Eger was never something that was on my bucket list but when my friends heard that I was due to visit Budapest, a lot of people started talking about it and telling me that it was a place that I should not miss. Needless to say, I immediately started up reading about all the things to do in Eger Hungary and added it as one of the places on my itinerary.
It was lucky that I did because our time spent in Eger was amazing. I wish I had spent more time there but because we visited it in late autumn, we found that the sun set quite fast and the chill set in quickly. So we had to get indoors quickly to warm up. Luckily there are loads of great cafes and restaurants where you can do just that!
If you are thinking about visiting Eger. Do! But allocate a whole day to it so you really enjoy its vibe and take in all the things to do in Eger, Hungary.
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How To Get To Eger, Hungary
There are a couple of ways to get from Budapest to Eger. It all depends on your budget, the time you have and your interests. The distance is just about 124 kilometers between both the cities and can easily be covered by train, bus or car.
Train
I’ll be honest. I haven’t traveled by train so I don’t know how comfortable and easy the journey is. I did do my research on it though for our trip and you can take the train from Budapest-Keleti to Eger. The ticket prices for this journey generally ranges from 6-8 euros.
Bus
The bus journey from Budapest to Eger is a quick one. The bus takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach there. The prices for the ticket are also pretty cheap and can go as low as 5 euros.
Taxi
This is definitely the more expensive way to head from Budapest to Eger. The bonus is that you travel in comfort and don’t have to worry about the traffic conditions. You also get picked up from your doorstep which is pretty nice. It is also great if you want to stay late and enjoy all the amazing things to do in Eger, Hungary.
Drive
We chose to drive from Budapest to Eger and this stemmed from the fact that we were already on a road trip. Since we had our own car, it was super easy to just head out. Finding parking in Eger is also easy but you do have to pay the parking charges.
Where To Stay In Eger Hungary
Despite how small Eger feels like, the city is very popular and there are loads of different and quaint places to stay. I highly recommend turning the journey into an overnight stay. It was my one regret. There was just so nice and tranquil.
There are also different kinds of accommodation for all budget ranges. So don’t worry about that too much! Here are a couple that I recommend.
- Allure Healthy Hotel & Spa (Luxury)
- Excalibur miniHotel (Mid-Range)
- Hotel Romantik Eger (Budget)
Things To Do In Eger Hungary
1. Explore The Castle of Eger
Dedicate a good deal of your time to exploring the Castle of Eger. The castle is a kind of a fortress. You will spend a lot of time climbing up and down. The views are amazing from up here and you may even get a chance to see them shoot with a muscat. Well… You can hear it being fired. They don’t really use ammunation so its perfectly safe but boy does the sound affect the ears!
There are also a number of exhibits and museums that you can explore. They caught our attention throughout our time here and we may well have spent over 5 hours in the area if the lights weren’t snuffed out due to the short autumn days.
2. Climb The Eger Minaret
The Eger Minaret is unmissable. You will see it from almost all parts of the city. The structure was built during the Ottoman era. It is 40 meters high and was built from red sandstone. The structure was originally part of the Djami of the Kethuda mosque in the 17th century.
Now the mosque itself does not exist anymore and if you look around you will find little to show that it stood there. Other than the Eger minaret that is.
You can buy a ticket and climb right to the very top of the Eger minaret. There are exactly 98 steps and it is a pretty narrow structure so be prepared when you start out.
The balcony itself is at one of the narrowest parts of the minaret and at 26 meters from the ground, it gives you a very unique view of the city. The Eger minaret reminded me a lot of the Qutub Minar, one of the historical monuments of Delhi.
All things said, you have to ensure that you don’t miss the views from the top because it is one of the best things to do in Eger, Hungary.
3. Wander Through The Old Town
Eger is one of those magical villages that everyone dreams off when visiting Europe. It is well maintained, cute and has a lot of quaint little passages. It is an instagrammer’s dream! Wandering around the old town was one of my all time favorite activities after visiting the castle. It is one of the things to do in Eger that you should really not miss.
4. Visit The Basilica Of St John The Apostle
One of the most impressive sights and things to do in Eger, Hungary is to visit the Basilica of St. John The Apostle. This is a short walk away from the main heart of the city and I really mean a short distance away. It was built in the neoclassical style in 1836.
One of the main attractions that you will find in the basilica is its high arched dome. The paintings in the dome were mesmerizing and you can stand admiring the frescos for hours.
Entrance to the Basilica of St John The Apostle is free. So everyone can visit. Sometimes you will even find concerts being held here. When we visited the basilica was being renovated and great care was being taken to restore it.
5. Dobo Istvan Square
Right in the heart of the city is the Dobo Istvan Square. The central square is a great place to chill and relax. There are a number of cafes around. You could also catch a snack and sit in the square while taking in the views.
My favorite time to visit the Dobo Istvan Square is in the evening because the fading light gives the place a magical glow. You do have to be well aware that the temperatures also drop quickly here so make sure you dress up nice and warm especially during the winter months.
6. Shop For Wine
As you wander around the old town of Eger, you will find numerous little stores that sell all kinds of wine. Most of these are locally sourced because Eger is one of the famous wine regions in Hungary.
We obviously decided that wine was our go to souvenir from Hungary for this trip and came home with one bottle too many! If you don’t know which one to pick, don’t worry. Head in. You will find that the people are all too happy to help you select the right one.
7. Visit Bukk Mountains
Now ideally speaking one needs more than a single day to explore Eger thoroughly. This is because there are just so many things to do in Eger, Hungary and each item on the list takes time. The castle itself can easily take 4-6 hours depending on your pace. Especially if you are a person like me who loves to take everything in.
The Bukk mountains is another one of the cool things to do in Eger Hungary. The national park is just 10 kilometers away from Eger and is an easy day trip. The national park is beautiful and is famous for its caves. Some of these caves are the largest and deepest in the country.
8. Eger Thermal Baths
Hungary is famous for its thermal baths. Now most people think of Budapest whenever thermal baths are mentioned. Few realize that Eger has its thermal baths too. Its a particularly great way to relax if you have spent the previous day walking or hiking.
Oh and while we are on the topic, another great place where you will find thermal baths is in Szeged which is a city at the south of Hungary. Not quite as spectacular as Eger but still one that is worth exploring if you are in the area.
9. Church of Anthony of Padua
One of the most iconic things to do in Eger, Hungary is to visit the Church of Anthony of Padua. The church is very prominent and is situated at the Dobo Istavan square. You can easily spot it from the Castle of Eger.
The inside of the church is really pretty and if you have time, just enter the church for a few minutes. You will find that the interior of the church is just as majestic as the façade.
And there you have it. These were some of the things to do in Eger, Hungary that we packed into a single day. Mind you, if I had a chance to visit again, I would make it a weekend visit or more. This is because I really loved the vibe of the city.
