry - Climb to the Julianus Lookout on Hegyes-tető from Nagymaros ## Consejos ### Go Wednesday to Sunday The Memento Mori is closed on Monday and Tuesday. ### Come back by the other bank Cross to Visegrád on the ferry and return to Budapest by bus or, in season, by boat. ### Take the zone-stopping train It takes 25 minutes against 40 for the one that stops everywhere. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How do you get from Budapest to Vác? By train from Nyugati, about 25 minutes; by car on the M2, about 30 km. ### What is the Memento Mori? The exhibition in the crypt of the White Friars' church, with 264 naturally mummified bodies from the 18th century. ### How do you cross to Visegrád from Nagymaros? On the Atlantis Club ferry, roughly every hour until 20:00, for 950 Ft. ### Is it worth going with children? Yes, for the riverside promenade, the ferry and the car-free square; the Memento Mori is better from a certain age. ### Can you go with a dog? Yes in the streets and on the promenade, on a lead; Lujza & Koriander admits dogs.