While Szeged is the third largest city in Hungary, it still receives considerably lower footfall as far as tourists are concerned. I’ll be honest. If I wasn’t visiting a friend in Arad, Romania, this probably wouldn’t have been on my map too.
As I was doing my research, I found that there are quite a few things to do in Szeged and it looked like a great base for a couple of days of R&R. If you’ve been following me, you probably know that I tend to try out the path less trodden more often than not.
Don’t get me wrong. I do love big cities but I also love heading out and exploring smaller towns, villages and cities. They always feel so cozy and I come back feeling as if I have explored them thoroughly which is hard to do in a big city no matter how long you stay, if you know what I mean.
Anyways, back to the topic at hand. There are a lot of things to do in Szeged, Hungary but not enough for days in the city. In one day we pretty much covered the whole city and we did it on foot with our toddlers. By the time we left the city after three days, we had scoured all parts of the city thoroughly.
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Where To Stay In Szeged
Szeged is a relatively small place so no matter where you stay, you will find that you can easily get from one part of the city to the other on foot. This is something that we really thought about because we had two young kids with us and we wanted something that was close to the things to do in Szeged.
Here are a couple of great places to stay while you are visiting.
Hunguest Hotel Forrás – Luxury
⭐️ Rating: 8.7/10 (1,415 Reviews) Price: $145 per night 📍Location: Szeged, Szent-Györgyi A. u. 16-24. Details: Read more on booking.com now!
If you’ve walked along the river walk of Szeged you would be hard-pressed to miss the huge slides in the distance. These are part of the Napfényfürdő Aquapolis Szeged Spa Centre.
“Perfect place for family and kids. The breakfast was fantastic .Definitely recommend.”
Angelina (read more reviews now!)
The center not only has a spa but it also has adventure pools, thermal baths, saunas and more. It is the perfect place to relax at. If the weather is too cold then the baths are sure to warm you up.
So why am I talking about this right now? Well the Hunguest Hotel Forrás gives you an unlimited pass to all of the activities in the center. It also has a bowling alley, onsite restaurant and more. Plus the rooms are super comfortable. So if you are looking for a nice luxurious stay with plenty to do just next door, this is the place that you want to be!
Noir Hotel – Budget
⭐️ Rating: 9.5/10 (1,164 Reviews) Price: $55 per night 📍Location: Szeged, 11 Püspök utca Details: Read more on booking.com now!
You really can’t beat the amazing location of the Noir Hotel. Located right in the heart of the city, all the attractions are a short walk away. Plus all the best restaurants are right at your doorstep! For those of you who drove to the city, you will be delighted to know that there is a private parking on the premises so your car will be safe.
“This is a new and stylish hotel with well-appointed rooms. The hotel is located in the centre and is walking distance to all the main sights. The staff were very helpful. Delicious croissants and yoghurt for breakfast, as well as rolls, meat and cheese.”
Laura (read more reviews now!)
The apartment comes with all the modern amenities that you could need including a kitchenette which has a stove, an oven, a fridge and a microwave. Perfect if you need to make a quick meal. Oh and if that wasn’t enough, there is also a continental breakfast that you can enjoy every morning! Can life get better than this?
Things To Do In Szeged
One of the things that surprised me is that despite the fact that the city is small, there are a surprising number of things to do in Szeged. You could easily spend a day covering each of them especially if you spend time inside the museums.
1. Castle Szeged
One of the iconic things to do in Szeged is to visit Castle Szeged. When we visited the castle, it was closed so we really did not get a chance to see the museum within. Don’t expect a huge structure though. It is a little brick building along the riverfront that you probably would not realize holds the status of a castle. The museum is small and talks about the history of Szeged.
2. Museum of Móra Ferenc
This is the Natural History museum of Szeged. Again we gave this one a pass not because it was not good but because we had spent a whole day in the Natural history museum in Vienna just the day before.
I’ve spoken to a couple of the locals about it though and they say that it really worth the visit especially if you are visiting the city with kids.
3. Fountain Móra Ferenc Park
One the cool things to do in Szeged is to watch the Fountain Móra Ferenc in action. The water dances to its own beat and it is pretty fun to watch on a cold day. On hotter summer days, I can well imagine children running around in it to cool off. If you visit during the night, you can see the fountain lit up in different colors which is pretty soothing to watch.
4. The Musical Clock
The musical clock is one of the attractions in Szeged. We rushed out of our way to see and hear it chime. Yes! You read that right. THe figures in the clock are supposed to move along with the clock. Unfortunately we did not see them in action because I think the clock is no longer working.
The music is still very soothing and since you probably will visit a number of attractions in the near vicinity, it is still worth stopping by to catch a glimpse of the iconic clock.
5. Dóm Tér
The Dóm tér is not always active because the square is often used as an events venue. This is where the Christmas markets and other festivities are held every year. Even if there is no even currently taking place, make sure you visit the square because it has loads of little details and historical architecture that you will love. In addition to this, there is also a ferris wheel in one corner.
The Dóm tér also is the best place to catch a full view of the Votive Church of Szeged.
6. Votive Church of Szeged
The Votive Church is an impressive structure and visiting it is one of the things to do in Szeged Hungary that you should not miss.
The Votive Church of Szeged is an impressive structure and one that you can not fail to miss no matter which direction you approach it from. It is a Catholic church and entering it is one of the free things to do in Szeged and one that you should not miss. Climbing up the tower on the other hand has an admission fee.
The inside of the church has a number of different frescos. They merge together like one big collage and it often becomes hard to see where they begin and end unless you sit down and focus on each picture individually. The main painting in the center of the dome is by Laszlo Patay. The theme of which is the procession of the Holy Ghost.
The moment you catch sight of the interior (or the exterior for that matter) you will know why I keep repeating that this is one of the things to do in Szeged that you should not miss!
7. Szegedi Szent Miklós Szerb Ortodox Templom
Right opposite the famous Votive church is a Serbian Orthodox church named Szegedi Szent Miklós Szerb. The church was opened in 1781 and is pretty in its own right.
It was closed when we visited so we could not enter. I do not have any information on whether there is an entrance fee for this church.
Still catching a glimpse of the façade of this church still features on my list of things to do in Szeged because of how close it is to the other attractions.
8. Reök Palace
The Reök Palace is one of the underrated things to do in Szeged Hungary.
The Reök Palace will immediately catch your attention because of the very interesting wall façade. I think this was one of the reasons why we were tempted to enter. The Reök Palace is currently a museum and it has two whole floors that are dedicated to Hungarian artists.
Now we did not explore the floors but we had a nice chat with the staff who told us that entrance to the exhibits is free for kids and is 1000 HUF per person for adults.
9. The New Synagogue
You would be missing out if you struck of the New Synagogue from your list of things to do in Szeged, Hungary.
If you are on the look out for one of grandest buildings in the city then the New Synagogue will fit your bill. It has high arched silver domes, ornate windows and beautiful interiors. The stained glass windows are a thing of beauty. Visiting it either in the early morning hours or the late evening hours is the best time to see the stained glass windows.
10. Anna Thermal Baths
One of the things that HUngary is famous for is its thermal baths. In fact, on of the things to do in Szeged is to go for a nice hot thermal bath or a medical spa. If this sounds like something that you would like to do then head to the Anna Thermal baths.
If you don’t want to go for a nice hot soak, still go to the baths because the building itself is gorgeous!
11. The Reformed Church
This is one of the churches that we saw when we were wandering around the city. It really stood out because the architecture of the building was different from the surroundings. It is a pretty building to say the least and is currently being used as a place of worship.
12. Víztorony
The Víztorony is an observation deck that is situated in the middle of a small park. The park is where small pop up events and farmers markets are held. While we were in town, there was a cool Halloween fair that was being held in the city. It gets pretty busy and you will find that the events are filled with locals enjoy the holiday spirit.
And there you have it. That’s all the amazing things in Szeged Hungary that we packed into our itinerary. To be fair, our days in the city were pretty relaxed. I loved Szeged. It was small and cozy and yet gave me the city feel. It has great food and an amazing café culture which was great with the kids. I think I’ve said great waay too many times in this paragraph already but you probably get the point.
Trust me, if you want to escape the hustle and bustle then Szeged is the place to be in. I think I got back some of my inner peace here. It is really therapeutic! Oh and if you are really looking for things to do in Szeged that will help you unwind think about heading to the thermal baths!
